The Puppy Diaries: Raising a Dog Named Scout

Jill Abramson gave herself an unwinnable task when she set out to write an interesting book about a golden retriever. Goldens may be many marvellous things, but interesting is not one of them. I have had two goldens, and though much loved, I could tell you all that is worth sharing about them in five minutes or less.

When it comes down to it, the real challenge for the author of a dog book is to use art to prevent the dreaded "but it's just a freakin' dog" thought from entering the reader's head. Certainly one's own dog is never "just a freakin' dog", however the reader who must sit through a few hundred pages about someone else's dog, is very susceptible to having this very thought. I confess that I had it multiple times while I was show more reading The Puppy Diaries. Some dog books succeed brilliantly in getting at the heart of why dogs, strangely but wonderfully, mean so much to us. Colter by Rick Bass, comes to mind, and to a lesser extent, Following Atticus by Tom Ryan. As for The Puppy Diaries, it doesn't even come close. show less

The Puppy Diaries was pretty much as I expected. It had its beginnings as a popular series of columns written by Jill Abramson, who is a writer and editor at the NY Times. She and her husband are empty nesters who, having recently lost their Westie, were ready for a new pup.

The book recounts the ups and downs of the first year in the life of their golden retriever, Scout, named after, well, Scout, of To Kill a Mockingbird. Abramson is not a dog expert and she doesn’t pretend to be one; in fact, some of her comments seemed a bit clueless to me. There was nothing especially outstanding about that year, aside from an adorable new puppy, and that may have been part of the charm of the story. It struck me only after I’d finished it that show more it was really a relief not to hear about wild exploits, a la Marley and Me, or relentless bodily functions, as in the odd My Dog Tulip, or the overcoming of physical handicaps of Homer’s Odyssey, or the tear-jerking final years of Good Dog. Stay. This is just a straight up dog and owner memoir of the first year. And a lot of their first year mirrored the first year of my golden retriever’s life. As I read it, I spent a lot of time smiling at a memory or nodding my head in agreement. Like us, and I’m sure many, many other families, she searched for a breeder and waited for approval, wondered about the right foods, worried through illnesses, dealt with working at home, obsessed about behavior issues and trainers, and thought her puppy was the prettiest, most darling puppy possible. We didn’t live part-time in Manhattan, though, and I’ve always wondered about the unique issues facing dog owners in the city. And her position enabled her to speak with the likes of Temple Grandin and Cesar Millan. (We have a photo of our dog with Mario Lopez but that’s the extent of any quasi-celebrity meet-ups.)

This is an easy, not especially compelling read, but truly a sweet story for dog lovers. It would be a good book for someone waiting on their first puppy. show less

Adopting a puppy: what fun! But in this account, Ms. Abramson is just a little too serious about the whole business. The New-York-ness of her anecdotes is a little off-putting to those of us who don't have the connections or resources that she has. DIdn't learn a whole lot more from this book than we got out of our own Puppy Management Training at the local PetsMart. Often found myself longing to ruffle my puppy's cute little ears instead of reading another page.

I don't read books -- or watch movies -- where the dog dies. And that's why a book about the first year of a dog's life is perfect for me. True, Abramson reflects on the loss of her previous dogs, but since we don't get to know them as intimately as we know Scout, their stories are touching but not overly sad. And that's the reason that this memoir would be a perfect gift for someone who has just gotten a puppy, particularly someone who has had dogs in the past. Our family just adopted a new puppy after losing our older dog last November and this book functioned as a funny and touching reminder of what lies in store for us, as well as reinforcement that we aren't the only pet owners who aren't sure if a new puppy can ever be loved as show more much as the one we lost. (She can. She is.) Good dog, Scout. Good book, Jill. show less

I have never been one to read books about pets - either raising them, owning them, or training them - but I am glad that this one was my first foray into the genre. By page twelve, Jill Abramson's book "The Puppy Diaries" had me hooked, with tears in my eyes remembering my own painful loss of my dog of 15 years.

I thought that the book would be solely a memoir of life raising a puppy, but it was much more than that. Abramson weaves in tales of her first dog, her career, her personal injury, along with the healing power and challenge of welcoming in a new member of the family. The humor in the book is subtle, but enjoyable. I found myself reading sections of the book outloud to my husband, and finished the book within two days.

I show more particularly love her style - it isn't overly elegant or wordy, but there is true emotion there, even as she is talking about something as simple as taking the dog to the park, to visit with friends, or to a trainer. As a pet owner, I can relate to her struggles, concerns, and affection for the whole process. It is easy to forget how hard those initial puppy stages are.

For anyone who is thinking of getting a puppy, loves their own furry family member, or simply needs a book that is uncomplicated and devoid of politics, but rather a tale of the joy of dog ownership, I would recommend this book. show less

Oh, puppy stories, hard to resist on the shelf, but rarely as satisfying in the delivery. Unfortunately, as other reviewers stated, this is a difficult book to relate to. There is interesting information about training, but the book is written somewhere between a style of memoir and actual reference material, making it difficult to enjoy. It seems as though the author wants to share relevant facts about the relationship between human and beloved dog by slipping said facts into the story, but it comes out seeming condescending, disjointed, and on occasion hypocritical. For example, the author notes that millions of animals are euthanized in animal shelters every year and immediately after describes how they so wanted a purebred puppy and show more so they bought a purebred. Apparently, adoption is for the proletariat, but expensive training programs and playgroups for White Golden Retrievers (seriously) are for rich Manhattanites. Altogether, the story seemed rather precious and self-indulgent. If you love dog stories and want to read a touching, funny, and informative book, try A Small Furry Prayer. THAT will make your heart swell. show less

If' you're what author Abramson labels an ABBD, you'll probably love this book. Aging baby boomers with dogs will find this tome jammed with news-you-can-use information. True, "The Puppy Diaires" lacks the emotional punch that have made other pet tales instant classics (think Marley and Dewey). But this particular book covers a lot more ground than many other works in this genre. Abramson offers insights into everything from training techniques to dietary options. But this isn't a stuffy academic text. It's also sprinkled with interesting characters (meet CujoCop, the amiable dog trainer) and anecdotes. It even documents some fascinating trends. For example, who knew there was hydrotherapy for dogs? Abramson draws some parallels show more between growing dogs and human adolescents. She also provides some laugh-out-loud moments as she pokes diplomatic fun at folks who obsess over the quality of their pets' poop. True, it does drag a bit in some spots. Some readers will no doubt yearn for a stronger twist-filled "storyline." If you're looking for a riveting pet-centered drama, "The Puppy Diaries" won't cut it. But if you're searching for a useful self-help book that even manages to weave in dog behavorial theories espoused by such luminaries as Temple Grandin and Cesar Millan, you'll give high marks to this book. show less