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I'm Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship: Hilarious, Heartwarming Tales About Man's Best Friend from America's Favorite Humorists
An anthology of bark-out-loud original essays about dogs from some of today's most popular writers. Critically acclaimed memoirist Wade Rouse has gathered some of America's best known humorists- authors, comedians, and actors-to offer biting commentary on what it means to share a life, and a heart, with a dog. From battling for bed space to trying to transform a pampered NYC pup into a Texas rawhide, and from helping a shelter rescue navigate through her new life to interpreting dog run dynamics (and politics), being a canine companion has challenges as tough as any agility course, but laughter is just a tail-wag away. This collection features uncanny insight and witty prose from...
Jen Lancaster Rita Mae Brown Laurie Notaro Jane Green Beth Harbison W. Bruce Cameron and many others, including a Foreword by Chelsea Handler's dog, Chunk
Jen Lancaster Rita Mae Brown Laurie Notaro Jane Green Beth Harbison W. Bruce Cameron and many others, including a Foreword by Chelsea Handler's dog, Chunk
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2011
72 people are currently reading
932 people want to read
About the author
Wade Rouse
13 books227 followersWADE ROUSE is the critically acclaimed author ofthe memoirs America’s Boy, Confessions of a Prep School Mommy Handler, and At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream and editor of the upcoming humorous dog anthology I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship!He is a humor columnist for Metrosource magazine. Rouse lives outside Saugatuck, Michigan, with his partner, Gary, and their mutts, Marge and Mabel.
(source: Amazon)
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
December 6, 2023
I'm Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship is a must read for all dog lovers. Each tale is remarkably unique, although the common thread of unconditional love for "man's best friend" is clear. While the voices and dialects may change, the compassion and gratitude for these four-legged creatures remains steadfast. This book is packed with stories that are interesting, hilarious, familiar and sometimes, sweetly sad. I enjoyed every paragraph in the is book, enjoying many of my favorite writers and discovering some new favorites. I highly recommend this book to anyone that has ever loved a dog.
October 9, 2019
I love dogs.
No, I REALLY
dogs!
But, even I can get a little weary of endless stories about all the nifty things someone's little poopsie-whoopsie does on a daily basis. That's not to say this is a bad book; just that, even for dog lovers, it can get a little . . . tiresome. Also, since the subtitle mentions that these are tales by America's favorite humorists, well, I expected to laugh more. A lot more.
There were some funny lines. Like this one by Alec Mapa:
If you live a good life, you get to come back as a gay couple's dog.
And Sarah Pekkanen's referring to a family of sleeping pugs as snorting, farting Hot Pockets.
(I see, though thankfully, do not smell, the resemblance.)
AND, then there is Jen Lancaster's entire essay, which was so funny, I vowed to read EVERYTHING this woman has written. Having once adopted a slightly-used Schipperke who had been born in a Lancaster County puppy mill, I must agree with Jen's assessment - The Amish - great cabinet makers, bad breeders. (They're also lousy at fixing cracks in your chimney, but that's another rant.)
If you are completely gaga over our canine pals, by all means, read this book. You'll get some enjoyment out of it. You'll also be pleased to know that a great number of the dogs rhapsodized over in the essays were once shelter denizens.
No, I REALLY
dogs!But, even I can get a little weary of endless stories about all the nifty things someone's little poopsie-whoopsie does on a daily basis. That's not to say this is a bad book; just that, even for dog lovers, it can get a little . . . tiresome. Also, since the subtitle mentions that these are tales by America's favorite humorists, well, I expected to laugh more. A lot more.
There were some funny lines. Like this one by Alec Mapa:
If you live a good life, you get to come back as a gay couple's dog.
And Sarah Pekkanen's referring to a family of sleeping pugs as snorting, farting Hot Pockets.
(I see, though thankfully, do not smell, the resemblance.)
AND, then there is Jen Lancaster's entire essay, which was so funny, I vowed to read EVERYTHING this woman has written. Having once adopted a slightly-used Schipperke who had been born in a Lancaster County puppy mill, I must agree with Jen's assessment - The Amish - great cabinet makers, bad breeders. (They're also lousy at fixing cracks in your chimney, but that's another rant.)
If you are completely gaga over our canine pals, by all means, read this book. You'll get some enjoyment out of it. You'll also be pleased to know that a great number of the dogs rhapsodized over in the essays were once shelter denizens.
July 31, 2019
A Must Read for all dog lovers. You will laugh, you will cry, you will run home and hug your dogs for a very long time.
