Sit Stay Heal: How an Underachieving Labrador Won Our Hearts and Brought Us Together

by Mel Miskimen

Rowdy, reckless Seamus is the last dog you'd find in a training field. Instead of obediently retrieving, he stubbornly follows his heart, wherever it may lead. Mel Miskimen's heart is heavy. Her mom, the family rock, the provider of apple pies and stubborn fan of Brett Favre, just died. Even more, her curmudgeon of a father isn't really coping. How can Mel reconnect with an old man more interested in field dog training than discussing his feelings? Enter Seamus. The hapless black lab throws their grief into joyful disarray. Mel encourages her dad to mold Seamus into a champion retriever.. But as the seasons change, and memories follow, Mel realizes she must face her own fears, and that the road to Seamus's field trials might just heal them all. At turns hilarious and heart breaking, Sit Stay Heal will touch the souls of dog lovers everything, and speak to anyone seeking a way to connect with those they've lost.

Genres: Dogs, Nonfiction, Animals

304 pages, Paperback

Published September 6, 2016

Reviews

[Mel Miskimen]

Well, I wrote the book, so I may be biased . . . but, when I listened to the audio book and heard someone's voice saying the words that I had written, I thought, "Boy, this is good. I'd buy it."

[Jennifer Rupp]

I dare you to read Mel Miskimen’s Sit Stay Heal and not laugh. I dare you to read Sit Stay Heal and not cry. I dare you to read Sit Stay Heal and not run out and get yourself a big, floppy, drooling, lovable, out of control Labrador retriever.

[Jodie]

It was a sweet story of how the author maintained her connection with her father after her mothers death. Their late in life bonding through dog training gave them both a connection and an occupation.

[Cindy]

Mel Miskimen has been my friend since high school. As I read her book, it took me back to our time in "Senior Shack" as she amused us all with her hilarious stories. Her voice comes through clearly as she describes this journey with her bigger than life family. Sit Stay Heal will warm your heart.

[Megan]

Getting a copy of this wonderful book in advance from BEA 2016 was such a thrill! It was well-written, made me tear up at points and laugh out loud at others. Dog lovers, this one's for you!

[Becky Loader]

All dog-o-philes should read this book.

When the author's mother passes away, she and her father face up to their grief by undertaking the training of Seamus, a lovable lump of a Black Labrador Retriever. By training, I mean serious field-dog training. Seamus is a Lab, so he has the genetic material, but he has been a family pet only so far in his life. During the training sessions, he provides a way for the family to move on from the past to the present and on to the future.

First rate read.

[Casey Reads 🌸]

This was a DNF for me. I don’t think I have ever before not been able to finish a dog book. I had to push myself to get halfway through, but the way they were describing treating the dogs didn’t feel like they actually had any love for their dogs at all and that is something I cannot understand. I actually felt bad for the dog and I couldn’t continue on reading this, because it was upsetting me. I do not recommend this at all.

[Monica C.]

I was hoping to really like this book because of the title, the subject and reviews, but I didn’t. I found it self-indulgent, predictable, tedious, way too long and disappointing. I didn’t like the author and almost didn’t finish the book. The author’s use of shock collar to teach her dog how to properly retrieve / correct her dog was unacceptable to me as well. I don’t recommend this book.

[Stephanie Pieck]

This poignant, funny, raucous memoir follows the author and her father through the year after the author’s mother passes away. The family knew the end was close, but nothing ever fully prepares one for the loss of a parent. In the weeks after her mother’s death, the author is stuck, trying to navigate her own grief and knowing she should be trying to help her father with his. But how?
Enter Seamus, the author’s seven-year-old black Lab. Well, not really “enter” since he’s been there all along. But the author decides to ask her father, trainer of multiple champion field trial dogs, to help her get Seamus to retrieve for real, not just slippers and newspapers and socks.
Seamus proves to be a challenge. Distracted, energetic, unruly, and friendly, he’s almost too much dog for the author. After a decades-long career on the police force, the author’s dad has no trouble being the authority. But will the three survive each other, and is there hope for any old dog trying to learn new tricks?
Labrador retrievers are legendary for their appetites. Any Lab owner will also tell you that they are capable of learning English, and not always the words we intend. Here is Seamus in Chapter Seven, when the author puts treats in her pocket to try and lure him into doing what she wants:

“’Let’s not tell Grandpa about “… you know.’ I didn’t want to use the doggy F word (food) because the heeling part of Seamus’s brain would be pushed aside by the bigger part that had to do with eating. Food? Where? Now? Here? How much? When can I have it?”

