Colter: The True Story of the Best Dog I Ever Had – A Memoir of Raging Genius, Loyal Spirit, and Canine Companionship in Montana

by Rick Bass

From National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Rick Bass, The True Story of the Best Dog I Ever Had is "[a] gorgeous, heart-tugging, man-and-dog memoir" ( Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ).

Colter, a German shorthair pup, was the runt of the litter, and Rick Bass took him only because nobody else would. Soon, though, Colter surprised his new owner, first with his raging genius, then with his innocent ability to lead Bass to new territory altogether, a place where he felt instantly more alive and more connected to the world.

This interspecies love story vividly captures the essence of canine companionship, and yet, as we've come to expect from Rick Bass, it does far more. Colter illuminates the heart of life by recreating the sheer, unmitigated pleasure of an afternoon in the Montana hills with a loyal pup bounding at your side.

"Colter is a dog of boundless spirit, all grace and wild genius. And his terrific master, Rick Bass, happens to be a national treasure. What a terrific team they make."— New York Times best-selling author Carl Hiaasen

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Dogs, Memoir, Nature, Outdoors, Biography Memoir

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Rick Bass was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up in Houston, the son of a geologist. He studied petroleum geology at Utah State University and while working as a petroleum geologist in Jackson, Mississippi, began writing short stories on his lunch breaks. In 1987, he moved with his wife, the artist Elizabeth Hughes Bass, to Montana’s remote Yaak Valley and became an active environmentalist, working to protect his adopted home from the destructive encroachment of roads and logging. He serves on the board of both the Yaak Valley Forest Council and Round River Conservation Studies and continues to live with his family on a ranch in Montana, actively engaged in saving the American wilderness.

Bass received the PEN/Nelson Algren Award in 1988 for his first short story, “The Watch,” and won the James Jones Fellowship Award for his novel Where the Sea Used To Be. His novel The Hermit’s Story was a Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year in 2000. The Lives of Rocks was a finalist for the Story Prize and was chosen as a Best Book of the Year in 2006 by the Rocky Mountain News. Bass’s stories have also been awarded the Pushcart Prize and the O. Henry Award and have been collected in The Best American Short Stories.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

. . . there are those among us who are more dog people than others - and a dog person without a dog is missing something.

I lost my dear companion, Randy, in January of this year. To me, he was the best dog in the world, and it's taken me a while to get over his death.

Once you have lost a dog - especially the first you trained from a pup, the one you first set sail into the world with - you can never fully give of yourself to another dog. You can never again look at a dog you love without hedging a tiny bit, if only subconsciously, against the day when that dog, too, must leave.

Frequently, the narrative in this book seems to be more about hunting than it is about dogs, but throughout, Bass's writing is undeniably beautiful, and anyone who loves dogs will get his message.

When you live with a dog - when a dog is a member of your family - you learn soon enough to see the world at least partially through that dog's eyes . . . you might have worked to sculpt this streamlined (yet fluid, and still developing) creature that is now in your life . . . but in just a few short years, the dog turns around and sculpts you.

I won't lie - there are a lot of sad moments in this book, but, Bass's tale is not only one of sorrow; there is also hope - hope that one day another dog will come along. Not to take the place of the first; that would be impossible - but to take up residence in your heart, and once again make you feel like all is right with the world. Yes, Bass is not the only person to note that you seem to notice more of the world around you when you've got a dog by your side.

A dog like Colter sharpens your joy of all the seasons . . .

You're walking along, striding big but tiny, keeping up with the heartworks of the dog, and he with yours. Sometimes you laugh out loud at how conjoined the two of you are.

I remember so often walking with Randy slightly ahead of me, how he would turn his head and look me in the eye, and I swear I heard him say, "Isn't this fun?" My answer was always, "Yes, it is. I'm so glad to be sharing this moment with you. So very, very glad."



I've got applications in at several rescue organizations. Hopefully, I'll have a new pal by my side soon.

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great book.

I had read some reviews where people rated it lower because it involves hunting, and others because the dog dies in the end. I also read where one person rated it lower because he was bad shot.

What I didn't see in their reviews is the sheer poetry of the way Rick Bass writes. Beautiful writing. He captures the joy of a dog given full reign to run and hunt. I will copy and paste some quotes later into this review and also save them to my list in excel of favorite quotes. I like to look for passages I especially want to save, and most books don't have passages that hold up without somehow getting more context. In this case all his writing brings up such great mental images and feelings of raw joy.

