Dog Walks Man: A Six-Legged Odyssey

by John Zeaman

Imagine if Annie Dillard had taken a dog along with her to Tinker Creek. Now imagine Tinker Creek was a New Jersey suburb, and you have an idea of the surprises that await in John Zeaman’s book. Humorous, thought-provoking, and playful, Dog Walks Man might also be called Zen and the Art of Dog Walking. Zeaman takes us on a journey from a 'round-the-block fraternity of “dog-walking dupes”—suburban fathers who indulged their children’s wish for a dog—to a strange and forbidden wonderland at the edge of town, the New Jersey Meadowlands. Along the way, he rediscovers childhood’s forgotten “fringe places,” investigates the mysteries of the natural world, and experiences moments of inexplicable joy.



Each chapter of Dog Walks Man is a bite-size meditation on the wisdom derived from dogs and dog walking. Woven into the narrative are musings on such familiar dog-walking issues as the war of nerves that precedes each walk (or “w-a-l-k” if your dog is in earshot), the problem of dog-walking monotony, and why dog walkers are always the ones to discover dead bodies. This is also the story of Pete, the prescient standard poodle who begins as the “family glue” and evolves into Zeaman’s partner on a journey through an abandoned landscape as alive as any jungle.



Above all, Dog Walks Man is about a search for wholeness in an increasingly artificial world. It is about discovering what Thoreau meant when he wrote, in his seminal essay “Walking,” “Life consists with wildness.” Because the truth is, something as simple as walking the dog can open up unexpected worlds.

Genres: Dogs, Nonfiction, Animals, Memoir, Biography

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

John Zeaman writes an arts column for Design NJ and reviews art for The (Bergen)
Record and The Star-Ledger. He was the art critic and design writer at The Record for
more than twenty years and has won numerous journalism awards. He is also the author of a series of childrens books called Before They Were Pets, and the young adult book, Overpopulation. He lives in Leonia, New Jersey."

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book demonstrates why serendipity with physical books on shelves is a problem for eBooks - I would never have looked at an eversion of this but since it was sitting there on the new books shelf at the library, I picked it up - and read it.

The book is small, but eventually I realized it runs 300+ pages. I wonder if that was deliberate. I don't think I would have picked up some regular size tome on this topic!

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review contains a spoiler, though I don't think it will be a spoiler to anyone who reads dog books, but - who knows.

I had a very strange reaction to this book. It's a collection of essays about the author, his poodle Pete, and their adventures out on the mandatory daily walk. I think it probably rates as a memoir in that it covers a period of about 10 years and focuses on one aspect of the author's life. Someone once said that going for a walk is the next best thing to doing nothing, and walking the dog would be about a step up from that. But, seeing as how the author mainly walks Pete off-leash it may only be a half step. Walking a dog off leash means you get to pay a lot more attention to your thoughts and surroundings than the dog. As a life long dog owner (read: walker) I know the pleasures of off-leash walks, and the high pleasure of watching a dog run. John Ford had it for horses, I've got it for dogs - pure poetry. So, though Pete figures in every chapter (or essay, as that's what they really are) it's Mr .Zeaman's musings that we're really getting with this book. Yes, about dogs, dogs and men, dog walking, but also about how civilization encroaches on wild areas, how wild areas still manage to exist - in this case the Meadowlands of NJ - how wonderfully eccentric dog-walkers can be, etc., etc.

For the most part Mr Zeaman is an interesting companion. Not particularly profound, but that's ok, and I enjoyed the book in chapter long pieces until I got to - !!!spoiler!!!- Pete's decline and demise. (Is that really a spoiler? Don't all dog books end with a dead dog?)

I recognized the care Mr. Zeaman took with his old dog: the lifting, the slow walks, the trials of incontinence. I was glad when he adopted a new dog before Pete was too far gone. And I knew there'd be an eventual visit to the vet, a sad goodbye, and a chemical cocktail to launch Pete to doggie-heaven. What I didn't expect -!!!spoiler!!!- was for Mr. Z., to wuss out, and not see Pete off - in fact, to get as far as the vet's waiting room, and then have his son accompany Pete into the exam room for the final ritual. I couldn't believe it! I tried over the next few pages to give Mr. Zeaman the benefit of his sorrow, but it kept coming back to, "that s.o.b. He's had this dog for over ten years and he can't even be there to pat its head while it slips away. Unbelievable."

