A Dog Called Dirt

Patty's book is so funny that I had tears in my eyes the first time I read it. She was a wonderful writer and a talented artist. I will miss her. The book is great, worth every penny.

First, a disclaimer: I know Patty Hogg, which is both a disadvantage and an advantage. You can dismiss me as biased if you want to. But I've heard Patty tell her animal stories many times, and she is one of the best story-tellers I know. She is as homespun as Garrison Keillor and has a wit that sneaks up on you like his does. This book is a collection of stories about the family dog, all true but told by a woman who can see humor where the rest of us, on our own, would only see frustration. His escapades with the police, a female of the same specie, and the family pet patrol are hilarious. Running through the stories is the theme of freedom vs. containment, and this dog always wins. It's a great book for your own enjoyment and a wonderful gift for dog lovers everywhere.

This book took me back to my childhood and the dog we had. The escapades may have been a little different for Dirk but the hilarity of each situation wasn't. This was a great book to pick up and read a couple of chapters at a time or if you need a good laugh. I highly recommend it.

If you've ever owned a dog, you won't be able to help but find this book hilarious, but even if you haven't, you'll still recognize its main character from a number of the humans you've known in your life - including, possibly, yourself. Lusting, stinking, footloose males everywhere (like me) will identify with Dirk, who I think is the most SUCCESSFUL canine I've ever read about - successful, that is, at being a dog. Huck Finn himself might well be envious. Ornery, antisocial, and utterly true to himself, Dirk runs roughshod over all propriety, wipes his muddy paws over the clean linen of respectability, and barks in the face of Mrs. Grundy. He's a true hero for our times. HIGHLY recommended!