Quotes:
To enter the world of bird hunting – to have the quarry leap into the bright sky, rather than bounding off into the brush, or into the fog – and to have a magician alongside and in front of me who would always reveal where the quarry lies… it was like passing through a door, one I didn’t even notice was there, into a place of light and beauty. – Rick Bass, Colter: The true story of the best dog I ever had

I think that in those moments, those perfect moments, when we are crossing the great fields like that, an observer looking down from a mile or two above – a bird’s-eye view – would not believe that we were earthbound. I feel certain that that observer would see the two animals, man and dog, moving steadily across that prairie – one casting and weaving, the other continuing straight ahead – would believe that they were two birds traveling in some graceful drift to some point, some location, know surely to their hearts. – Rick Bass, Colter: The true story of the best dog I ever had

The ending is very poignant. I never use that word. A sad ending is what we all have to eventually experience when we give our heart to a dog, but this one is different from others. You will have to read the book to find out. Like our dogs, the great joy that is a dog and what they give us up to that end point makes the end worth it, but still painful.

This book has made it to one of my top favorites and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is not turned off by hunting, (although he misses so often it's not like he kills too many birds).

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. I am sooo not a hunter, but can't help but smile at a man who loves his dog(s) so deeply. Me too. I relate. Even though I have never hunted, I have lived with German Shorthairs most of my life. Still do. I will give this book to my dad who was quite a bird hunter in his day and trained many a hunting dog. I know it will bring memories, smiles and maybe a few tears remembering his favorite dog - Zeke, the most beautiful black and white English Setter I have ever seen. Abby, Meggie, William, Button, Cricket, Troi, Ethan, Babe, Heidi, Sadie, Dixie, Whiskey, Kiwi, Patty, and all the others....my life has been much better for knowing you guys.

[Diane Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interim book after a heavier read. This was a good introduction to Rick Bass.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish this and I'll get into why in a second. I just noticed my younger sister tried to read this in Jan. 2009 and now that I see her review here I can remember her borrowing it and quickly returning it. She didn't like it and let me know about the hunting factor which she knows I'm not in favor of. (Neither is she.)
Well, I kept it (obviously) because everyone is different and maybe there would be something that I liked.
There wasn't. I didn't even make it to page 30 I think. There is nothing in the description about hunting. Hunting isn't even mentioned in any of the blurbs on the book. Yet the entire book is about hunting. Sure, Colter is mentioned sometimes but it's more about Bass' love of hunting - and hunting with Colter - than anything else.
I happen to be against hunting as a sport. It's not a sport in my mind. I mean really - what kind of society deems it "fun" to arm themselves to hunt down and kill animals? I can see hunting for food if the need is there but for "fun"? Can't get with it.
To be clear here, I've read many a book about a subject I don't like. After all I don't like abuse, I don't like cults, I don't like murder yet I read mis-lit, cult related memoirs and such, and true-crime. So I kept going once I saw how much the hunting factored in with Colter. I figured how much hunting can possibly be in here? The answer - a lot. More than I'd have ever guessed. It's too much. I have to wonder if this was purposely left off of the description? To woo people in? To make sure the people who oppose hunting would still get the book? (I didn't pay a cent for this so poo on you Bass.) :-D
It's obvious, just from the little that I read, that Bass can write. he does write well, I'll say that. But what he writes about holds no interest for me. And that's exceptionally tough because I can read just about anything about any animals - most especially dogs.
If you're not a hunter AND a true dog lover I doubt you'll enjoy this. If you're just interested in dog stories, even "different" dog stories, but hunting isn't something big in your life, I'd keep looking.
One good thing is that this is fairly short so it's easy to give it a try. Oh, I almost forgot - what's with the lack of pictures? Who writes a memoir in this day and age and includes not one picture? No pictures of himself, no pictures of his family, where he loved to hunt so much, no pictures of Colter or other dogs. Nothing.
That really affects me because I like to see who or what I'm reading about. It can't be that hard to shove a few photos in - I've seen some authors do it so well. Being able to see the subjects really can serve to bring the entire story alive for the reader - not including pictures is a big mistake with any non-fiction book IMO. (Not that pictures would have changed my opinion with this - it surely would not have.)

