Don’t Dump The Dog Book Review & Giveaway
After he saw the photo of him taking a nap with his glasses on (see below), he wouldn’t put them on for this one! “No way mom! They make me look geeky and I want everyone to think I’m a STUD!”
When Skyhorse Publishing contacted us about a new book being released last year, and wanted to send it to us before it hit bookstores, we were thrilled. The timing for us was horrible however, since we were in the middle of a move due to new job opportunities in the middle of the economic downfall, the book unfortunately got lost amongst boxes and personal artifacts. Last week when I finally cleaned out the spare bedroom, and finally got my office set up (yes, after a year!) guess what I found! The book we were so graciously sent by Skyhorse, Don’t Dump the Dog: Outrageous Stories and Simple Solutions To Your Worst Dog Problems by Randy Grim. What else could I do but immediately get into my comfy pants, grab my reading glasses, cuddle up with Boogies and dive right in!
I didn’t put it down until it was finished, and not because I felt guilty for an entire year passing before I could fulfill my obligation to write about this book, but because it was downright hilarious and prodigious!
This is the first book review we’ve written here on the blog, not that it’s the first book we’ve read about dogs (we’ve read our fair share), thus I’ll ask you to please bear with me! It’s been years since I’ve done literary reviews!
‘Caught during a little mid-reading nap’
Let me first begin by telling you a little about my perception of the author, Randy Grim. I’ve never met him in person, yet he had me hanging on every word, wanting to be his sidekick to do a little ‘sense smacking’, AND to be his receptionist. Sounds a little ridiculous I know, but read it and you’ll understand. It’ll happen to you too. He’s comical, truthful, passionate about his work, and nothing short of a dog genius.
Along with being a dog genius, Randy is also the founder and owner of Stray Rescue, an acclaimed nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter in St. Louis, MO. His rescue specializes in rescuing dogs that are not just a little rough around the edges, but A LOT rough. Most of their intake are feral dogs they’ve found wandering the streets their whole lives trying to survive. Who are often so emotional and physically broken down they have no other option but to surrender themselves to a friendly stranger…Randy and Stray Rescue. They provide healthcare to these torn up street dogs, then focus on rehabilitating and socializing them for forever adoptive homes, which is usually a huge obstacle. Not to mention the huge challenge it was to gain the trust of these canines who’ve spent their lives running from humans. The endurance and compassion Randy and Stray Rescue encounter every day is like nothing I can imagine.
*I’m not worthy! I’m not worthy!*
“I’m serious mom. Give me that cookie. You asked me to sit by this book and I’ve been sitting by this book.”
The book is also nothing short of genius, and perfect for the dog owner who is dealing with some behavioral issues, and also has a sense of humor. The introduction should certainly not be ignored, as it sets up the entire tone of the book and will have you chuckling, laughing, and full out rolling on the floor with tears in your eyes. As the book begins, you meet Randy in his shrink’s office and you’ll think to yourself, this guy has got to be a nut job, right? Please. Continue. Each chapter starts with a letter, followed by a responding letter. It got me every time. Each chapter is packed with personal stories and experience from Randy, and ends with straight-forward advice, tips, and simple solutions to the discussed behavior problem.
My favorite advice are the full-page spreads called the ‘Quick Fixes’. I died of laughter every time, because I’ve seriously heard EVERY ONE of those excuses myself, and I thought Randy’s responses myself, but due to my need for cash to pay the bills, I bit my tongue. Turn to page 40.
Don’t think this book ISN’T for you, it’s for EVERY dog owner. Just when I thought, “Yea, okay, a dog training book. It will be a nice read, but I don’t need to take any of this advice.” Wrong. I reached Chapter 6. Classic Bubbs. Obviously, I’d been living in denial as most dog owners do. ”I have the perfect dog! He doesn’t pee in the house. He doesn’t chew things or destroy my house. He’s perfect!” Yea, well…I tend to forget he’s an antisocial little guy who likes who he likes, and if he don’t know you, you are in HIS space and you better watch out! I ignore the problem by not taking him out in public places if I can avoid it, and I have to warn visitors about his “issues” before they come into my house. I avoid and ignore his behavioral problem by being overprotective, thus not helping the situation or HIM.
See. Every dog owner has a problem. They’re dogs, and we’re humans. Neither of our species is perfect, whether we want to believe it or not. That’s what this book has taught me, that no other dog-training book has EVER brought to my attention, and the fact that I just ADMITTED to it…the book works.
The strategies Randy suggests are effective, and the way he seems to let his guard down in this book, allowed me to put down mine. I could probably go on, and on about Don’t Dump the Dog, but I think I’d rather suggest you head to your local bookstore and grab a copy for yourself.
Buy It:
Don’t Dump The Dog by Randy Grim on Amazon.
Or, because I feel this book is too valuable to hang on to, I’d like to share our copy with one LUCKY reader.
Win It:
- Leave a comment on this post telling me a little about your dog or dogs, and why you think you would benefit from reading, Don’t Dump The Dog: Outrageous Stories and Simple Solutions To Your Worst Dog Problems by Randy Grim!
