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Lad #1
Lad: A Dog
Recounts the heroic and adventurous life of a thoroughbred collie that was particularly devoted to his owners.
246 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1919
206 people are currently reading
3320 people want to read
About the author
Albert Payson Terhune
330 books76 followersAlbert Payson Terhune (1872 - 1942), a local author of some fame, wrote numerous adventures about Collies, most notably, "Lad, A Dog", "Sunnybank: Home of Lad", and "Further Adventures of Lad". Sunnybank, his home on the eastern shore of Pompton Lakes in northern New Jersey, was originally the home of Terhune's parents, Edward Payson Terhune and Mary Virginia Hawes Terhune. Later as his home with his wife, Anice Stockton Terhune, Sunnybank became famous as "The Place" in the many stories of Terhune. Much of the land once constituting the Sunnybank estate was lost to developers in the 1960's with the house being demolished in 1969. Fortunately though, the central 9.6 acres was preserved through the dedicated efforts of Terhune fans and dog fanciers, and is now Terhune Sunnybank Memorial Park, administered by the Wayne Township Parks Department.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
June 5, 2013
I loved this book as a child and I love it now! It made me adore collies. I've owned cocker spaniels, English springer spaniels, brittney spaniels, red-bone coonhounds, and a variety of mutts, but no collies. My next dog will be a collie! It's fun to see how I react to this book almost the same way now as I did when I was ten. If you haven't read it, then you're missing out!
November 29, 2015
This will be revisited at some point, but it came up as a GoodReads recommendation, and I wanted to share my memory of this book.
I read my pop's old paperback copy of this, and encountered my first (traumatizing) experience with old paperback book-binding glue. It was tragic. I was 9, and not at fault, but since my father loved this book, I got chewed out thoroughly for the pages that were falling out like leaves from an autumn tree, regardless of how lovingly and reverently I treated this copy.
Sadness aside, I have mixed memories of this book, some sad (as Lad drags himself across the snow unerringly), some happy (he was a wonderful family dog), and some adorable (him mouthing the lady's foot).
This is a book for dog lovers, written by a dog lover. Flat out. And I loved it. Even the sad bits (which I generally hate, but always stand out so strongly for me in retrospect).
I had sung the praises of Rin Tin Tin to my pop, and read many Jim Kjelgaard (why does my spell check want to change this name, when I memorized the spelling to better peruse his works in our various library card catalogues?) doggie stories which I enjoyed, wanting each of the breeds written on, and at this point added English Collie to this list. My sweet father who knew that I was so like him, let me borrow his ancient paperback copy that he had enjoyed as a boy himself.
We knew each other as if I were cut from the same cloth he had been. And I appreciated that about him. So when I read this story, I knew that I would enjoy it just as he had. And I did. Until I returned the book, and the pages were beginning to slip free. I felt bad. He felt bad. It was a bad experience.
But even with that, I recall this book in the light of the love of a good dog.
Years later, when I wound up with a rescued Collie whom I named 'Prince' (his real name, turned out when his delinquent owner showed up, was Cheeseballs) it was this story that came to mind as I brushed him for what was perhaps the first time in his life, loosening mats and burrs and scabs from old scars, telling myself stories of Lad and where all that came from as he trembled in my lap, unwilling to get off me. He was a culmination of my hopes and dreams and memories of this book, and too short with me.
But still, I have always dreamed of having a dog as loyal as this. This book is the ideal, the standard, the pinnacle all good dogs can be measured against. Lad is not just a dog, but a saint in canine form.
A story to be savoured, for sure. It has stood the test of time.
I read my pop's old paperback copy of this, and encountered my first (traumatizing) experience with old paperback book-binding glue. It was tragic. I was 9, and not at fault, but since my father loved this book, I got chewed out thoroughly for the pages that were falling out like leaves from an autumn tree, regardless of how lovingly and reverently I treated this copy.
Sadness aside, I have mixed memories of this book, some sad (as Lad drags himself across the snow unerringly), some happy (he was a wonderful family dog), and some adorable (him mouthing the lady's foot).
This is a book for dog lovers, written by a dog lover. Flat out. And I loved it. Even the sad bits (which I generally hate, but always stand out so strongly for me in retrospect).
I had sung the praises of Rin Tin Tin to my pop, and read many Jim Kjelgaard (why does my spell check want to change this name, when I memorized the spelling to better peruse his works in our various library card catalogues?) doggie stories which I enjoyed, wanting each of the breeds written on, and at this point added English Collie to this list. My sweet father who knew that I was so like him, let me borrow his ancient paperback copy that he had enjoyed as a boy himself.