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick Bass has a way with words that will capture your imagination, yet this book isn't one of his better written ones. I think the subject was too personal for him to back off and approach with a little more polish. Even so, the passion for Colter will carry you through the drier moments. [return][return]I enjoyed this love story for a dog he enjoyed for a few years. I tried not to criticize Bass in his relationship with Colter, but at times you wanted him to be a little more in charge. Colter was definitely defining the relationship boundaries. Still, it is a good read and a wonderful look at one man's best friend.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my best friend told me, on our October/November trip to Montana and North Dakota where I served as photographer while he hunted pheasant and grouse with his German shorthaired pointer, that he actually loved hunting more than fishing - our shared passion of so many days of our adulthood - I was stunned to silence. Then I got home and read Colter - and suddenly I completely understood what he was saying: the shared outdoor experience with his brilliant and beloved dog was simply a kind of mutual magic, whereas flyfishing - as I've often said - is essentially an individual, very personal magic, even if shared with a human friend. Rick Bass couldn't express this any better than in this book, the memoir of his own life, and training of/Montana bird hunts with his dog friend - a German shorthair named Colter.

[M. Sarki · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://msarki.tumblr.com/post/171586...

It has been several years I’ve since read anything by Rick Bass. Once a favorite writer of mine first brought to my attention by Jim Harrison and Thomas McGuane, reading Bass led me on toward the mentoring of Gordon Lish who had himself published Bass in his Random House The Quarterly magazine. Shortly after becoming a student of Lish my interest in Bass waned as my reading became more focussed on the necessary darkness of the void I found myself plunging into. But things have a way of returning, and the death of Jim Harrison hastened my reacquaintance with the trio that first offered me so much enjoyment and connection to our natural world. All three writers share that common ground. They love the earth they move upon.

A book about a dog is not something that normally would draw my attention, but having an English Golden Retriever myself, and witnessing firsthand the amazing genetic makeup of an animal bred to hunt, I was interested in learning about this personal relationship between man and canine. Rick Bass has always been a fine writer and has honed his skills consistently. This book is no exception. Of course, it helps to have an emotional interest in the subject as I do, and a love for animals and the outdoors.

Like Bass, my shooting aim is poor, but hunting never became anything I enjoyed enough to get better at, and traipsing about the forest without a gun became the game I most enjoyed. Bob the dog never had a master hunter to count on in the woods. All my dog gets to do is race around the stumps and brush and flush out the birds and squirrels and whatever else he can find in his graceful steeplechase. But the sight is astounding to watch. Rick Bass shows us with his words the same remarkable events frequenting his many hunts for birds with his dog Colter. Though Bass misses a good majority of his shots, once in a while he hits one and goes on to describe his care in preparing the bird for the table. I suppose a person unfamiliar with growing their own food or hunting for it most likely cannot relate. But that is no excuse for criticizing this story about a dog. The book is much more than that. It is also a story about love and loss, of life, and how it all must one day end.

Rick Bass can write about hunting and keep it interesting because he intersperses anecdotes regarding the environment and his activist stance on protecting our wildlife. Some who may take issue with Bass the Hunter miss the point in the importance of him telling a good story. I am not a hunter, but my dog is, naturally. And it is a joy to watch him work by instinct due to my own negligence and dismissal in his lack of professional training. Bass took the time and spent the money to help his Colter be the best dog I ever had. And then he wrote this engaging tribute to him.

[Drew Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rick Bass is a good writer and I believe he represents hunters well. You can tell that he really cares for and respects the animals he hunts. If that doesn’t sound possible to you, then I would highly recommend this book. I didn’t give this book a higher rating because it was difficult to read about Mr. Bass missing shots over and over again. He had so many resources at his disposal, but it appears as though he was simply unwilling to put in the time to become a better shot. I got tired of hearing about nearly every bird getting away. That’s hard for the dog. I was also frustrated to read about Colter’s lack of discipline. He may have been the best dog Rick Bass ever owned, but he was certainly not the best hunting dog there ever was. If you go into it with expectations along those lines, you may enjoy this book more than I did. Still, it was a nice read and I’m considering reading more books by this author.

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Bass's book, the prose lyricism is impressive; there are beautiful things going on at the sentence level. Many descriptions of the natural world, simply said, shimmer. But the thread of being both environmentalist and hunter needed to be better explored, especially since that relationship between being both seemed a point of pride for the author/narrator. Without a more nuanced exploration, the book feels unfinished. The book was written in 2010, and I realize that in 2017 our situation in terms of climate and ecology is even more dire. Still, I was put off by the excessive sense of frontier exceptionalism and the many examples of problematic anthropomorphism for a book written in the 21st century.

[Krissy]

I only made it as far as Page 12 with this book. It's not that it was badly written or anything, but when I first read the jacket, it didn't say anything about hunting, which is why I decided to read it. However, it seems to me like that's mostly what this book is about, a man and his dog hunting together. And even though I don't like hunting and never will, that's not the reason why I couldn't read it. It's just that it was boring for me and I'm almost positive that it would have taken me a long time to get through it. This book would probably be great for people who enjoy hunting, so I don't want to give it a bad review. Let's just say it wasn't for me.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am happy that Colter is a working dog. I would have been extra sad if he was not. I put off reading this book beCause every dog, other than my dog, has to die. I didn't want to deal with reading about that. But now I have read Colter.

