Memoirs of a Papillon: The Canine Guide to Living with Humans without Going Mad

by Genevieve, Dennis Fried (As Told to)

Overview

Want to know what your dog really thinks of you? In this hilarious exposé, Genevieve, a two-year-old papillon, takes you into the inner sanctum of dogdom, revealing canine secrets never before shared with humans. Genevieve sinks her teeth into such topics as driving tips for dogs, the tragedy of doorbells in TV commercials, measuring the intelligence of humans, finding a reason for cats, how prehistoric dogs saved the caveman’s bacon, converting your house into an agility course, and productive kitchen behavior. IMPORTANT - read this book before your dog does!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dennis Fried has "enjoyed" careers in college teaching, marketing, advertising, nightclub ownership, software development, and stand-up comedy. He holds advanced degrees in physics and philosophy, both of which he considers essential to successful dog ownership. He lives in Sarasota, Florida, with his wife, Katrina, and his trainer, Genevieve.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780967933504
Publisher:	Eiffel Press
Publication date:	07/28/2000
Pages:	158
Product dimensions:	5.56(w) x 8.48(h) x 0.60(d)

Editorial Reviews

Humans usually narrate memoirs, and furthermore, humans usually author them. Memoirs of a Papillon deviates from this norm: Genevieve, a pure bred Papillon, narrates her puppyhood, her life with Katrina and Denny, and the advantages and disadvantages of living with humans.

Genevieve's memoirs of the first two and a half years of her life include a trip to obedience school, the terrors of the veterinarian, and her first birthday party. Her observations cover familiar territory, but are never cliché nor typical. Genevieve explains, for instance, why humans are wrong when they attach reasons to everything canines do: "Sometimes we chew on the curtains, not because we're bored, but because they're waving around, making fun of us."

Early in the book Genevieve tells the touching story of how Denny resisted when Katrina attempted to bring a pet into their lives. His first dog, Sardo, had been the family pet for fourteen years, and after he died, Denny had avoided committing to another one. Nonetheless, Katrina continued to look for the right dog should he change his mind. Only when Denny found the cute pet toys that Katrina had hidden away in their closet--just in case he changed his mind--did he give in: "The thought of poor Katrina wandering around the store, picking out toys for a dog that wasn't to be, melted his heart."

The Appendix provides a quick quiz to answer the question that many canines must have asked about their owners, titled, "How Intelligent Is Your Human?" Genevieve measures intelligence in humans by whether or not they possess the keen logic skills of a canine.

11. What does your human do when you lick his face?

a) Jerks his head away. 0 points

b) Closeshis eyes and makes a face. 1 point

c) Looks at you and smiles. 2 points

d) Licks you back. 3 points

The higher you score, it seems, the closer you are to intelligence.

Genevieve has received the aid of Dennis Fried, Ph.D., or Denny, to put this narrative onto paper. Memoirs of a Papillon is well written and provides humorous insight into exactly what your pet is thinking. For non-pet owners, it should help clarify what they are missing by failing to bring a Papillon into their life. Genevieve has fashioned a book that will further lift the veil on the relationships between canines and humans.

ForeWord Magazine

Wonderfully witty, Memoirs Of A Papillon: The Canine Guide To Living With Humans Without Going Mad is the story of Genevieve, a two-year-old papillon, who "comments" to dog owners through her human companion Dennis Fried on such diverse issues as driving tips for dogs, the tragedy of doorbells in television commercials, measuring the intelligence of humans, finding a reason for cats, how prehistoric dogs saved the caveman's bacon, converting a home into an agility course, and productive kitchen behavior. This little compendium of canine wisdom and insight is a "must" for all dog lovers and companions!
—Internet Book Watch

Internet Book Watch