We knew each other as if I were cut from the same cloth he had been. And I appreciated that about him. So when I read this story, I knew that I would enjoy it just as he had. And I did. Until I returned the book, and the pages were beginning to slip free. I felt bad. He felt bad. It was a bad experience.
But even with that, I recall this book in the light of the love of a good dog.
Years later, when I wound up with a rescued Collie whom I named 'Prince' (his real name, turned out when his delinquent owner showed up, was Cheeseballs) it was this story that came to mind as I brushed him for what was perhaps the first time in his life, loosening mats and burrs and scabs from old scars, telling myself stories of Lad and where all that came from as he trembled in my lap, unwilling to get off me. He was a culmination of my hopes and dreams and memories of this book, and too short with me.
But still, I have always dreamed of having a dog as loyal as this. This book is the ideal, the standard, the pinnacle all good dogs can be measured against. Lad is not just a dog, but a saint in canine form.
A story to be savoured, for sure. It has stood the test of time.
August 17, 2021
When I was a kid, the library had two hardcover editions of this book. I would read one copy, take it back, exchange it for the next. I read this book so many times I could recite it. I read his others as well, but this one, and this dog, remain a favorite. As an adult, I bought the book myself and it has a hallowed spot on my keeper shelf.
October 13, 2012
Collies!!
I can trace my earliest dog memory to the tender age of 3 or 4 to a collie; I vividly recall stroking the soft fur of a collie owned by my preschool neighbor Kim Francis (whose father always called me Isabel for no apparent reason except to tease me) and who moved away forever several years later.
I never saw or heard from Kim again but another neighbor later told me she had moved to CT and then attended CT College --who knows what next: if you ever read this, Kim, by some flukey internet voodoo, can you tell me the name of your dog???
Back to the book.... Lad: A Dog is just one of the gifts left to us by Alfred Payson Terhune (1872 – 1942), writer and dog breeder. Collies were his specialty. Of course, Lad is a collie.
This classic 1919 tale stars a noble superdog inspired by the author's own very real dog-- I mean, the fictional dog's exploits are definitely idealized such that calling Lad a superdog seems quite fitting.
The book was not written for juvenile readers -- adults responded quite enthusiastically to this sentimental story in the early years -- but the library where I found it had it designated for juveniles, and I think that association is rather common nowadays and not surprising. Younger dog-loving readers are quite likely to respond passionately today to the type of dog hero portrayed by Terhune.
I myself, however, hoping to create a more positive feeling in myself towards strange dogs that bark at me ...noted more than most I suspect all the references to the wild, ferocious wolf background and the teeth and the fights, and the dog-human attacks, and the dog-dog fights, and going for the jugular ---- and again the teeth!!!
Still, Lad was a hero more than couple times, so I could keep going...
The fictional Lad lives with his Master and Mistress at "The Place," and the Master, in real life, of course, is Terhune and the Mistress, his wife.
The Place is actually Terhune's New Jersey property at Sunnybank, which today is a park that can be visited --and where dogs, like Lad, were buried with markers.
Curious readers might enjoy searching the internet to find the photos, including the music room with the piano under which Lad slept.
Having just checked Wikipedia, readers may appreciate knowing that there is both a detailed plot and interesting analysis about this book LAD: A DOG and its reception. An American film based on the book was released in 1962. The trailer I stumbled upon showing the book and Bugs Bunny was precious!
I can trace my earliest dog memory to the tender age of 3 or 4 to a collie; I vividly recall stroking the soft fur of a collie owned by my preschool neighbor Kim Francis (whose father always called me Isabel for no apparent reason except to tease me) and who moved away forever several years later.
I never saw or heard from Kim again but another neighbor later told me she had moved to CT and then attended CT College --who knows what next: if you ever read this, Kim, by some flukey internet voodoo, can you tell me the name of your dog???
Back to the book.... Lad: A Dog is just one of the gifts left to us by Alfred Payson Terhune (1872 – 1942), writer and dog breeder. Collies were his specialty. Of course, Lad is a collie.
This classic 1919 tale stars a noble superdog inspired by the author's own very real dog-- I mean, the fictional dog's exploits are definitely idealized such that calling Lad a superdog seems quite fitting.
The book was not written for juvenile readers -- adults responded quite enthusiastically to this sentimental story in the early years -- but the library where I found it had it designated for juveniles, and I think that association is rather common nowadays and not surprising. Younger dog-loving readers are quite likely to respond passionately today to the type of dog hero portrayed by Terhune.