I enjoy anything Rick Bass has to write but I think I have to remove a star beCause needs to learn about dog leashes and understanding when to let a dog roam. I bet he is the type on a trail to go without a leash and say, "Don't worry, my dog is niCe." as it bounds towards everything.


TechniCally should go in the "killed-the-dogc shelf.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific read--for a dog lover or appreciator of the natural beauty of our American northwest. Bass never disappoints--excellent writer with terrific descriptions of natural landscapes. He pulls the reader along on bird hunting (even a non-hunter) treks with Colter, his genius but also at times comical, shorthaired dog. He also writes about the contradictions in being a 'tree hugger' and a bird hunter--although a terrible shot.

[Lynn Siler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a hunter nor am I interested in hunting but Bass' vivid and moving prose helped me understand, and appreciate, one environmentalist's obsession with bird hunting. A beautifully written memoir about a hunting dog.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book almost every summer and have read all of his fiction and nonfiction alike. Bass writes with a kind of creativity, humility, and honesty that I really admire and appreciate.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fall very easily for stories about humans and their pets, especially when it's a coming-of-age story (think Sterling North's Rascal or Fred Gipson's Old Yeller and Savage Sam, all three of which author Rick Bass loved as child, and all three of which I still own in my childhood copies). This isn't a coming-of-age story, as it was written when the author was in his forties, but it's still a perceptive and moving look at how a beloved animal can open one's eyes, create a change in perspective, and forever alter a life. Bass loved and loves every dog he ever had - that's clear from his touching narrative about the stray hounds he rescued, Homer and Ann, as well as his amusing recounting of how he couldn't choose between two pointers in a subsequent litter of Colter's full siblings (spoiler: he ends up taking both of them home).

I'm not a hunter, but his descriptions of what both he and Colter (presumably) felt during training and hunting are breathtaking:

"I think that in those moments, those perfect moments, when we are crossing great fields like that, an observer looking down from a mile or two above - a bird's-eye view - would not believe that we were earthbound. I feel certain that that observer would see the two animals, man and dog, moving steadily across that prairie - one casting and weaving, the other continuing straight ahead - and would believe that they were two birds traveling in some graceful drift to some point, some location, known surely to their hearts" (95).

A beautiful ode to rural life in Montana, to the changing seasons of a dog's life, to companionship and love and loss. If you're a fan of Bass's work, or just of nature writing in general, I highly recommend this book - it's a keeper - as well as his look at the first wolf pack to attempt to settle outside of the boundaries of the national parks in Montana after reintroduction, The Ninemile Wolves. Although both are excellent, I rate this one just a little more highly because of the intense personal journey it shares with the reader.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written book about hunting - no, it’s about dogs - no, it’s about the author’s love of the outdoors. Well, it’s about all of these things and the love of a wonderful dog. The language is beautifully expressive, but if you don’t like hunting, then leave this book alone.

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a good dog story, but this isn't it. The author is a master of descriptive writing, and he definitely evokes the countryside, whether in Montana or Texas; but this book is more about training a hunting dog than about the dog himself and what makes him special other than his training. I didn't get any sense of the dog's personality, which is what I always look for.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best "I love my dog" book I've read. Warning...sad ending, don't read on public transportation.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

“there are those among us who are more dog people than others—and a dog person without a dog is missing something."

Colter was a misfit, a genius, a clown, and the runt of the litter. He wasn't the best bird hunting dog ever, but to his human he was. That's enough for me. I empathize with clear regard.

That the author was a terrible shot with a shotgun, didn't do Colter any favors, but the author and his dog seemed to take it all in stride. Colter absolutely loved to hunt game birds, and the author absolutely loved to watch Colter doing what he loved. Terrible shot or not, there is magic in that notion.

Bass has a way with words no doubt, but his dogginess and full appreciation of canines is what does it for me in this book.

"One you have lost a dog--especially the first you trained from a pup, the one you first set sail into the world with--you can never fully give of yourself to another dog. You can never again look at a dog you love without hedging a tiny bit, if only subconsciously, against the day when that dog, too, must leave. You can never again hunt or enter the future so recklessly, so joyously, with that weight of forethought...."

