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Desert Dog
This is a gripping tale of the fastest dog of them all. Tawny gave promise of being a great racing greyhound but, instead, he found his freedom in the heat and danger of the desert. His speed and courage helped him in a terrible struggle for survival. He could cope with the most feared of desert dwellers but then a deadly rattlesnake laid him low. He needed a great partner but where would he find one?
Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
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About the author
Jim Kjelgaard
106 books163 followersan American author of young adult literature.
Born in New York City, New York, Jim Kjelgaard is the author of more than forty novels, the most famous of which is 1945's "Big Red." It sold 225,000 copies by 1956 and was made into a 1962 Walt Disney film with the same title, Big Red. His books were primarily about dogs and wild animals, often with animal protagonists and told from the animal's point of view.
Jim Kjelgaard committed suicide in 1959, after suffering for several years from chronic pain and depression.
- Wikipedia -
Born in New York City, New York, Jim Kjelgaard is the author of more than forty novels, the most famous of which is 1945's "Big Red." It sold 225,000 copies by 1956 and was made into a 1962 Walt Disney film with the same title, Big Red. His books were primarily about dogs and wild animals, often with animal protagonists and told from the animal's point of view.
Jim Kjelgaard committed suicide in 1959, after suffering for several years from chronic pain and depression.
- Wikipedia -
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 6, 2022
I am going to give this book 4 stars because I am not a fan of the villains in the story being dogs. The hero dog is Tawny, a large Greyhound whose handler has died. He wanders off into the desert.
In the beginning is some part of the story dealing with dog racing. I went to at least one or two as a kid. Not sure if they even hold dog racing any more because of the negative aspects of breeding and then discarding greyhounds. The book of course had no mention of that side of the sport.
I spent half my life in Arizona so I am familiar with the desert there and the descriptions of the terrain are 100% authentic. The vivid texture of the desert, and then the high country later really makes the book. A lot of us at one time or another would love the freedom of living in the wilderness and Kjelgaard’s books feed into this desire.
In the book, wildlife is varied and common. In the portions of desert that I have been in, it was much rarer to see wildlife, but some areas are better to support wildlife, and in days past there was a lot less development gobbling up the best areas. It seems a common thing somewhere in the start of a book for Kjelgaard’s books to give us a paragraph chalk full of them to help set the stage:
Three hundred yards away, a mule deer that had already browsed its fill and been to water, rested in the shelter of a dry wash. Long-eared jack rabbits went about their various affairs. Gophers ventured a few yards from their dens, then squeaked and scurried back. A heavy-bodied rattlesnake, just emerged from its winter’s den, coiled near a clump of cholla cactus and waited for a pack rat to venture from its spiny nest.
For most of the book, Tawny is learning to survive in the wild. Then he is joined by a collie pup. Mixed in is the conflicts with a pack of wild dogs. There is the leader, Brutus, a lean Alsatian. (I always think it is interesting how they changed the name for a while of German Shepherds during and for a while after World War 2). A bristled Airedale named Rowdy. Joey, a fourteen-inch Beagle. Then Bull, a Pit Bull, and Major, a big cur. Abandoned dogs that learn to survive in the wild and become the villains in the story. While the story is told well, for a dog lover every dog is a precious thing so I take no pleasure when this type of villain is vanquished. (In the book they are not plagued by ticks and disease like I think most wild dogs would eventually succumb to.)
Also entered in the story is Dick Hartson. I think it is interesting how Kjelgaard often uses the full name of his characters. Abandoning the city to go to an old ranch and then out into the desert to make money where he can. At one point he catches over a hundred and twenty-six rattlesnakes and sells them for fifty cents each for the Trail Man’s Club’s banquet. Then he settles in for catching young burro’s for sale. Nice to imagine yourself in his shoes, free and confident in the wild. At one point he thinks:
It seemed that, right here, he had most of the things he’d ever wanted: a horse, a dog, a comfortable camp, and freedom to do work he liked. He wouldn’t ask for another thing.
Another thing you have to just let go is that dogs would get angry and hold grudges. I don’t think dogs get angry. Maybe they can hold grudges. I had a female Westie and a female Boston terrier that I had to keep separated or they would immediately go at it with the Boston drawing first blood. In a book, I know adding this trait gives the dog more character and purpose so I just go with it. Of course the grudge leads to a showdown.
Tawny’s eyes glowed fiercely, but he wasted no breath in growling or snarling as he began the most important race of his life.
In the beginning is some part of the story dealing with dog racing. I went to at least one or two as a kid. Not sure if they even hold dog racing any more because of the negative aspects of breeding and then discarding greyhounds. The book of course had no mention of that side of the sport.
I spent half my life in Arizona so I am familiar with the desert there and the descriptions of the terrain are 100% authentic. The vivid texture of the desert, and then the high country later really makes the book. A lot of us at one time or another would love the freedom of living in the wilderness and Kjelgaard’s books feed into this desire.
