The Way of a Dog: Being the Further Adventures of Gray Dawn and Some Others

by Albert Payson Terhune

Fifteen stories chronicling the lives and experiences of a variety of collies and their owners.

Genres: Dogs, Classics, Animals, Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

Albert Payson Terhune (1872 - 1942), a local author of some fame, wrote numerous adventures about Collies, most notably, "Lad, A Dog", "Sunnybank: Home of Lad", and "Further Adventures of Lad". Sunnybank, his home on the eastern shore of Pompton Lakes in northern New Jersey, was originally the home of Terhune's parents, Edward Payson Terhune and Mary Virginia Hawes Terhune. Later as his home with his wife, Anice Stockton Terhune, Sunnybank became famous as "The Place" in the many stories of Terhune. Much of the land once constituting the Sunnybank estate was lost to developers in the 1960's with the house being demolished in 1969. Fortunately though, the central 9.6 acres was preserved through the dedicated efforts of Terhune fans and dog fanciers, and is now Terhune Sunnybank Memorial Park, administered by the Wayne Township Parks Department.

Reviews

[Blondish And Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Way of a Dog is a charming and heartwarming set of stories by Albert Payson Terhune, whose dog stories are known and beloved all over the world. The first half of the book is stories about the collie Grey Dawn, who was first introduced in his own book. The stories are some of Dawn as a puppy, and also the account of his passing.

The second half of the book is stories of other collies (and the occasional mutt), some that are from Sunnybank and some that are not. One is Hero—a strangely gentle and submissive collie who forms a deep friendship with a Persian kitten. Only when the kitten is sold to a new home does Hero become the dog he was born to be. In another, Red Vulcan is an older collie who is aware that his owner plans to shoot him now that he is slowing down. There's a tough and loyal mutt named Biscuit in another story, and yet another is about a lost collie who has her pups out in the wild, and the way that her son came home.

Terhune's dog books are always wonderful, and this is no exception!

[Amber Row · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the stories of all the different collie dogs to be delightful. I especially loved the old fashioned writing style. My copy of the book was printed in 1932. An example was a story involving a robbery “ the automobile has placed successful robbery as well as immorality within the reach of all” The dogs are described as “ marvellous chums” and a lot of language we don’t use much anymore, which I found very charming!

[Eva Tipps · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories of a dog's love, loyalty, and devotion often brought me to tears... and anger. Humans can be so stupid!! Anyway, thinking about keeping this book to re=read the short stories.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I ever read, outside the Dick and Jane school texts. Oh, the tears. My first realization of the power of the pen.