April 11, 2016
If you love dogs, you should read this book. If you're thinking of getting a dog, you should read this book. It will either confirm that a dog will be the best thing that ever happened to you, or send you screaming in the other direction. As the title suggests, this is a series of stories about different writers and their dogs. While they are very different in many ways, they all have the same theme: dogs give love unconditionally, and you will forgive a dog anything (including eating really expensive shoes and peeing on the bed) because of that. The stories bring out the wonderful (and sometimes not so wonderful) personality that each dog has. The book made me think of the Groucho Marx quote: "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
July 5, 2011
When I saw that Goodreads was giving away a copy of Wade Rouse’s new book, I couldn’t hit the enter giveaway button fast enough. I knew he had a book about dogs coming out and though I really hadn’t planned on getting it because I’m more of a cat person, I figured if I get it for free, that’d be great because I love Rouse’s writing.
My squeal of delight at seeing I’d won the book quickly faded and became a “Whaaaa...?” because I didn’t read the description well enough (or at all) and didn’t realize that it wasn’t actually a book written by him but was simply edited by him. And it’s a collection of humorists’ writings. About dogs.
I figured I’d only read a couple of chapters and base my review on the overall feel of the book. I was very happy when, after I received it, I saw that there was a story by Chelsea Handler, Caprice Crane and even Rouse himself, so I knew I’d read at least three stories. Well, I ended up reading over half of them and skimmed most of the others. While the stories are often very amusing, there are some sad endings which, unfortunately, every animal lover has to eventually deal with. Unless you get a parrot or turtle that lives for 80 to 100 years.
Chelsea Handler’s chapter, written by her dog, Chunk, was funny but I laughed even harder at Jen Lancaster’s Dogs Are the New Children, maybe because of her lack of desire to procreate (though I didn’t see anything in her bio, I have a feeling she caved on that one. As a side note, please don’t go on and on and on about how you don’t want kids and will never have them, unless your 110% serious about the fact that you’d rather rip out your fallopian tubes, tie them together and strangle yourself to death than have children!) and how hilariously she described how her dogs became the children she and her husband never wanted.
W. Bruce Cameron’s story about a day in the life of his dog also had me cracking up. It was amusing to read about how his dog behaved when he didn’t receive his daily strip of bacon because Cameron was watching his cholesterol, and how he went to play with a doggie friend after bolting when repeatedly told to come in the house. But the best bit was his description of his dog’s reaction every time he saw their neighbor in his yard.
Other stories discuss how great it is to be a dog adopted by a gay couple (and hysterical to read about) as well as how one dog took over a couple’s bed, despite their best efforts to dislodge him, particularly after the author became pregnant, in the aptly titled Menage à Dog. And of course I loved the piece by Wade Rouse. I could go on about the others, but I won’t. I’ll just say this book was far more amusing and more fun to read than I thought it would be.
A couple of things did annoy me while reading some of the stories. In one, the writer talks about how a family dog wouldn’t behave and was returned to the breeder (who I look at as glorified puppy mills) and summarily killed (though she was only a teenager at the time and did say she has yet to forgive anyone involved) and in another the author gave her dog away when she became pregnant because he was a biter. Granted he went to her sister and their love affair seems to have been greater than the one she had with the dog, but too often companion animals are treated as throwaways with less than happy outcomes. I mean, after some of the monsters I’ve seen running around this planet, I think giving up the kid as opposed to the family dog would be preferable.
While I say I’m not a dog person, I did have one growing up (a mutt named Patches. Best. Dog. Ever.) and know the dogs in my neighborhood better than their humans. But after living in New York City and seeing tons of dogs on a daily basis and reading about them in this book, I just don’t get the way people treat them. Forget the whole “crating” thing, which I hate. I will never understand dog sweaters. Booties I get, I wouldn’t want my dog walking around this city then jumping on my furniture or touching me. Blech. Hats? No. Bows in the hair? Hell no. That’s another reason I love cats. They’d never put up with that crap. I also had to make the “huh?” face when I read about doggie daycare and report cards. And don’t even get me started on the idea of a holistic dentist. Yes, it’s real and you can read about it in this book.
I liked how short bios for all of the authors were included in the back and how they all gave a shout out to their favorite animal rescues (I love Rolling Dog Ranch, they take care of dogs that are blind and have other disabilities). And I’m glad I finally got to see a picture of Rouse’s partner, Gary, and their dogs. It would’ve been great to see photos of all of the other authors with theirs as well. Maybe it will be in the final version, as my copy is an ARC.