And here's where the strange reaction comes in - I couldn't finish the book. The author let me down as a human being. Whatever bond I may have had with him through the preceding 260-some pages unravelled with that one act. I didn't care about his grief, I didn't care about his continuing search for a new dog walking spot, I didn't care about whatever philosophical summation he was going to come up with. He wasn't a mensch. End of story.

So, three stars - it's a pretty good dog book, and a fairly amusing memoir, and though I'm sure Mr. Z is a decent guy, he should of sucked it up.

[Shaz Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dog Walks Man – A Six-Legged Odyssey
John Zeaman

Thank you to Octopus Books for providing me with a copy of this fabulous book.

The blurb on the back cover is exactly what you get. I enjoyed reading every chapter in this book, not only because it relates to me as a dog owner and therefore walker but also because of the insights Zeaman shares. This is not a book just about the dog walk – there are also art snippets, other interesting facts about a multitude of things and the community in which the adventures take place. It should appeal to quite a broad spectrum of people and ages.

I found Zeaman’s journeying an accurate reflection of my own experience. The way he describes dogs, their personalities and what they get up to is so true. How he starts off close to home, walking round the block - and then starts to explore other possibilities/areas is also a reflection of how it is. Noticing nature and the changes in seasons is also another large part of being outdoors and something everyone can identify with if they take time to stop and notice the world we are living in.

At no point did I become bored with the narrative or rush my reading. The writing flows and cascades you along in a timeline of events, which is clear and logical. The descriptions and sharing are such that you feel an emotional connection to Pete and even to the area and community where the story unfolds. There is humour sprinkled throughout and one particular part of the story had me laughing so hard and for so long my family was becoming concerned about me ……………….. Another part of the story had me shedding tears in sorrow and feeling totally wrung out. I could feel the desolation as if it was mine.

I don’t think anything I can write would do ‘Dog Walks Man’ total justice. My husband (a reluctant reader) has now started reading it and thoroughly enjoying it which speaks volumes!

I would urge you to buy the book otherwise you will be missing out on the ‘touching, witty and thought-provoking tale of how one man found meaning in the humble dog walk’.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first glance, a book about walking the dog might not sound very exciting. But, as a person who has written about dogs extensively and who has blogged about dog walking, I was intrigued. I picked up a copy, started reading, and was entranced.
Dog Walks Man: A Six-Legged Odyssey, by John Zeaman, is delightful! A collection of essays that is part memoir, part philosophy, and part social commentary, it has something to appeal to everyone. Zeaman, an art critic, has a warm writing style and a wry humor that makes a topic as ordinary as dog-walking almost poetic. I found myself nodding in agreement frequently and laughing out loud more than once.
Though he initially regarded the daily walks with his young standard poodle, Pete, as a chore, Zeaman describes the evolution of his attitude toward their nightly outings. I am sure that many dog owners can identify with his descriptions, and, I hope, with his ultimate realization that dog-walking provides access to pleasures that the dog-deprived miss. While there are certainly times that “having to” walk the dog feels burdensome, I find Jana’s and my morning walk-and-greet (I live in a neighborhood with many regular morning walkers, some accompanied by dogs, others there to admire my dog — that’s her take on it, anyhow) a genuine pleasure.
The fact that I agree with Zeaman’s view that dog-walkers should be in the moment, focused on the dog and the walk — not talking on their cell phones, shepherding children, and doing their errands at the same time — naturally added to my enjoyment of the book. But Zeaman’s philosophizing extends beyond a description of the ways that a daily walk enhances his relationship with his dog — he touches on people’s connections with nature, community relations, solitude and friendship, family dynamics, and the joys and responsibilities of dog ownership.
Anyone who has ever walked a dog will find something in this book that evokes a smile and a warm memory. And for readers who don’t have dogs? You’ll find out what you’re missing!

[Leilani · Rating 3 out of 5]

The way Zeaman weaves together his repeated daily observations of the wild spots in his New Jersey suburb, his meditations on art and human responses to nature, and colorful characters (dog & human both) that he encounters on the way, are consistently engaging and charming. He captures the view of a citified person dismayed over the way his fringe spots are disappearing, replaced by ball fields and manicured parks, and brings to life the way stopping to observe the world around you will enrich your life in ways big and small.

