Off the Shelf: Merle’s Door

from Yadkin Valley Magazine September-October 2021

Vet’s Corner: Know Your Beef Cattle

Merle’s Door, Lessons from a Freethinking Dog

Just when I thought I had read all the great dog books, my public library didn’t let me down introducing me to Ted Kerasote, award winning veteran periodicals author, non-fiction and fiction who published Merle’s Door in 2007. Merle, a 10-month old golden pup was “looking for someone to hang his heart on." Merle and Ted found each other on the path during one of Ted’s hiking trips in Utah. In 361 pages you will go through one adventure after another with a plethora of philosophical and physical tips on the relationship between man and his dog. This book turns out to be a biography of both the man and his dog as the author explains how sharing leadership with your dog, rather than being its alpha can help create a healthier, more selfreliant and better socialized companion. WARNING: Keep tissue handy for the closing chapter and promise not to be judgmental.