The bestselling author of Merle’s Door offers a “moving, pictorial love story” of man and his new best friend—full of dog care knowledge and insight (People).
After Ted Kerasote’s beloved dog Merle passed, the author received thousands of emails asking two questions: “Have you gotten another dog?” and “Are you writing a new book?” Now, the bestselling canine lover answers both, in the most heartwarming way.
Told in Pukka the pup’s charming voice and accompanied by more than 200 photos, Pukka: The Pup After Merle tells the story of how Ted found Pukka. It recounts the early days of their bonding as they explored both Ted’s hometown of Kelly, Wisconsin, and the wider world. As walks become hikes and hikes become climbs, pup and man’s adventures culminate in a rugged wilderness journey that teaches both Pukka and Ted something new about the dog-human partnership.
Filled with stunning images of the West—and adorable pictures of Pukka—this book also shares Ted’s in-depth research on the best food, toys, and medical choices he could provide to ensure that Pukka would live the longest, healthiest life possible.
“Glimpses of Pukka’s charmed life are interwoven with vast amounts of important information . . . that [encourage] you to draw your own conclusions and make the best choices for you and your dog.” —The Bark
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From the Publisher
"Speaking as Pukka and illustrating the sparse text with stunning color photographs on every page, Kerasote has created a pictorial diary of the first six months of the dog's life. But this book is much more than a record of the growth and training of a pup, it is a visual record of the development of human-animal bond as well as a breathtakingly beautiful tour of the West."—Library Journal
Children's Literature - Barbara L. Talcroft
Yellow Labrador retriever Pukka must live in canine heaven. He and his owner—writer and outdoorsman Kerasote—are free to travel from their home in Grand Teton National Park into the wilderness or to the sea. Some readers will know the author's touching book about Merle, Pukka's predecessor, but here Pukka tells his own story (with help from Kerasote and many color photographs), from his time as a tiny puppy through adolescence, when he and Kerasote have thoroughly bonded. The author, who has developed a philosophy based on research and experience, believes that it is not necessary for an owner to be the alpha and a dog to be submissive—much better to be respectful of the dog's abilities and considerate of his needs. As a puppy, Pukka gets his own seat-belt harness and furry pillow, plenty of time to play with children and other dogs (learning valuable lessons), and much affection from Kerasote. It is not all play, though; for his own safety, Pukka must learn to respond to commands like "Leave it!" and a hand signal or whistle meaning, "Come!" Through hikes, rafting, and mountain climbing (beautifully pictured), Kerasote introduces Pukka gradually to new sensations and skills, never pushing him beyond endurance, always rewarding him for achievements. The result is an active, agile dog with a sense of adventure, comfortable around humans, and a real partner in his and Kerasote's life together. A symbol for Pukka's freedom is the dog door that lets him come and go, as did Merle before him. The story is perfect for a family thinking of getting a dog and wondering if they have the time, patience, and understanding to make that venture successful. Readers captivated by Pukka will surely want to try Kerasote's bestselling Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog (Harcourt, 2007). Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
Library Journal
Fans of Kerasote's best-selling Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog often asked when and if the photographer, outdoorsman, and winner of the National Outdoor Book Award (for Out There: In the Wild in a Wired Age) would get a successor to Merle. Having worked through his grief, he finally felt ready to commit to another dog and located a breeder with a newborn puppy who reminded him of Merle. He named the pup Pukka, ("genuine" or "first-class" in Hindi). Writing as Pukka and illustrating the sparse text with stunning color photographs on every page, Kerasote has created a pictorial diary of the first six months of the dog's life. But this book is much more than a record of the growth and training of a pup; it is visual documentation of the development of a human-animal bond as well as a breathtakingly beautiful tour of the Western United States. VERDICT There are many audiences for this book—fans of Merle's Door, dog lovers of all ages, photography hobbyists, outdoor adventurers, and travel buffs. Demand will be fueled by the 13-city author tour and media attention.—Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY
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