From Pulitzer Prize finalist Tommy Tomlinson comes an inside account of the Westminster Dog Show that follows one dog on his quest to become a champion—and explores the bond between dogs and their people.

Tommy Tomlinson was watching a dog show on television a few years ago when he had a sudden thought: Are those dogs happy? How about pet dogs—are they happy? Those questions sparked a quest to venture inside the dog-show world, in search of a deeper understanding of the relationship between dogs and humans that has endured for thousands of years. Dogland shares his surprising, entertaining, and moving adventures.

Tomlinson spends three years on the road and goes behind the scenes at more than one hundred competitions across the country, from Midwestern fairgrounds to Madison Square Garden. Along the way he is licked, sniffed, and rubbed up against by dogs of nearly every size, shape, and breed. Like a real-life version of the classic mockumentary Best in Show, Dogland follows one champion show dog—a Samoyed named Striker—as well as his handler, Laura King, and his devoted entourage of breeders and owners as he competes in the 2022 Westminster Dog Show.

Striker’s whole career has been leading up to this moment. As Tomlinson writes, picking a top show dog is like drafting an NFL quarterback when they’re still in elementary school. Now Striker has made it to the Super Bowl. Tomlinson takes readers on the long road to glory, bringing the dog-show circuit to life as he witnesses teams scrambling from town to town in search of championship points and large, colorful ribbons. (Striker and his crew travel in a custom-built RV named after Betty White.)

Tomlinson’s limitless curiosity about people and dogs reaches far beyond the show tents and into the ordinary lives of dogs. We hear from experts who have discovered new insights into how dogs and humans formed their bond—and how that bond has changed over the centuries. We discover the fascinating origins of different dog breeds, learn about the elaborate breed standards that determine an ideal show dog, and consider the health issues that can arise in purebred dogs. We also meet dog lovers who applaud every dog, regardless of breed, simply for being themselves, such as WeRateDogs, the social media phenomenon with millions of followers, all for posts celebrating the day-to-day goofiness in most dog owners’ lives.

Engaging, charming, and insightful, Dogland is an irresistibly appealing read that invites us on a rollicking backstage tour through the rituals, tricks, and wonders of the dog-show world—and reveals what matters most for the happiness of dogs and dog lovers everywhere.

CW – deaths of loved pets is discussed. The word that properly refers to a female dog is widely used as it is in the fancy.

Review

I grew up with cats. My parents couldn’t agree on what type of dog to get so they compromised on a Siamese cat. It wasn’t until I was an adult and had the space and means that I got my first dog. Eventually I found my breed and more eventually I got to live with a retired show dog. As I pitched it to the publishers to be allowed access to this book, I didn’t finish this dog to his championship. He was a sweetheart who still stopped traffic when we took our daily walks. He got half of my sofa and I got the other half. But I did often wonder, as he lazed away the afternoons, was he happy out of the spotlight? Did he miss those days?

Author Tomlinson goes into the book with a similar question. As he watched a dog show on TV, he too wondered, are those dogs happy? And so he began a years-long journey into the world of showing dogs, one I know a little bit about from having been around dog people and show dog people. I used to go to a “cluster” of shows near where I live and can attest that what he describes about them hasn’t changed from what I saw years ago.

The dog and handler Tomlinson ultimately decided to focus on are Striker a Samoyed and Laura King his professional handler. We learn about how Striker was chosen from his litter as a promising puppy and how he’s lived with King and her partner for over two years on the road to greatness. Stryker is a MBIS (multiple best in show) winner and over the course of the book, his last show – Westminster 2022 – is detailed. I do wonder why an Afghan hound is on the cover instead of the Samoyed who was followed for so much of the book but whatever.

There’s a lot more in the book than just dog shows and show dogs including some short breaks for interesting dog facts, what might be the history of human and first dogs, many things that dogs are capable of doing and tales of Tomlinson’s dog Fred and Scott Van Pelt’s dog Otis. Tomlinson doesn’t shy away from talking about how show dogs are all basically inbred and many suffer from health problems that are visible such as breathing problems for brachycephalic (flat faced) dogs and difficulty whelping for dogs with narrow hips (both of which the now popular Frenchies have) or maybe not visible such as deafness in Dalmatians, heart issues in Dobermans, and a tendency for bloat in bigger, leaner dogs. We have bred these dogs and thus we are the ones who have landed them with these things.