Now, if I were to rate this in comparison to the other books I usually read, it’d get a lower score because it’s not something I would normally pick up. However, I gave it four stars because I was judging it for what it was, an anthology about dogs written by humorists. If this type of thing is up your alley, I highly recommend getting this book because not only am I sure dog owners will be able to relate to many of the situations in it, but it’s an extremely quick and easy read that had me laughing out loud many times.
My squeal of delight at seeing I’d won the book quickly faded and became a “Whaaaa...?” because I didn’t read the description well enough (or at all) and didn’t realize that it wasn’t actually a book written by him but was simply edited by him. And it’s a collection of humorists’ writings. About dogs.
I figured I’d only read a couple of chapters and base my review on the overall feel of the book. I was very happy when, after I received it, I saw that there was a story by Chelsea Handler, Caprice Crane and even Rouse himself, so I knew I’d read at least three stories. Well, I ended up reading over half of them and skimmed most of the others. While the stories are often very amusing, there are some sad endings which, unfortunately, every animal lover has to eventually deal with. Unless you get a parrot or turtle that lives for 80 to 100 years.
Chelsea Handler’s chapter, written by her dog, Chunk, was funny but I laughed even harder at Jen Lancaster’s Dogs Are the New Children, maybe because of her lack of desire to procreate (though I didn’t see anything in her bio, I have a feeling she caved on that one. As a side note, please don’t go on and on and on about how you don’t want kids and will never have them, unless your 110% serious about the fact that you’d rather rip out your fallopian tubes, tie them together and strangle yourself to death than have children!) and how hilariously she described how her dogs became the children she and her husband never wanted.
W. Bruce Cameron’s story about a day in the life of his dog also had me cracking up. It was amusing to read about how his dog behaved when he didn’t receive his daily strip of bacon because Cameron was watching his cholesterol, and how he went to play with a doggie friend after bolting when repeatedly told to come in the house. But the best bit was his description of his dog’s reaction every time he saw their neighbor in his yard.
Other stories discuss how great it is to be a dog adopted by a gay couple (and hysterical to read about) as well as how one dog took over a couple’s bed, despite their best efforts to dislodge him, particularly after the author became pregnant, in the aptly titled Menage à Dog. And of course I loved the piece by Wade Rouse. I could go on about the others, but I won’t. I’ll just say this book was far more amusing and more fun to read than I thought it would be.
A couple of things did annoy me while reading some of the stories. In one, the writer talks about how a family dog wouldn’t behave and was returned to the breeder (who I look at as glorified puppy mills) and summarily killed (though she was only a teenager at the time and did say she has yet to forgive anyone involved) and in another the author gave her dog away when she became pregnant because he was a biter. Granted he went to her sister and their love affair seems to have been greater than the one she had with the dog, but too often companion animals are treated as throwaways with less than happy outcomes. I mean, after some of the monsters I’ve seen running around this planet, I think giving up the kid as opposed to the family dog would be preferable.
While I say I’m not a dog person, I did have one growing up (a mutt named Patches. Best. Dog. Ever.) and know the dogs in my neighborhood better than their humans. But after living in New York City and seeing tons of dogs on a daily basis and reading about them in this book, I just don’t get the way people treat them. Forget the whole “crating” thing, which I hate. I will never understand dog sweaters. Booties I get, I wouldn’t want my dog walking around this city then jumping on my furniture or touching me. Blech. Hats? No. Bows in the hair? Hell no. That’s another reason I love cats. They’d never put up with that crap. I also had to make the “huh?” face when I read about doggie daycare and report cards. And don’t even get me started on the idea of a holistic dentist. Yes, it’s real and you can read about it in this book.
I liked how short bios for all of the authors were included in the back and how they all gave a shout out to their favorite animal rescues (I love Rolling Dog Ranch, they take care of dogs that are blind and have other disabilities). And I’m glad I finally got to see a picture of Rouse’s partner, Gary, and their dogs. It would’ve been great to see photos of all of the other authors with theirs as well. Maybe it will be in the final version, as my copy is an ARC.
Now, if I were to rate this in comparison to the other books I usually read, it’d get a lower score because it’s not something I would normally pick up. However, I gave it four stars because I was judging it for what it was, an anthology about dogs written by humorists. If this type of thing is up your alley, I highly recommend getting this book because not only am I sure dog owners will be able to relate to many of the situations in it, but it’s an extremely quick and easy read that had me laughing out loud many times.
March 29, 2023
A read for all dog lovers!!
