warningvelocireader's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
a_pilgrim's review against another edition
4.0
"You had me at woof" is kind of different from rest of the 'dog books'. While many of the books are usually about the life and adventures of one particular dog, this book by Julie Klam is about different dogs and their interesting personalities. It does feel like that the first chapter is disconnected from the rest of the book. But, overall this should not matter.
A good read for everyone interested in dogs and pets.
A good read for everyone interested in dogs and pets.
emilysbookblog's review against another edition
2.0
You Had Me at Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness begins with Julie's life as a young, single woman with her dog Otto. I really enjoyed the first couple of chapters about Julie and Otto and was gripped by the story telling but then the book just spirals.
Klam skips ahead (and the will flashback) throughout the rest of the book with stories of her other dogs as well as her work with helping find homes for rescued dogs. Klam's family grows with the additions of her husband and her daughter Violet and at one point she juggles four dogs too!
Overall, the book was okay but I just lost interest as I don't think the book was edited well to tell a story of growth of Klam's family and a continuous story about loving dogs. It was too back and forth with mentioning of other dogs without a nice ownership progression. I also didn't think it was as funny as other reviews advised. 2.5 barking stars.
Klam skips ahead (and the will flashback) throughout the rest of the book with stories of her other dogs as well as her work with helping find homes for rescued dogs. Klam's family grows with the additions of her husband and her daughter Violet and at one point she juggles four dogs too!
Overall, the book was okay but I just lost interest as I don't think the book was edited well to tell a story of growth of Klam's family and a continuous story about loving dogs. It was too back and forth with mentioning of other dogs without a nice ownership progression. I also didn't think it was as funny as other reviews advised. 2.5 barking stars.
klchristian's review against another edition
I picked this book up at Target as one of the four books I was going to suggest for the book club I belong to. What made me pick it up off the shelf? The dog on the cover. I wasn't that excited about reading another memoir, but I couldn't say no to the adorable dog on the cover. I was pleasantly surprised as I read this book. Many of the stories reminded me of my own adventure with my dog. It is a great read for any animal lover. Quick and easy as well.
jokoloyo's review against another edition
1.0
I stopped reading this book after read a third of it.
The first chapter was strongly gripped me. It was a really "You had me at woof" fine writing, telling about Otto, author's first dog. I rated the first chapter a 4-star. If somehow you find this book at library, I recommend you to read the first chapter only.
But then for next chapters, I can't understand what is the connection between each chapter's title with the content. But the SURPRISE was Otto, the dog that captured my sympathy on the first chapter, died very soon (mentioned at chapter 3 or 4). I don't like how the book just told that the dog had died years ago. And then this first dog barely mentioned. Somehow the role of Otto were abandoned after he was praised so much at the beginning.
Maybe I am a pure fiction reader, and I was expecting a continuous plot for main character. But I believe I am not the only that annoyed with the role of the first dog in this book.
Furthermore, I don't find the book hilarious or even a little funny.
The first chapter was strongly gripped me. It was a really "You had me at woof" fine writing, telling about Otto, author's first dog. I rated the first chapter a 4-star. If somehow you find this book at library, I recommend you to read the first chapter only.
But then for next chapters, I can't understand what is the connection between each chapter's title with the content. But the SURPRISE was Otto, the dog that captured my sympathy on the first chapter, died very soon (mentioned at chapter 3 or 4). I don't like how the book just told that the dog had died years ago. And then this first dog barely mentioned. Somehow the role of Otto were abandoned after he was praised so much at the beginning.
Maybe I am a pure fiction reader, and I was expecting a continuous plot for main character. But I believe I am not the only that annoyed with the role of the first dog in this book.
Furthermore, I don't find the book hilarious or even a little funny.
emmajewish's review against another edition
1.0
Alternate title:
Dogs are not People: Behavioral Consequences of Inconsistent Canine Leadership (feat. various random biological explanations)
Okay, so maybe the title needs work. I believe the title actually needs to be re-written completely, considering Klam did not show how dogs taught her the "secrets of happiness." How can readers even glimpse joy when you're constantly complaining and grumbling about life?
The book follows Klam and her growing family (both canine and human) throughout some amount of time. She volunteers at a breed rescue group for Boston Terriers, helping with transport, rescue, fostering, and adoption. Despite a charming background, the book contains some heartwarming moments shadowed by depressing events, so be prepared for the passing of some furry characters.
Besides the constant disparaging of hardworking veterinarians, to which I eventually challenged the author - an everyday dog owner with no medical experience - to go into practice herself if she felt so disturbed about misdiagnoses, Klam also overwhelms readers with criticism and exhibits a lifestyle of unhealthy dog ownership.
