Dogland made me do a few things - watch a re-run of the Westminster dog show, send a quote about dogs to my brother who has six dogs, fondly remember Ribbon, and Hansel, two dogs from my childhood that changed my life, shed a few tears over the author's personal loss of a dog, and long for a dog for my senior years. Dogland will also move anyone who reads it as Dogland is a delightful book that is a funny, personal and comforting look at how we love dogs and how dogs love us.

It is a must read for anyone who has ever owned a dog. If you enjoy watching the Westminster dog show and the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving, this book details the behind the scenes of these shows and how dog shows began. The book also gives a ton of history of dogs and insights into how dogs evolved to help their fellow animals - the humans.

I loved learning about the history of several breeds mentioned in the book and I laughed at the craziness of the dog show world which is different than merely owning a mutt as a pet, which is the source of the title of the book. In this book we get the benefit of Tommy Tomlinson's three years following dog shows and also speaking with animal scientists about dog behaviors and evolution.. As Mr. Tomlinson enters "Dogland", he earns more respect for these precious animals. The book also made me do another thing and that is eagerly await Mr. Tomlinson's next book.

This book should be a bestseller because it is so well written both touching and irreverent at times, - yes, dogs do pass gas. If you want a feel-good, well-written book that will bring a smile to your face read Dogland. I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers Avid Reader Press and Simon & Schuster for the wonderful experience of reading this book..

Informative and loads of fun and—perhaps most importantly—a love letter to dogs.

This is both sweet and packed with good information on our canine companions, and Tomlinson has a lovely writing style and sense of humor. He captures the bond between human and canine so well, and sparks an interesting debate about the adaptability of dogs and the lives of pets vs dogs with “jobs.”

I loved the little vignettes between chapters ranking things like “best cartoon dogs,” and I also loved how Tomlinson wove the story of show dogs in with the history of dogs in general.

I should note for those like me who are really sensitive to any animal death or cruelty that this is a very safe read in that respect. Apart from the author speaking about when he lost his dog, there’s not much in here that is tough to get through. The book clearly aimed to be a celebration of dogs and of the relationship between dogs and humans, and it succeeded mightily.

I too have often wondered about the day to day interactions between show dogs and their humans. I love watching dog shows but as most of us, I have my favorite breeds and even favorite dogs to cheer for. Tommy Tomlinson answers the questions I had and gives me facts that I didn't know I'd find so fascinating. His writing style is excellent, it's as if he were writing just to me. It's very obvious that he's a dog lover, a member of a club of millions that will find this book equally interesting and entertaining.

I liked this book well enough and learned some things about dog shows, but it felt like the author was stretching a limited amount of content to try to fill a book. I wonder if this would have been a better longform article.

3.5 stars

just a random read and I learned a lot about dogs! nice to be reminded that I’m not the only person obsessed with their dog, especially one that’s a genetic mess (doodle).

Safe to say this book launched me into a deep fascination with the world of dog shows. It satisfied every question I didn’t even know I had and now I’m committed to staying up to date with this fascinating hidden culture

“They booed the poodle.” If I were Tomlinson I would have started off with this sentence and gone for whatever prize it is that the best first sentence of a book gets. Because it’s pretty great. And apparently it happened at one point during the three years the author spent covering dog shows as he prepared to write this wonderful, witty, wise book.

Tomlinson follows Striker (AKC name Vanderbilt ‘N Printemp’s Lucky Strike), a Samoyed, and his handlers, breeders and owners (who aren’t the same people) from the grueling circuit of the lead up shows all the way to the ring of the Westminster Dog Show which is the most famous and prestigious. We also meet and follow Laura King, Striker’s professional handler.

The author goes through the history of dog shows and tells us just enough about the complicated road to Westminster, because it’s a lot for someone with just a passing interest so it’s good he doesn’t get mired in the minutiae. He does the same with the specifics about breed standards and how a dog is shown; I’m sure that after three years of research he could have written a book about just those topics but he just hits the high points, and, even then, you know more than you ever thought you would about forming a stack. Just trust me. He makes it entertaining.

A break here because I can’t discuss this topic without a nod toward what many of you are already thinking about. Apparently the portrayal of dog shows in Christopher Guest’s delicious mockumentary “Best in Show” (if you haven’t seen it, stop whatever you are doing and find it on your favorite streaming service NOW) is fairly accurate.

Striker is a natural. When Tomlinson meets him, he is a rising star and he is poised for the big time. The author notes, “…after a while I could pick out a dog from the crowd and usually be right. I just noticed that some dogs can create joy out of nothing and that joy is transferable. Striker has the vibe.”

And while Striker and the road to Westminster are a main focus in the book there is so much more. I loved the coverage of one of the best things about the internet, the Twitter account for WeRateDogs (15/10, I wish I had though of this account), a general coverage and history of humans and their relationships with dogs (which, obviously, could fill volumes) and sections that brought me to tears about Tomlinson’a dog, Fred and great dogs he has known, and losing dogs. My husband and I had to put our seventeen year old rescue dog, Cutch to sleep on December 19 and while we still have two dogs at home, our hearts still hurt. The great ones hit you like that. Tomlinson captures the feeling so accurately.