I have three dogs now, Cheese our Aussie pound pup, and the setters Zip (my best dog) and his crazy daughter Fly. Cheese and Zip are getting older. I think about that a lot recently. There is heartache in my future and many tears. Yet, I will always have dogs, and best dogs or not, those dogs will be loved. I just hope they love me back. There are few gifts as great as the love of a dog.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even after finishing this book I’m not sure where to begin. The author successfully captured the intrinsic value and depth of hunting as well as describing the one of a kind bond you have with your pets as individuals. But, with such vivid prose and clearly a superior memory, the pace still felt slow. Additionally, I find it boggling that someone so insightful about life and landscape that this mindfulness isn’t translated to his shooting ability. AND... The ending damn near killed me. I recognize this is a memoir, the author lives in the country, and I don’t want to give much away, but... come on? Idk. There’s so much to say. But since I’m upset I will harken back to a quote that is still true, is so wonderful, and heartwarming: “None of us are worthy of our dogs. But we can try. “

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-wrenching book as it can only be when it’s about the love of a dog. This is beautifully written, with gorgeous sentences and thoughts. The book was a bit slow to start and at first I was a bit thrown off by the focus of time spent on bird hunting descriptions but then it set the foundation for understanding the role of a bird dog and the relationship between the dog and the hunter. These dogs have been bred for this one purpose and from their perspective this is what they want to do and need to do. Its like breathing air to them. I never really appreciated this until reading this story. But even beyond the hunting aspect of this, this is a powerful love story between a man and his dog(s).

[Deborah Poe · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Bass's book, the prose lyricism is impressive; there are beautiful things going on at the sentence level. Many descriptions of the natural world, simply said, shimmer. But the thread of being both environmentalist and hunter needed to be better explored, especially since that relationship between being both seemed a point of pride for the author/narrator. Without a more nuanced exploration, the book feels unfinished. The book was written in 2010, and I realize that in 2017 our situation in terms of climate and ecology is even more dire. Still, I was put off by the excessive sense of frontier exceptionalism and the many examples of problematic anthropomorphism for a book written in the 21st century.

[Will E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm generally more of a fan of Bass' fiction than non-, although that's not to say he's a bad non-fiction writer, at all. And since Bass lives a life so different than mine, I always feel like I gain something, learn something, when reading him. In this case, I learned a lot about hunting, which I discovered that, while novel, was not something I could relate to emotionally. The passages where he tries to describe the love he has for Colter are lovely, and I guess I just wanted more of that, since a surprisingly large amount of the book is not really about Colter at all. Still a great writer and the book has some lovely prose, but I guess it just wasn't the book I wanted it to be.

[David Rudin · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the surface this was a story of a man in Montana and his hunting dog. There is a lot about both hunting and dogs. However Bass goes beyond the typical man and dog stories by piercing the veil between the nuts and bolts of hunting with a dog and the transcendent qualities of the fall landscape in eastern Montana and the incredible hunting-dog-ness of his German Short-haired Pointer, Colter.
To hear Bass tell it, this is an extraordinary dog of rare ability and spirit, bred to hunt and Bass glories in that essence mixed with the heady intensity of bird hunting amidst the splendor of many fall days with a backdrop of rugged Mountains. I could almost picture the scene and its beauty.

[Dogeared Wanderer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book told the story of a German Shorthair Pointer named Colter, the ugly runt of a litter, and his impact on a terrible bird hunter who strived to be better for his dog's sake. The author did an excellent job pulling me into his love of Montana, bird hunting, and bird dogs, and he gave me some perspective of what goes on in my husband's head when he hunts. It was a beautiful, interesting book, even for someone like me who doesn't hunt.

P. S. If you're ever in the Yaak area, it's just as beautiful as the author describes

[Lacy Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focused a lot on hunting which I don’t advocate for nor enjoy reading about, so at first I had a hard time getting into it, but it was sweet to see how much the author clearly loved his dog. Bass is a great nature writer and gave vivid descriptions which allowed you to feel like you were actually there. The ending was heartbreaking and beautiful all at once, and although it didn’t dive into a topic I enjoy, I would still recommend it.

[Veronica M C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This man clearly loved his dog, flaws and all. In fact, the high spirited antics that other hunters might have found annoying seem to be exactly what made Violet Colter special to him.
It was a quick and easy read. I would probably actually give it a 3.5 if allowed. The emotional connection is what made the book special. I enjoy a similar condition with my dog, but it's the love of hiking and paddling for us.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sobald man sich mit dem Stil der Erzählung angefreundet hat, eine sehr emotionale Hommage eines Jägers an seinen ersten Jagdhund.

Eine Beschreibung, der nicht in Worte zu fassenden Verbindung zwischen Mensch und Hund.

[Bert · Rating 2 out of 5]

didn't finish. Lost interest quickly