Boze Hadleigh - Lifes a Pooch: Quotes about Dogs by People Who Love Them

Copyright 2017 by Boze Hadleigh

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Jacket design by Rain Saukas

Jacket photographs: iStockphoto

Interior illustrations by Val Khislavsky

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-2470-9

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-2471-6

Printed in China

Dedicated to Ronnie, to the memory of Pooch
young and old, she learned new tricks
and to those who cherish and protect sentient beings.

Contents

Chapter 1. Everyones Best Friend
(A Pet and a Pal)

Chapter 2. Pampered Pooches
(The Lap of Luxury)

Chapter 3. A Universal Tongue
(Dogs on the Screen)

Chapter 4. Dogs and Culture
(Lessons from Canines)

Chapter 5. Cur-mudgeons!
(Not Exactly Pro-Pooch!)

Introduction

One can live happily without a dog. But one can live more happily with a dog.

Does any other nonhuman begin to match a dogs desire to bond with its human companion? Theres so much that can be said about dogsand in this book, heres a lot of it!

Dog talk typically results in a smile. It can also surprise or inform us, sometimes for the betterment of our four-legged friend via practical tips and advice. Occasionally it shocks us, for not everybody loves dogs. Or for that matter, animals.

But even in dog-friendly cultures its true that we are their voice. Like children, dogs and other pets are at the mercy of their owners. Fortunately, dogs are generally loved and spoiled as never before. Modern society has a higher regard and concern for animals than our ancestors did. Affluence, education, and increased leisure helped make this possible.

For decades Ive read about the pooch-person bond, canines in civilization, and how dogs shape us and we shape them (even literally). But my biggest realization of how dog-minded we are came while researching the opening canine chapter of Holy Cow!: Doggerel, Catnaps, Scapegoats, Foxtrots & Horse Feathers , my book about animal words, phrases, epithets, and expressions. Only the horse competes with the dog in language referencesfrom hot dogs, dog days, underdog, a dogsbody, hangdog, and dog star to lucky dog, dog-eat-dog, a dogs life, in the dog house, hair of the dog, seeing a man about a dog, going to the dogs, dog tags, dog in the manger, my dogs are killing me, dogfish, dog paddle, doggy bag, houndstooth, publicity hound (several in this book!), hush puppies, puppy love, pup tent, barking up the wrong tree, a shaggy dog story, a bone to pick, cur, chow, pooch, bitch, mutt (derives from sheep; i.e., muttonhead), and umpteen more.

Lifes a Pooch is divided into chapters spotlighting the dogs role as a best pal, a pampered pet, a big- and little-screen darling, and a cultural icon, plus a chapter giving equal time (not too much!) to those who prefer catsor neither. Sources include books, newspapers, and magazines in five languages, the Internet to a lesser extent, as well as personal interviews and several generous dog lovers who opened doors to others who gave me more canine quotes, some of whom then did the same, until after almost two decades there was enough to fill a book.

Media coverage of personalities is typically me-me-me, but hopefully the exclusive status of many of these quotes provides a glimpse into the less emphasized sphere of celebrity love for dogs. Almost nobody who lives with a pooch isnt willingnay, eagerto share that dog in words.

So, please enjoy and why not follow Betty Whites suggestion to read this with your best friend on your lap or by your side, preferably aloud. After all, your voice is one of the things your dog loves about you. Arf!

Boze Hadleigh

Beverly Hills, CA

May 15, 2017

Chapter 1

EVERYONES BEST FRIEND

(A PET AND A PAL)

Happiness is a warm puppy.

C HARLES M. S CHULZ , creator of Peanuts

If you want to be happy for seven years, get married. If you want to be happy for fifteen years, get a dog. If you want to be happy for a lifetime, take up gardening.

M ARTHA S TEWART , lifestyle guru

For me, happiness is a little white two-pound Chihuahua named Minnie the Mouse. Allow yourself the luxury of letting happiness be whatever it is to you. And for some of us, a puppy or a dog we love is pure joy. May that special joy find its way into your heart and keep you warm.

D ANIELLE S TEELE , bestselling novelist

The phrase mans best friend is an understatement. More like a devoted platonic lover.

M ELISSA M C C ARTHY , actress

God, or Mother Nature, made a big mistake by letting people live so much longer than dogs and cats. Or should I say, by making dogs and cats live so much shorter than the people who love them.

B RAD P ITT , actor

Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day.

J OHN G ROGAN , author

One hears repeatedly about mans best friend. We place the dog on a pedestal because its friendly and loyal to us. Mans best friend, mans best friend. Im more interested in being my dogs best friend.

A DELE , singer-songwriter

I cannot quantify how much hope and comfort I found looking into [my late white Poodle] Sadies eyes over her lifetime. She was given to me as a puppy, an unexpected gift. I will always miss her.

B ARBRA S TREISAND , singer and actress

Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one is a life diminished.

D EAN K OONTZ , author

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.