For additional entries:
- ‘Like’ our Facebook Fan Page HERE. (1 entry)
- Post a link to this post on your Facebook wall. ”We entered to win the book, Don’t Dump The Dog by Randy Grim from @All Dog Blog!” (1 entry)
- Follow us on Twitter. (1 entry)
- Tweet this giveaway with, “Enter the #giveaway to win the book, Don’t Dump The Dog by Randy Grim!” http://bit.ly/dontdumpthedog (1 entry)
Contest Rules:
- Open to U.S. Residents only.
- Winners will be chosen at random using Random.org (be sure to leave individual comments for your additional entries. Entries done in ONE comment will not be counted as multiple entries and deleted).
- Contest ends August 24, 2010 at 12pm Eastern Time, at which no further entries will be accepted.
You won’t want to miss the opportunity to read this book!
GOOD LUCK!
P.S. We’ve added a link to Stray Rescue under ‘Rescues’, and we’d also like to apologize to Skyhorse Publishing and Randy Grim for the late response in writing this review, we hope this won’t deter you from contacting us about such great books in the future!
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Comments
I cannot even begin to explain how this book will help Barry and I with Maya. Though Maya is a great dog..as Erin said above..no accidents in the house, totally sweet, doesn’t destroy things, etc., she does have some fear issues. Believe me, for a dog that was adopted from a shelter, she is extremely well adjusted. However, for whatever reason, she is afraid of Barry when he’s walking around and trying to put her leash on her. I need to be able to get her to be comfortable with him like she is when he’s sitting or laying. Right now, I’m putting the leash on her so that we can expedite the process, but I know that I’m not helping the situation. I think this book sounds like just the right solution. I am always up for friendly advice by way of comic relief :).
I tweeted “Enter the #giveaway to win the book, Don’t Dump The Dog by Randy Grim!” http://bit.ly/dontdumpthedog (1 entry) on Rach325.
I would love this book. I currently have two dogs, their litter mates, and my little angels. My boy (bambam) is wonderful, a little lazy, but a great dog. My girl (munkie) is wonderful as well, very loving, high energy, and terrifed of almost everything other then me and my fiance! I’ve been looking for a book to read to help me through this with her, and I think this book would be honestly the most perfect fit. She’s not a monster by any means, just down right scared to to death of new things. She’s actually nipped my roommate twice! Only because he didn’t listen to me, and give her space. I’ve had times when she was so scared, she’s peed all over the floor. She was scared once and pooped in my brand new car! I love my babies, and I wouldn’t change anything besides Munkie fearfulness. Hopefully this book can help us! :)
following on twitter :)
We rescued a lab/border collie mix that had been abused she was only about 3 months old and already had broken teeth and jaw not sure what happened to her but something bad, she had some issues I was scared at first but now at 1 year old she is really a great dog but still has some strange issues that pop up,so this book sounds like it might help also I can never get enough books to read on dogs !
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Erin, Erin. Erin said: ENTER TO WIN our Don't Dump The Dog Book Giveaway! Visit the post below for details on how to enter, and get your… http://fb.me/yIMdim0l [...]
my little chihuahua has just turned 2 years old. from the very start he was the shy one all the way back from the rest of the pups in the cage. poor thing was just a furball back then so tiny and fluffy! i did further research and found out he was a puppy mill pup and seems as if something has traumatized him in the process of being brought here by flight as he’s very scared everywhere he goes unless you are a very gentle human towards him, then he will roll on his back and even kiss you. he has never interacted a play with another dog nor a cat, he’s always had his tail tucked under with uncertainty. i been wanting to get him to socialize more with other pups or even my boyfriend’s newfound kitten love. i have also driven 3 hours to go to a doggy party so he can meet new friends. he met atleast 7 chihuahuas there and 1 other dog but to no avail…we drove back another 3 hours without him even touching a mini cupcake. i’ve read atleast 3 books on chihuahuas the breed themselves and 2 books on dogs…isn’t there a perfect book out there to make my pup wag his tail for once when he meets a dog in the park instead of just walking past?
[...] If you ever came across Bubbs and I at the dog park, you’d probably never forget it. Bubbs, at the sight of another canine, which usually catches me off guard and I don’t have the leash locked, would come running, frantically barking, and at full speed no less. Then you’d see me…frantically running, at full speed about 10ft. behind trying to get him to stop before he chokes himself on the retractable leash, or before I owe you hundreds of dollars in vet bills. Usually, we catch up to him, apologize to you for the scare, and we sometimes even offer to pick up any poop your dog may have dropped during the event. He’s only 11lbs., but in his eyes, and along with most other Chi’s, he’s the biggest dog in the yard and he WILL be sure to let you know it. Typical ‘Little Dog Syndrome’. Yes, he has a problem, we admit it. [...]
Wow,this book sounds great!
We love our mini schnauzer, Jaxon. He’s a dream of a dog…except when it comes to being around other dogs. He’s a rescue, so I’m not sure if something traumatizing happened to him in the past. In any case, I’m sure this book could have some helpful information for us! My husband and I have been at a loss on how to handle the situation.
And I love any book with a good sense of humor!