August 18, 2017
Author Wade Rouse is billed on the cover of this book as a “critically acclaimed memoirist,” and I have to admit my ignorance because, not only had I never heard of Wade Rouse, I had also never heard of a “memoirist.” Guess I need to get out more! It’s all Relative, another book by Mr. Rouse, has a familiar ring to it, so I’m thinking that this was probably an author that I meant to read, maybe put on my to-read later list, or simply made a note to self to read, then didn’t get around to it.
As far this book, it is a sometimes great read for those of us who have had a dog or two in our lives. I say sometimes because, like all books by multiple authors, you may find some of the stories funny and interesting, but you will also find others that don’t speak to you in the least, like the Rita Mae Brown story of Idler, who “came to me in 1994 from the late Mrs. Paul Summers, Jr., MFH, of Farmington Hunt Club...” I’m not a big one on hunting dogs of any kind, or the way that they are kenneled and used. But that’s just me.
I did relate to Jane Green’s Doberman story, the 120 pounder who could get any piece of food from any height, and who easily intimidated “sketchy-looking men in hoodies.” My last lab-mix, at 130 pounds, put many an “iffy” guy on the other side of the street for me, and could eat an entire box of doughnuts from atop the kitchen cabinet and close the lid when finished, so that when you came home you opened to an empty box!
Every dog owner, or former owner, has at least one story to tell. It’s a bit like being a parent and bragging to the other parents. This is what I’m not the biggest bitch... is doing, telling dog stories to other dog people; it probably won’t be appreciated by cat or bird or no pet people. Woven into some of the dog stories are humorous and realistic stories of gay couples that you don’t expect in a book about dogs. An overall enjoyable and quick read that will make you smile.
As far this book, it is a sometimes great read for those of us who have had a dog or two in our lives. I say sometimes because, like all books by multiple authors, you may find some of the stories funny and interesting, but you will also find others that don’t speak to you in the least, like the Rita Mae Brown story of Idler, who “came to me in 1994 from the late Mrs. Paul Summers, Jr., MFH, of Farmington Hunt Club...” I’m not a big one on hunting dogs of any kind, or the way that they are kenneled and used. But that’s just me.
I did relate to Jane Green’s Doberman story, the 120 pounder who could get any piece of food from any height, and who easily intimidated “sketchy-looking men in hoodies.” My last lab-mix, at 130 pounds, put many an “iffy” guy on the other side of the street for me, and could eat an entire box of doughnuts from atop the kitchen cabinet and close the lid when finished, so that when you came home you opened to an empty box!
Every dog owner, or former owner, has at least one story to tell. It’s a bit like being a parent and bragging to the other parents. This is what I’m not the biggest bitch... is doing, telling dog stories to other dog people; it probably won’t be appreciated by cat or bird or no pet people. Woven into some of the dog stories are humorous and realistic stories of gay couples that you don’t expect in a book about dogs. An overall enjoyable and quick read that will make you smile.
June 25, 2012
This is a
Reading Good Books
review.
* In compliance with FTC guidelines, it should be noted that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Imagine me saying this in a sing-song voice: “I looooove it!!!”
From the hilariously sweet foreword from Chelsea Handler’s dog, Chunk, to the very last essay, this anthology put a smile on my face at every page turn. This book has twenty essays from twenty different writers/dog owners. TWENTY tales that will definitely warm your heart, brighten up your day, make you laugh out loud and say, “Yes, I do that too!”
I am a dog person and currently dogless so this made me want to get a four-legged best friend as soon as possible. I mean, how can you say no to adorable eyes looking straight at you, almost pleading to walk with you to a loving home? I get chills just thinking about it. The stories about adopting a dog were so touching and it is a helpful look at what happens AFTER an adoption. I particularly like “Dogs are the New Children” by Jen Lancaster. Because they are. Couples decide not to have children but they get dogs. Then the attention they would’ve showered on a child would be placed upon their pet. Alice Bradley’s “Menage a Dog” talks a bit about that too.
The essays about how their dogs helped them in their lives. The very touching “Walking My Dog Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death is a Nice Way to Start the Day” by Bob Smith had me in tears. As well as “The Little Rascal” by Beth Harbison. I just… love how the authors wrote about their dogs with so much love and appreciation. Another one of my favorites is “Are You A Rascal or a Ringo?” by Jeff Marx (I love Avenue Q). It shows how dogs are not just their owner’s friend, but can be to other dogs as well.
