DogCast Radio
Home Episodes Articles Blog Breed profiles Book reviews Photos Contact

Merle's Door

Is it not often you read a book that makes you laugh and cry as well as educating you, that touches your heart and your head, that even leads you to re-evaluate your relationship with your dog; Merle's Door is such a book. The subtitle, Lessons from a Freethinking Dog, alerts you to the fact that this is not your average dog book. In Merle and Ted Kersaote's relationship the usual conventions of "master" and "dog" are challenged. Merle is no ordinary dog, he has a mind of his own, and in Ted he finds the perfect partner for him.

When forty one year old Ted Kerasote met an almost one year old Merle, who was living wild in the Utah desert, he had no idea how life changing an acquaintance he had made. Living together evolves into a harmonious accord after the installing of a dog door to allow Merle his freedom. This could be the door referred to in the title; but it could be taken on a deeper level. Merle opens to door into the canine world for Ted, and Ted in turn shares those revelations with the reader.

Interwoven with Merle and Ted's story is an incredible amount of interesting and relevant research. Ted Kerasote was determined in telling Merle's story to examine why the human-canine relationship developed as it did. In reading it, I found myself thinking through my attitude to my own dog, and to dog ownership in general. The wolf research sited is fascinating. Much of what we take as true wolf behaviour comes from studies on captive wolves, which is likened to observing human behaviour displayed by people living in refugee camps.

Whatever else Merle's Door is, it is a love story. The love story of Merle and Ted, a dog and his man. A man who was heartbroken at the loss of his best friend, and who wrote this moving, informative, glorious biography. In writing the book, he says, he got to relive his time with Merle, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading and reliving it with them. You can hear Ted Kerasote talk about his book Merle's Door in Episode 64 of DogCast Radio.

Review by Julie Hill

Sharing

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.