Desert Dog

I am going to give this book 4 stars because I am not a fan of the villains in the story being dogs. The hero dog is Tawny, a large Greyhound whose handler has died. He wanders off into the desert.

In the beginning is some part of the story dealing with dog racing. I went to at least one or two as a kid. Not sure if they even hold dog racing any more because of the negative aspects of breeding and then discarding greyhounds. The book of course had no mention of that side of the sport.

I spent half my life in Arizona so I am familiar with the desert there and the descriptions of the terrain are 100% authentic. The vivid texture of the desert, and then the high country later really makes the book. A lot of us at one time or another would show more love the freedom of living in the wilderness and Kjelgaard’s books feed into this desire.

In the book, wildlife is varied and common. In the portions of desert that I have been in, it was much rarer to see wildlife, but some areas are better to support wildlife, and in days past there was a lot less development gobbling up the best areas. It seems a common thing somewhere in the start of a book for Kjelgaard’s books to give us a paragraph chalk full of them to help set the stage:

Three hundred yards away, a mule deer that had already browsed its fill and been to water, rested in the shelter of a dry wash. Long-eared jack rabbits went about their various affairs. Gophers ventured a few yards from their dens, then squeaked and scurried back. A heavy-bodied rattlesnake, just emerged from its winter’s den, coiled near a clump of cholla cactus and waited for a pack rat to venture from its spiny nest.

For most of the book, Tawny is learning to survive in the wild. Then he is joined by a collie pup. Mixed in is the conflicts with a pack of wild dogs. There is the leader, Brutus, a lean Alsatian. (I always think it is interesting how they changed the name for a while of German Shepherds during and for a while after World War 2). A bristled Airedale named Rowdy. Joey, a fourteen-inch Beagle. Then Bull, a Pit Bull, and Major, a big cur. Abandoned dogs that learn to survive in the wild and become the villains in the story. While the story is told well, for a dog lover every dog is a precious thing so I take no pleasure when this type of villain is vanquished. (In the book they are not plagued by ticks and disease like I think most wild dogs would eventually succumb to.)

Also entered in the story is Dick Hartson. I think it is interesting how Kjelgaard often uses the full name of his characters. Abandoning the city to go to an old ranch and then out into the desert to make money where he can. At one point he catches over a hundred and twenty-six rattlesnakes and sells them for fifty cents each for the Trail Man’s Club’s banquet. Then he settles in for catching young burro’s for sale. Nice to imagine yourself in his shoes, free and confident in the wild. At one point he thinks:

It seemed that, right here, he had most of the things he’d ever wanted: a horse, a dog, a comfortable camp, and freedom to do work he liked. He wouldn’t ask for another thing.

Another thing you have to just let go is that dogs would get angry and hold grudges. I don’t think dogs get angry. Maybe they can hold grudges. I had a female Westie and a female Boston terrier that I had to keep separated or they would immediately go at it with the Boston drawing first blood. In a book, I know adding this trait gives the dog more character and purpose so I just go with it. Of course the grudge leads to a showdown.

Tawny’s eyes glowed fiercely, but he wasted no breath in growling or snarling as he began the most important race of his life. show less

Tawny Streak is a greyhound, bred and trained for the track. But when his beloved friend and trainer dies, Tawny seizes an opportunity for freedom by heading into the deep desert.

By brains and speed, Tawny quickly discovers how to survive, and thrive, where other abandoned dogs have perished all too quickly.

Can he beat the odds where others have not? And will he ever know again the kindness of a master like the one he lost?

I enjoyed my reread of this book, and would rank it as good, though not quite as good as the author's "Big Red" books.

I am going to give this book 4 stars because I am not a fan of the villains in the story being dogs. The hero dog is Tawny, a large Greyhound whose handler has died. He wanders off into the desert.

In the beginning is some part of the story dealing with dog racing. I went to at least one or two as a kid. Not sure if they even hold dog racing any more because of the negative aspects of breeding and then discarding greyhounds. The book of course had no mention of that side of the sport.

I spent half my life in Arizona so I am familiar with the desert there and the descriptions of the terrain are 100% authentic. The vivid texture of the desert, and then the high country later really makes the book. A lot of us at one time or another would show more love the freedom of living in the wilderness and Kjelgaard’s books feed into this desire.

In the book, wildlife is varied and common. In the portions of desert that I have been in, it was much rarer to see wildlife, but some areas are better to support wildlife, and in days past there was a lot less development gobbling up the best areas. It seems a common thing somewhere in the start of a book for Kjelgaard’s books to give us a paragraph chalk full of them to help set the stage:

Three hundred yards away, a mule deer that had already browsed its fill and been to water, rested in the shelter of a dry wash. Long-eared jack rabbits went about their various affairs. Gophers ventured a few yards from their dens, then squeaked and scurried back. A heavy-bodied rattlesnake, just emerged from its winter’s den, coiled near a clump of cholla cactus and waited for a pack rat to venture from its spiny nest.

For most of the book, Tawny is learning to survive in the wild. Then he is joined by a collie pup. Mixed in is the conflicts with a pack of wild dogs. There is the leader, Brutus, a lean Alsatian. (I always think it is interesting how they changed the name for a while of German Shepherds during and for a while after World War 2). A bristled Airedale named Rowdy. Joey, a fourteen-inch Beagle. Then Bull, a Pit Bull, and Major, a big cur. Abandoned dogs that learn to survive in the wild and become the villains in the story. While the story is told well, for a dog lover every dog is a precious thing so I take no pleasure when this type of villain is vanquished. (In the book they are not plagued by ticks and disease like I think most wild dogs would eventually succumb to.)

Also entered in the story is Dick Hartson. I think it is interesting how Kjelgaard often uses the full name of his characters. Abandoning the city to go to an old ranch and then out into the desert to make money where he can. At one point he catches over a hundred and twenty-six rattlesnakes and sells them for fifty cents each for the Trail Man’s Club’s banquet. Then he settles in for catching young burro’s for sale. Nice to imagine yourself in his shoes, free and confident in the wild. At one point he thinks:

It seemed that, right here, he had most of the things he’d ever wanted: a horse, a dog, a comfortable camp, and freedom to do work he liked. He wouldn’t ask for another thing.

Another thing you have to just let go is that dogs would get angry and hold grudges. I don’t think dogs get angry. Maybe they can hold grudges. I had a female Westie and a female Boston terrier that I had to keep separated or they would immediately go at it with the Boston drawing first blood. In a book, I know adding this trait gives the dog more character and purpose so I just go with it. Of course the grudge leads to a showdown.

Tawny’s eyes glowed fiercely, but he wasted no breath in growling or snarling as he began the most important race of his life. show less

A good survival tale of a racing dog in the desert. By author of Big Red. I'm guessing on when I read it.