I myself, however, hoping to create a more positive feeling in myself towards strange dogs that bark at me ...noted more than most I suspect all the references to the wild, ferocious wolf background and the teeth and the fights, and the dog-human attacks, and the dog-dog fights, and going for the jugular ---- and again the teeth!!!
Still, Lad was a hero more than couple times, so I could keep going...
The fictional Lad lives with his Master and Mistress at "The Place," and the Master, in real life, of course, is Terhune and the Mistress, his wife.
The Place is actually Terhune's New Jersey property at Sunnybank, which today is a park that can be visited --and where dogs, like Lad, were buried with markers.
Curious readers might enjoy searching the internet to find the photos, including the music room with the piano under which Lad slept.
Having just checked Wikipedia, readers may appreciate knowing that there is both a detailed plot and interesting analysis about this book LAD: A DOG and its reception. An American film based on the book was released in 1962. The trailer I stumbled upon showing the book and Bugs Bunny was precious!
December 3, 2021
I consider Lad, a Dog, now one of my favorite dog books (of over 150 I have read so far). I thought Lassie was great, but I think Lad is better.
What I would suggest is before reading this book, write down all the common stories you see for dogs and write them down to see how many you get right that are in this book. Lad was written in 1919, so books with similar themes came after it. He also adds something extra with each of those themes so it is just not the dog story you are used to, but that dog story plus another twist or theme.
Love how he talks about ‘The Place’ and want to make a map of it. A 25-acre property bordered on 2 sides by a lake is only a fantasy to most of it. Nice to think of a property as described, and having a dog to pratol it.
Lad is a little more violent in some places, but I think this would also be a good discussion point when reading with children to the reality of dog fights. Of course nowadays we couldn’t think about the liability…
Other reviews can give you summary’ but I just want to say it was a great book and should be chosen above others to be read first. And I would also suggest going to Wikipedia to look up more on the history of the real dog, the author, and other books he has written on dogs.
What I would suggest is before reading this book, write down all the common stories you see for dogs and write them down to see how many you get right that are in this book. Lad was written in 1919, so books with similar themes came after it. He also adds something extra with each of those themes so it is just not the dog story you are used to, but that dog story plus another twist or theme.
Love how he talks about ‘The Place’ and want to make a map of it. A 25-acre property bordered on 2 sides by a lake is only a fantasy to most of it. Nice to think of a property as described, and having a dog to pratol it.
Lad is a little more violent in some places, but I think this would also be a good discussion point when reading with children to the reality of dog fights. Of course nowadays we couldn’t think about the liability…
Other reviews can give you summary’ but I just want to say it was a great book and should be chosen above others to be read first. And I would also suggest going to Wikipedia to look up more on the history of the real dog, the author, and other books he has written on dogs.
February 8, 2024
My mother read this book to us when we were kids — probably late 1950s.
October 9, 2015
I read this book as a child, in 4th grade. I loved the heroic Collies of Sunnybank.
October 8, 2011
I read this book as a child...and like others, I fell in love with Lad and his adventures. I've grown up around dogs and what Albert Terhune says about them is still true today. Anyone can be a dog's owner but, only a dog can choose its master.
I recently reread this book and it brought back a flood of memories from my own childhood and the adventures I had with my best friend Pete. He was a white and red mix (Collie & German Shepard)and we owned the world together throughout his entire lifetime.
This is a must read for all ages. I dare you not to fall in love with Lad. I dare you not to weep through his trials. I dare you not to care or suffer or dream along with Lad. This book will wrench your heartstrings in every way possible.
Devlin
I recently reread this book and it brought back a flood of memories from my own childhood and the adventures I had with my best friend Pete. He was a white and red mix (Collie & German Shepard)and we owned the world together throughout his entire lifetime.
This is a must read for all ages. I dare you not to fall in love with Lad. I dare you not to weep through his trials. I dare you not to care or suffer or dream along with Lad. This book will wrench your heartstrings in every way possible.
Devlin
July 14, 2010
I first read this book as a child, and often re-read it growing up. I recently found an old copy at DI, and brought it home to read to my wife.
Even after all these years, the story of Lad, his bravery and self-sacrifice brought tears to my eyes.
Even after all these years, the story of Lad, his bravery and self-sacrifice brought tears to my eyes.
November 3, 2014
My grandparents had a beautiful collie named Honey, and when I discovered this book I was sure I was reading about his relatives. One of the best dog books ever, full of love, affection, and mutual respect between dog and man.
January 5, 2018
3 1/2 stars. I adored this book as a kid, and probably read everything Terhune wrote. It's very odd to have read it now as a (substantially) older adult. I'm not sure what a modern child would make of this book of short stories; perhaps he or she would love it as much as I did, but I wonder. What strikes me now is the controlling character of the "Master," and the super-perfection of the "Mistress" whose word was Law to Lad. And that's not to mention the perfection of Lad. The book is very sentimental, and anthropomorphic to a degree that obtrudes even on 19th/early 20th c. canine fiction. (Some of the stories are said to be based on fact.) It's a picture of a vanished world of very early 20th century life at a socioeconomically elevated level, with some of the classicism and elitism that entails. I myself would not hesitate letting a child loose with it, looking forward to discussing it afterwards.
May 7, 2009
Truly amazing. Albert Payson takes you everywhere in the book is, every paw step of the way. Step out of this world and into the eventful life of a collie at The Place. Mr. Terhune uses his uncanny ability to paint the world of Lad, the main character, into your mind. Lad is a brave, heroic, thoroughbred collie, both in body and soul. He repeatedly saves many lives including those of the Mistress, a baby, and even several sheep! One of the few dogs who possess an unusual human yet dog-like brain, he is able to understand more human commands and words than most. A classic animal story that is loved by all generations of readers.
June 25, 2019
As I re-read this as an adult, I kept thinking of Lionel Barrymore in the movie It's A Wonderful Life sneering at Jimmy Stewart as he says "Sentimental hogwash!" Exactly so. Lad is the canine version of Superman and Cary Grant rolled into one. He saves his mistress's life - he miraculously gets a cripple to walk - he survives a snakebite - he takes unjust beatings for his ladylove's sake - he saves his son from falling through the ice - he is Wonder Dog, Lassie and Rin Tin Tin on steroids. He out-perils The Perils of Pauline. He's so good he makes my teeth hurt. His nobility of soul gives me a headache. I think I'll go pat a cat now.
March 28, 2009
probably one of my favorite books in the history of the world, simply amazing
July 20, 2024
Great stories. Lad is always noble and brave, and conquers the bad guys every time. The language reflects an earlier time, but adds charm to the stories.
August 27, 2009
I read this as my Classic for the month. I've probably read it a gazillion times already, but I still love it!
December 14, 2009
Wow! I’d forgotten all about this book. I read this when I was 9 or 10 years old and it was my absolute favorite. Must read it again and see if my 5-star memory of the story stands the test of time.
February 14, 2011
Great dog story, rivals that even of Jack London! Very humorous, makes for one lovable dog!
March 10, 2024
I first read this story decades ago and still have passages pop into my head at random. Lad made me long for my own collie. With a collie by your side life is sunnier!
September 8, 2020
This book has a good story About a dog. Lad was my favorite character because I like dogs. I learned a lot about Collies.
May 25, 2021
Albert Payson Terhune knows dogs and his stories ring true as stated below by him at the end of his story, "Lad: A Dog" quoted below.
"Yes, Lad was a “real” dog—the greatest dog by far, I have known or shall know. And the chief happenings in nearly all of my Lad stories are absolutely true. This accounts for such measure of success as the stories may have won. After his “Day of Battle,” Lad lived for more than two years—still gallant of spirit, loyally mighty of heart, uncanny of wisdom—still the undisputed king of The Place’s “Little People.” Then, on a warm September morning in 1918, he stretched himself to sleep in the coolest and shadiest corner of the veranda. And, while he slept, his great heart very quietly stopped beating. He had no pain, no illness, none of the distressing features of extreme age. He had lived out a full span of sixteen years—years rich in life and happiness and love."
I am a fan of dog stories especially the older ones which give a feel to those times and how the dog was an important companion and also served a purpose in protection of the family and home. Lad was an extra special dog who was kind to children and even those devilish mean brats. His ability to sense danger and his adventures especially when he is lost in NYC after a dog show had the attention of this reader. I would have read this quicker but life threw me a big loop which drained my reading ability but I feel a second wind for reading and though my life will not be settled for sometime, reading is an important part of my life and Albert Payson Terhune made me appreciate the goodness and intelligence of dogs even more.
I was amazed at the reasoning which can be so unbelievably cruel and soulless. Times of crisis should not abandon morals and humanities. Farmer Glure asks others to kill dogs so the money to feed the dogs is sent to the soldiers instead.