Tomlinson comments on the amazing rise in popularity (and price) of French bulldogs (despite their health issues.) If there’s one complaint to be made about DOGLAND, it’s that the author does not touch on the idea that the demand for purebred dogs increases the problem of homeless dogs in the U.S. According to the ASPCA approximately 3.1 million dog enter animal shelters each year, so while dogs like Striker are fun and interesting to read about, great dogs can be had for almost no money at your local animal shelter or rescue. I would feel remiss if I didn’t suggest that people consider adopting a pet.

Before Tomlinson started writing the book, and he was watching Westminster on television he found himself wondering whether dogs are happy. At the end of his three years of covering dogs he felt he had some kind of answer: “one way to make the story make sense is to say this: we long for happiness and dogs long for happiness, and we put up with all the rest just to hold on to that one precious thing.”

I liked the premise of "Dogland" where the author takes you behind the scenes of the dog show world. In the book the author is trying to answer the question, "Are show dogs happy?", where I think he falls short. While there were some funny parts of the book I thought that the story line was all over the place. One moment the author was discussing the final moments in Westminster's Best in Show judge ring to then talking about the 2000 Olympic wrestling match.

Obviously since we cannot verbally communicate with dogs there is no real answer to the author's question of whether show dogs are happy. He should have just stuck to the format of sharing with the audience the history and knowledge of dog shows.

I have too many feelings for a book about dog shows. I watched the 2022 Westminster Dog Show, the centerpiece of this book, with my grandma's dog, and like everyone else, was rooting for Striker. When I found out that he was one of the main characters, I was really excited and he did not disappoint. I never thought I would cry over a dog that's still healthy and alive, which is the mark of some amazing writing. The only thing that was missing was a discussion of diversity in the dog show world, especially about queerness.

A easy to read look behind dog shows such as Westminster. Do dogs really love us? The author follows a Striker, a Samoyed, and his trainer Laurie to various dog shows including Westminster to see what is really involved in showing dogs.

Where to begin with how much I loved this book!? Tomlinson's writing is so authentic and fun you can't help but be yanked right into this crazy world of show dogs and recognize him as a dog-hearted friend. I learned so much about the world of purebred dog showing. It was eye-opening, fair-minded reporting in an entertaining way. (I especially enjoyed the 'pee breaks' and the story of Tomlinson's dog .)

Reading Dogland made me appreciate the work (of dog, owner, trainer, judge), but also reminded this rescue-oriented person that purebred dog owners LOVE their dogs just as much as I love mine. They are all-in, and whether or not I condone (or understand) the breeding for appearances and the resultant health issues it brings, I gained a huge amount of respect for why they do what they do.

I really appreciated the questions raised (and sometimes answered, even unintentionally) as to whether the dogs are happy and why dog shows and the people involved in them do what they do. I enjoyed learning about different dog breeds and the evolution of dogs.

This book is not just engaging and entertaining, but thought-provoking. It will resonate with me for a long time, but more than anything it's given me an appreciation for the people and dogs involved in the dog-show world.

I have always enjoyed hearing about the dog show, but had no idea. This book was jammed packed with details about dogs and the in and outs of the show. I really appreciated the way the author captures it in so many different perspectives. Thank you for the opportunity to read this one!

I've been fascinated by televised dog shows forever, so jumped at the chance to read this behind-the-scenes look. It is totally engaging and perfect for all dog lovers and readers who love beautifully written non-fiction. Highly recommended!

Perfect book about dogs and dog shows.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

This was a fun and engaging look at dog shows—without being too pretensious. Think Best in Show with more facts and less satire.

I’ve had a dog, or dogs, most of the years of my life. The first one arrived around the same time that I arrived. He was my Nana, despite being a male Irish Setter, and not a Newfoundland as in J.M. Barries’ Peter Pan.

When my youngest son was maybe five, he told me he wanted Santa to bring him a dog for Christmas, and so I took him to the library to look at dog books, and brought home a few, but when he saw the Golden Retriever on one of the covers, he knew that was what he wanted. And not just a Golden Retriever, the one on the cover. So I found the breeder, and asked if she had any puppies, and there was just one. She arrived, via plane, on Christmas Eve. A memorable Christmas.

This was an interesting read for me, even though I’d taken some of my dogs to some dog ‘events’ I’ve never been particularly interested in showing them. The fame and the glory for breeders who do love to show their dogs, or have handlers who show them does not compare, for me, the love they give. I’m content with that. At the same time, I love watching these events when they’re televised, even if they rarely pick the one I would for the winner.

The life of a dog handler is not an easy one, although it must be an interesting one, spending so much time going from show to show, bonding with a dog that is not often their own, but hoping for the win, nevertheless. I can’t imagine spending all that time with a dog, bonding with them for years, and then returning them to their owner. I could never do that.

An intriguing glimpse into the life of a show dog, and dog shows. As for the dog who is deemed to be the best of show, I’ve yet to agree with the judges.


Pub Date: 23 Apr 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Avid Reader Press, Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster