Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog |
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| Title: | Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog |
| Author: | Ted Kerasote |
| Publisher: | Harvest Books |
| Type: | Book / Paperback |
| Publication Date: | 21 April, 2008 |
| ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0156034506 / 9780156034500 |
| List Price: | $15.00 |
| You Save: | $5.25 |
| Amazon Price: | $9.75 |
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This book is also available, brand-new, from 3rd-party marketplace sellers at Amazon.com, from $1.23.
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Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
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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Customer Reviews:
• One Of The Best Dog Books I Have Ever Read.
13 February, 2010
The author understands more about how dogs think and respond to humans and their environment than most breeders.
- Amazon Customer Review
• Buyer Beware
12 March, 2010
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this wasn't it. I'm a dog trainer and find myself concerned that folks might think the ideas presented are worthy of consideration.
One of the things that's a bit confusing is not knowing what the goal of this book was. I believed it to be a loving narrative about a man and a dog. This was definitely part of the book. But then there was a lot of scientific data interspersed in the writing, making you wonder if the author was trying to make it a training manual as well. If that was the case, it's more than a bit troubling. Very few people have the lifestyle and work arrangements that this gentleman has. It would be dangerous at best in most areas to allow dogs to roam freely without getting captured by animal control, stolen, or killed by traffic. When he took to using a shock collar to try to "train" the dog not to go to a woman's house for the treats (read: filet mignon) she was doling out, that was the end for me. If he had taken even two minutes to train his dog, he wouldn't have had to rely upon cruel methods of punishment.
On a personal note, some of the tangents were exhausting. Also, to hear a man of his age refer to a moment where he and a woman were "going at it" (his words) while noticing the dog watching. Really? The story of the dog was great. The story of what a dog can to do to a person's heart was remarkably sweet. But compiled together with the author's ego, scientific pontificating and bits of "too much information" about things that had nothing to do with the theme of the book, I'm sorry I took the time to read even the three-quarters of it I finished.
My sincere hope is that no one sees this book as a training manual. It would be a great disservice to any of our beloved, furry friends.
- Amazon Customer Review
• One Of The Best Dog Books Of All Time
13 February, 2010
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!
- Amazon Customer Review
• Merles Door
03 March, 2010
This is a truly inspiring and marvelous book that all dog owners and lovers should read. The story is written with wonderful details and love about an animal who shows us ourselves and themselves. Something to remember as a dog owner is that a dog can revert to his instincts, regardless of his circumstances. Merle shows us that love conquers all...and gives so much back. I have given this book to several friends who have also enjoyed it. Pass it on!!!
- Amazon Customer Review
• Best Dog Book Ever!
31 January, 2010
Books about dogs are everywhere - from understanding and training them to stories about them. But no other book presents the unique blend of being both a moving love story between a dog and his human, and fascinating and well-researched information about how dogs think, communicate, and interact with their world.
The story begins when Merle, a big, reddish dog, appears out of nowhere near the San Juan River, where Ted Kerasote, a well-known nature writer, is on a rafting trip. Merle chooses Ted as his human, and Ted takes Merle home to Wyoming. Thus begins a 13-year relationship built on that initial freedom of choice for both dog and man - a choice that enriched both their lives in ways neither of them could have imagined.
What follows is the story of a deep and balanced human-animal bond. This is a relationship based on equality and freedom - Kerasote never subjects Merle to his wishes, but always offers him choices. The door, a real dog door that Kerasote installs for Merle, becomes a metaphor for the opening of a whole new way of looking at how dogs view the world. It shows how dogs, if given the opportunity to utilize their innate intelligence, can become fully realized beings with their own emotions, interests and thoughts, rather than the eternal puppies so many pet dogs turn into.
The door metaphor also extends to what the book really is - a love story. It symbolizes the opening to loving fully. Heart-touching, funny, moving and absorbing, it takes the reader on the 13-year journey of Merle and Ted's relationship. If you're not weeping by the end of the journey, your heart is made of stone. No matter how many times I've read the book, I still cry at the end.
The book is packed full of interesting facts about dogs, from the latest research on wolves to explaining how sharing leadership with your dog, rather than treating him as your subordinate, can help create happier and healthier canine companions. It is a must read for any animal lover - it will change the way you look at how animals communicate and deepen the bond with your own canine companion.
Ingrid King, Author Buckley's Story
- Amazon Customer Review
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