“I’m not given to mawkish sentiment,” went on the Master shamefacedly, “but on the day your fool law for dog exterminating goes into effect there’ll be a piteous crying of little children all over the whole world—of little children mourning for the gentle protecting playmates they loved. And there’ll be a million men and women whose lives have all at once become lonely and empty and miserable. Isn’t this war causing enough crying and loneliness and misery without your adding to it by killing our dogs? For the matter of that, haven’t the army dogs over in Europe been doing enough for mankind to warrant a square deal for their stay-at-home brothers? Haven’t they?”
The hysteria of people is stated here beautifully.
"Not one of these people—not even the policeman himself—had any evidence that the collie was mad. There are not two really rabid dogs seen at large in New York or in any other city in the course of a year. Yet, at the back of the human throat ever lurks that fool cry of “Mad dog!”—ever ready to leap forth into shouted words at the faintest provocation."
"Any man with money to make the purchase may become a dog’s owner. But no man—spend he ever so much coin and food and tact in the effort—may become a dog’s Master without the consent of the dog. Do you get the difference? And he whom a dog once unreservedly accepts as Master is forever that dog’s God."
Story in short- Lad is an extra special dog with many adventures that prove this.
Finishing up my May Dog Reads!
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I was horrified when Lad is attacked by not only by Rex but more so when his son, Wolf joined in but luckily Lad recovers to live a couple more years.
Glure, the wealthy wall street farmer is so deceitful and self serving, it was always grand when Lad showed him up. The World War 1 years and helping the war effort is helped by raising money for the Red Cross.
Lad and Lady obey the Master but when a collie named Knave came and caused Lady to ignore Lad and when Lady is hurt by a trap, Lad warns the Master whereas Knave leaves her. Lady is accused of hurting the stuff eagle and the Master is to punish her but Knave escapes and Lad growls to protect Lady and is punished. The missing head is noticed after a fight between Knave and Lad, the Master knows the truth and apologises.
The Mistress gets sick after Lad saves her in the canoe. All the dogs are told to leave because quiet is needed and they go to a kennel but Lad who can not budge from the Mistress' door and the Master knowing he can keep quiet lets him stay. After she recovers Lad does a little mayhem around the neighborhood but the Master understands and later that night being quiet but attacking a robber who thinks all dogs are gone finds himself attacked and caught. Lad is praised.
The little feeble girl's mother was afraid of dogs and her little girl but the girl wanted Lad and they were friends. She improved but the mother was always worried and at last when she foolishly took her daughter to a snake area by the lake unknowingly and Lad tried to warn her. When the mother went to get mail and dislodged a stone where a rattler was Lad defended the baby and was bite. The mother not knowing but saw the dog grab the girl started to beat Lad. The child was protesting and stood up to walk over to her mother. Amazed at this girl not being able to walk but gained strength to defend Lad. The Master seeing the dead rattler and hearing the story, thought Lad was dead but actually he was saved after many days in the forest where he oozed the posion out with mud.
After Lady has to go to the hospital for distemper and her puppy Wolf is left alone, though Lad is upset with Wolf who has taken all Lady's attention, he sees that the puppy is lonely. He looks for Lady daily but teaches Wolf with patience. Winter thaw has made the lake dangerous and Wolf is saved by Lad who is almost drowned too. Lady has come home.
They enter Lad in the Dog Show at Madison Square Garden but see how he would have to suffer staying longer and left after he won 2 ribbons.
Lad is going home after winning two ribbons and while in car with a muzzle, the car door is open and Lad is thrown out and lost in NYC. Unable to drink, lost, declared a mad dog, shot at, attacked by a mongrel dog but who bites of the muzzle. Lad makes his way home and his people return to find him thinking he was lost.
The prize winning sheep stay at the farm with a rich arrogant man and his son. They cause trouble at farm by accusing Lad of hurting his son who was actually try put the cat in the fireplace and the rich man's dog let the sheep out to harass and Lad saved the sheep.
The dog show at wall street farmer Glure who has an unanimously fellow wall street who donated a gold cup but it was actually Glure who spent 10 thousand dollars and bought an expensive award winning dog and had the rules so hard but his dog to win but when his handler was set off and Glure wanted to do it himself but he made it hard for the dog with a weird sign and Lad won. The gold cup was given to the red cross so the money will do it good.
Glure has killed his dogs distemper not treated by a doctor but himself and trying to have owner kill their dogs so the food spent on them to the war effort but Lad's Master tells him the false arguments. Meanwhile Lad found a robber but had to let him go when called but some proof left behind. Glure has a cattle show and his handler was this thief which Lad detected and the bull was raged which with Lad's help prevented his killing. The thief afraid of Lad gives clues that he was the man was treed by Lad.
