Book Nook: Woof! A Love Story of Dogs, Music, and Life

We just got a dog this summer, and I'm a music teacher, so I was intrigued by the book Woof! A Love Story of Dogs, Music, and Life. The book was a heartwarming look at dogs owned by the author. Each dog gets its own brief chapter of recollections and memories. For anyone who has owned a dog - especially those who have owned or cared for a number of dogs in their lives - this book is a heartwarming look at another dog-lover's relationship with his pets.

I had a chance to interview the author to learn more.

Why did you decide to write this book?

My dear wife of 42 years was ill with terminal cancer. I wrote the book to bring a little joy into her life as she approached the end. How we fell in love and were married is described in the introduction. How we said goodbye is told in the epilogue.

What was the most surprising part about owning dogs?

Though all dogs are loyal, faithful, and true, each of them has a personality of his or her own, just as we humans do.

What were some of your dogs' favorite activities?

As Malcolm Gladwell points out in his essay "What the Dog Saw," a dog spends his principal focus on observing his or her master - listening carefully not only to what we say, but also listening carefully to our tones of voice and watching our body language.

What were your favorite things about being a dog owner?

The unswerving loyalty and friendship that a dog brings one's life.

We had 17 tenured dogs and a series of guests: 11 golden retrievers and 6 American dogs. 
Golden retrievers are wonderful animals, handsome, friendly, eager to love and be loved. But American dogs are even better.  They are, like the rest of us Americans, creatures of mixed heritage, the result of mixed marriages between nationalities and races. I am myself the proud grandfather of two wonderful Chinese-American  grandsons, both unusually good-looking, highly intelligent, and star baseball and basketball players.