There are limits to what even a Lab will eat, though. Here’s a scene from the first Thanksgiving at the author’s house without her mother, when her sister’s unwanted green bean casserole becomes the topic of discussion:

“Yeah. I have a rule,” Adam said. “I never eat anything that color.”
“It’s green!”
“No, it’s taupe.”
My father took some on his finger and offered it to Seamus. He sniffed at it and turned away. Then sneezed.
“Even the dog won’t eat it.”

And here’s another light touch from Chapter Thirty-One:

“Can a person be arrested for driving while under the influence of accomplishment?”

Dogs are “man’s best friend” for many reasons. They work for us (I’ve had six guide dogs so far), but more important, they love us unconditionally, the way we should always try to love ourselves. We may outlive them all, but nobody can outlove a dog. This memoir is a fitting tribute to a dog and the people privileged to share their lives with him.

[Susie]

A very sweet book about life moving on after a profound death. The ways we move on, by creating new bonds. Becoming new people, with new hobbies. The book is a slower paced read with real moments that you can relate too. Funny moments that most pet parents can relate too. Real moments, where the memories come flooding in. The foreshadowing events that your loved ones slipping away. It all becomes clearer after death.

[Lynne]

I wished for more dog training and less funny/poignant family gatherings post the author's mother's death. Miskimen has a great comedic voice and the Wisconsin details are true, but this just isn't my kind of book. Time for a demanding novel. Coincidentally this is currently being read on Wisconsin Public Radio's Chapter a Day...works well as a read aloud.

[Arlene]

This is a typical Mid-Western two-generation family story set in current times, told from the heart with humor and emotion. Though it was intended that this story center around a rascally Labrador Retriever and his training, but, from my viewpoint, it really didn't work out that way.

[Thomas Frendling]

Great book

I really enjoyed this book. As a dog trainer myself, I appreciated the efforts of the author to learn how to train her dog with common sense. And her family stories made me laugh out loud. I am recommending to all my friends.

[Angel Frymire]

I really like this heartfelt story. The author wrote it very well. I put this book down several times for days in between reads (life happens), and I jumped right back into the story without having to go back to see what was happening.

[DeAnna]

A funny, poignant memoir about a dad, a daughter and a rebellious black lab.

[Marcy]

Pretty enjoyable read.

[Joyce Eggebeen]

I'm not even a dog person and loved her journey to healing. And such great one liners, that I laughed out loud. I'm planning to read her other book!

[Kathleen]

If you love family and dogs this is a gem to read.

[Stephen Wallace]

Very good story. Love the details on training her dog for retrieving trials. Good story on her and her dad connecting over the training.

[Cindy Mounts]

Easy and enjoyable read dealing with how training a loveable Lab helps a father and his daughter cope with the loss of their wife and mother.

[Deborah Necessary]

I loved this book! It was a gift from a friend and spoke to me on so many levels. Dealing with the loss of a loved one and dealing with a goofy dog.

[Toi Franks]

Great book. Related to the daughter in so many ways. Waitng for a movie.

[Barbara]

I really enjoyed this book. It was real life with its hard times and good times that you don’t realize are good unless you sit and write a book like this. I recommend it.

[Audiobook Accomplice (Gillian)]

Life after Loss… and plenty o’ Laughs?!
My Full Review →

[Joy Bender]

This is a sweet story of a father and daughter bonding over the training of a dog after the passing of their wife/mother. Easy read! Heart-warming story.

[Cammie Jordan]

This is a cute book. Mel Miskimen's writing style was fun & I laughed out-loud a few times. Her dog's antics made me smile.

A good, easy read.

[Al]

Excellent, heart warming, highly recommend.

[Peejay(Pamela)]

Funny, charming, and real look at loss, grief, healing, and the love of a good dog.

[Virginia Pulver]

As one who lives with a Labrador who has won my heart, I found this book to be a delight. Acquiring a dog always demands learning about one another's idiosyncracies and it can be quite a challenge. I enjoyed the way the dog in this book created a space for father and daughter to navigate the loss of a family member. A good read. - Ginn

[Courtney]

just finished this book. good lesson that dogs are not just there for one person in hard times. They help bring people/families together in unexpected ways.