Neighbor Titus Romaine's sheep are being killed and his worker, Schwartz says that he saw Lad killing the sheep and some sheep were missing. They go to court and all looks bad for Lad, with a witness but his owners know he did not do this and a plan is devised that shows Schwartz's killed the sheep and stole the others.
Wolf can not win at dog's shows but he has proved he is an hero by catching some thief that gave him poisoned meat which he only had a little but he heard the man in the boat turned back thinking that Wolf is dead but biting him though he is not well. The gunshot wakes the house up and the man is found after he goes to the doctor and is arrested.
Lad is older. Wolf and Rex go hunting and Rex is hurt and goes berserk. Lad goes to find them and not moving for Rex on a path, he is attacked but holding his own backing up home. He is surprised when his son Wolf joins in and almost dead but near home, the masters sees the fight and rescue Lad but Rex is killed after lunging for the Master. The doctor saves Lad but he is still weak.
"Yes, Lad was a “real” dog—the greatest dog by far, I have known or shall know. And the chief happenings in nearly all of my Lad stories are absolutely true. This accounts for such measure of success as the stories may have won. After his “Day of Battle,” Lad lived for more than two years—still gallant of spirit, loyally mighty of heart, uncanny of wisdom—still the undisputed king of The Place’s “Little People.” Then, on a warm September morning in 1918, he stretched himself to sleep in the coolest and shadiest corner of the veranda. And, while he slept, his great heart very quietly stopped beating. He had no pain, no illness, none of the distressing features of extreme age. He had lived out a full span of sixteen years—years rich in life and happiness and love."
I am a fan of dog stories especially the older ones which give a feel to those times and how the dog was an important companion and also served a purpose in protection of the family and home. Lad was an extra special dog who was kind to children and even those devilish mean brats. His ability to sense danger and his adventures especially when he is lost in NYC after a dog show had the attention of this reader. I would have read this quicker but life threw me a big loop which drained my reading ability but I feel a second wind for reading and though my life will not be settled for sometime, reading is an important part of my life and Albert Payson Terhune made me appreciate the goodness and intelligence of dogs even more.
I was amazed at the reasoning which can be so unbelievably cruel and soulless. Times of crisis should not abandon morals and humanities. Farmer Glure asks others to kill dogs so the money to feed the dogs is sent to the soldiers instead.
“I’m not given to mawkish sentiment,” went on the Master shamefacedly, “but on the day your fool law for dog exterminating goes into effect there’ll be a piteous crying of little children all over the whole world—of little children mourning for the gentle protecting playmates they loved. And there’ll be a million men and women whose lives have all at once become lonely and empty and miserable. Isn’t this war causing enough crying and loneliness and misery without your adding to it by killing our dogs? For the matter of that, haven’t the army dogs over in Europe been doing enough for mankind to warrant a square deal for their stay-at-home brothers? Haven’t they?”
The hysteria of people is stated here beautifully.
"Not one of these people—not even the policeman himself—had any evidence that the collie was mad. There are not two really rabid dogs seen at large in New York or in any other city in the course of a year. Yet, at the back of the human throat ever lurks that fool cry of “Mad dog!”—ever ready to leap forth into shouted words at the faintest provocation."
"Any man with money to make the purchase may become a dog’s owner. But no man—spend he ever so much coin and food and tact in the effort—may become a dog’s Master without the consent of the dog. Do you get the difference? And he whom a dog once unreservedly accepts as Master is forever that dog’s God."
Story in short- Lad is an extra special dog with many adventures that prove this.
Finishing up my May Dog Reads!
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I was horrified when Lad is attacked by not only by Rex but more so when his son, Wolf joined in but luckily Lad recovers to live a couple more years.
Glure, the wealthy wall street farmer is so deceitful and self serving, it was always grand when Lad showed him up. The World War 1 years and helping the war effort is helped by raising money for the Red Cross.
Lad and Lady obey the Master but when a collie named Knave came and caused Lady to ignore Lad and when Lady is hurt by a trap, Lad warns the Master whereas Knave leaves her. Lady is accused of hurting the stuff eagle and the Master is to punish her but Knave escapes and Lad growls to protect Lady and is punished. The missing head is noticed after a fight between Knave and Lad, the Master knows the truth and apologises.
The Mistress gets sick after Lad saves her in the canoe. All the dogs are told to leave because quiet is needed and they go to a kennel but Lad who can not budge from the Mistress' door and the Master knowing he can keep quiet lets him stay. After she recovers Lad does a little mayhem around the neighborhood but the Master understands and later that night being quiet but attacking a robber who thinks all dogs are gone finds himself attacked and caught. Lad is praised.