I'm an on-the-leash walker myself, so the portrait of the overly cautious woman who knows all the dangers that might be encountered felt a bit too close to home, but this book encourages me to venture further off the path sometimes.

[Undreya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I have reviwed a book on this site,
however, I was inspired to do so because this book is wise
and delightful. The language is evocative and inspired. While
I do not own a dog, it is obvious that the writer knows and
understands his dog all too well . There are some wonderful
descriptions, for example: "I have a cousin, an engineer, who
was always trying to keep his golden retrievers from shedding
in the car. Once, for a long trip to Vermont, he put pantyhose
on them to protect his upholstery. He used two pairs for each.
They looked like sock monkeys." One would have thought that
subject matter of this book could not maintain your interest
but it does, because of the quality of the writing.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dog Reese is one of my best friends. She's been there for me through my husband being in Afghanistan, through losing loved ones and she's right there every single day. I absolutely adore her and because of this, I am addicted to books about that have to do with the love of animals. Reading John's book reminds me of how everyday can be an adventure when you let yourself go and follow your four-legged friend. I really enjoyed Dog Walks Man and I think that every dog-lover should read it. It's loads of fun and very entertaining.

[Jena Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a book that seems to "get" how some of us feel about our canine companions. I think many a profound idea or realization has occurred on a dog walk. The act of being owned by a dog can bring you into contact with a marvelous variety of humans and canines.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read, full of great personal stories, history, humor, and of course a love of our four legged friends.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly charming book about something that many people would find prosaic. A dog walk is such a simple thing yet it has the potential to really broaden one's horizons.

[Wendy Bauer]

Didn't finish. Got tired of it.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Zeaman is just like many parents of two young kids who beg for a family pet, where the kids promise to take care of the dog, but in reality, Mom and Dad do much of the work. In Zeaman's case, walking their poodle, Pete, falls squarely in his lap, but over time, he goes from reluctant leash-bearer to loving the twice a day adventures that simultaneously feel routine and completely unpredictable.
A dog walker myself, I completely agree with his impression, that I take my dog through the same neighborhood every night, yet the route is rarely repeated in its entirety. For my dog, even the same course of travel has completely different smells (and tastes, ick) from one night to the next, which is probably why he loves the walk so much. Our house and back yard are subject to much less variability, as no other dogs tend to visit either. Plus, Zeaman reflects on the freedom of mind the walk gives him, the ability to think about anything or nothing, with the only distractions being those of nature and ensuring the dog's well-being.
Dog Walks Man also provided me a minor education about a chunk of semi-local land known as the Meadowlands in NJ. Being in PA, I'm familiar with the term primarily from a football standpoint, but Zeaman and Pete explore the true Meadowlands, essentially a junkyard covered over with dirt in the 1970s. For most of the book, the Meadowlands have been left alone since the dirt fill, and it provides a quirky location for Zeaman and Pete to take their walks without being disturbed by local leash law enforcers (Zeaman is clearly anti-leash) or other people who he may or may not wish to converse with. Instead, it's just man, dog, and the randomly appearing mattress spring or bay doll head.
One wouldn't think that a book written about walking your dog, a seemingly mundane activity, would be particularly interesting. For those of us who partake in the practice, we know it can be anything but mundane, and I enjoyed reading this book knowing I'm not the only one who finds walking my dog to be a tranquil, pleasurable experience. OK, at least until a deposit requiring a plastic bag is made, but Zeaman's preference for less developed walking areas and leash-free travel seem to decrease the frequency of his picking up what goes in the bag. I'll still take the deposits over having to constantly worry about fleas, ticks, and snakes from the underbrush, though skunks seem a common threat whether you walk in the Meadowlands of NJ, or city blocks in urban PA.

[Paul McKee · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an artist who has temporarily given over his studio practice to raising a poodle puppy, this book was a great fit for me. Of course I didn't give up loft space in Manhattan to write art criticism. Nor did my wife and I get the dog when we already had children.
The essays fueled a lot of musings for me about how dogs change your perceptions. And as you might expect from an art writer, the book is sprinkled with images from art history and musings on culture.
This is not a how-to manual, except that it helps you get your head around getting along with another species. He illustrates the challenge of staying intellectually curious through the tedium of daily dog ownership as a Zen problem:
Look again at this well-trodden sidewalk, this familiar tree, this same sequence of houses, this empty lot...Now do you understand?
Uh no.
Return Tomorrow!