Throughout the book, Klam often chooses her dog(s) over her family in some way. She allows harmful behaviors to persist, raises dogs to be clingy, and doesn't discipline her dogs (or at least doesn't record corrections). Whether it be biting a toddler, demanding attention in the middle of the night, or fighting with dogs within the home, I was shocked at the stunningly overlooked problems that Klam records. A couple of times, an older, nursing mother dog fought with another dog within the house. Klam was aware of the first fight but did not confine the dogs to separate areas within the apartment afterwards. As a result, the mother constantly felt threatened by the territorial resident dog. This resulted in a bigger skirmish and an eye injury to the mother (followed, of course, by more vet critiques). I don't care about how cute the puppies were, Klam; you didn't keep them in a safe environment! That's what matters.
The dogs struggle with biting others, barking, fighting, walking on a leash, and even just going to the bathroom outside: serious behavioral problems that developed as a result of improper leadership on her part. This book definitely shows the importance of human actions and their effects on dogs. (Don't get me started on Moses.)
For some reason, the book also contains paragraphs of disease descriptions, which feels like a way to once again criticize veterinarians. Ultimately, I don't think Klam is in the position to critique other dog owners about how they should, or should not, raise their dogs (because that's kind of what this book was: her complaining about how people do not spoil their pets as much as she does). You Had Me at Woof's best quality was its abundance of irony.
Dogs are not People: Behavioral Consequences of Inconsistent Canine Leadership (feat. various random biological explanations)
Okay, so maybe the title needs work. I believe the title actually needs to be re-written completely, considering Klam did not show how dogs taught her the "secrets of happiness." How can readers even glimpse joy when you're constantly complaining and grumbling about life?
The book follows Klam and her growing family (both canine and human) throughout some amount of time. She volunteers at a breed rescue group for Boston Terriers, helping with transport, rescue, fostering, and adoption. Despite a charming background, the book contains some heartwarming moments shadowed by depressing events, so be prepared for the passing of some furry characters.
Besides the constant disparaging of hardworking veterinarians, to which I eventually challenged the author - an everyday dog owner with no medical experience - to go into practice herself if she felt so disturbed about misdiagnoses, Klam also overwhelms readers with criticism and exhibits a lifestyle of unhealthy dog ownership.
Throughout the book, Klam often chooses her dog(s) over her family in some way. She allows harmful behaviors to persist, raises dogs to be clingy, and doesn't discipline her dogs (or at least doesn't record corrections). Whether it be biting a toddler, demanding attention in the middle of the night, or fighting with dogs within the home, I was shocked at the stunningly overlooked problems that Klam records. A couple of times, an older, nursing mother dog fought with another dog within the house. Klam was aware of the first fight but did not confine the dogs to separate areas within the apartment afterwards. As a result, the mother constantly felt threatened by the territorial resident dog. This resulted in a bigger skirmish and an eye injury to the mother (followed, of course, by more vet critiques). I don't care about how cute the puppies were, Klam; you didn't keep them in a safe environment! That's what matters.
The dogs struggle with biting others, barking, fighting, walking on a leash, and even just going to the bathroom outside: serious behavioral problems that developed as a result of improper leadership on her part. This book definitely shows the importance of human actions and their effects on dogs. (Don't get me started on Moses.)
For some reason, the book also contains paragraphs of disease descriptions, which feels like a way to once again criticize veterinarians. Ultimately, I don't think Klam is in the position to critique other dog owners about how they should, or should not, raise their dogs (because that's kind of what this book was: her complaining about how people do not spoil their pets as much as she does). You Had Me at Woof's best quality was its abundance of irony.
ckreads28's review against another edition
4.0
This was a book I needed but it hurt at the same time. I cried at the rainbow Bridge part. It was too , soon after losing my own dog but it was nice knowing I'm not alone in grieving and I'm not alone on my own. She let each dog's personality shine and her journey with them.
travelswith_charlie's review
5.0
You Had Me at Woof was such an amazing book. You learn so much more than just about the author and her life with Bostons, the book provides amazing insight into being a dog owner. Her relationship with Otto reminded me so much of my relationship with my Charlie the Wonder Chihuahua, and that dogs are verymuchso like people, complete with a vast varitey of personalities. It was just what I needed to read after losing Buddy. The parts where she discusses the loss of a dog were so well written and REAL that it made the loss of Buddy a little bit easier on my heart.. ♥
This book will make you laugh, make you cry, and definitely make you appreciate the furry four legged family members in a whole new light!
This book will make you laugh, make you cry, and definitely make you appreciate the furry four legged family members in a whole new light!
msmichaela's review against another edition
5.0
Funny, sweet memoir-in-dogs that had me a little teary at the end.
charity1313's review against another edition
3.0
Another book that was misrepresented in its marketing. The first two chapters were cute, we get attached to Otto and understand her attachment to him, then...all the sudden...he's gone and we've moved on to another dog. It felt abrupt and weird and disappointing. It wasn't a particularly funny book but it did seem honest about the challenges of fostering dogs as part of a rescue. All the bites and poop and pee and puppies and incontinence was cringe-worthy to me. More power to her for finding it in her heart to save these dogs. It certainly solidified to me that I don't have what it takes. Also, it was billed as "the secrets of happiness" but it felt more like a string of anecdotes, not a lot of big picture analysis. A bit, but not enough that it seemed worthy of such a tagline.