The little feeble girl's mother was afraid of dogs and her little girl but the girl wanted Lad and they were friends. She improved but the mother was always worried and at last when she foolishly took her daughter to a snake area by the lake unknowingly and Lad tried to warn her. When the mother went to get mail and dislodged a stone where a rattler was Lad defended the baby and was bite. The mother not knowing but saw the dog grab the girl started to beat Lad. The child was protesting and stood up to walk over to her mother. Amazed at this girl not being able to walk but gained strength to defend Lad. The Master seeing the dead rattler and hearing the story, thought Lad was dead but actually he was saved after many days in the forest where he oozed the posion out with mud.
After Lady has to go to the hospital for distemper and her puppy Wolf is left alone, though Lad is upset with Wolf who has taken all Lady's attention, he sees that the puppy is lonely. He looks for Lady daily but teaches Wolf with patience. Winter thaw has made the lake dangerous and Wolf is saved by Lad who is almost drowned too. Lady has come home.
They enter Lad in the Dog Show at Madison Square Garden but see how he would have to suffer staying longer and left after he won 2 ribbons.
Lad is going home after winning two ribbons and while in car with a muzzle, the car door is open and Lad is thrown out and lost in NYC. Unable to drink, lost, declared a mad dog, shot at, attacked by a mongrel dog but who bites of the muzzle. Lad makes his way home and his people return to find him thinking he was lost.
The prize winning sheep stay at the farm with a rich arrogant man and his son. They cause trouble at farm by accusing Lad of hurting his son who was actually try put the cat in the fireplace and the rich man's dog let the sheep out to harass and Lad saved the sheep.
The dog show at wall street farmer Glure who has an unanimously fellow wall street who donated a gold cup but it was actually Glure who spent 10 thousand dollars and bought an expensive award winning dog and had the rules so hard but his dog to win but when his handler was set off and Glure wanted to do it himself but he made it hard for the dog with a weird sign and Lad won. The gold cup was given to the red cross so the money will do it good.
Glure has killed his dogs distemper not treated by a doctor but himself and trying to have owner kill their dogs so the food spent on them to the war effort but Lad's Master tells him the false arguments. Meanwhile Lad found a robber but had to let him go when called but some proof left behind. Glure has a cattle show and his handler was this thief which Lad detected and the bull was raged which with Lad's help prevented his killing. The thief afraid of Lad gives clues that he was the man was treed by Lad.
Neighbor Titus Romaine's sheep are being killed and his worker, Schwartz says that he saw Lad killing the sheep and some sheep were missing. They go to court and all looks bad for Lad, with a witness but his owners know he did not do this and a plan is devised that shows Schwartz's killed the sheep and stole the others.
Wolf can not win at dog's shows but he has proved he is an hero by catching some thief that gave him poisoned meat which he only had a little but he heard the man in the boat turned back thinking that Wolf is dead but biting him though he is not well. The gunshot wakes the house up and the man is found after he goes to the doctor and is arrested.
Lad is older. Wolf and Rex go hunting and Rex is hurt and goes berserk. Lad goes to find them and not moving for Rex on a path, he is attacked but holding his own backing up home. He is surprised when his son Wolf joins in and almost dead but near home, the masters sees the fight and rescue Lad but Rex is killed after lunging for the Master. The doctor saves Lad but he is still weak.
March 22, 2026
Listened to this as read by John McDonough, who does a fine job, as always. I first read it - as well as many other dog books by Terhune - when I was just a pup. This time around it was much more noticeable that these were individual magazine articles that had been collected.
The stories are fine, sometimes a bit violent - but that can be appealing. It's a perpetual criticism that Lad is superhuman - or at least supercanine. In terms of the writing, one thing that stood out was the frequent use of "wherefore" - I don't know if it happened more than once in a chapter/article, but over the course of the whole book it was a bit much. I think the other thing is that their car has a "tonneau" - which is a term unknown to the present day (basically, an open backseat). Otherwise, it really doesn't have the feel of a book that is more than a century old. When I was 10 or so, I certainly didn't grasp that the war that gets fleeting mention is WWI. (What gives it away is the reference to the Kaiser.)
These stories were favorites of my father, who recommended them to me, and now my own kids have had the pleasure of listening to them. I like having that continuity. When I was reading Terhune, once I got through the three or four in the house, I could go to the public library and check out a dozen more. I just looked and with regard to print books, my current local library owns exactly one (this one). Ah well. At least digital versions are available for those who want to pursue further.
