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My Therapist's Dog: Lessons in Unconditional Love
Diana Wells's intriguing exploration into the rewards of relationships--both the canine and human varieties--begins when she reluctantly starts seeing a psychologist, Beth, during a difficult time in her life. With no insurance to pay for counseling, a barter is arranged in which the client becomes part-time caretaker to the therapist's dog, Luggs, a sweet, clumsy black Labrador retriever.
As Wells examines her past--her peripatetic childhood, her eccentric family, her grief over the deaths of loved ones--Luggs provides a bridge between therapist and patient. Dog lover by nature, historian by trade, Wells finds herself curious about the connections that dogs and humans have shared for centuries--and what these bonds tell us about our own psyches.
Wells observes that training a dog has much in common with the therapeutic techniques her psychologist employs. Looking into recent experiments that have proved dogs better at interpreting human behavior than chimps or wolves, Wells explores the subtleties of her own relationship with dogs. Increasingly she finds herself agreeing with Diogenes, the original Greek cynic (the word cynic comes from the greek kuon, meaning "dog"), who said that unless we think like dogs, happiness will elude us.
Wells analyzes what we name our dogs, how we breed them, how we've explored the wilderness with them, the kinds of literature we write about them, why we love them, and, most important, what we can learn from them.
When an unexpected illness befalls Beth, Luggs comforts the two women, and his devotion helps Wells come to accept that relationships--despite the possibility of hurt and pain--are what life is all about.
As Wells examines her past--her peripatetic childhood, her eccentric family, her grief over the deaths of loved ones--Luggs provides a bridge between therapist and patient. Dog lover by nature, historian by trade, Wells finds herself curious about the connections that dogs and humans have shared for centuries--and what these bonds tell us about our own psyches.
Wells observes that training a dog has much in common with the therapeutic techniques her psychologist employs. Looking into recent experiments that have proved dogs better at interpreting human behavior than chimps or wolves, Wells explores the subtleties of her own relationship with dogs. Increasingly she finds herself agreeing with Diogenes, the original Greek cynic (the word cynic comes from the greek kuon, meaning "dog"), who said that unless we think like dogs, happiness will elude us.
Wells analyzes what we name our dogs, how we breed them, how we've explored the wilderness with them, the kinds of literature we write about them, why we love them, and, most important, what we can learn from them.
When an unexpected illness befalls Beth, Luggs comforts the two women, and his devotion helps Wells come to accept that relationships--despite the possibility of hurt and pain--are what life is all about.
- GenresNonfictionAnimals
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 2004
3 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 20, 2016
I started reading this book because I thought it would be yet another enjoyable dog-centered book that I would love and relate to. And it was, but this book was also full of interesting (and what I believe are also true) facts relating to past historic figures and their dogs. At first I found the random jump into facts a little odd and out of place, but then I learned to appreciate it and felt like I was learning even more. This book is quite sad, revolving around love and loss, but it also adequately portrays the unconditional love we receive from our pets, and the support and life they can bring into our lives, no matter the struggles life throws our way.
April 27, 2019
Her therapist did have a dog, but the book is seldom about Luggs. Disappointing, depressing read that I believe was only published as a promise made in memory for a friend / therapist.
April 27, 2022
Okay, but nothing to phone home about. I would have read it in a few hours had it been so compelling. 🤷🏻♀️☺️
September 23, 2025
Not really about the dog..
This was a history of dogs' relationship with humans in history, and the author's relationship with dogs and her therapist. I was disappointed..
This was a history of dogs' relationship with humans in history, and the author's relationship with dogs and her therapist. I was disappointed..
January 31, 2010
This was a very well written book, but very melancholy. It reminded me of The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion in its sadness and stuggle with loss.
Wells' transitions between canine history and facts, vinettes about the dogs in her life, and stoies about her struggles with the loss of close relatives/friends are extremely well handled. She is really a talented writer.
Wells' transitions between canine history and facts, vinettes about the dogs in her life, and stoies about her struggles with the loss of close relatives/friends are extremely well handled. She is really a talented writer.
August 18, 2007
This book leapt off the shelf at me a few months ago in a Borders, but I avoided reading it for fear of crying. After all, books about animals always make me cry! I loved the way Wells wove her story together with the story of dogs, in general.
January 13, 2009
In the beginning I didn't quite connect with the book. I sat it down for about a week and then picked it up again, right where I left off but this time I connected more with what the author was revealing.
In the end, I cried and enjoyed the book overall.
In the end, I cried and enjoyed the book overall.
October 26, 2011
Wow! A dog book where the dog doesn't die in the end - the person dies! Ouch. This book is about death and grief and the healing abilities of our four legged friends. Sometimes happy, sometimes sad a solid, real story of life.
February 14, 2015
Well written, but I didn't love it.
September 17, 2015
good, short, disjointed, not what I expected
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews