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The Wrong Dog: An Unlikely Tale of Unconditional Love
“Part Marley and Me, part Bucket List, part travel memoir, Cohen’s book tells the story of Simba, a larger-than-life Labrador retriever whose physical size is matched only by his love of people.” ― Sara Hodon , Compulsive Reader
2018 International Book Awards Winner
From New York Times bestselling author David Elliot Cohen comes this unforgettable dog tale and story of a cross-country road trip. The Wrong Dog is a heartwarming and hilarious memoir of a mischievous dog and the unconditional love he forges with the family who mistakenly adopts him. There are no bad dogs. Meet Simba II, a playful white Labrador puppy brought home by accident. As he grows into an enormous ninety-pound dog with a huge personality, Simba cements the bond between two families and enriches their lives in countless ways. A cross-country road trip to remember. When the family moves from San Francisco to New York, the author is charged with the ultimate animal rescue−bringing Simba to the family’s new home. He and his best friend, Erick, load Simba into the back of a station wagon and set out on a 3,300-mile once-in-a-lifetime road trip across America. An epic journey for dog lovers. With stops at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace; the Las Vegas Strip; Meteor Crater; the Painted Desert; Cadillac Ranch; Winslow, Arizona; Gallup, New Mexico; Graceland, and other all-American landmarks, this engaging and poignant volume chronicles an epic journey, the unconditional love between one dog and his family, and the vast and benevolent role dogs play in American family life. But most of all, The Wrong Dog shows us how the end of life can sometimes be the richest part of all. If you’re a dog lover who’s enjoyed books such as The Dog who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home , A Dog Called Hope , or No Ordinary Dog , then you’ll love and laugh along with The Wrong Dog .
2018 International Book Awards Winner
From New York Times bestselling author David Elliot Cohen comes this unforgettable dog tale and story of a cross-country road trip. The Wrong Dog is a heartwarming and hilarious memoir of a mischievous dog and the unconditional love he forges with the family who mistakenly adopts him. There are no bad dogs. Meet Simba II, a playful white Labrador puppy brought home by accident. As he grows into an enormous ninety-pound dog with a huge personality, Simba cements the bond between two families and enriches their lives in countless ways. A cross-country road trip to remember. When the family moves from San Francisco to New York, the author is charged with the ultimate animal rescue−bringing Simba to the family’s new home. He and his best friend, Erick, load Simba into the back of a station wagon and set out on a 3,300-mile once-in-a-lifetime road trip across America. An epic journey for dog lovers. With stops at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace; the Las Vegas Strip; Meteor Crater; the Painted Desert; Cadillac Ranch; Winslow, Arizona; Gallup, New Mexico; Graceland, and other all-American landmarks, this engaging and poignant volume chronicles an epic journey, the unconditional love between one dog and his family, and the vast and benevolent role dogs play in American family life. But most of all, The Wrong Dog shows us how the end of life can sometimes be the richest part of all. If you’re a dog lover who’s enjoyed books such as The Dog who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home , A Dog Called Hope , or No Ordinary Dog , then you’ll love and laugh along with The Wrong Dog .
- GenresNonfictionDogs
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 13, 2016
85 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 27, 2021
Hey. I'm the author of "The Wrong Dog," and although I wrote the book five years ago, I'd never looked at this page. I read through much of it today because I am writing an afterword for the second paperback edition, and I wanted to see what real readers thought of the first edition. I am honored, humbled and frankly surprised by all the kind words. Thank you. And if you didn't like the book, that's OK too. I don't like some of my books either.
February 7, 2017
The “Wrong Dog” is the right book.
I will forever return to, reread, and keep “The Wrong Dog,” as an antidote, a balm, a talisman, a small and concise discourse on elegant and simple wisdom. I have ordered a few extra copies that I will send to friends on the same mission. I know that they will smile and be informed and entertained when they read it, just as I have been. I do not read much non-fiction, nor do I read much modern fiction. I tend toward classic novels.
At some point soon, I will re-read “Moby Dick” and “Wuthering Heights,” for something like the fifth time. Each book will take me hours, and beyond that each will give me hours of thought, of searching for wisdom and understanding, of moments with myself that are among the best moments I could ever have. I am not saying “The Wrong Dog” is one of those books, but I do know it approaches that rare goal, the way in which reading can improve your internal life.
The Romans who translated the New Testament from its original Greek called it “caritas.” It was one of the several Latin words for love, and it was the one they chose to describe the love that St. Paul told the Corinthians without which we are nothing. This slender volume is a conversation about that love. The book is ostensibly about the role a dog may play in our lives, the love we give them and they give us. But it is the family of this book for whom the dog, Simba, is really an exact and magnifying mirror.
Simba gives his best but he largely reflects this extraordinary blended family’s, and our own, capacity for the charitable love that has no self-interest. It may come from the heart but it also has a philosophical basis, and that foundation is what emerges from this text. What is required to blend two families, to cope with severely ailing parents and far too colorful ex-spouses, to manage career and home, to raise five children, to move that family across the country, and to generally greet life and death with grace and aplomb? It is apparent from every word of this narrative that one thing that might help is the kind of generous and disinterested and daring affection that would lead a man to drive his sick old dog on a cross country trip, just so the pet might live to see his family’s new home, and that would lead a friend to accompany him.
That narrative is at once entertaining, erudite, informative, humorous, open-minded, charming, and above all, wise. The author will not take you to any of the several truly American roadside attractions without answering the questions you will certainly have, without giving it its due without judgment, and without imparting some wisdom. Part of the warm-hearted affection in this book is for this country and its people. This is a very good time for that sentiment. There is never a “wrong dog.” Only people may get it wrong, and we often do. This book shows us how to get it right. Buy it and read it, and hold onto it for later, when you will need it.
I will forever return to, reread, and keep “The Wrong Dog,” as an antidote, a balm, a talisman, a small and concise discourse on elegant and simple wisdom. I have ordered a few extra copies that I will send to friends on the same mission. I know that they will smile and be informed and entertained when they read it, just as I have been. I do not read much non-fiction, nor do I read much modern fiction. I tend toward classic novels.
At some point soon, I will re-read “Moby Dick” and “Wuthering Heights,” for something like the fifth time. Each book will take me hours, and beyond that each will give me hours of thought, of searching for wisdom and understanding, of moments with myself that are among the best moments I could ever have. I am not saying “The Wrong Dog” is one of those books, but I do know it approaches that rare goal, the way in which reading can improve your internal life.
The Romans who translated the New Testament from its original Greek called it “caritas.” It was one of the several Latin words for love, and it was the one they chose to describe the love that St. Paul told the Corinthians without which we are nothing. This slender volume is a conversation about that love. The book is ostensibly about the role a dog may play in our lives, the love we give them and they give us. But it is the family of this book for whom the dog, Simba, is really an exact and magnifying mirror.
Simba gives his best but he largely reflects this extraordinary blended family’s, and our own, capacity for the charitable love that has no self-interest. It may come from the heart but it also has a philosophical basis, and that foundation is what emerges from this text. What is required to blend two families, to cope with severely ailing parents and far too colorful ex-spouses, to manage career and home, to raise five children, to move that family across the country, and to generally greet life and death with grace and aplomb? It is apparent from every word of this narrative that one thing that might help is the kind of generous and disinterested and daring affection that would lead a man to drive his sick old dog on a cross country trip, just so the pet might live to see his family’s new home, and that would lead a friend to accompany him.
That narrative is at once entertaining, erudite, informative, humorous, open-minded, charming, and above all, wise. The author will not take you to any of the several truly American roadside attractions without answering the questions you will certainly have, without giving it its due without judgment, and without imparting some wisdom. Part of the warm-hearted affection in this book is for this country and its people. This is a very good time for that sentiment. There is never a “wrong dog.” Only people may get it wrong, and we often do. This book shows us how to get it right. Buy it and read it, and hold onto it for later, when you will need it.
May 20, 2017
This is the true story of one remarkable dog and his journey across America to see his family again. It was funny, heart-breaking, thought provoking, and surprisingly educational.
Going into this book, I didn’t realise it would reveal so much about the obscurities of American road side attractions, and I also didn’t realise I’d be interested in them. They were amusing to say the least. From craters and petrified forests to the Eagles and Elvis Presley. This book was littered with little factual trinkets that make you appreciate the silliness of our predecessors, or the strength and love of others. As with many books I seem to be reading recently, I left feeling like I knew a little more about the craziness that is the US, and with a desire to travel across the country.
Having lost two smashing dogs last year to the ailments of old age, the story of Simba II felt familiar and bitter sweet. Simba’s (possible) resilience and the unconditional love of those around him truly resonated with me, as I’m sure it will with all dog lovers, and reminds you to enjoy the present. The story of Simba also paralleled with the story of the author’s mother. Reading the stories of these two incredibly loyal, headstrong, and utterly loving family members is a wonderful lesson - in appreciating what you have; in remembering the sacrifices of your loved ones, and in the importance of loving unconditionally.
