Life with Forty Dogs: Misadventures with Runts, Rejects, Retirees, and Rescues

by Joseph Robertia

Winner of Dog Writer's Association of America Best Rescue or Adoption and Dogwise Best Book Award in 2017. From award-winning writer and photographer Joseph Robertia, Life with Forty Dogs is a collection of the funny, fascinating, and sometimes heartbreaking stories of the life-changing canine commitment he and his family made. When Robertia and his wife, Cole, first entered the world of dog sledding in Alaska, they had never expected to have their household grow up to forty dogs—“primarily rogues, runts, and rejects from other kennels.” But quickly they found their lives inextricably intertwined with each dog they rescued as they learned each one’s unique character and personality and how irreplaceable each was for their team and for their family. This book is an invitation to understand the essence of life with forty dogs in its entirety and, through that comprehension, to truly appreciate what Robertia sees every day. Not everyone can sacrifice their spare time, salaries, and sanity to get to know so many characters—from the well-mannered to the wily—but Life with Forty Dogs will reveal the endless adventures and misadventures that come to those like Robertia and his family who have dedicated themselves to their furry companions.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs

230 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2017

Reviews

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author and his wife came to our local bookstore in Concord, NH, recently to tell about their newly published book, "Life With Forty Dogs." (Yes, forty, and sometimes more.) We were enamored by their presentation, bought the book, and once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Told with a spirit of acceptance as well as humility and strength (there is no "poor me" attitude here), the book reveals just how tough it is to be a musher in Alaska with a kennel of forty dogs, all of whom started out as "runts, rejects, retirees, and rescues." Chapters focus on specific dogs, or specific experiences, and each one is heartwarming, emotional, outrageous, edge-of-your-seat exciting, or shake-your-head disastrous. This family lives a simple lifestyle with few (if any) luxuries, in order to provide for all the dogs -- a lifestyle they chose, love, and are committed to, and most of us who will read it probably wouldn't last a week in their shoes. But honestly, they are healthy, happy, strong, and live with integrity and love, and have all that they need -- what could be better? If you've ever been to Alaska, enjoy watching dogsled racing, or believe that rescuing dogs is important, then you will love this book.

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. It has great aspects for Rescuing dogs as well as dogsledding. People who rescue dogs are saints, even more so the ones that try to pick the ones that are most un-adoptable. The author is the best at getting you to really know a dog, their personality, looks, story, and joy that comes from them. Some stories really make you cringe but are amazing. I challenge anyone to find a story related to poop to match the one in this book.

Like many dog books there is a place where tissues are needed, but like all dog books, you feel that great joy and service the dogs give you. If you have ever had the desire to save and gather a bunch of dogs, do dogsledding, and move to Alaska, this is a great book to get that feeling without having to leave your warm home.

The book is also written very well. For me, that means overall great writing so that I will want to read it again sometime, but also passages that are good enough for me to want to save. Here is an exert that I really enjoyed:

"To me, it’s not that pound dogs don’t have worth, or to be more specific, inherent worth as sled dogs. It’s just that to succeed with them you have to be open to finding their very individualized skill sets, and that’s what we did with all of our rescues.
Pong, while she can’t sustain sprint speeds for very long, can break trail at slightly slower speed for hours. Ping’s digestive processes move at a glacial pace, so much so that I think she could put on a few pounds from just a whiff of the food bucked, and this proved valuable when racing in deep-minus temperatures when dogs with higher metabolisms shiver off too much weight. Six, while small, can remember any trail after having only run it once, which I relied on whenever I grew disoriented or got lost from time to time. Rolo developed into an amazing gee-haw leader, turning left or right with precision whenever we gave the commands, which also helped the other dogs in line behind him learn the meaning of these words and the importance of listening to the musher. Ghost excelled at leading of a different sort, running at the front of a team chasing another which is also useful for not burning out gee-haw leaders. Coolwhip’s character trait of perpetually acting over-caffeinated made her invaluable as a cheerleader, where an always barking dog late in a run can, and does spread enthusiasm to the others. And Old Man, well, he was a bit too decrepit to ever contribute much to the team, but he always made me smile when I came out to feed the yard and saw him excitedly carrying around his food bowl, and that was enough for him to earn his keep."

[Brooke Sommer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph once wrote, “what I do know for certain is that there are moments in time that resonate, staying with you forever. For me, that infamous training run stands out as one of them. I glimpsed divinity and understood -possibly for the first time at that spiritual depth- the perfection embodied in Cyder and Zoom. I appreciated, truly, the caliber of athletic performance they emanated. I valued the privilege of not just knowing a once-in-a-musher’s lifetime lead dog, but knowing two of them.”

As a girl from the midwest, and loving huskies. I felt like I was living in Alaska, with Joseph and Cole. This story isn’t about just forty dogs, it’s about the personalities of the rejects, rescues, runts, and the retired. Whom I will always hold a little space in my
heart for all those pups/family.
Very well written story, finished in two days, and will reread.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. No, it's not the most exciting book as a whole - but it's extremely intriguing. Each chapter is sort of a short story, a look into the life of a dedicated, hard-working, and above all else - humanitarian (ehh animal-tarian is way more appropriate) dog musher. Reflecting on the book, I loved it most because of how inspiring it is, and how close of a look I got into a life so different than my own. I am a huge animal lover, and that probably has a lot to do with how much I enjoyed this book. Whether you're a speed reader, or a slow and steady reader like me, this is a great one to keep around your house to fill your time with inspiring and heart-warming insights.


Thank you, Joseph. I so enjoyed getting to know the life of you, your family, and your 40 dogs.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like a different perspective of dog mushing than the bad press that this sport has received. Born and raised in Alaska, I have followed the Iditarod, Yukon Quest, and various sled dog races throughout Alaska for many years. I'm always interested in the mushers, not just the "stars", and their dogs. I first learned of Colleen in 2010 after reading about the Robertia's kennel "Rogues Gallery" in Kasilof, Alaska. They maintained a blog for several years, through which I gained tremendous respect for this remarkable couple and their "dog is family" attitude.

[Bernie May · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read in a long time - should win an award but probably won't because it's from a not major publishing house. Will put in my "re-read" pile

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Loved the author's style and openness with his thoughts and emotions. It was my first read about the mushing world, and I learned a lot. Having just come back from a summer exploring Alaska, I was excited about actually knowing some of the cities and towns he mentioned.

[Pamela Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good information. I feel like I got to know a few of the dogs but not all. I can't decide if he's still in the same cabin at the end of the book as he was at the beginning. I kept wanting to know how way-of-life changed after the daughter came along.

[Deborah Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family

Loved the author talking about the gifts the animals were along with his wife and child. Rescuing many and caring for everyone.