Walking with Sausage Dogs

by Matt Whyman

Keeping pets is a lovely idea. When building a family, they complement the kids. But what happens when things get out of hand?

For writer and house husband, Matt Whyman, it's a case of catastrophe management in coping with four children and all the ill-advised animals amassed by his career wife, Emma.

Just as Matt gets to grips with managing her two maxed out minipigs, she falls for a miniature Dachshund - the kind of dog he wouldn't be seen dead with.

Hercules isn't big or clever, but Emma is determined. She'll do everything, she promises...

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2012

About the author

Matt Whyman is an award-winning novelist and non-fiction writer. He has co-written bestselling books with some of the world’s leading figures in sport, high performance and popular culture including Gareth Southgate, Matthew Syed, Billy Connolly and Sir David Attenborough as well as the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the second half of this book much more than the first half...

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a huge desire to own a Dachshund of my own, I found this book to be insightful and also a little bit predictable (knowledge-based wise.) What I wasn’t expecting was additional animal sights and snippets of wit that had me quite amused.

[Bexar Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!!! A must for any sausage owner :)

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a warm and funny insight into the author's life this book gives you! It's an account of how he reluctantly agreed to let his wife have another pet, a dachshund, to add to the (not so) mini pigs, chickens and existing dog they already had. Matt tries hard to treat the incomer with distain after all it is not his dog but he is gradually won over to the charms of this short legged, lovable canine. I snorted with laughter out loud at several of the incidents described (the 'white wine' incident especially, horror and hysteria at the same time!) . A lovely portrayal of a family as mad about animals as I myself am, with the usual initial excitement from children at a new pet with duties for looking after it soon after falling to a parent - boy do I know that feeling!

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came across this on a display at the library, and thought of my mom, who has a sausage dog. Seemed like a good enough choice for an amusing read during my long commute. It is a cute and funny story that seemed to cover a greater period of time than it does. I really enjoyed it for a while, perhaps the first half or so. There were a few things I didn't care for in the story, but I was overlooking those bits. Unfortunately, by the end I wasn't enjoying it as much. I smirked often, and even laughed aloud a few times. I didn't think it was awful, but I didn't think it was all that good either.

[Jacqui · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very contrived and full of clichés. More like a humorous magazine article.

[Rebeca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilariousl charming account of life with a dachshund (as a fellow dachshund owner). Heart warming and fun read.

[lavender ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

love love love

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing look at pets and not so amusing look at hot water bottles

[Becci Linney · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the owner of 2 sausage dogs I found this to be hilariously relatable!
A great read full of lighthearted fun.

[Alice Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an autobiographical account of Matt Whyman's life before, leading up to and in having a dachshund puppy, lined with anecdotes from the lives of himself, his wife and their four children, and their array of pets. This book is non-fiction but displays all qualities of a story you can get lost in.

Being a sausage dog fan, I greatly enjoyed this book and picturing Hercules in all of the mischief he finds himself in. I greatly enjoyed Matt's development throughout, coming around to the idea of getting another, smaller dog, and how his relationship with Hercules grows. This book is lined with little stories from the families' lives which slot together to make a great and insightful read.

I felt the book picked up in the second half, particularly when Hercules comes into the picture and more of the book is focused solely on him. Especially in the last quarter of the book, there were a few sections where I couldn't stop reading.

In conclusion, for any sausage dog lovers who have owned or would be intrigued to read what it's like to own a sausage dog, this is the book for you. A good read told through and based off of the author's own experiences, lined with comedy and reality.

[Rosanna Threakall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is autobiographical but it still felt like a novel to me. There was suspense, emotion, laughter and amazing moments.

I felt like I was invited into their home, like I was a lodger or something. I have never felt so close to animal character before and I completely fell in love with Sesi and Hercules. I think it takes a really special writer to be able to make you feel a connection to a dog, especially as I have never a pet myself.

Its a light, quick read and I reccomend it to any sausage dog lover :)!

[Annie Thompson-Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute & funny book about the trials & tribulations of a work from home Dad & his large family including dogs, pigs, rabbits & chooks. There are sad moments of course, as there always are with a large family of pets, and human health issues too. Mr Whyman is rather depreciating of himself throughout the story, all for the sake of humour I hope! I will be looking out for the book that comes before this one & for any others that he has written.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! We lost our 2 (14+ yr old) dachshunds over the last 18 months due to long term illness and a heart attack. Although we don't have mini pigs we did rescue a StBernard about 6 years ago and all I can say is that I can relate to so much of this book...had me laughing out loud

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feel good book that will make you smile all the way through

[Mark Gourlay]

Excellent, honest and funny. A good and easy read.

[Katie Heron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me really happy. Fritz recognised himself on many pages :)

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable and relateable light read.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book.

[Lindsay Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really did make chuckle, especially those pesky terriers - owner of borderxLakeland terrier :-)

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having inherited a dachshund from my grandmother, I can really relate to the embarrassment of having a sausage dog. The book was well written and funny.

[Nicola Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love dachshunds, if you love dogs or animals in general, you will love this book. A genuinely lovely story that animal lovers will appreciate and get! Hercules rules!

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice book but not much about the dog!

[Margareth8537 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed a light read

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book!