This book will make any dog lover bawl their eyes out (and the lovely family photos at the end of the book won’t help), and remind all its readers of the importance and magnificence of family.
Going into this book, I didn’t realise it would reveal so much about the obscurities of American road side attractions, and I also didn’t realise I’d be interested in them. They were amusing to say the least. From craters and petrified forests to the Eagles and Elvis Presley. This book was littered with little factual trinkets that make you appreciate the silliness of our predecessors, or the strength and love of others. As with many books I seem to be reading recently, I left feeling like I knew a little more about the craziness that is the US, and with a desire to travel across the country.
Having lost two smashing dogs last year to the ailments of old age, the story of Simba II felt familiar and bitter sweet. Simba’s (possible) resilience and the unconditional love of those around him truly resonated with me, as I’m sure it will with all dog lovers, and reminds you to enjoy the present. The story of Simba also paralleled with the story of the author’s mother. Reading the stories of these two incredibly loyal, headstrong, and utterly loving family members is a wonderful lesson - in appreciating what you have; in remembering the sacrifices of your loved ones, and in the importance of loving unconditionally.
This book will make any dog lover bawl their eyes out (and the lovely family photos at the end of the book won’t help), and remind all its readers of the importance and magnificence of family.
January 17, 2018
From the first day Simba was adopted as a young pup, he was saddled with a used name and deemed the wrong dog! With a dubious beginning like that, I was excited to join Simba on his journey to redemption but instead was subjected to David Elliot Cohen's road trip from San Francisco to New York City.
Under the pretense that time is of the upmost importance, I'm supposed to believe that David is determined to get "loved unconditionally" Simba (who is on his very last days) delivered cross country to his wife and two youngest children before his death. A commercial plane ride in the cargo area is quickly ruled out, chartering a plane (where Simba COULD ride in the cabin) by the wealthy author and his even wealthier wife isn't even a consideration, but a guys' road trip across the US and especially along the old Route 66 is deemed the timeliest and kindest mode of transportation.
Several weeks after being told of Simba's poor prognosis, David finally deems it is "time" for his road trip. His friend Erick (I hold no ill will against this man) volunteers to be his road trip buddy while they get their kicks on Route 66. We take a tour of Buck Owens' Crystal Palace in Bakersfield CA (while Simba is tied up outside in the heat), we stop in 111 degree weather in Baker, CA to check out the world's tallest thermometer, we hit Vegas for a guy's night of a good meal and gambling (while Simba is left alone in a hotel room), and that's all on day one. We have many more days of tourism and dog neglect to go!
David subjects us to his dislike of the fast food chain Sonic Drive-In, his views on gun control, his dislike of Gallup, New Mexico, his opinions of Donald Trump and Bill and Hillary Clinton and some other rants that you wouldn't expect in a book about a beloved pet. And as a bonus, he'll educate you on Zyzyzx, CA, give you more history than you ever wanted on the Eagle's song Taking it Easy, school you on not only the Oklahoma City Bombing but also David Koresh and his Branch Davidians and so much more.
Once he gets bored with roadside attractions, David decides it is time to visit his father and dying mother. As if pawning his dog off on his brother during this visit isn't bad enough, he subjects you to an imaginary conversation with his mother. I'll just say that he shows more love and concern for Simba than he does for his own mother!
Finally, we get to NYC and the "death scene". And if you care to read this book, I'll save that tidbit for you to "savor". It's a doozy!
Can you tell how much I hated this book? The Wrong Dog was just a little bit about a dog and a lot about the author. If there weren't pictures to prove that Simba was on this road trip, I could have easily believed that this whole book was a work of bad fiction. And to add insult to injury, the author and his family quickly adopt a pug puppy that has the horrible moniker of Mister Chang and readily admit that they treat this canine much better than they ever did Simba.
Under the pretense that time is of the upmost importance, I'm supposed to believe that David is determined to get "loved unconditionally" Simba (who is on his very last days) delivered cross country to his wife and two youngest children before his death. A commercial plane ride in the cargo area is quickly ruled out, chartering a plane (where Simba COULD ride in the cabin) by the wealthy author and his even wealthier wife isn't even a consideration, but a guys' road trip across the US and especially along the old Route 66 is deemed the timeliest and kindest mode of transportation.
Several weeks after being told of Simba's poor prognosis, David finally deems it is "time" for his road trip. His friend Erick (I hold no ill will against this man) volunteers to be his road trip buddy while they get their kicks on Route 66. We take a tour of Buck Owens' Crystal Palace in Bakersfield CA (while Simba is tied up outside in the heat), we stop in 111 degree weather in Baker, CA to check out the world's tallest thermometer, we hit Vegas for a guy's night of a good meal and gambling (while Simba is left alone in a hotel room), and that's all on day one. We have many more days of tourism and dog neglect to go!
David subjects us to his dislike of the fast food chain Sonic Drive-In, his views on gun control, his dislike of Gallup, New Mexico, his opinions of Donald Trump and Bill and Hillary Clinton and some other rants that you wouldn't expect in a book about a beloved pet. And as a bonus, he'll educate you on Zyzyzx, CA, give you more history than you ever wanted on the Eagle's song Taking it Easy, school you on not only the Oklahoma City Bombing but also David Koresh and his Branch Davidians and so much more.
Once he gets bored with roadside attractions, David decides it is time to visit his father and dying mother. As if pawning his dog off on his brother during this visit isn't bad enough, he subjects you to an imaginary conversation with his mother. I'll just say that he shows more love and concern for Simba than he does for his own mother!
Finally, we get to NYC and the "death scene". And if you care to read this book, I'll save that tidbit for you to "savor". It's a doozy!
Can you tell how much I hated this book? The Wrong Dog was just a little bit about a dog and a lot about the author. If there weren't pictures to prove that Simba was on this road trip, I could have easily believed that this whole book was a work of bad fiction. And to add insult to injury, the author and his family quickly adopt a pug puppy that has the horrible moniker of Mister Chang and readily admit that they treat this canine much better than they ever did Simba.
June 17, 2025
Sounds like the author wanted to write an autobiography but was afraid no one would read it, so he included tiny bits of Simba, their dog, to market the book better. Huge disappointment, been a while since I read such a terrible book.
May 31, 2019
So I was proctoring testing at school, and I wasn't allowed to use electronics (ie my phone or kindle), and I finished the one book I brought with me. I stopped by an English teacher's room to ask to borrow a book from her shelf, and was looking for some light fiction, but the cover of this book made me pick it up and I figured what the heck.
And considering I'm a dog person, and especially considering I'm a lab person at heart, this book totally got me. It's really a travel journal caged within the story of transporting the aging and ailing family dog from CA to NY. The parts about the dog and the family were sweet, relate-able, and just heart-wrenching enough to pull at my heartstrings and make me empathize without reducing me to a crying mess in front of the students (despite the inevitable at the end). And the travelogue part was interesting enough to leave me at least vaguely interested in making my own cross-country trip along the famed Route 66.
I enjoyed it so much that when I had to give it back at the end of the day and hadn't quite finished it, I stopped at the library right away to get out a copy and finish.
And considering I'm a dog person, and especially considering I'm a lab person at heart, this book totally got me. It's really a travel journal caged within the story of transporting the aging and ailing family dog from CA to NY. The parts about the dog and the family were sweet, relate-able, and just heart-wrenching enough to pull at my heartstrings and make me empathize without reducing me to a crying mess in front of the students (despite the inevitable at the end). And the travelogue part was interesting enough to leave me at least vaguely interested in making my own cross-country trip along the famed Route 66.
I enjoyed it so much that when I had to give it back at the end of the day and hadn't quite finished it, I stopped at the library right away to get out a copy and finish.
September 15, 2024
Any dog lover knows that a book about losing a beloved pet will tug at your heartstrings in a way only those who have lost their beloved family member(s) know. This one met the mark but there was way too much boring documentary about the 8 day road trip (to reunite Simba with his family at their new home) from San Francisco to NYC. With that being said, it was a sweet read about a dog that accidentally/wrongly ended up with the right family. Yea, I fell in love with Simba.
Only 2 stars because the narrative on the “must see” stops cross country was just now good or necessary
favorite quotes:
“…we don’t love our dogs because they give us unconditional love — even though that’s what everyone says. We love our dogs because they show us that we, ourselves, are capable of loving another being unconditionally”
“and you never really know how long you will live or what effect your life will have on the lives of others…”
Only 2 stars because the narrative on the “must see” stops cross country was just now good or necessary
favorite quotes:
“…we don’t love our dogs because they give us unconditional love — even though that’s what everyone says. We love our dogs because they show us that we, ourselves, are capable of loving another being unconditionally”
“and you never really know how long you will live or what effect your life will have on the lives of others…”
January 27, 2024
I had no idea that I was going to receive a historical lesson while reading this book, so it was an extra surprise to find out interesting facts about places in the USA that I did not know before. All intertwined in this history lesson is a very big, but very charming canine, Simba II. And the minute I picked up this book I knew I would be bawling at the end, but it didn't happen. David Cohen was able to take me through a difficult time with a lot of love and gratefulness, instead of the whole box of tissue scenario.