If I had to pick ONE favorite, it has to be “A Dog Day of Summer” by W. Bruce Cameron. HI-LAR-IOUS. If this is any indication, I cannot get my hands on his book A Dog’s Purpose. I loved it so much, I read it twice in a row. Then passed it to my mom and she was laughing out loud too. A close second would have to be “Scratching at My Door, Tail Between his Legs” by Caprice Crane. It has WIN written all over it. I mean, imagine an ex-boyfriend asking for visitation rights for your dog? WIN!
It would’ve been great to see photos of the dogs with their owners. You know, to put a face to the name. A lot of people know who Chunk Handler is but to see Cindy, Maisy, Boz, Rascal, Maeby, and Bridget would have been fantastic.
Rating: 5/5.
Recommendation: Dog lovers! Pet lovers! Hell, I want EVERYONE to sit down and read this while your pet is frolicking on the grass with his/her friends.
* In compliance with FTC guidelines, it should be noted that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Imagine me saying this in a sing-song voice: “I looooove it!!!”
From the hilariously sweet foreword from Chelsea Handler’s dog, Chunk, to the very last essay, this anthology put a smile on my face at every page turn. This book has twenty essays from twenty different writers/dog owners. TWENTY tales that will definitely warm your heart, brighten up your day, make you laugh out loud and say, “Yes, I do that too!”
I am a dog person and currently dogless so this made me want to get a four-legged best friend as soon as possible. I mean, how can you say no to adorable eyes looking straight at you, almost pleading to walk with you to a loving home? I get chills just thinking about it. The stories about adopting a dog were so touching and it is a helpful look at what happens AFTER an adoption. I particularly like “Dogs are the New Children” by Jen Lancaster. Because they are. Couples decide not to have children but they get dogs. Then the attention they would’ve showered on a child would be placed upon their pet. Alice Bradley’s “Menage a Dog” talks a bit about that too.
The essays about how their dogs helped them in their lives. The very touching “Walking My Dog Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death is a Nice Way to Start the Day” by Bob Smith had me in tears. As well as “The Little Rascal” by Beth Harbison. I just… love how the authors wrote about their dogs with so much love and appreciation. Another one of my favorites is “Are You A Rascal or a Ringo?” by Jeff Marx (I love Avenue Q). It shows how dogs are not just their owner’s friend, but can be to other dogs as well.
If I had to pick ONE favorite, it has to be “A Dog Day of Summer” by W. Bruce Cameron. HI-LAR-IOUS. If this is any indication, I cannot get my hands on his book A Dog’s Purpose. I loved it so much, I read it twice in a row. Then passed it to my mom and she was laughing out loud too. A close second would have to be “Scratching at My Door, Tail Between his Legs” by Caprice Crane. It has WIN written all over it. I mean, imagine an ex-boyfriend asking for visitation rights for your dog? WIN!
It would’ve been great to see photos of the dogs with their owners. You know, to put a face to the name. A lot of people know who Chunk Handler is but to see Cindy, Maisy, Boz, Rascal, Maeby, and Bridget would have been fantastic.
Rating: 5/5.
Recommendation: Dog lovers! Pet lovers! Hell, I want EVERYONE to sit down and read this while your pet is frolicking on the grass with his/her friends.
July 31, 2018
Meh—it was ok. Some of the chapters are better than others. Some are delightful and some are very poorly written. Chelsea Handler has a terrible cringe-worthy foreword which isn’t surprising, but is still impressive given it’s just a few pages.
December 11, 2011
So-so. As with a lot of anthologies, some essays were better than others. I found that I was forcing myself to try to read them all, so I gave up and just read bits and pieces.
October 18, 2011
If Jen Lancaster is talking about a book on her Facebook page, you know it has to be good, especially if she contributed to it. But wait it gets better. Among the other twenty contributors to this anthology include Sarah Pekkanen, Jenny Gardiner, Jane Green, Caprice Crane, and Allie Larkin…can we say Chick Lit Central? By the way hop on over and do check us out at http://chicklitcentraltheblog.blogspo...
Summary: An anthology of bark-out-loud original essays about dogs from some of today's most popular writers.
Critically acclaimed memoirist Wade Rouse has gathered some of America's best known humorists- authors, comedians, and actors-to offer biting commentary on what it means to share a life, and a heart, with a dog. From battling for bed space to trying to transform a pampered NYC pup into a Texas rawhide, and from helping a shelter rescue navigate through her new life to interpreting dog run dynamics (and politics), being a canine companion has challenges as tough as any agility course, but laughter is just a tail-wag away. This collection features uncanny insight and witty prose from...
