A Home for Rose: How My Life Turned Upside Down for the Love of a Dog

by Jon Katz

'I believed Rose had a secret plan for the farm, a detailed map in her head that showed exactly where all her ewes and lambs and humans ought to be. Though I was nominally the herder, I wasn't privy to the map. My job was mostly to latch and unlatch the gates, the rest was up to her'

Jon Katz leaves the suburbs for a remote farm in order to give Border Collie puppy Rose - along with our friend Devon from A Dog Year - a true taste of herding life.

Rose's adventures start early, going head to head with a head-butting ram the day the sheep arrive. She soon establishes a routine for the sheep, chickens and donkeys - and Jon - that makes everything run like clockwork. However, any notion Jon has of the romance of a rural idyll is shattered when the snow comes and temperatures of minus twenty set in. With two fingers damaged to frostbite and a sheep lost, the prospect of all-night lambing seems terrifying. But with Rose by his side Jon finds there is little that together they can't do, and as spring comes and the frost thaws he finds himself battered, drained yet exhilarated.

This is his delightfully funny, touching and insightful depiction of the realities of country life, and of how one man turned his life upside down for the love of a dog.

Genres: Animals, Dogs, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2009

About the author

Jon Katz is an author, photographer, and children's book writer. He lives on Bedlam Farm with his wife, the artist Maria Wulf, his four dogs, Rose, Izzy, Lenore and Frieda, two donkeys, Lulu and Fanny, and two barn cats. His next book, "Rose In A Storm" will be published by Random House on October 5.
He is working on a collection of short stories and a book on animal grieving.

Reviews

[Diane in Australia]

Jon has written many books about his life on Bedlam Farm in New York, USA. He is one of those thinking men that I enjoy reading. He knows how to weave all the parts of his life into a very readable book. He has dogs, of course, and this one is, obviously, about Rose ... and 16 sheep, 2 more dogs, and 2 donkeys. He learns a lot about himself, as he learns how to handle Rose ... or more to the point, as she learns how to handle Jon! ... lol

"I believed Rose had a secret plan for the farm, a detailed map in her head that showed exactly where all her ewes and lambs and humans ought to be. Though I was nominally the herder, I wasn't privy to the map. My job was mostly to latch and unlatch the gates, the rest was up to her."

3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.

[Sophie Crane]

There are sad parts (when isn't there when it comes to animals!), but I have great regard for Jon Katz for his ambitions and determinations despite great hardships. He really understands dogs and has every respect for them - wish every human being felt that way. Lovely book.

[Sharon]

Great book, although at times the author could get long winded, especially when writing about "dog people" and his philosophys on that.

I liked the parts when he described farm life, may have to read the earlier books though to get the story behind his comments about his family life as a child. Seems there is a bigger story there.

[Shahrun]

What animal lover doesn't dream of getting away from the rat race and having a nice bit of land to live in harmony with lots of animals? This man has done it! But I couldn't really connect with this book. I felt the author was too repetitive on things that didn't add to or move the story forwards, perhaps in the he name of beefing up a short story into book length. Which is such a shame, because the subject matter had the potential to be so much more interesting.

[Katie Brock]

I almost fell into a slump reading this book.
I’ve read Jon Katz other books and I was excited for this one- however, he doesn’t talk about Rose much in the first part of the book

The focus is still on Orson and Homer.

However, I did enjoy the farming content- we do see how Rose is at herding sheep but also how she is during lambing season and with other animals on the farm.

Jon Katz does not see his border collies as pets though, he sees them as working dogs and you can see this in how he describes his relationship with them.

He gets more emotional putting down a sheep than he does about giving a dog to a new forever home. I mean he probably did feel sad but there’s more description when it comes to dead sheep.

I did enjoy it once I got more into it, and I’m glad I read it, I just wish the focus had been more on Rose and not autobiographical about Jon and his life whilst Rose is in his life.

I understand why- but the book is called A Home for Rose.

I’d give it a 3/5 stars because I did find some bits really interesting.

One thing I am glad of though is that he kept his word. No dogs die in this book.

[Melody]

definitely a good read. there are a lot of parts that are just so emotional that I can't keep up with. Giving up a dog you raised absolutely did smth to me that I can't just put out my heart to express or :( . love reading parts about farm life, it makes me learn something new as someone who's never experiences it!

[Elaine Doe]

its a lovely read.happy and sad.once i started to read vouldnt put it down.

[Lucy Lang]

This true story was a really easy and pleasant read. The author moves upstate with his three sheep dogs and then the magic happens. Rose, the puppy, turns out to be the star of the show!

[Junee]

I love this book but I'm just against the author giving up Homer it just breaks my heart. I mean how can you give away something/someone you literally raised? But at least Homer got his happy ending.

[Laura Rogers]

Jon Katz books are like candy for the dog lover.

[Denise Musson]

Lovely story of a midlife crisis possibly, and some wonderful dogs.

[Laurel]

Interesting read though the author has a totally different view of loving dogs to myself.
Also, if you love all animals and get emotional over the death of all creatures, DON’T READ!

[Amanda]

I couldn't get into this book at all.

[Amie (ReadwithAmie)]

This was the perfect read for lockdown - I needed just a nice dog book to make me feel warm and happy given the current situation. I have a soft spot for farming and love to hear read memoirs about it, my way of living vicariously through them for a short while to fulfil my childhood dream of wanting to be a farmer.

This was the perfect amount of cute dogs and commentary on Katz life and the trouble he faced. It gave more substance than simply being light hearted stories and I really enjoyed it. Though I may disagree on some of Katz opinions regarding a dogs love for its owner, it is clear how much he love his dogs and how much they love him.

[Sarah]

When Jon Katz writes about his dogs he gets you right from the start. This particular book is a collection of stories about how life is on Bedlam Farm and how Rosie is a sheep herding force at such young age, a prodigy almost. Devon, who is renamed Orson, from his famed book A Dog Year, and one of my personal favourites. Homer, who is a loner compared to Orson and Rose, he just doesn't fit in at Bedlam and it frustrates Jon as to why this is so. And the infamous Rose who has so many fabulous qualities, it was really interesting to hear her stories in this book. She can be a herding tyrant but a loving a nurturing soul with the newborn lambs, it was really quite touching. Jon Katz books are like pick me ups or books that you read when you need something that is a light read but that you know is going to be good. I enjoy them every time and can guarantee that are always great.

[Naomi Stock]

Really enjoyable book. I am not sure if I agreed with him giving away the other dog. Jon did say he had tried all other options & allegedly the home was a really good hope.

I really enjoyed Rose's adventures

[Stephanie]

rose is way too business like

[Helen]

A lovely true story about one man, his dogs, donkey and his sheep.

[Caitlyn.l.williams]

i havent finished this book yet but so far it is really good, i hope i will get to finish this book without being bored.

[Christin Natalia]

Not very special

[Kelly Simpson]

A great biography regarding Jon & his Border Collie Rose.