Learning to Live with Fritz: Disgruntled Angel in a Hairy Disguise

by E. Rawlins

An opera singer meets her greatest teacher in a Manhattan pet store. In Learning to Live with Fritz, author E. Rawlins tells the story of her chaotic relationship with Frizbee, an eight pound nut case who is in reality an ill-tempered angel in a hairy disguise. In her humorous and self critical memoir fifteen years of non-stop travel take the dizzy diva and her high maintenance mascot to Paris, Brussels, Tokyo, Vienna, Salzburg, Milan, London and back to the Big Apple. Along the way they captivate a handsome young baritone on his personal journey to international operatic celebrity. As the drama unfolds, the idea of love at first sight reveals itself to be anything but a romantic illusion. Fritz upstages and controls his mistress through his rigidly enforced rules and regulations, his antics, his irascible charm and oftentimes through his bizarre otherworldly connections. This is a memoir of a narcissistic would-be diva and a dog who is dead serious about teaching her to give up her illusions, to live authentically . . . and above all, to learn the meaning of unconditional love.

Genres: Dogs

214 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2012

Reviews

[Ruth]

Fritz is quite the Maltese. As a puppy he is snapped up on a whim by a rather neurotic opera star. She has no clue about raising a puppy especially one that has a bucket load of attitude.
By the end of the book I truly understood the title! Reading this story with an open mind and heart left me with the belief that dogs are indeed more than companions.

[Susan]

I reviewed this book on my Talking Dogs blog this week. Here's my review minus the synopsis of the book.

I found Learning to Live with Fritz to be a good summer read. Though I thought it would simply be light reading, I found myself contemplating a larger issue: dog as spiritual teacher.

Personally, I believe dogs have much to teach us, plus as our special friends, they have prime opportunity to deliver lessons about live and love. So, I was very open to Rawlins tales of her dog, Fritz.

The first (and largest) part of the book is a series of stories, some hilarious, some eyebrow raising (think Marley and Me), that give you a very clear picture of this little dog and how he is in charge of his world. And I do mean in charge.

Fritz/Frizbee leads his mistress on a merry chase of the good life. With his bad behavior, huge personality, headstrong temperament, Fritz seems an unlikely match for a woman who describes herself as a Diva.

Yet, the two make quite a team in life. The author notes: "Frizbee's sojourn here on Earth was the beginning of a personal transformation that I hope will continue for the rest of my life. It has become a journey toward self-knowledge, fulfillment, and success through service to others."

Part 2 Learning to Live Without Him, was even more enjoyable for me. I fully understood the author's heartbreak when it was time for Fritz to end his 15 years of life here on earth. More importantly, I enjoyed Rawlins' exploration of what she had truly learned from her beloved dog, both before and after his death. Did Fritz truly communicate with his mistress from beyond the grave? I leave that for the reader to decide.

If you're not a fan of opera (I'm not), don't let this dissuade you from a fun, thoughtful dog book.