In the book, wildlife is varied and common. In the portions of desert that I have been in, it was much rarer to see wildlife, but some areas are better to support wildlife, and in days past there was a lot less development gobbling up the best areas. It seems a common thing somewhere in the start of a book for Kjelgaard’s books to give us a paragraph chalk full of them to help set the stage:
Three hundred yards away, a mule deer that had already browsed its fill and been to water, rested in the shelter of a dry wash. Long-eared jack rabbits went about their various affairs. Gophers ventured a few yards from their dens, then squeaked and scurried back. A heavy-bodied rattlesnake, just emerged from its winter’s den, coiled near a clump of cholla cactus and waited for a pack rat to venture from its spiny nest.
For most of the book, Tawny is learning to survive in the wild. Then he is joined by a collie pup. Mixed in is the conflicts with a pack of wild dogs. There is the leader, Brutus, a lean Alsatian. (I always think it is interesting how they changed the name for a while of German Shepherds during and for a while after World War 2). A bristled Airedale named Rowdy. Joey, a fourteen-inch Beagle. Then Bull, a Pit Bull, and Major, a big cur. Abandoned dogs that learn to survive in the wild and become the villains in the story. While the story is told well, for a dog lover every dog is a precious thing so I take no pleasure when this type of villain is vanquished. (In the book they are not plagued by ticks and disease like I think most wild dogs would eventually succumb to.)
Also entered in the story is Dick Hartson. I think it is interesting how Kjelgaard often uses the full name of his characters. Abandoning the city to go to an old ranch and then out into the desert to make money where he can. At one point he catches over a hundred and twenty-six rattlesnakes and sells them for fifty cents each for the Trail Man’s Club’s banquet. Then he settles in for catching young burro’s for sale. Nice to imagine yourself in his shoes, free and confident in the wild. At one point he thinks:
It seemed that, right here, he had most of the things he’d ever wanted: a horse, a dog, a comfortable camp, and freedom to do work he liked. He wouldn’t ask for another thing.
Another thing you have to just let go is that dogs would get angry and hold grudges. I don’t think dogs get angry. Maybe they can hold grudges. I had a female Westie and a female Boston terrier that I had to keep separated or they would immediately go at it with the Boston drawing first blood. In a book, I know adding this trait gives the dog more character and purpose so I just go with it. Of course the grudge leads to a showdown.
Tawny’s eyes glowed fiercely, but he wasted no breath in growling or snarling as he began the most important race of his life.
September 3, 2014
If you are going to read this book make sure you have a tall glass of water handy. Kjelgaard used such stark and vivid descriptors of the desert that you'll need it long before your done! This is one of his best right up there with Haunt Fox and Big Red. A must read for any young reader who enjoys outdoor adventure stories!
June 26, 2022
An outdoors adventure tale about a greyhound, trained for the track, who ends up living in the desert southwest, during the mid 1900s. Dog lovers and those who enjoy reading about outdoors adventure would enjoy this one.
The author, Jim Kjelgaard, was a prolific writer of outdoor adventure tales and especially of works that had a dog in the starring role. A similar theme runs through his books about the dogs: the titular dog becomes separated from his owner, trainer, or beloved family member and the dog treks through the wilderness in order to be reunited with his familiar human, or in some instances to find a suitable replacement. Along the way the dog overcomes at times seemingly insurmountable hazards in the form of menacing wildlife, hostile terrain, severe weather conditions, thirst, starvation and injury. What changes in each novel are of course the names of the characters, the setting of the tale, and the breed of dog.
This author was one of my favorite authors when I was a child. He penned his works in the 1940s through the 1950s and was a prolific writer of tales of wild animals, outdoor adventures, and most notably of dogs, which was my favorite reading topic in my youth. The one work he is probably best known for is the beloved classic during that period in time, “Big Red,” about an Irish Setter. As a child I read every one of his dog books I could get my hands on at the local library, which admittedly was not many. There were more titles available that I still wanted to read but was frustrated in not being able to find them. Flash forward to the present: I was excited when I came across a few of the once-desired titles at some local used book sales (this book was one of them) and also discovered that most, if not all, of the author’s works are available for the kindle. Thus initiating a nostalgic walk down memory lane as I fill in the gaps of reading material I longed for but missed in my youth. As I was checking online for those titles I had not yet read, I was saddened to learn that at the height of his writing career (in the 1950s) due to worsening health conditions, the author took his own life. His legacy is a rich collection of outdoor adventure tales. Those who love dogs and the outdoors should definitely seek out his works.
The author, Jim Kjelgaard, was a prolific writer of outdoor adventure tales and especially of works that had a dog in the starring role. A similar theme runs through his books about the dogs: the titular dog becomes separated from his owner, trainer, or beloved family member and the dog treks through the wilderness in order to be reunited with his familiar human, or in some instances to find a suitable replacement. Along the way the dog overcomes at times seemingly insurmountable hazards in the form of menacing wildlife, hostile terrain, severe weather conditions, thirst, starvation and injury. What changes in each novel are of course the names of the characters, the setting of the tale, and the breed of dog.