Now about the answer regarding dog happiness? Well, dogs could probably teach a master class in making us think they are happy and like us because they discovered eons ago that life with us is a bit easier than life without us and they know which side their bread is buttered on or rather which bowl their kibble is poured into. Tomlinson says that in all the shows he attended, he never saw any dog abuse. The most he remembers? Maybe a few dogs looking bored. He did see dogs and owners/handlers paying close attention to each other, smiling (and Sammys always look like they’re smiling), and while he was talking to a handler, her dog (Scottish deerhound called Claire named after guess who) watching them, content to be there.

Dogs give us so much. Mostly, they just want to be there with us. One time I took my retired show dog to a specialty show near me. At first he perked up as if to say, “Oh, I’m going to do this again? Okay.” When we just stood by various rings and watched he settled down and seemed to enjoy doing just that, with me. Then we came home, he jumped on the sofa and we watched a bit of mindless TV. Was he happy at the show again? Maybe. Was he happy to be back home? Yes, he was.

This book is informative, chatty, thought provoking, and will give you plenty of inside scoop on “the fancy” as the dog showing world is known. And yes, they know about the spoof movie “Best in Show.” For a lovely tribute to one family’s dog, type “One Big Thing: Otis the King | SC with SVP” into the search function on youtube. Have some tissues handy. B

~Jayne

AmazonBNKoboBook DepositoryGoogle

"Sleeping Dogs," starring Russell Crowe as a retired cop with Alzheimer’s disease, is a half-rusted scrap heap of a detective mystery. It’s patchy, it’s badly lit, it’s overly glum, it’s overloaded with suspects, and it’s almost proud of its contrivances. Yet in its logy, booby-trapped way, it does keep you watching.

An intimate account—the first from a trail veterinarian—of the canines who brave the challenges of the Iditarod.

Few sporting events attract as much attention, or create as much spectacle, as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Each March, despite subzero temperatures and white-out winds, hundreds of dogs and dozens of mushers journey to Anchorage, Alaska, to participate in “The Last Great Race on Earth,” a grueling, thousand-mile race across the Alaskan wilderness.

While many veterinarians apply, only a small number are approved to examine the elite canine athletes who, using solely their muscle and an innate drive to race, carry handlers between frozen outposts each year, risking injury, illness, and fatigue along the way. In Four Thousand Paws, award-winning veterinarian Lee Morgan—a member of the Iditarod’s expert veterinary corps—tells the story of these heroic dogs, following the teams as they traverse deep spruce forests, climb steep mountain slopes, and navigate over ice-bound rivers toward Nome, on the coast of the Bering Sea, where the famed Burled Arch awaits.

Review

I’ve circled back to read about and watch (online) the Iditarod dog sled race for years and reviewed “Broken Trails” a number of years ago. “Four Thousand Paws” interested me because it promised to show the side of the volunteer veterinarians who endure frigid temps, crap coffee, white knuckle small plane rides, among other things, to take care of the medical needs of the dogs and ensure their health and safety.

Morgan begins with his credentials as a vet from Washington, DC who got interested in helping with the race and who submitted an application to be a part of the team caring for the race dogs. Despite not yet having the job, he bought and loaded up all the (extensive) cold weather clothing required and flew to Anchorage. Luckily for him, he was among the chosen. From there he talks about what is expected of the vets and other volunteers – mainly cheerfully but carefully do your job, pitch in where needed, and never say “It’s not my job.”

There are strict guidelines to be followed for checking the dogs and signing off that this has been done. Vets are there to be sure the dogs are healthy and fit for the next part of the race. If a dog needs to be dropped, most often the musher will already be aware and willing to do so for the safety of the dog. Dropped dogs are not just abandoned but kept together until they can be flown back to Anchorage and then kept there until the musher retrieves them. Dogs that need immediate attention – such as when a man on a snowmobile attacked two teams one year – will be airlifted especially rather than wait for a group trip.

There’s more to the race for Morgan than just his official duties and he talks about the various checkpoints where he’s worked and some of the more colorful aspects of life there. He shows great respect for the people and history of Alaska. The book is also loaded with photos. He’s been volunteering for years and has combined his experiences based on checkpoints rather than tell just the story of any particular year. One thing I like is that he doesn’t skimp on times where he made mistakes – like letting a dropped dog get too close to the food supplies, even if he didn’t fess up to the musher whose supplies got eaten – or fell prey to the elements – such as when he sank up to his neck in a snow drift right in sight of the teams leaving a checkpoint and a (gleeful) journalist there to capture the day.

The Iditarod officials have gotten better and stricter since the beginning of the race in ensuring that the dogs are well taken care of and their needs are seen to. Mushers have often bred their dogs and raised them from puppies and thus have a close bond with them. Morgan can often tell veteran dogs as they know the drill when it comes to being examined by the vets at the checkpoints. Other times, he’s been the victim of dog pranks by playful rookies. Morgan obviously enjoys taking part in the race and it was fun to read about his experiences. B

~Jayne

Veterinary Center – Iditarod

• Dog Care: Dog health and care are central to the success of The Iditarod, providing a platform for international research on dog health, nutrition and safety. Each year, research studies through our partnerships with universities and veterinarians have led to breakthrough discoveries that improve the lives of all dogs. The Race has adopted the “Best Standards of Trail Dog Care Practices” for sled dog kennels, with a focus on the health and happiness of the dogs, while supporting the goals of the competitive mushers. The official Iditarod Veterinarian team assesses kennel standards year-round and provides ongoing educational opportunities for mushers.

AmazonBNKoboBook DepositoryGoogle

Housebroke is a perfectly charming romance that is lighter than air and that has very little active conflict. There is no reason for this couple not to begin registering for wedding gifts by, oh, say, Chapter Three. This is a lovely couple whose problems consist of one of them having too much money. In other words, a non-problem. For goodness sake, Hazel, open the dog shelter of your dreams and get on with the relationship that you are clearly going to have. For me, the book was a lovely escapist read.

Here’s the publisher’s description:

After her ex took all their money and bailed, Hazel Bristow is left broke and homeless. A kind friend whose home is on the market lets Hazel and her foster dogs stay there until it sells. It’s the perfect setup, until her friend forgets to tell Hazel she’s sold the house.

Linc Kennedy is shocked to find Hazel and her pups squatting in the house he just bought, but after some negotiating—she offers to cook amazing meals for him in return for a paycheck—he agrees to let her remain while he’s renovating the place. Linc tells Hazel he’s an investor who renovates homes for fun—he just leaves out the part about being wealthy.

Hazel’s intrigued by Linc. He’s funny, sweet, ridiculously hot, and loves dogs almost as much as she does. But her track record with men? Not great. She worries her trust meter isn’t in working order.

Linc’s never met anyone like the quirky beauty who puts everyone’s needs—human and canine—before her own. He didn’t tell her about his wealth because he’s been burned by women who only wanted him for his money. But with Hazel, he’s never felt more like himself. Now he has to figure out how to tell her the truth without losing her. Because Linc realizes what he feels for her isn’t puppy love—it’s true love.

This is a romance built on forced, if somewhat unlikely, proximity.

As I mentioned, the story is a lovely escapist romance, and that will be especially true if:

• You love dogs, but don’t want to clean up dog poop or dog hair. These are the most well-behaved, clean, easy-going dogs ever. Although one does throw up at one point. Three times! On the bed! And the floor, which Linc cleans up! Hero material right there. But other than that, these are very clean doggies.
• You like the idea of cooking but not the actual work. There are no dishes in this story. Maybe the dogs lick them clean. We hear a lot about the results of Hazel’s cooking, but not the process.
• You love house renovation stories without the inconvenience of enduring an actual house renovation. Linc cleans up his work beautifully at the end of every day. Hazel gets to help pick out paint colors. It’s all very cozy and delightful. No bad smells, no mess, no splinters.
• You like the idea of running a restaurant as long as it isn’t too taxing. I’m currently babysitting a four-year-old who dreams of being “a doctor who fixes people and also animals, and a ballerina, and also an astronaut.” That is who Hazel, who wants to run her own restaurant and also a dog shelter, reminds me of. I’d say that she should watch The Bear, except that in this cozy but otherwise contemporary world, she could TOTALLY own, manage, and cook in her own restaurant and also run a dog shelter. If she wanted to, she could probably also be a ballerina and an astronaut.
• You bask in the idea of being a strong, independent woman whose partner just happens to buy you food and clothes. I’m not saying that Hazel is a bit of a hypocrite – no, actually, that is totally what I’m saying. Hazel knows Linc is rich, because he takes her to fancy places and buys her pretty things. She’s only angry when she finds out HOW rich he is, at which point she freaks out about her independence. And frankly, it made perfect sense that Linc did not immediately tell her that he was rich. So I got a little annoyed with Hazel.
• You long for a multimillionaire who is a fine and upstanding person with no moral flaws. I can’t remember how Linc ended up a multimillionaire, but don’t worry! He’s a great and ethical guy! See, there IS ethical consumption under capitalism! Hooray!

I realize that a certain cynicism is leaking out of my keyboard here, but the truth is, I really enjoyed this book. I WOULD like to live in a scenario in which I have lots of pets but hardly any work to do, and I WOULD like to live in a very nice house, with a guesthouse and a pool, that I get to decorate once the remodeling is done. I WOULD like for that remodeling to be interesting but also so unobtrusive that it might as well be conducted by Brownies as I sleep.* I would LOVE to be pampered by an ethical millionaire. While my cold and callous brain finds these bullet point items to be ridiculous, my squishy heart just absolutely adores them.