November 26, 2018
This book is a mixed bag. If you like to read whimsical thoughts about a road trip, it's excellent. The book was obviously an emotional one for the author to write. He skirts around the difficult topic of aging/dying parents and an aging dog, which he tends to focus on more than his canine friend. It's a book that deflects those emotions as a coping mechanism. A quick read, but don't expect much focus on the dog.
March 20, 2018
__ Mein mensch of all time ,Dovidal,
I have several thousands of books 📚 stashed in my mind, sloshing through the many words that have lost their homes in the mud of the muck. Black Beauty was the only one I had never lost. I was three (idiot savant) am now 75. Simba will now join the Black. Thankful, Lynn Porter (zeneagle@aol.com)
I have several thousands of books 📚 stashed in my mind, sloshing through the many words that have lost their homes in the mud of the muck. Black Beauty was the only one I had never lost. I was three (idiot savant) am now 75. Simba will now join the Black. Thankful, Lynn Porter (zeneagle@aol.com)
September 6, 2018
We were sent this book by Yellow Pear Press and we loved it! The story was so heartwarming and real about a blended family coming together and their journey with an amazing lab. Such a sweet read, I would definitely recommend.
September 19, 2020
Simba love
Book got a little lengthy in unrelated explanatory info of extraneous material. But overall loved the whole story of Simba and the underlying importance of pets in people's lives.
Book got a little lengthy in unrelated explanatory info of extraneous material. But overall loved the whole story of Simba and the underlying importance of pets in people's lives.
February 9, 2018
Wonderful!
Even though it was not what I expected, I would recommend this to my best friend as a very enjoyable read.
Even though it was not what I expected, I would recommend this to my best friend as a very enjoyable read.
May 5, 2018
Great read. Thank you.
Not only was it heart warming. It was a great adventure across country, with companionship and care in bringing a great dog to those he loves.
Not only was it heart warming. It was a great adventure across country, with companionship and care in bringing a great dog to those he loves.
November 28, 2018
Light on Simba, heavy on the road trip.
January 31, 2019
This is by far one of the best books I’ve ever read!
January 21, 2024
What a cute brilliant story. Thank you for sharing Simba with us, he was a remarkable dog. I don't think we actually deserve dogs.
June 6, 2024
Starts out great then it goes down hill . I didn’t care for the author’s opinion political issues. The dog had no part in that.
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July 4, 2024Audiobook
July 18, 2024
An amazing story of a dog who makes it back home across the country
September 21, 2025
This was an easy read about dog love and travel. Interesting side stories but really commenting on the true joy of having a road trip buddy in the form of a big dog.
March 19, 2017
This book caught my eye, not only because its a 'dog book', but because its about a white lab. A breed I also own. I'd smile at the similarities, when I read them, that are possibly innate to white labs. Cohen is a best selling author and I found his book engaging, but felt the few four letter words he used were unnecessary, and startled me every time- that's just me. He and his friend Erick take a cross country trip. The book is actually more about that than the dog.
I liked this insightful description: "Since Erick was the sole keeper of the Wonder List, (the places they would stop) I never knew what the next stop would be or when it might occur. And that appealed to my spontaneous nature. Erick, on the other hand, knew exactly what was coming and when. And that gratified his engineer's heart.
Interesting, his wife went to school at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire and graduated from the Wisconsin Law School in Madison.
I liked this insightful description: "Since Erick was the sole keeper of the Wonder List, (the places they would stop) I never knew what the next stop would be or when it might occur. And that appealed to my spontaneous nature. Erick, on the other hand, knew exactly what was coming and when. And that gratified his engineer's heart.
Interesting, his wife went to school at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire and graduated from the Wisconsin Law School in Madison.
January 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this story; the dog's life and the humans around him.
March 3, 2024
A true story, with what I already knew a predictable ending, but wholesome writing about bringing home the wrong dog and still falling in love with it unconditionally. You come to terms with the fact that this animal is now part of your family, with its antics, facial features, it’s pattern of needs, it’s illnesses and whatever it has or needs because you have fallen in love with it, making it one of the family. Unfortunately, just as we humans tend not to find a way to live forever and manage to get diseases and pass on to great unknown of life after death,so do our dearly unconditional loving dogs. Sometimes though they manage to surprise us to hang on long enough to say goodbye to everyone they love.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews