Am I Boring My Dog

by Edie Jarolim

A delightfully witty guide to keeping much-loved dogs not just fed and groomed, but entertained and pampered[]Geared to the millions who feed their canine companions home-baked holistic treats, take them to dog spas, agility courses, trainers, and yoga classes, and, above all, worry about their relationships with them, this poignant, irreverent guide is doggone funny. Readers are those looking to be socially responsible, but also indulgent with their pets. This guide informs about the latest ideas in care and training, articulating the questions that many people have about all things canine-related but are afraid to ask, all with a reassuring, amusing tone.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs, Animals, Ebooks, Pets, Games

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Edie Jarolim earned a Ph.D. in English literature from New York University; edited guidebooks at Frommer's and Fodor's in New York and Rough Guides in London; published myriad travel articles and three travel guides (Frommer's San Antonio and Austin; The Complete Idiot's Travel Guide to Mexico's Beach Resorts; Arizona for Dummies); and generally led a respectable but dogless life until 2004, when she began palling around with terriers -- specifically, one small terrier mix named Frankie.

Cluelessness about dogs in general and Frankie in particular inspired her to begin reading up on all things canine and, eventually, to write AM I BORING MY DOG: And 99 Other Things Every Dog Wishes You Knew (Alpha/Penguin, 2009). She created WillMyDogHateMe.com to publicize the book, but the blog took on a life of its own.

The discovery that her great uncle shared a space with and sold meat to Sigmund Freud in Vienna led her to create another blog, FreudsButcher.com.

She told many of these stories in a humorous memoir, Getting Naked for Money: An Accidental Travel Writer Reveals All (Invisible Press, 2016).

She lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her dog Madeleine, another terrier mix, and is currently trying to decide what book she should write next.

For more information, see www.ediejarolim.com.

Reviews

[Annalie]

Every dog owner should read this! It's jam packed with useful hints and information. Once in a while, Ms Jarolim loses track with the fact that dogs are relatively recently domesticated wild animals (so it's OK for them to chew on raw bones and then they won't need to have their teeth brushed) but most of the time she recognises the doggy-ness of dogs and their need to get out in the bush, run off leash, roll in dead stuff (or worse) and get dirty on a regular basis.
The book is also really easy and engaging to read.

[Elizabeth]

Definitely a read for those who have never had a dog before... Interestingly, the author didn't get a dog until later in life... I enjoyed her style of writing and feel like I learned a lot of new vocabulary words, although not a very exciting read...

[Paul]

This book is perfect for would-be dog owners. Ideally it should be read several weeks before adopting or purchasing a dog, as it gives advice on selecting a reputable breeder/seller, choosing a breed, and so on.

Veteran dog owners will still find the book useful because of its discussion feed, finding a vet, buying toys, selecting walkers and sitters, along with many other topics.

This book is in no way all encompassing, but an excellent starting point for answering 99 common questions for dog owners. It also provides references for finding more detailed responses. If you're a dog owner, this book is good to keep on the shelf as a general reference.

[Frankie]

This book was so funny I not only finished it in one day, I read all the footnotes, they made me laugh so!
The author has wonderful values and advice, I learned many new things that interested me (info on L Helmsley will) and were often practical (dog toys), and I have read numerous books already on dog care.
I did not agree with the author on everything, such as having Only Dogs and commentary on cats, but let it go, the book is wonderful, and a very worthwhile read.

[Paschalis]

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[Marijke]

I have to admit the book was quite humorous at times, but out of principle, I don't like taking doggie advice from somebody that came to owning her first (and only!) dog a bit later in life and that has never been a puppy mum! Sure, she's read a lot of books and researched the topic thoroughly, but when it comes to dogs, I believe in experience.

Furthermore, in topics that I did have an interest, for instance the raw food diet, I felt there was inadequate information. Sure, it suggests books to read on the topic (I've already bought this book...), but there were no websites listed or even a list of foods to feed (or not feed) your dog.

The other thing that bothered me, was the fact that it went overboard with certain things. I'll admit that as a non-American, I'm probably not the target audience, but referring to doggie psychologists (and Valium for dogs!), dog car booster seats, etc were just a bit too much. Don't get me wrong, our dogs are like children too, but their needs are a lot more basic. There's nothing that a long walk, some raw meat or cuddles can't cure!

[Casey]

A great tip book for any dog owner. Edie Jarolim also throws in plenty of humor which makes for a good read.

[Eugenio Garcia]

Extremely funny and useful for all dog lovers.

[Kristin B]

Cute, but common knowledge for anyone who has had a dog and paid attention to it. Could be good for really curious newbies (which, to be fair, it seems to have been meant for).

[Mckinley]

Dogs 101, from why to get a dog to traveling with your dog. Lots of basics covered. THe humor didn't always work for me but it didn't detract from the information either.

[Natalie Walker]

Good starter book for someone who hasn't had a dog before. Lots of good humour.

[Karissa]

A good guide if you know ZERO about dogs and dog ownership. A little too much about traveling in fancy hotels with dogs (felt braggy and information is unnecessary for most typical dog owners). I thought this would be a funny read, but was mostly a guide book with question and answers with some humor but not laugh out loud humor.