As an urban dog owner, I can long for the author's leash-free approach. And I just can't entertain the idea of not scooping poop.

[Bibliomama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It took a while to read it because I paced myself. Each short chapter was the equivalent of one or two dog walks, and that's all I needed each night. It is a great settling down book.

I learned so much from my grandpuppies during the six months they lived with me. We had many great adventures, near and far. Even the dumpster behind the school was an adventure for them. They force you to see the world from a new perspective, if you are open.

Pete and Luke were great dogs. John Zeaman was very lucky to be let into their pack. And I thank him for sharing their adventures with me.

[D'face · Rating 4 out of 5]

An art critic and father gets sucked into buying a puppy for the kids and then landed with walking the dog each day, until he begins to enjoy it as much as or even more than the dog. A way to meet like minded folks, think unfettered thoughts, immerse in nature and observe the natural world. This is a series of essays, columns or short chapters on the journey from puppy, through family member to aged and dying dog. For those who love dogs, walks and especially the pleasure of being taken for a walk by a dog who knows you well. Full of reflections and observations on society and the natural world.

[Jim Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a touching, witty and thought-provoking exploration of the metaphysical aspects of the simple dog walk. Walking Pete (a standard poodle named after a Ghostbuster) opens the author up to different way of looking at the world. As he discovers more about his neighborhood - its wild fringes, its natural wonders and the characters within it - so he becomes more aware of man's connections to his environment. Each chapter is a meditation on the wisdom derived from dogs and dog walking. I loved this book. I am going to look into another one of Zeaman's books about dogs.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that contains how the magic of dog walking intertwines with life

[Maya Panika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful, touching and funny account of the author's experiences of walking his Poodles, at first with Pete, and later (after Pete's inevitable decline into old age and decrepitude), new puppy Luke. There are many clever, amusing, heart-warmingly familiar observations on dogs and their ways, but this is not really a book about walking the dog, more a meditation on life, a tale of characters (human, canine and Other) in a landscape; a stream of consciousness about the changing-unchanging landscape.

Whether you travel through life with a dog or whether you walk alone, if you simply love to walk, you'll probably identify with John Zeaman's travels through the varied worlds he finds hidden behind his manicured suburban landscape. There's a child-like sense of wonder in Zeaman's need to map and mythologise his neighbourhood, to find magic in the most unlikely places - the baby doll graveyard, ladybug land, the reedbeds, the spooky, gothic dankness of the Back Alley, the feral Meadowlands - as he documents the treasured sense of space he feels, being apart from his domesticated neighbours, at one with his poodle and human companions as they traipse their doorstep wilderness, and learning all the time; Zeaman often makes a sidetrip to the library to research some aspect of natural science, mythology, religion, history, literature - touching on the many things he would never have known if his curiosity hadn't been sparked by something encountered while walking his dogs.

Thoreau's Walden is frequently referenced and parallels drawn between the experience of the author and his dog in his treasured Meadowlands, and it's one such reference that sums up this book for me:

"Dogs can usually be counted on to find that surviving scrap of wildness out on the fringe, which really, was all that Thoreau had or needed--a bit of wild fringe amid railroads, villages and farms. The dog is four-legged Walden. It points us in the right direction and brings us back to the same place again and again until, like children in front of a diorama, we finally learn to see."

This is a beautiful meditation on the finer things of life, highly recommended to anyone who just loves life, as well as dogs.

[Tom Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hesitate to say I'm a dog "owner."

"My" dog is a miniature pinscher named Rizzo, after the rat muppet and not the girl from Grease. I guess I "own" him legally, but deep down I don't believe it. He is wild and free at heart, and walks with him are a pain in the ass.

He'll strain and pull at the leash to drag me forward, only to stop and spend 6 or 7 minutes sniffing a single square inch of dirt beneath a shrub. Dumb dog. If he weighed more than 15 pounds I might break him of this habit. As it stands, no min pin yet has found the strength to yank me too far off balance. And besides, he puts up with my bad behaviors without complaining.

So I'm a dog person. So I'm biased. But John Zeaman's memoir shines as proof that there's more than one way to see the world around us.

This is a good book and Zeaman is a gifted writer. He shares his experiences and thoughts with warmth and dignity, opining on nature, life, art, and philosophy, all framed in relation to his daily dog walking routine. It's cute and sweet, and sweet and cute.

4 stars out of 5.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching and clever and a little sad, too. Pretty much a must for anyone who loves to walk and loves a dog. Very good.

*And I found myself reflecting once again on this minor miracle of dog walking: how, forced to do something - even something that you really, really didn't want to do - you could end up feeling grateful for it.*

*I couldn't possibly know all that lay ahead as I followed my frisky guide up the hill that night. Pete's repeated lesson to me was that I had to stay alive to possibilities, which I'm still trying to do. At times, I've lost the knack for it, and gone for days like a sleepwalker, unable to remember what I ever found so interesting. Then something shifts. A chink opens up in the world's armor. And I'm in business again.* (note to self - shades of M. Roach??)

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little disheartened to see a book written about dog walking considering I and my fellow walkers have been considering compiling our own collection of adventures in this particular profession. I am happy to report the dream is not dead. Though this is a fascinating collection of stories that have happened to Zeaman during his long-held job of walking the family pooches, it could never take away from all the great stories me and my friends have shared. This book focuses more on the layperson's view of a chore that is often dreaded and his personal experiences walking in the Meadowlands in New Jersey. It is definitely enjoyable and made me chuckle several times. It's a must read for both the family dog owner and those, like myself, who are fortunate to spend their long workdays with our wonderful, furry friends.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved this book -- Zeaman is an art critic who has made a masterpiece out of the mundane act of dog walking. From which puppy chooses you, that first car ride home (and they all get carsick), picking a name, especially if kids are involved, all the way to the inevitable heartbreak that comes at the end of a too-short life, Zeaman has an interesting perspective. The friendships he forms with other dog walkers, and non-dog-owners who occasionally accompany him, the 1/2 hour in the morning + 1/2 hour in the evening X 365 days X 13 years that he spent walking Pete. Not as sentimental as Marley and Me, but still though provoking and laugh-out-loud funny in places.

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the book that changed my policy on finishing a book that I had started. After agonizing to page 177, I decided it was NOT going to get any better and gave up. If you have time to read a couple of hundred pages about a guy walking his dog, this book might be for you. I have other thing I want o spend my time on. On the bright side,it gives me hope that if this could get published, then someday maybe I could get published too.

[JennLynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Compleat Angler" for dog lovers. Zeaman shares his philosophies and insights on a multitude of topics honed over more than a decade of walking with his dogs and occasionally other humans. Those who consider dog walking much more than a chore will be delighted; those who haven't yet discovered its pleasures will be enticed to consider a new perspective. And non-dog owners seeking to enrich their lives just may consider buying one!

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me and I found that I enjoyed it much more than I anticipated. As a dog walker myself, I could relate to the odd places that you find yourself in as part of the whole dog-walking regime, places that (as a non-dog owner) you would never normally go. And indeed, like the author, John Zeaman, I also end up strangely attracted to the most unusual of places for their seclusion and solace.

This book is a fun read.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Dogs can usually be counted on to find that surviving scrap of wildness out on the fringe, which really, was all that Thoreau had or needed--a bit of wild fringe amid railroads, villages and farms. The dog is four-legged Walden. It points us in the right direction and brings us back to the same place again and again until, like children in front of a diorama, we finally learn to see."

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice book, small not too earth shattering. It delved into the mysteries of the "dog walker". How by taking on a dog it can take you out of the mundane world and help you reconnect with a wilder side. If done properly that is, walking down thicketed paths, and looking into the wilder areas that a person alone won't tread. I liked it.

[Edwina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally related to this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who owns and walks their dog. Okay its Americanised but it has a universal appeal. I didn't find it maudlin but educated and inspirational as well as funny and thought provoking. Wish I had John Zeaman's clever perception and insight. Oh and I cried when Pete died...but don't let that put you off...it is a very upbeat book.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

just started this book and it already feels like i'm going to enjoy it! Getting to the part where Pete has trouble getting in and out of the car during his walk at the park. Sad hearing about how he started off so full of life and feels ashamed that he needs help getting in and out of the station wagon.

[Stanley B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book for anyone with a dog that they must walk no matter what the weather. Pets are a bond between our human existence and the reality that surrounds us everyday. A walk, whether short or long and without electronic devices could be the reasons we get dog or other pet to walk. A reason to get outside and look around.