Loved this book..This family and their dogs were fun to read about. The family dog is important to life...everyone needs at least 1

I did not enjoy this book at all. The author repeatedly buys dogs from breeders for hundreds of dollars even though he says he can’t afford it. Many of the dogs have tragic accidents because of negligence and the one dog that lived for a long time, he just dropped off at the vet to be put down. He didn’t even stay to hold it! I am not sure why this family wrote this book. I almost didn’t finish this book because it was so bad.

As a dog lover, I have to say that I enjoyed reading about the four generations of the Walsh family's dogs. The authors didn't shy away from writing about the most difficult part of having a dog, the fact that they live such short lives. These deaths were written about in a way that made me feel for the authors as they experienced that unimaginable pain of losing their pet and having to decide what to do with them after they die. I really appreciated the writing about the happy and sad times of having dogs in the family, as I could relate to many of the stories. Great book!

A charming book describing the importance of having a dog. Another great book that shows love for dogs like A Dog's Purpose.

Three generations of the Walsh family write about their memories of family dogs owned over the years. These dogs remained a constant despite stressful events within the family.
This book truly demonstrates that owning a dog is great for bonding and making memories you will always have. Dogs are a great part of life, teach responsibility to younger members of the family and provide companionship to all.
I was moved to tears when cancer was discovered in little Danni. I can’t think of any dog lover expecting to hear news like this, particularly when many years of companionship [s expected. This also reminded me of my own four legged friends who are up in the great kennel in the sky.
I highly recommend this to dog lovers and perhaps parents thinking of purchasing their first family pet. Enjoy and be prepared to use a tissue now and again.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.

“17 dogs, 3 generations, 70 years. There’s one constant…the family dog” best sums up this charming and at times tragic chronicle of a family’s life with its four-legged members.

Grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. Opinions are mine alone.

#FollowTheDogHome #NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

When I first saw this on Netgalley, I wondered because I thought it had been out for a while? I imagine this is the updated version. Basically this is the story of one family over three generations and the dogs that influenced their lives in the different times. Some dogs are the typical 'good' dogs, but others have behaviour issues or never really warm up to the family fully, and yet they would never have NOT had them. We all know that even a 'bad' dog is a good dog after all.

I liked the changing perspectives as time passed, and the general attitude the family had to dogs as pets and companions. Fair warning, almost all dogs are either petshop or breeder bought, and I know that can be upsetting.

Of course being written over a number of years, some of the dogs pass on too, and I know there are also animal lovers that can't/won't read for this reason. So yeah, just another warning there.

I really enjoyed this one, it was quick and highly readable. Five stars.

I thought this book would be more focused on the dogs but that it would also build a stronger voice. It isn’t in the same league as books by Claire Balding and Monty Don that follow a similar premise. Some very sad tales (no pun intended) and some surprising stories.

This book was not exactly what I had thought the book would be. It is the story of one family over many years, with several dogs as part of it. What amazed me was the fact that throughout the years and with many dogs involved, the family only went to a shelter for a dog once. Instead, there was lamenting because they could not afford the price of a non-shelter, though, for me, shelter dogs are far better dogs and “family” members. Personally, I would have enjoyed it more, and I think the book would have been a much better read if the family had gotten dogs from the local shelter rather than go to a pet store or breeder. Most people who truly feel for dogs do. The story covered more than the family dogs across many years and several dogs: how the family and dog interacted, how the dog changed the family was changed. This it really is not just a book about dogs, as I originally thought it was. There is much more in the book. Perhaps focusing more on the dogs and less on the inner working and actions of the family might have made a more interesting story. I do not know. The book did drag at times, and I found myself wondering whether to skip pages or paragraphs or not to get past whatever it was that I was reading. This a good book for a reader who wants to see how dogs interact with families or for anyone who wants to read through a somewhat interesting family memoir, with dogs included a lot. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.