A Life With Dogs

by Roger Welsch

They can make a grown man coo baby talk in public and a strong woman weep like a little schoolgirl. They seldom perform any practical function in our modern, mechanized society, yet people are willing to spend more on vet bills than on their kids college tuition. They pee on our carpets, shred our living room furniture, and poop on our sidewalks, yet we love these critters more than we love life itself. Why do little beasts have such control over us simple human beings? That is the question dog nut Roger Welsch explores in A Life With Dogs. Ultimately Welsch concludes that there is no answer as to why we shower so much affection on our dogs. In A Life With Dogs, Roger Welsch has written one of his most entertaining volumes yet, a collection of essays reflecting on mankind's significant other, the dog. Roger's love of dogs is apparent in every page of this book, and his enthusiasm for the subject adds a level of sparkle to his wit that transcends even his beloved tractor books.- You'll laugh, and if you are human you'll cry- Why dogs deserve the name "Fido," Latin for "I am Faithful"- Resources to help rescue dogs

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2004

About the author

Roger Lee Welsch (November 6, 1936 – September 30, 2022) was an American news reporter who was a senior correspondent on the CBS News Sunday Morning program, and was featured in a segment called "Postcards from Nebraska." An author, humorist and folklorist, Welsch was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, the only son of Christian Welsch, who worked in a Goodyear tire factory and Bertha (Flach) Welsch, a homemaker.[1] He lived outside of Dannebrog, Nebraska.

Welsch earned a bachelor's degree in 1958 and a master's degree in 1960, both in German and both at the University of Nebraska. He also studied folklore at the University of Colorado and Indiana University.[1]

Welsch was the 2005 winner of the Henry Fonda Award from the State of Nebraska Travel and Tourism Division.

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another COVID-19, happened to be on my bookshelves unread, the libraries are closed book.

I am a dog and animal lover. So, someone that kills feral cats, dumps cats, and shoots squirrels with a shot gun is not my kind of guy.

He does not over represent his knowledge on the subject. On page 281 he writes "...what I know about dogs is only what I know about the dogs I've known. It's all anecdotal. I've done no studying on the subject beyond sitting in my backyard hammock, smoking a cigar or downing a cold drink, and watching my own dogs in action. So, I don't know much about dogs." This is apparently true from what is written in this book.

I'm sure there are people who enjoy this book. I am just not one of them.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful combination of warmth, Roger’s unique humor and philosophy. And of course, dog stories!

[Marissa Genta Pineda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm almost through this book and I love good animal stories. The author reminds me of a country uncle and has some great "fish stories" that he's collected about dogs. The author states that he is not an expert on dogs, he's just writing about them because he loves them so much as a species. It's basically a bunch of musings on the nature of canines, the human relationship with them in history and lots of good "belly laugh" stories about his own critters and others he has known.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting collection of short stories about the dogs that have come and gone in the life of Roger Welsch and his wife Linda. It is a good book. I have a couple of complaints. First not enough funny stories to balance the sad to very sad stories. Second I did not care for the jumping back and forth between times periods.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I found myself in tears at places and I made sure to love on my Mr. Mosby lots after reading this.