This author was one of my favorite authors when I was a child. He penned his works in the 1940s through the 1950s and was a prolific writer of tales of wild animals, outdoor adventures, and most notably of dogs, which was my favorite reading topic in my youth. The one work he is probably best known for is the beloved classic during that period in time, “Big Red,” about an Irish Setter. As a child I read every one of his dog books I could get my hands on at the local library, which admittedly was not many. There were more titles available that I still wanted to read but was frustrated in not being able to find them. Flash forward to the present: I was excited when I came across a few of the once-desired titles at some local used book sales (this book was one of them) and also discovered that most, if not all, of the author’s works are available for the kindle. Thus initiating a nostalgic walk down memory lane as I fill in the gaps of reading material I longed for but missed in my youth. As I was checking online for those titles I had not yet read, I was saddened to learn that at the height of his writing career (in the 1950s) due to worsening health conditions, the author took his own life. His legacy is a rich collection of outdoor adventure tales. Those who love dogs and the outdoors should definitely seek out his works.
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June 5, 2025DNF
One chapter in, and Kjelgaard writes that the vast majority of racing Greyhounds are killed by the time they are 4. Although he describes their lives as "pampered", they lived in separate concrete and steel cages.
This is disgusting. I'm out.
One chapter in, and Kjelgaard writes that the vast majority of racing Greyhounds are killed by the time they are 4. Although he describes their lives as "pampered", they lived in separate concrete and steel cages.
This is disgusting. I'm out.
September 4, 2016
I read this book when I was pre teen. Its the one I remember clearly. When I saw it on the library discard table recently I thought I'd like to read it again. Many many years later it is still good. The plot centers around dogs left out in the desert, some deliberately. Sadly, this practice still goes on today.
May 2, 2019
Having lived in the desert areas around Albuquerque for a few years, Kjelgaard's descriptions of the setting are vividly accurate. I really enjoyed this book and will enjoy reading others he has written.
December 31, 2008
Probably my favorite of Kjelgaard's books. A greyhound is abandoned in the desert and has to learn to survive on his own. I just loved this book.
November 16, 2010
I read this a dozen times as a kid, and I loved it. Great for boys or girls who love animals!
December 31, 2011
This is a great book for a young child; especially those who love animals.
January 30, 2013
As a kid, I must've read this five times.
October 19, 2023
Tawny began his life as a racing greyhound, but when he loses his beloved master he also loses his ties to humans. Running free in the desert, Tawny is a little lonely but fiercely independent. Though he has to stave off a pack of wild dogs that has already claimed this territory, overall he survives on his own. Then he has the occasion to take in a pup who would otherwise perish in this harsh environment. Is he tough enough to keep both himself and Sable alive? Will allowing love back into his heart soften him too much?
It's not often that I long for sequels but I would have loved to follow Tawny on additional adventures! Great story and great characters; Tawny is highly intelligent but not ideally suited for life on his own (he lives by sight and not scent for one). It's interesting to see him take on the challenges the wild offers and find his own way through them despite his shortcomings. He has to battle his environment, avoid humanity, and fight off his own kind. Kjelgaard always wrote such interesting non-human characters, and his detailed description of locations makes you feel as if you are there - in this case often thirsting in the hot desert sun, after which is the relief of running through the cooler, if not cool, forest.
It's not often that I long for sequels but I would have loved to follow Tawny on additional adventures! Great story and great characters; Tawny is highly intelligent but not ideally suited for life on his own (he lives by sight and not scent for one). It's interesting to see him take on the challenges the wild offers and find his own way through them despite his shortcomings. He has to battle his environment, avoid humanity, and fight off his own kind. Kjelgaard always wrote such interesting non-human characters, and his detailed description of locations makes you feel as if you are there - in this case often thirsting in the hot desert sun, after which is the relief of running through the cooler, if not cool, forest.
April 14, 2018
My favorite part was when the person rescued Sable, and they became good friends. My least favorite part was when, at the end, they never really said whether Tawny stayed with the person, or if Sable left with Tawny.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2022
Hmm, một cuốn sách đáng để đọc
June 25, 2025
great!....Kjelgaard's book's are ALL great!
January 16, 2020
This was a favorite of mine in my early youth. In my adult years abandoned reading for video entertainment. Now retired have found renewed joy in reading the books of my early years. Many of those consisting of dog tales. If which this Will remain a favorite.
You won't be disappointed if You enjoy stories of dogs and the natural world. I highly recommend this book a good read
You won't be disappointed if You enjoy stories of dogs and the natural world. I highly recommend this book a good read
March 6, 2015
Escaping into the desert, a lonely greyhound, Tawny, must learn to survive harsh conditions.
This was a decent, quick- read by Kjelgaard. I was really interested in the other dogs and wished they were in the story more. Could have done with less exposition about the man, Dick, who is in this story.
This was a decent, quick- read by Kjelgaard. I was really interested in the other dogs and wished they were in the story more. Could have done with less exposition about the man, Dick, who is in this story.
May 28, 2010
Fun quick book. I bet my boys will love it.
September 18, 2012
These books are so descriptive and so real. Wow!
April 6, 2018
A good survival tale of a racing dog in the desert. By author of Big Red. I'm guessing on when I read it.
August 29, 2020
Not quite as great as I remembered but still a good read.
April 17, 2021
Enjoyable story
November 6, 2017
it was good but got really really REALLY boring so i just returned it
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews