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Great dog related reading

I'm reading A Dog Year by Jon Katz at the moment. Being a Lab owner I'm loving his descriptions of the peaceful harmony he and his two Labradors enjoyed. I'm also enjoying the vivid depiction of the havoc the arrival of troubled, wild Border Collie Devon brings. It's a very honest account, with Katz owning up to every mistake and loss of temper. You laugh with him, you despair with him, and in the part I'm reading at the moment, you cry with him. I'm looking forward to discovering the rest of Devon's story.

What's your favourite dog book? I've read and enjoyed many, but I think the one that I enjoyed most was Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote. This was a mix of Merle's life story, combined with lots of fascinating research, and an insight into the author's life. It also made me challenge many of the attitudes I held about dogs and dog ownership. Some of them I changed, some I didn't, but at least I now know what I think and why I think it.

Other books I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed include Graeme Sims' Give a Dog a Home, Stephen Foster's Walking Ollie, and Along Came Dylan, and A Dog Among Diplomats by J. F. Englert. That last link is actually to Randolph's blog - he's the main character of the book - but I think J.F. has a lot of influence over the content of the blog. I've been very lucky in that I've interviewed all the authors I've mentioned here, apart from Jon Katz, but I'm working on that as we speak! It's been wonderful to be able to read their books, see into their world a little, and then get to discuss it all with them.

If you have a favourite dog book let me know, and I'll do my best to arrange to interview them for DogCast Radio. Or if you're the author of a dog related book, fact or fictional, get in touch and tell the DogCast Radio audience about it.

Take care,

Julie x

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273 - dog parkour and dog news discussion

Dog trainer Emma Hendy explains how Dog Parkour can help your bond with your dog, and give you both a new mindset. Julie gives her opinion on some dog news stories which caught her attention.

189 - The Dog Healers and War Dogs Remembered

In this episode you can hear Mark Winik talk about his debut novel, The Dog Healers, and listen to Julia Robertson explain why she founded the charity War Dogs remembered. Plus there's the DogCast Radio News, and what Mischief the German Spitz puppy has been up to.

188 - Service Dogs UK and Roxie the Doxie Finds Her Forever Home

In this episode you can hear about Service Dogs UK, a fantastic charity which trains assistance dogs to support veterans of any service - military personnel, police, firefighters, paramedics and the coastguard - who develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to their job. Also, listen to Dr Jody A Dean, a clinical psychologist talk about how her book, Roxie the Doxie finds her Forever Home, is helping children understand and talk about adoption and other family issues. Plus the DogCast Radio News and some thoughts on the alpha dog myth.

187 - Muffins Halo and Chorley Fun Dog Show

In this episode you can hear about Muffin's Halo for Blind Dogs, and what motivates people to enter their dog in a fun dog show. In the DogCast Radio News, listen to stories about the latest dog related research. Plus there's a new member of the DogCast Radio team!

186 - Maxwell Muir on wolves

In this episode you can hear trainer, behaviourist, writer, broadcaster and wolf expert Maxwell Muir talk about what wolves mean to him personally, their plight in a modern world, and his hopes for their future. Plus we have the DogCast Radio News.