A Dog for All Seasons: A Memoir

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More About This Book

Overview

A love letter to the working dog, this heartwarming memoir about life on a sheep farm captures the joys and heartbreak of loving a pet

Patti Sherlock’s working relationship with her Border Collie, Duncan, got her through the ups and downs of sixteen years on a sheep farm in Idaho. During that time, Duncan was an unwavering companion through the destruction of Patti’s marriage, her children inevitably leaving home one by one, and eventually, her decision to stop raising sheep. Patti’s life on the farm is a reflection of beginnings and endings, and the cycle of seasons in all of our lives.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Sherlock, a writer and former sheep farmer, chronicles life with her clever and emotionally-intuitive Border Collie, Duncan, who herded her sheep for 16 years, supported her as she attended to grueling farm work and comforted her as her children left home and her marriage unraveled. We see Duncan as a puppy, so eager to please that he fakes peeing to get the praise he craves, to a preternaturally bright companion and working dog. Clearly the proud parent, Sherlock shares endearing moments that show Duncan's playful and tender sides-his quivering with excitement over the lawn sprinkler and snapping at the stream of water; his fear of thunderstorms and ability to detect them from miles away; his sulks at seeing a suitcase. Tender, wise, and deeply affecting, Sherlock's vignettes will make readers smile and sigh and wish for their own Duncan.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Library Journal
Following such popular canine memoirs as Ted Kerasote's Merle's Door, Sherlock's attempt falls flat. Divorced and raising twin boys on a small Idaho farm, the author marries husband number two after a brief courtship, but they have marital problems, which worsen over time. Their decision to raise pedigreed sheep requires border collies to assist with managing the flock. Sherlock develops a special bond with one dog, Duncan, who is her support system and companion through the upheavals in her life for the next 16 years. VERDICT The writing is detached and almost devoid of feeling and emotion, and there is little opportunity to connect with the characters, including Sherlock. Duncan is the only consistent thread in this disjointed memoir. Not recommended.—EMS

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780312577926
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press
  • Publication date: 3/30/2010
  • Pages: 256
  • Product dimensions: 8.58 (w) x 5.78 (h) x 0.93 (d)

Meet the Author

Patti Sherlock

Patti Sherlock lives on a farm in Idaho. She walks her dogs in fields that are home to hawks, owls, ravens, coyotes, and a family of golden eagles.

Read an Excerpt

Duncan was so eager to work, it was hard to postpone trying him on useful chores, yet I didn’t want to ask too much of him when he was only six months old. But one day when I was carrying an armload of hay, the sheep stampeded me and nearly knocked me over. When I got to the mangers, I dumped the hay and watched it splash like rain onto their wool.

Maybe I could try Charlie Kimball’s suggestion about getting Duncan to keep the flock back. If it proved too much for him or if he created terrible chaos, I would delay a second try for a few more months.

Feeling silly, at the next feeding I sat down on the haystack with him, put my arm around him, and did what Kimball had suggested. “I have a problem, Dunc, and I hope you can help me with it.”

He tilted his ears forward. “It would be better for me and better for the wool if the sheep didn't swarm me."

His face went solemn.

“Do you think you could shoo them off until I’ve finished putting out hay?”

 His mouth fell open in a smile.

 “Okay, let’s go try.”

 Duncan could go into the sheep pens only with permission. “Come on,” I said, and Duncan flew over the fence. He looked at me. What next?

“Shoo ‘em,” I said.

 Maybe it wasn’t the talk I’d had with him. Maybe I conveyed what I wanted psychically, or maybe I told him with body language. Whatever the reason, Duncan, young dog that he was, dashed into the midst of the sheep. Older, big ewes didn’t want to give way to a pup, but he ran at them individually, forcing them to back up.

 I wanted to quit there on a successful note, but decided to push on. “Keep them back, Duncan,” I said. Incredibly, he did. Scarcely believing how easy it was, I filled feeders with hay while Duncan ran back and forth, forcing the complaining, blatting sheep to stand back. From that day, Duncan went into the pens with me whenever I fed.

The sheep still managed to toss hay around when they were eating and some of it went into their wool, but feeding had become pleasant. Instead of being mobbed, I calmly deposited portions of hay while Duncan kept ewes behind an imaginary line. I felt sorry for him; it required so much running and concentration to make sure no ewe busted through. But I learned how much he enjoyed his new job when I was talking to a friend on the phone.

“I’ve taught Duncan to ‘shoo’ the sheep,” I said.

Duncan dashed to the back door, ears perked, hopeful look on his face. He moaned to be let out.

We learned the command “Shoo,” could not be used in conversation at risk of disappointing Duncan. If we said “Shoo,” and didn’t intend to do it right away, Duncan became crestfallen; his ears fell and his body slumped. If we were working sheep in the barn and I said, “Should I call Duncan in to shoo the sheep?” he would suddenly materialize and sail over the fence into the midst of them. The word took on a reverence, said twice a day as a command, the rest of the time spelled out, S-H-O-O.

Amazingly, Duncan could distinguish homonyms. He never once thought he was about to go to work when someone said, “I can’t find my other shoe.”

 

Excerpted from A Dog For All Seasons by Patti Sherlock

Copyright 2010 by Patti Sherlock Published in March 2010 by Thomas Dunne/St. Martin’s Press.

All rights reserved. This work is protected under copyright laws and reproduction is strictly prohibited. Permission to reproduce the material in any manner or medium must be secured from the Publisher.

 

Customer Reviews

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Sort by: Showing all of 6 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 17, 2011

    Hi

    AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can never put this bok down. So beautifully written. Really moving.

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  • Posted July 22, 2011

    Most Enjoyable

    It was clear from the first chapter that this book was going to be an enjoyable read. I fell in love with Duncan, the sheep, the life style, and Patti. She writes about 'the dog of her life' and the bond they shared with humor, admiration,and gratitude. What a lovely tribute to the friend that accompanied and supported her through many of life's seasons. Read it slow and enjoy each moment with them.

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  • Posted July 23, 2010

    Incredible!

    My mind floated over the words as if I were on a floating swim mattress in a pool of blue water on a perfect summer day. What a wonderful way the author has with words. My mind felt so "massaged" every time I read the pages. Thank you for writing this book! It was so uplifting and so beautiful! I love Duncan.

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  • Posted April 4, 2010

    Words can't express...

    The beautiful cover enticed me to read the book. The contents, so wonderfully written and expressed, kept me reading into the late hours.

    Pet lovers will devour this book!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 5, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 23, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

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