One Nation Under Dog: America's Love Affair with Our Dogs

As dog lover with a lot of interest in how dogs and people interact, I jumped on this book. Dogs on the national level! Dog sociology! Dog culture in 21rst century America! Unfortunately, the book was mildly interesting, but not nearly as involving as it could have been. Schaffer provides lots and lots of facts about how much we spend on our dogs, and how silly a lot of the spending is, but I didn't get much sense of why. Nor was he nearly as funny as he could have been, given the wealth of material at his disposal. The great American dog book remains to be written.

When I downloaded this via my Kindle, I was looking for something uplifting after putting my little rescue terrier to sleep the day before Thanksgiving. She didn't seem that old, but she was with us only two years.This book not only lifted my spirits, but engaged my mind. The author clearly sifted through significant information to establish how dogs are now, more than ever, a big part of American life. With all that implies, the book provides surprising information about dog-related businesses, advances in veterinary care, even how people socialize through their dogs.I purchased the book on the advice of another reviewer: "the chapter on pet loss is worth the price of the whole book." True.

This is a thoroughly researched piece of journalism covering how we have made our pets the center of our lives. Everything about how we pamper our pups and how it has become industrialized. Chapters cover competing theories about training, pet food merchandising, dog fashions, products to keep dogs entertained while left alone at home, professional dog walking, and more. Mr. Schaffer's writing style is light and humorous, despite the comprehensive treatment he gives his subject. Perhaps an unflattering mirror for those of us who dote on our dogs.

After hearing the author interviewed on NPR, I was eager to read the book. As it turns out, his interview was far more interesting to me than is his book. He uses a lot of good statistical information to make his case, but after a few chapters, the book feels somewhat repetitive.

Interesting book. The chapters on vets and the advances in doggy medical care are good. The chapters on being a doggy fashionista are bit boring if your not interested in 300$ sweaters. Good info on the new class of kennels.

So amazing how we pamper our pets. I know I do. Even realizing that I make them out of balance I continue to pamper. I'm working on it. Great informational read. Love it.

This is well written overview of a culture that on one hand spends billions of dollars on dogs and on the other euthanizes millions of healthy dogs every year.

eh.