If like me you loved Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote you will be interested to know that Ted has a new book coming out very soon. Pukka: The Pup After Merle will be out in October, but you can have a sneak peek at some of the photos in the book at Ted's website.
You can hear an interview with Ted about Merle's Door in Episode 64 of DogCast Radio. To whet you appetite here's some more information about Merle's Door:
If you haven't read "Merle's Door" by Ted Kerasote, you've missed out on a treat. This is an amazing book that tells the story of a man and a dog living in harmony.
Ted met Merle when the dog was around ten months, and living wild in the Utah desert. Ted was on vacation taking a river trip, and Merle ended up traveling down the river with him and his friends. At the end of the trip a bond had been formed, and Merle accompanied Ted back to Wyoming.
Ted's home in Kelly is in the middle of a national park, and the dogs living there are afforded freedom which would be impractical in most areas. Having lived alone, Merle had become independent, and wanted to come and go on his own timetable. To enable this, Ted installed a dog door - Merle's door. Man and dog could then develop their own routine.
This is no ordinary tale of man meets dog. Merle had clear ideas of his own, and he gave Ted an insight into the dog world. He had a way of communicating which Ted had a way of translating.
Reading this will make you smile and make you cry, it will educate you and it will make you examine your attitude towards your own dog. In this interview you can hear Ted talk about his and Merle's journey together - from how they met, to what Merle showed him about the natural world to how Ted coped with the eventual loss of his best friend.
Adding another aspect to the book is the research included, which is presented in a very accessible way. Dog lovers will find the wolf research cited particularly interesting and relevant to dog ownership.
You may not be able to give your dog total freedom, but hear how Ted advocates enhancing his life.
I'm hoping to interview Ted again soon so you'll be able to her all about Pukka and Ted's adventures. I have a feeling that Merle would approve of Ted having canine companionship to enhance his life again.
Take care,
Julie xx