The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me

Honey, let's take the dog and move to the country...

Many of us who slog off to work each day wonder what it would be like to undertake a "simpler" life and perhaps spend more time with our dog. Katz did just that and his book gives a good look at the realities of life on a small sheep farm in NJ. Some great laughs and a few tears and the dog does not die at the end! Nicely written and an a book to savor. I enjoyed it enough to give a copy to each of a couple of dog-loving friends.

I DON'T GET IT...

This is the first Jon Katz book I've read and only because I was assured that no dog died.

Instead, he leaves us with the image of a crying mother sheep whose twins stupidly get sold by him while he refuses to even consider retrieving them because, after all, he doesn't really like or love sheep.
If the incident had involved a Border Collie mother, well then, readers might have taken notice of his selective choice to ignore animal pain.
Instead, heaps of praise for his self-imposed isolation.

And what are we supposed to "get" out of this contrived country winter angst among animals he doesn't even enjoy?

And why didn't he just bring FOOD to his sister?

And, weirdest of all, why didn't he simply give HOMER the same love and respect that he gives to the new Lab? (Does Homer's new family REALLY enjoy having him constantly impose himself to confuse their dog?)

Strange stuff.

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A reviewer

I would highly recommend this book. It was beautifully written and really gives you view into the soul of the writer. The characters were easy to identify with. It is a wonderful story that animal & dog lovers will especially enjoy. This was the first book by Katz that I have read and can't wait to read his others. Truly enjoyable.

Inspiation for border Collie owners

This book is truly amazing . John Kats did a great job in writing this book . His tale is like so many people that want to own property and then relize that this was not as easy as they thought. Mr. Kats has many struggles on hisfirst year of farming but no matter what hw does not give up. Eventhough he is riduculed for spending so much money on his animals he manages to pull thru against all odds. This book is heart warming and a ispiration for anyone that has lived or operated a farm thru the winter or anyone that has border collies or knows someone that owns a misunderstood border collie. Great book I recommend it to anyone that wants a book that at points they think it is the end but some how it is just the begining.

Another Winner for Jon Katz

For those of you who have followed the story of author Jon Katz and his dogs through his previous books, his latest will not disappoint you. Katz writes eloquently of his solo life in upstate New York with his 3 dogs, herd of sheep, and two donkeys. If you¿ve ever considered giving it all up and moving to the country to have a gentlemen farm, you should read this book for a dose of reality. Often humorous, always thought provoking, Katz lets the reader in on his trials and triumphs of learning about living with livestock (even in the dead of winter in below zero temperatures) and training his border collies to reach their potential as herding dogs. Especially poignant in this book for those of us in dog Rescue, is his thought process with regard to finding one of his dogs a new home. An excellent musing into why getting a dog may not always be ¿for life¿, the author¿s thoughts are genuine and lend a needed voice to those of us who are jaded from thinking we¿ve heard it all. I found his courage to be every enlightening. if you¿re interested in a solid read about dogs and their interactions with people this book is a must. If you have not already read his previous book, A Dog Year, you may want to read it first as this is a continuation of that work. Both are 5 star reads!

A must read for any dog owner.

This is a must have book. Mr. Katz has managed to make me laugh, cry, and feel fear and resentfulness all within a few pages. Within the pages of this book, I have felt every emotion known to man.

Will dog farming be the next big revolution?

Can people 'truly' discover themselves w/o the aid of fuzzy little loyal ones? Or, better yet, can it be realized as a religious sort of experience, a sort of meditation, a return to Hindu Zero, self and silence?

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