Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs

I have to admit, a friend asked for this book for Christmas, so I ordered it from Amazon and, voila, it was here. Of course, I had to read it, and now I'll have to own it.I loved the book. But, what I loved most--it was so different from other books dealing with doggie psychology and human-dog interactions. This deals with life the way many people actually interact with their dogs. Part of the family. The child part of the family.Before I say another word, I have to mention my dogs have their own bedroom. You might call it a kennel, but it really isn't. Their crates are there, but it's THEIR room. (despite the exercise machine and half my book library.Caroline Knapp is a wonderful writer with an amazing way with words and phrases. This specifically peaked my interest."Lucille is five months old. She is at home, in my bedroom . . . (my dogs sleep there too, despite having their own room). . . and I am at the movies, writhing with a degree of anxiety so intense it takes me by surprise. I hate leaving the puppy alone. HATE IT. Every time I make a move toward the door, I see that little dog face focused on me, alert and questioning, and I crumble inside. She looks so sad. She looks so alarmed. She . . . I just can't bear it. So I sit in the theater and squirm, check my watch every six minutes. Is she all right? Does she feel abandoned? Does she know I'll be back or is she terrified?"Wow. She goes on and says this is not an uncommon fear. Many people struggle with anxiety and guilt about leaving their dogs alone. Now, does this remind you of anything? Hmm. Perhaps leaving your child alone?This is such a fun book, showing the upside and downside of dog ownership, but mostly (I love adverbs) it's about how different people react with and to their dogs.Newsweek Review got it right: "Caroline Knap;p is a rare writer, with a sophisticated, beautifully controlled style." Is is and she does.I have to give it five stars. I looked for the flaw every reviewer looks for, but got so engrossed in her perceptions and the story itself, I couldn't find any.Patricia A. Guthrie[...]

I was lukewarm at first, thinking that I could have written this book about my beloved dog. But....no, this was the author's story, and it was a good one. She did a wonderful job of documenting (that sounds cold; it was a warm, personal tale) her time as she got to know and love Lucille. If you share your life with a dog, read this. Make sure the dog is around when you do. And I hope that she and Lucille have a very long relationship!

It was an easy , interesting book to read. As a dog owner, I saw myself in some of the chapters,plus other interesting ideas of how people relate to their dogs and the human traits we tend to give them . We need them, as much as they need us. I also became interested in the Author, Caroline Knapp and read some of her other books.

Carolyn Knapp is a beautiful writer. I've read all her books and also Gail Caldwell's (a good friend who tells us what happens to Carolyn after her books were written). This book alternated between being tedious and interesting. I am not currently, nor have I ever been a dog owner, so it may have not resonated with me as much as someone who is. The portions of the book I liked best were those that included her relationship with her boyfriend (as I met him in her book titled: Drinking). I felt her relationship with her dog bordered on obsession, but then so did her relationship with alcohol and food. That said, I think this book would be most appreciated by anyone who loves dogs to excess. I am not being critical of being obsessed with one's pet, I have cats and love them beyond words. But a relationship with a cat can never equal one with a dog, even if I wanted it to (which I don't at this point in my life).

It pains me to admit that, years ago, I was one of those misinformed souls who used harsh methods and equipment in my dog training. I competed in AKC Obedience and Schutzhund, using choke chains, prong collars and correction. I worked as a professional pet dog trainer for several years.Positive dog training was just emerging as a powerful force and I was still poo-pooing the idea, focused on the outdated notion of dominance. Then I met a very patient motivational dog trainer, who allowed for in depth and non-judgemental discussion of the topic. Thank you, Jeannie Collins! I began to realize that partnership and communication was the answer, not force and domination.Sometime later, I picked up this book and it completely changed my life as a trainer. I realized the error of my ways with great guilt. This spoke to me of the intelligence, cooperative nature and under-acknowledged mental and emotional capacity of dogs. This is not a training book, but it touched me so profoundly that I trashed my old-school training books, threw out the choke collars and began anew. Guess what happened? My dogs and I started having a lot more fun, training became easier, and we started raking in the trial ribbons and titles! Without force, my dogs were far more cooperative. We understood each other instead of being anxious about each other's actions.The story of Knapp's relationship with her dog is nothing spectacular, a great many books have been written about a certain author's certain life-changing dog. After working in the veterinary and dog rescue field for 25 years, I am somewhat immune to this type of memoir's emotional effects. But Knapp's writing is not overwrought, and her description of what this relationship meant is powerful without being melodramatic. It focuses on her growth as a person. It made me realize I was missing something, even though my life already revolved around my dogs.Other than my love of dogs and the beauty of her writing, I can't exactly say why it touched me so deeply. Sometimes these memoirs get on my last nerve because of bad writing, ovbious lack of knowledge about dogs, or extraneous information. Not so with Pack of Two.If you have read Knapp's other books, you know she is one hell of a writer, a real pro with a lot of style. Something about her gritty humor combined with honest emotion is so relatable. Whatever it was, it sealed the deal for me and I went on to forge a much deeper, more satisfying and more effective way of relating to my dogs. As a dominance oriented owner, my dog was, on some level, viewed as an adversary looking for a coup. I missed out on so much amazing communication, so much "dogness". Knapp has a knack for describing this realtionship vividly.I will always be grateful that this book appeared in my life just when I needed it. I feel a pang just seeing it on my bookshelf, because it confirmed so much about dogs that I had kept out of my life for so long. Donald McCaig, another great dog writer, has said something like, "Dog training is all about regret". So true for me! But, since Pack of Two, so many years ago, I have communicated with my dogs better than most people in my life, and for that, I thank you, Caroline. I mourn your passing from this planet.

This is the 4th time I've bought this book. I give it to dog-owning friends. It's a wonderful book, that really looks at the relationship we have with our dogs. Knapp is a terrific writer and I am very sad that she is no longer with us. Her book is one of my all time favourites.

I thought this book was excellent. It gave a brilliant portrayal of our relationships with our dogs. Very honestly written. Would definitely recommend this book. Thank you.

これは家族としての犬、身代わりになる犬、セラピストになる犬、など様々な視点から、犬と飼い主の「関係性」に焦点を当てて、飼い主にとってどのような意味があるのか、そこに何が起こっているのかを言葉にしたものです。それを描くことによって、人間側の人間観、動物観、をもう一度とらえ直すことを、読者に促すものかも知れません。「関係性って、そんなに純粋な単純なものではないんだよ。謎に満ちてはいるけれど安心感を得ていくのが私たち人間なんだ」。そして、犬とは「コントロールしきれない対象であるものの、鏡でもある（犬に、自分の感情を投影して見ること）」し、「人間よりもわかりやすく一貫性のある方法で裏のない対象」としても描かれている。犬を飼っている人も、飼っていない人も、「犬と生活」することの意味や内容について再考する機会となる一冊でしょう。

it's okay but a little repetitive in places. some interesting case studies however drawn from meeting lots of different dog owners

An entertaining & informative read from a Standard Poodle pack of three.