I don't know that I want to revisit any more Terhune myself, but it was a nice diversion.
The stories are fine, sometimes a bit violent - but that can be appealing. It's a perpetual criticism that Lad is superhuman - or at least supercanine. In terms of the writing, one thing that stood out was the frequent use of "wherefore" - I don't know if it happened more than once in a chapter/article, but over the course of the whole book it was a bit much. I think the other thing is that their car has a "tonneau" - which is a term unknown to the present day (basically, an open backseat). Otherwise, it really doesn't have the feel of a book that is more than a century old. When I was 10 or so, I certainly didn't grasp that the war that gets fleeting mention is WWI. (What gives it away is the reference to the Kaiser.)
These stories were favorites of my father, who recommended them to me, and now my own kids have had the pleasure of listening to them. I like having that continuity. When I was reading Terhune, once I got through the three or four in the house, I could go to the public library and check out a dozen more. I just looked and with regard to print books, my current local library owns exactly one (this one). Ah well. At least digital versions are available for those who want to pursue further.
I don't know that I want to revisit any more Terhune myself, but it was a nice diversion.
June 15, 2024
While at my wife’s grandparents house last night, we found out that we are RELATED to this author - Albert Payson Terhune. We spent the night looking at our ancestry, reading about the author, and looking into all of his books. They have a bookshelf full of his books, all about dogs, in the vintage forms. This was a very fun read and I plan on reading more in the future 🐶
August 16, 2020
Pre-reading for AO5. This is the first dog book I’ve ever read, and I can’t believe how much I loved it! The author is so knowledgeable about the nature of dogs and training them, it was fascinating and the adventures were thrilling. I admire that this author is a dog lover, but always within the perspective that they are still only dogs - not human. A dogs life is never as valuable as a human life, no matter how despicable the person or how noble the dog - something our culture has forgotten.
I can’t wait to share this book with my children. I know they will each enjoy it tremendously, though for completely different reasons.
Content considerations: several scary moments. This is a heroic dog who repeatedly puts himself in danger to protect humans, and it gets pretty intense and even brutal. In its favor though, it’s not like other dog books (from what I hear) that try to rip your heart out with the tragic death of the beloved furry friend at the end.
I can’t wait to share this book with my children. I know they will each enjoy it tremendously, though for completely different reasons.
Content considerations: several scary moments. This is a heroic dog who repeatedly puts himself in danger to protect humans, and it gets pretty intense and even brutal. In its favor though, it’s not like other dog books (from what I hear) that try to rip your heart out with the tragic death of the beloved furry friend at the end.
November 6, 2014
I will always have a soft spot for dog stories. This proved to be one of those well told and interesting ones, even for this mom. This chronicles his many adventures while living on Sunnybank farm. It is endearing to read of his loyalty to his master and mistress and the various ways he offers his doggy services (saving mistresses life, saving a little girls life, protecting their home from a burglar), as well as an adventure of finding his way home again. I appreciated the way Lad wasn't this genius dog who understood everything (he would wag his tail not because he understood,but because his people were happy so he was happy), and even he had his "doggy" moments of being naughty. A fun and lively book of doggy adventures.
January 25, 2014
Hoo boy. There are books that I loved as a child that I still think are excellent today, and then there's Lad: A Dog. Who knew there could be so many loaded assumptions about race, class and gender in a book about a dog?
I still love the illustrations by Sam Savitt, though.
I still love the illustrations by Sam Savitt, though.
May 21, 2015
Lad is a very special Collie! Saves his Mistress, stopped a stranger from robbing the home, helped the Cousin from a life in a wheelchair, and many many more scenarios of Bravery! Very exciting read for me and my Grandson!
February 10, 2026
A book by a dog lover for dog lovers. A satisfying story.
July 7, 2017
I really enjoyed this, and probably would have liked it even more if I'd read it as a kid. It's a collection of stories about a heroic collie named Lad. There's humor, and a whole lot of poignancy. It takes the big dog through young adulthood into old age, and I certainly came to love him as if he were real. A very good book.
April 17, 2017
I think it's safe to say that this book is probably best read as the author intended: by readers in 1919.
To be honest, I only picked up the book because of a 65 year old Peanuts comic strip (http://peanuts.wikia.com/wiki/File:19... ) so I'm adding a star for sentimental reasons.
To be honest, I only picked up the book because of a 65 year old Peanuts comic strip (http://peanuts.wikia.com/wiki/File:19... ) so I'm adding a star for sentimental reasons.
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