• Jen Lancaster
• Rita Mae Brown
• Laurie Notaro
• Jane Green
• Beth Harbison
• W. Bruce Cameron
• and many others, including a Foreword by Chelsea Handler's dog, Chunk
I am a huge dog lover so I knew I would devour this book. I would love to share my thoughts on each of the essays, but that would make this a VERY long review. Hence I will highlight a few, starting with Chelsea Handler’s dog Chunk. I read this essay several times and shared it with my husband and mom, who is also a dog lover. Having Chelsea Handler write the forward as Chunk, brings a comedic approach to how dogs view people and things in the world.
Bruce Cameron’s essay is also quite comical. Bruce is talking to his dog, and at the same time sharing with the reader what he “Bruce” believes his dog is thinking and saying, per his facial expressions and barks. Bruce’s dog salivates every time he hears the word “bacon.” If he doesn’t get his daily dose with breakfast, the rest of his day is all downhill.
Caprice Crane mentions in her essay how every time she passes a dog, she ALWAYS has to play and say hi to the dog. When I read this I immediately Tweeted and Facebooked Caprice saying I do the exact same thing.
It was wonderful reading Wade’s essay, and how both of his dogs, Marge and Mabel, helped him grow as a person. Marge taught Wade “to appreciate the beauty of each day, to not think about time or the future, only to sigh, and kiss and play, and love and laugh without limit.” If you think about it dogs don’t stress about every little thing like humans do. Hence they have less complicated and more carefree lives. Besides this, there are a few other things we can learn from dogs including loving unconditionally, not holding a grudge (if you step on their paw, they yelp and move on) and being utterly content with someone loving and taking care of them. After all, besides food and water, that’s all they really want.
If you are a dog lover or not, you will laugh out loud and maybe sniffle a little too. Pets make our world complete, and so much more fulfilling. If you purchase this book (which I highly recommend) it will make you feel good, because a portion of the book’s proceeds go towards The Humane Society of the United States. Wade is “giving back” just like dogs give us SO much.
Summary: An anthology of bark-out-loud original essays about dogs from some of today's most popular writers.
Critically acclaimed memoirist Wade Rouse has gathered some of America's best known humorists- authors, comedians, and actors-to offer biting commentary on what it means to share a life, and a heart, with a dog. From battling for bed space to trying to transform a pampered NYC pup into a Texas rawhide, and from helping a shelter rescue navigate through her new life to interpreting dog run dynamics (and politics), being a canine companion has challenges as tough as any agility course, but laughter is just a tail-wag away. This collection features uncanny insight and witty prose from...
• Jen Lancaster
• Rita Mae Brown
• Laurie Notaro
• Jane Green
• Beth Harbison
• W. Bruce Cameron
• and many others, including a Foreword by Chelsea Handler's dog, Chunk
I am a huge dog lover so I knew I would devour this book. I would love to share my thoughts on each of the essays, but that would make this a VERY long review. Hence I will highlight a few, starting with Chelsea Handler’s dog Chunk. I read this essay several times and shared it with my husband and mom, who is also a dog lover. Having Chelsea Handler write the forward as Chunk, brings a comedic approach to how dogs view people and things in the world.
Bruce Cameron’s essay is also quite comical. Bruce is talking to his dog, and at the same time sharing with the reader what he “Bruce” believes his dog is thinking and saying, per his facial expressions and barks. Bruce’s dog salivates every time he hears the word “bacon.” If he doesn’t get his daily dose with breakfast, the rest of his day is all downhill.
Caprice Crane mentions in her essay how every time she passes a dog, she ALWAYS has to play and say hi to the dog. When I read this I immediately Tweeted and Facebooked Caprice saying I do the exact same thing.
It was wonderful reading Wade’s essay, and how both of his dogs, Marge and Mabel, helped him grow as a person. Marge taught Wade “to appreciate the beauty of each day, to not think about time or the future, only to sigh, and kiss and play, and love and laugh without limit.” If you think about it dogs don’t stress about every little thing like humans do. Hence they have less complicated and more carefree lives. Besides this, there are a few other things we can learn from dogs including loving unconditionally, not holding a grudge (if you step on their paw, they yelp and move on) and being utterly content with someone loving and taking care of them. After all, besides food and water, that’s all they really want.
If you are a dog lover or not, you will laugh out loud and maybe sniffle a little too. Pets make our world complete, and so much more fulfilling. If you purchase this book (which I highly recommend) it will make you feel good, because a portion of the book’s proceeds go towards The Humane Society of the United States. Wade is “giving back” just like dogs give us SO much.
April 29, 2015
This was a very funny book about dog ownership. All the authors are funny, and give their stories about either dogs they own now, or dogs they've owned in the past. Some parts made me laugh out loud. More often than not, the dog is misbehaved. More often then not, the owners say they are going to be strict dog owners, and end up letting the dog run their life. Even though this is a funny collection, some stories are a bit sad, as they involve a dog being put down or rescuing a dog from an abusive situation. All kinds of dogs: big, small, purebred, mutt, behaved and misbehaved are represented here. I enjoyed this book.
“I picked out Murphy the way I imagine a socially stunted middle-aged man might select an Eastern European mail-order bride: late at night, hopped up on processed snack foods, guided only by an Internet profile featuring a few grainy photos and a paragraph of personal history. But I didn't need a bunch of nitty-gritty details. One look and I knew – I'd found my soul mate.” From “Are You Smarter Than A Terrier?” by Beth Kendrick
“If you live a good life, you get to come back as a gay couple's dog. Trust me, Mother Teresa is a Shih Tzu living on the Upper East Side wearing a Dolce & Gabbana trench and having her crap picked up by Uncle Steve and Uncle Dave.” - From “There's No Place Like Home, Judy” by Alec Mapa 2011
“I picked out Murphy the way I imagine a socially stunted middle-aged man might select an Eastern European mail-order bride: late at night, hopped up on processed snack foods, guided only by an Internet profile featuring a few grainy photos and a paragraph of personal history. But I didn't need a bunch of nitty-gritty details. One look and I knew – I'd found my soul mate.” From “Are You Smarter Than A Terrier?” by Beth Kendrick
“If you live a good life, you get to come back as a gay couple's dog. Trust me, Mother Teresa is a Shih Tzu living on the Upper East Side wearing a Dolce & Gabbana trench and having her crap picked up by Uncle Steve and Uncle Dave.” - From “There's No Place Like Home, Judy” by Alec Mapa 2011
August 4, 2011
If you are looking for some warm and fuzzy dog stories to read to your kids or grandkids, you should turn to James Herriot’s excellent tales for their bedtime agenda. If, on the other hand, you want to read some funny and sometimes touching dog stories on an adult level, look no further than this anthology, I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship. Sometimes down-to-earth, and at other times, just plain earthy, you will no doubt enjoy these tales of dog verses master, reveling in the fact that your dog is much better behaved. Most of the time. Well, maybe not. But you will definitely identify with the problems these dog owners experience and the love shared between canine and human. These authors share a slice of their lives with readers as they regale us with their tales, in much the same way you may share a portion of your life story with a seatmate on a flight. Enjoy the ride: It’s worth the read, especially for the stories by Jane Green and Jill Connor Browne. I received this book free through Goodreads First Reads.
August 19, 2011
This is an anthology about the relationships between dogs and their people. There are a lot of great essays in here (as naturally there would be, when there are contributions by people like Jane Green, Sarah Pekkanen, W. Bruce Cameron and Jen Lancaster) and I would be hard-pressed to point to one and say, "That one wasn't good."
They were all sweet and most of them were funny. I'll also admit that almost every essay had at least one moment where I'd be like, "Yes. That's me."
The one that really made me laugh with recognition, though? Jen Lancaster's chapter. "Dogs are the New Children." Because it's exactly me. I treat Sam like a person* and he gets away with so much stuff because he's my kid. (note: unlike Jen, I didn't reach the conclusion that maybe I could have kids and it would turn out okay.)
This anthology is laugh-out-loud funny and also sweet. (As an added bonus, unlike Marley and Me, it didn't reduce me to a blubbering Kelly-sized mass of tears.)
Recommended.
* = which he is. A smart, sweet, awesome person.
They were all sweet and most of them were funny. I'll also admit that almost every essay had at least one moment where I'd be like, "Yes. That's me."
The one that really made me laugh with recognition, though? Jen Lancaster's chapter. "Dogs are the New Children." Because it's exactly me. I treat Sam like a person* and he gets away with so much stuff because he's my kid. (note: unlike Jen, I didn't reach the conclusion that maybe I could have kids and it would turn out okay.)
This anthology is laugh-out-loud funny and also sweet. (As an added bonus, unlike Marley and Me, it didn't reduce me to a blubbering Kelly-sized mass of tears.)
Recommended.
* = which he is. A smart, sweet, awesome person.
