Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog
by Ted Kerasote
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ted KerasoteEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-04-21
ISBN: 0156034506
Number of pages: 416
Publisher: Mariner Books
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780156034500
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog
Book Review: One of the best dog books of all time
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a big dog lover.
Here's probably one of the best true story dog books of all time. A friend at work and another dog lover told me " If you like dogs you got to read Merle's Door". She was nice and gave me the book to read.
We see Ted as a single writer living in a rural area of Wyoming. While camping he finds a slightly malnourished but beautiful 1 yr old puppy/dog mixed breed male large dog. A ranger says the dog has been around for a while but no one knows who owns him. The dog likes humans but is skittish as its been surviving in the wilds by itself. Obviously someone owned it as its castrated. It takes a little food from Ted. Ted gets attached to the dog. Ted is going away in a raft on a river and asks the dog if it wants to go with him and be a Wyoming dog. Finally the dog goes with Ted.
He names the dog Merle and allows the dog its freedom by installing a dog door in his home for Merle to go in and out at his pleasure. We see Merle growing up with such love for Ted, others and other dogs yet being allowing to explore and be an equal to Ted. Not just a subordinate almost slave.
Throughout the book we learn about dog and wolf interactions with man. Also wolf and dog behavior is explained. A good education plus an excellent story.
Merle and Ted enjoy Elk hunting, hiking and snow skying together. Merle tolerates going trout fishing with Ted but thinks its boring. Here's a book that also shows the great outdoors. Merle can handle the sound of a rifle hunting Elk and loves Elk meat and Elk bones to chew on but hates the boom of a shot gun while hunting birds. Merle does not like to fetch but eventual retrieves a bird Ted shoots. Ted is so happy, but Merle just spits the bird out at him and Ted sees in Merle's eyes, body language and tone of voice that Merle is saying I can do this but its boring and I really don't want to. Ted respects this and never tries to force Merle to hunt birds with him again. Ted wonders why Merle hates the boom of the shot gun so much and learns Merle as a puppy before he met him got shot. The Vets and Ted find a small bullet in his shoulder as Merle gets older. Merle becomes the small town Mayor and makes his rounds saying hello to everyone both human and dog. Merle even accepts and tolerates a grey cat in the house just like our two dogs do! So much love from this dog to everyone.
Ted falls in love and has a relationship with a younger women who has a dog. Her dog and Merle become best buddies. Her dog gets sick with cancer and has a horrible face ruining operation in an attempt to save its life but eventually must be put to sleep because of extreme pain. Merle misses his dog buddy.
Merle gets old and is 14 or 89 in human years and gets very sick. Ted is so sad and was going to have Merle his best friend put to sleep but temporarily saves Merle with a lot of Vet/medical care.
Its amazing that Merle was so good natured, loving and stayed out of major trouble even when given his freedom by being allowed to go in and out via his own dog door. I learned you don't have be in total change of a dogs behavior or make it subservient as a "Beta" animal with you as the "Alpha" in control all the time. Merle grew up as an equal to Ted yet loved him and others and did things to please Ted not just because he was trained to do so.
INMO this dog freedom would not work in a busy large city but in a very small town with little car/truck traffic it might work. We have a ranch in very, very rural Oklahoma. I plan to have the carpet taken out in the living and dining rooms and a wood floor with scatter rugs put in for the dogs with dog beds. Also will install a dog door. They have all their vaccinations and are on heartworm prevention. Just keep a small collar on our two dogs with our address plus both dogs are micro chipped. Would love to have our dogs grow up as Merle did. Our good natured non aggressive dogs don't run away and come when called. Even if it does not work for our older dogs it worth a try to give them more freedom and when they sadly, too soon pass away will try this approach on two new young dogs.
I wont ruin the ending of this book. I shed a few tears. To me it was very emotional. If you love dogs, the great outdoors, and want to learn a little about dog/wolf interaction with man and dog and wolf behavior this is the book for you. Highest rating 5 star plus!
Summary of Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog
Now including a wonderful new photo insert chronicling Merle?s life, this national bestseller explores the relationship between humans and dogs. How would dogs live if they were free? Would they stay with their human friends?Merle and Ted found each other in the Utah desert— Merle was living wild and Ted was looking for a pup to keep him company. As their bond grew, Ted taught Merle how to live around wildlife, and Merle taught Ted about the benefits of letting a dog make his own decisions.Using the latest in wolf research and exploring issues of animal consciousness and leadership and the origins of the human-dog relationship, Ted Kerasote takes us on the journey he and Merle shared. As much a love story as a story of independence and partnership, Merle?s Door is tender, funny, and ultimately illuminating.
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