“When in doubt, walk your dog” is the first of many valuable maxims in
Dog Lessons, a heartfelt reflection on what dogs can teach us when we open ourselves to listen and learn. After sixty-plus years living and working with dogs, Hersch Wilson shares self-deprecating stories and lighthearted musings on a life filled with fur-covered furniture, unexplained messes, and destroyed property. The resulting compendium of dog wisdom — from universal values like loyalty and curiosity to practical lessons on napping, playing, and avoiding a serious fight — is not only poignant but eminently good advice.
Table of Content
Writer’s Note
Introduction: Dog Spirit
Dog Lesson: On Love
Part 1: First Dog
Chapter 1: . . . And She Threw Up on My Shoes
Dog Lesson: Getting over poop
Chapter 2: Save the puppies!
Chapter 3: “Free Love”
Chapter 4: The legacy of Little Joe
Dog Lesson: Freedom
Chapter 5: Wildness
Dog Lesson: Wild at Heart
Chapter 6: When a Wild Place Disappears
Part 2: Philosophy of Dog
Chapter 7: The Great Horned Owl
Dog Lesson: How to not get into a fight (pay attention Alpha Males. . .)
Chapter 8: We live in a World of Sentience
Dog Lesson: the importance of touch
Chapter 9: A Dog’s Reality
Chapter 10: It’s not just about the Breed
Dog Lessons: The importance of Naps
Chapter 11: Loving Kindness
Chapter 12: What Happened to the Wallpaper?
Part 3: Living in wild country
Chapter 13: The Road to Santa Fe
Chapter 14: In the Wilderness
Dog Lesson: Keep it simple
Chapter 15: When your mom asks, is it a good idea to have a baby in the wilderness with three dogs?
Dog Lesson: Masters of what is important.
Chapter 16: Zuni just wants to Run
Dog Lesson: Coyote fit
Chapter 17: Childhood is the kingdom where no one ever dies
Dog Lesson: Zoomies.
Part 4: He’s in the living room and he has something Big!
Chapter 18: Enjoy Chaos? Adopt Bernese Mountain Dog puppies.
Chapter 19: Let the dogs out, let the dogs in, let the dogs out, let the dogs in.
Dog Lesson: Escaping
Chapter 20: “Good Nellie, Good Girl”
Dog Lesson: Calm human, calm dog
Chapter 21: Off Leash in the Mountains
Chapter 22: When an Old Dog dies
Dog Lesson: How to be old
Part 5: Wait. . .We have a Chihuahua?
Chapter 23: No Little Dog is going to Win my Heart. . .
Chapter 24: Rescuing Maisie
Dog Lesson: Get down on your belly and investigate the tall grass.
Chapter 25: We lied about never getting another Big Dog
Chapter 26: When a Dire Wolf runs across a golf course
Dog Lesson: Resilience
Chapter 27: Maisie and Toby vs the Coyotes
Dog Lesson: Bravery
Part 6: Final Lessons
Chapter 28: The Trial of the Pig
Chapter 29: Dogs of Ukraine
Chapter 30: Walking in the Universe
Dog Lesson: When there is nothing to do, it’s okay to do nothing.
Chapter 31: The Whole Entire World is a very narrow Bridge. Cross it with a Dog.
Acknowledgments
About the author
Hersch Wilson is an organizational consultant, pilot, former professional dancer, newspaper columnist, and volunteer firefighter. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife, Laurie; two daughters; and two dogs, a Great Pyrenees and a Chihuahua-terrier mix.Hersch Wilson.com
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