June 22, 2017
کتاب کوتاه و خنده داریه در مورد داستان هایی جالبی که صاحبین سگ ها، تا حالا باهاش روبرو شدن. خودنش سریعه و خنده دار. اگه خودتون صاحب سگ باشین واقعا درک میکنین که قضیه چیه و چقدر بعضی جاهای این کتاب خنده داره. عشق بین انسان و حیوان رو هم خیلی خوب بیان میکنه.
And aren't our emotions what make it a joy - or at least a profound experience - to be human? The ability to do algebra or write poetry has its advantages, but no matter how elegant a quadratic equation or well-crafted a sonnet, neither penetrates my heart as deeply as a wet nose and a wagging tail. If I ever had to choose between surrendering my intelligence or my feelings, the decision would be easy; I'd rather be an idiot than a sociopath.
And aren't our emotions what make it a joy - or at least a profound experience - to be human? The ability to do algebra or write poetry has its advantages, but no matter how elegant a quadratic equation or well-crafted a sonnet, neither penetrates my heart as deeply as a wet nose and a wagging tail. If I ever had to choose between surrendering my intelligence or my feelings, the decision would be easy; I'd rather be an idiot than a sociopath.
July 31, 2011
I was very excited when I first learned about this book. I love many of the authors who contributed, however the book as a whole did not grab me. Each story was very touching, some made me laugh and a few brought tears to my eyes. It was very hard to get drawn in and not want to put the book down. I think for me a lot of it was that the book is a bunch of short stories and there is no flow to it. I would recommend this to any pet lover and will go back and read a few of the stories later when I need a good pick-me-up.
January 18, 2012
like with all short story books for me, I end up liking some, and others not so much. Of course I picked this up because of the dog theme and love that Wade Rouse is donating proceeds to USHS. But I also picked it up because I love Wade Rouse and wanted to see what he'd do with this.
Here's hoping Wade is busy writing another memoir or book of his own - and if you haven't read his stuff - what are you waiting for?
Here's hoping Wade is busy writing another memoir or book of his own - and if you haven't read his stuff - what are you waiting for?
September 27, 2011
An enjoyable read for dog owners. I think Cesar Millan should get some royalties because his name was dropped several times in this book. ;)
October 3, 2019
Like other compilations of short stories ; some you like , some you don't , and some you wish you hadn't bothered with.
September 7, 2020
Must love dogs to appreciate the obsession that these authors have with their pups. Easy quick read of short essays.
May 8, 2023
Entertaining short stories.
November 12, 2011
I'm reviewing this for free as a Goodreads First Read book.
Cute concept. Some great stories, some so-so ones. As usually happens with collections, they try to appeal to all tastes and I think they were pretty successful. Overall enjoyable and well edited (good story flow).
Cute concept. Some great stories, some so-so ones. As usually happens with collections, they try to appeal to all tastes and I think they were pretty successful. Overall enjoyable and well edited (good story flow).
August 17, 2011
I like all But 2 of the stories in this book. It's kind of nice to know that I'm not the only one that has had a hard to handle dog over the years. Good to find out how others handled the problems their dogs had. I could have used the info about 10 years ago.
February 7, 2012
I got this for my sister who has just adopted a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. I couldn't resist reading it. It's a quick read with mostly funny and heart-warming stories of dogs and their owners. Made me want a pup of my own.
December 28, 2011
A very funny book. A great book for dog lovers or people who just need a good laugh. I enjoyed all the essays except for one. Another great thing about this book is it introduced me to some new authors that I would love to try out. So buy this book it's wonderful.
October 14, 2011
Some of the stories were funny, some were sad, and some were eh. A quick enjoyable read if you've ever had a dog or grew up with a dog, but I wouldn't rave about it like other dog books (such as A Dog's Purpose)!
October 27, 2011
I really liked this book. It's a collection of short stories about writers and their dogs. Some are definitely better than others, but they all succeeded in making me want to get a dog. Maybe sometime soon...
March 21, 2012
I've read this book over the last four months. It's short stories about over the top dog owners. It's easy to put down and pick up again when you need a laugh. I realized that I was a perfectly normal dog owner.
January 20, 2012
A great collection of essays from humorous writers. I laughed out loud through most of them. Would love to read a book by the editor, Wayne Rouse, as well as from some of the featured authors. I highly recommend this book for dog lovers!
January 11, 2012
heart warming book for dog lovers.. each chapter written by a different writer about his/her dog. reminds you that your dog has a unique personality. I love a book that reminds you of the love you receive from your dog(s).
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