Old Dogs, Old Friends: Enjoying Your Older Dog - Hardcover

This brief book is to dog training what the Xeroxed Christmas letter is to the epistolary art. It magnifies the mundane, seems to take greeting-card-type imagery as inspiration, and reminds us yet again that sincerity is not a literary virtue. Veterinarian Wilcox and American Kennel Gazette columnist Walkowicz (coauthors of Successful Dog Breeding ) obviously adore pets, especially the aged animals referred to here as "seniors," "Grandmas," "Gramps," "oldsters" and so on, even if they do go in for a certain amount of sour-grapes-ish puppy-bashing ("The old dog does not give his heart as freely as the noisy, fickle young"). Aside from a lengthy and careful discussion alerting the reader to symptoms of illness and signs of physical deterioration, however, their comments are largely sentimental: "A houseful of dogs and people should be like a heart. No matter how many are in it, a special corner should always be reserved for a special dog." Owners are advised to "plant more memories to bud and bloom forever" via various forms of canine competitions, photograph-taking and video-making. A final section discusses the death of beloved pets.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Using well-written case histories, the authors discuss rescuing older dogs, foster homes, grooming, play, and the special joys of living with a senior dog. Unlike Robert Anderson and Barbara Wrede's physical health approach in Caring for Older Cats and Dogs ( LJ 6/1/90), this book is devoted solely to canines, emphasizing the psychological/emotional aspects of selecting and growing old with a pet. The writers deal with relevant topics, including death and bereavement, with realism and sensitivity. While this pleasant book consoles and inspires, it offers a minimum of advice on nutrition, genetics, stress, veterinary care, and the special diseases of aging. Still, this would be a good companion to Anderson and Wrede's book, and both books should be considered for most public libraries.
- Natalie Kupferberg, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., New York
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.