I admired Hazel for working so hard for what she has after a disastrous first marriage that destroyed her economically. I also admire anyone who fosters animals, and this book does a great job of showing how it can be incredibly rewarding but also emotionally taxing. And I admired Hazel’s determination to be independent, to avoid letting her next relationship define her in the way that her first marriage did. I got frustrated with Hazel sometimes, but I understood her motivations. Linc was…fine. He’s a hot, rich guy who loves working with his hands, playing with dogs, and also playing with small children. He needed a flaw or two to round him out, but even his interactions with his family were delightful.

Housebroke is a fantasy just as much as if it had unicorns prancing through its pages. However, it’s a well written, thoughtful fantasy which takes its time in building a relationship between Hazel and Linc. It includes a fun group of supporting characters, human and otherwise. It has humor and sexy times.

In short (yes, I know, too late) this is a nice comfort read. It takes its characters and their romance seriously, but it won’t overwhelm you with painful feelings. The dogs are all happy, which is the most important thing, and Linc and Hazel are genuinely enjoyable people to spend time with. I recommend this book if you want a comfort read with dogs and food. Sometimes that’s enough.

*If you have Brownies, don’t thank them, and don’t give them clothes! Put out a bowl of milk! The more you know!

Welcome back to Wednesday Links, where we are in full grump mode!

You know that anticipation right before a holiday break, but then everything just seems to be going haywire. That’s where I’m at! Anyone in the same boat?

In major news, Toast let me pet his belly! Linus doesn’t even let me do that. Toast still isn’t sure what petting actually is, but he’s trying and sometimes, he’s just not into it and that’s okay. Regardless, he’s come a very long way from his adoption back in May where he would just spend most of his time in his cat carrier. I remember we installed a cat cam, just to make sure he was coming out to eat and drink.

In the States, we’re getting ready for Thanksgiving. My personal favorite dish is mashed potatoes, especially ones on the chunkier side. What are your favorite foods for this holiday?

…

If you’re in the New England area or are looking for something to do in Vermont, the Golden Retriever Experience seems well worth it. For $75, you get to play with 10 golden retrievers for an hour.

…

More New England things! I just discovered the podcast Explain Boston to Me where people discuss historical moments or quirky, cultural rituals from the area. I feel like there are plenty of towns and cities across the U.S. that could have a similar podcast. Feel free to share your town’s weird local history or traditions!

…

More romance bookstore news! Grand Gesture Books is coming to Portland, Oregon in the new year! Congrats!

https://twitter.com/blktinabelcher/status/1727054019745763596

…

As someone who loves Star Wars, I thought this article on Tor about the Gothic ancestry of The Empire Strikes Back was really interesting!

…

Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!

 

She puts everything on the line for her patients, but is this paramedic willing to risk her heart for a gorgeous doctor and his adorable son? Dive into the first story in the Paramedics and Pups duet from Harlequin Medical Romance author Marion Lennox.

Colleagues, housemates…

Soulmates?

After a disastrous relationship, paramedic Jenny needs this fresh start in remote Willhua. When her living arrangements fall through, gorgeous local doc Rob offers Jenny and the injured pup she’s just rescued a room. Their immediate chemistry is overwhelmingly intense, but it’s clear this single dad’s life is currently in limbo—placing him firmly off-limits! Jenny’s scared to open herself up again. Is this instant family worth taking a chance on?

Dear Ms. Lennox,

I find myself at a bit of a loss about grading this book. On the one hand, parts of it are lovely. Jacob, hero Rob’s four year old son, is a delight. I’m not usually a fan of children in romances but for Jacob I’d make an exception. Rob and Jen are caring and wonderful people. Rob made the decision to stay in small, rural Willhua because of the desperate need the small community has for a family medicine doctor. Jen chose to go there from Sydney after a disastrous break-up from a toerag (asshole). They click immediately both medically and personally. But wow, there is a big reason why Rob is “Off-Limits” and I’m torn about this.

For a small town, Willhua is packed with medical needs. It seems as if disaster after disaster after incident occurs. There are deaths, there are cancer patients, there is an unwed eighteen year old who has been hiding her pregnancy from her parents and the world because of how it occurred (and I needed to see

I didn’t get this), there are people frantic to make sure that their livestock are looked after, plus two dogs who lose their person who need (and yay, get) new homes. And that’s before the dam overflows after torrential rains and the whole valley needs rescuing. The hits just kept coming. 

