Books that Hook: Merle’s Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog

Our senior book reviews are written with the understanding that mature, sensible, premium-aged people may not want the bother of searching for well-written, sleaze-free reading materials—that’s why we’ve done the searching for you. We hope you enjoy this month’s pick.

This Month’s Nonfiction Selection: Merle’s Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog

Author: Ted Kerasote

Publisher: Harcourt

Length: 398

Note: Mild profanity

On the bank of the San Juan River in southeastern Utah, a dog came out of the night. Ted and his friends had just finished setting up camp, preparing for a six-day river trip that would end near Lake Powell. The dog, who they would later name Merle, attached himself to the party, singling out Ted as his favorite of the humans. At the end of six days, Merle had Ted convinced. “You need a dog,” Ted felt Merle say, “and I’m it.”

Ted returned home to Kelly, Wyoming, with Merle in tow, introducing him to a life any dog would envy. Free to roam, ski fresh snow, and chase wildlife, Merle developed a personality that made him a popular member of the community, town residents dubbing him “The Mayor.” Over the next few years, Merle matured into a dog with preferences and tastes that set him apart from his more domesticated peers.

Although Merle’s Door is told in Ted’s voice, it is, perhaps, the autobiography that Merle himself would have written, had he been able to write. Fascinated by Merle’s idiosyncratic behavior and with an interest in dogs in general, Ted collects a body of evidence proving that dogs are much more than “dumb animals,” insisting that they inherited from their ancestors remarkable skills and instincts. Through observation and study, Ted posits that to experience their full potential, dogs require freedom and an equal footing with humans. When these rules are observed, a dog becomes more than a pet—he becomes a companion and a friend.

But this message is told tenderly through the friendship that Ted and Merle share. Merle is more than a supporting character; in this story, he is the star. His sensitivity, expressiveness, and an intelligence that sometimes borders on cunning will win everyone over, even those who insist they aren’t “dog people.” Along with Ted, you will fall in love with Merle. “What a remarkable dog,” you will find yourself thinking as you read. “I wish I had known him.”

Only some of us will ever be fortunate enough to have a companion like Merle. Ted’s intensely readable and deeply touching memoir captures the deepest and most abiding emotions that can exist between two creatures. In this case, they just happened to be between a man and his dog.

You can borrow Merle’s Door from your local library. Purchase it from a local bookseller or at www.amazon.com. Also available in e-book and audio book format.

 By Kalie Chamberlain