But there are charming scenes of Jen getting to know irrepressible Jacob (and we can see how good a dad Rob is to have achieved this despite being run off his conscientious feet). Stubby the corgi is a sweet delight. I approve of the fact that Jen tells Rob the whole sordid truth of what she ran from, I approve that Rob tells Jen about his marriage and the horrible outcome of his wife’s pregnancy. There’s one thing that Jen doesn’t find out about until after she boldly proposes a night of mutual enjoyment (which they both enjoy a lot). That one detail sent me – and Jen – into a spin. 

It’s a small town and people sure do talk so I can understand why Rob might have just assumed that Jen had been told and that she knew. After what happened to her in Sydney, finding out what she didn’t know was devastating to her. She was told about how Rob’s grief stricken in-laws have acted over the past four years and Jen herself gets a taste of this. It’s …. a lot. It’s a tragic situation – there’s anger and grief enough to go around. And I’m still conflicted about Jen and Rob’s relationship. I mean really conflicted. On the one hand, these are two people who, along with Jacob, deserve to be happy. On the other hand … wow. This

might be a step too far for a lot of people. This is a bold authorial choice and I happily grade part of it a B+ but the rest, no matter how conscientiously and tenderly portrayed, is not what I’m looking for in a romance. B+/C-

I look forward to what people’s thoughts are.

~Jayne      

 

AmazonBNKoboBook DepositoryGoogle

Welcome back to Wednesday Links!

For those who had a long weekend, was it relaxing? One of my best friends was back in town from Los Angeles and I had such a good time seeing her. I also started listening to audiobooks while I game. Shoutout to Agatha of the She Wore Black podcast for inspiring me to give this a try. I tore through a 10hr book in a little under two days. Now I’m stuck searching for my next listen. (Sadly, I was loving Perils of Pleasure by Julie Anne Long on audio but had to return my loan before I could finish it. Back to the hold queue I go!)

Now I’m back to trawling the “available now” option at my local library.

…

Rachel sent this link my way! Thanks, Rachel! Fans are influencing authors and their works, which some find both “exciting and terrifying.”

…

I’m a sucker for a long-form article with plenty of secrets and scandal. This one features the unraveling of an art dynasty. (I believe this is a gifted link, so I hope this works for you!)

…

I will never pass up a chance to look at some cute animals! Trails and Bears is an Instagram account that features adoptable dogs going on adventures. The dogs and the account owner are based in Canada.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rachael Rodgers (@trailsandbears)

…

Need more book recommendations? Tor has five African urban fantasy books you might want to check out!

…

Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!

Lane Factor spent most of his teen years on camera, growing up on FX’s “Reservation Dogs.” The hitseries premiered in 2021 and comes to an end in September after three seasons. Factor plays Cheese Williams, one of the show’s four Indigenous teenagers living on the “rez” in rural Oklahoma. The Oklahoma native, who is of […]

Perhaps it’s coincidence, or serendipity, but two of the best-reviewed shows on television happened to both return at the same time with new seasons last week — and both put Native storytelling and Indigenous characters front and center. FX’s “Reservation Dogs” and AMC’s “Dark Winds” have a few things in common — starting, of course, […]

In what may be one of the most powerful and stirring episodes of the entire run of FX’s “Reservation Dogs,” the series this week took on the horror of assimilation “Indian boarding schools” — and attempt by the government in the 19th and 20th centuries to erase Native culture from the country. It’s another dark […]

Welcome back to Wednesday Links!

I’m currently on a social interaction hiatus and wow, does it feel great not to make plans for a while. I’m also not as motivated to leave my home when it’s above 85 degrees. No, thank you!

In monumental news, our shy Toast (the cat we adopted in May who was rescued from a hoarding situation) walked up to my hand and gave it a sniff. It’s the first time he’s willingly come close to a human when food isn’t involved. And yes, I immediately burst into tears. He’s come such a long way in a few months. Do any of you have pet victories you want to share?

…

It’s no secret that we’re in support of unions. If you’ve been following the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, here are a couple ways to help those writers and actors. And, if your own work as been affected by the strike, there are resources for you as well. If anyone has additional suggestions, drop them in the comments!

…

Lara is on TikTok, discussing books and reading challenges! You can find her at lara.loves.readin. If any of you are on TikTok, feel free to give her a follow.

…

This has pretty much filled my and my partner’s free time the last few days. You can browse channels from particular decades and revisit old cartoons, commercials, and more. The 90s cartoons and informercials really tap into some core memories.

…

Need a feel good story? For her father’s 100th birthday, a woman put out a call. Her dad just wanted to sit outside and pet some dogs. Well…over 200 dogs showed up to celebrate.

…

Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!