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mrsjulietfox's review against another edition
5.0
This book was WONDERFUL. Patricia McConnell is one of my very favorite writers, but it has been a long time since I've read one of her books. I'd forgotten how enthralling her writing was, as I absolutely could not put this book down (I read it in less than 24 hours). Though most of her books are about dogs and the people who love them, this book is primarily about Patricia's own life in parallel with the life of one of her current dogs, Willie. I literally both laughed and cried throughout. There is some very heavy material in this book that I had NO idea about when I started. However, she never gets totally bogged down in the very traumatic and difficult topics she addresses. There is always a ray of hope in her words.
khoar's review against another edition
3.0
We all have those moments that define us and shape the person that we are. Many of us have also had that furry companion who defined us and shaped the person that we are. The Education of Will is Patricia's story of those moments. I can only imagine the pain that she relived as she wrote this book and the bravery that it took to write it at all down - let alone share it with the world.
For anyone who has had a difficult dog, one with fears that it cannot explain, Will's story hits very close to home. Patricia writes her and Will's story with an honesty and sensitivity that cuts straight to your heart. I knew that Will had passed prior to my reading the book. After reading his story, I understand her joy and her absolute heartbreak at his passing.
For anyone who has had a difficult dog, one with fears that it cannot explain, Will's story hits very close to home. Patricia writes her and Will's story with an honesty and sensitivity that cuts straight to your heart. I knew that Will had passed prior to my reading the book. After reading his story, I understand her joy and her absolute heartbreak at his passing.
jeo224's review against another edition
4.0
An amazingly honest memoir about facing fear and trauma. The explanations of what happens in trauma are spot on - also very vivid - but a good book for survivors. Or for people who love dogs and animal behavior, as that is entwined with this as well.
chiquita203's review against another edition
4.0
This was not your typical Patricia McConnell book. The memoir is often dark and ugly as she recounts sexual assault and trauma. However, it had me captivated from the very first sentence. It's a story of survival and strength. Even though dealing with a very dark subject, she retains her wit and humor and relatability. The book does get a little muddled towards the end, as if she's trying to make a final point but doesn't quite know how to get there. However, this type of story can't be wrapped up in a neat little bow. Trauma is messy. There's a beginning, but no end. It's a continuum of recovery. Her life is a testament to overcoming trauma, and this book is a touching demonstration of that.
megannash's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
zoephee's review against another edition
5.0
This book. <3 I'm not even sure how to begin, it was so inspiring and I think Patricia McConnell is very brave for sharing such a personal part of her life. I was lucky enough to meet her on her book tour and I wish I could of told her how brave I thought she was for standing up there and telling us what happened to her. This book is about trauma, human trauma and dog trauma and how a very troubled dog made Patricia have to face her past that she would of preferred stay buried. Dogs are supposed to enrich our lives but what if the dog you got was making you worse and miserable?
I also appreciated that she cited other books and I plan on picking them up. This book would be great for anyone who has suffered from a trauma and also owns a troubled dog. It could be a bit triggering at times but I found her story inspirational. For the first time in my life, I annotated the entire book.
I also appreciated that she cited other books and I plan on picking them up. This book would be great for anyone who has suffered from a trauma and also owns a troubled dog. It could be a bit triggering at times but I found her story inspirational. For the first time in my life, I annotated the entire book.
ketonks's review against another edition
5.0
Gutted and amazed. I didn't think I could admire Patricia McConnell more...
emviolet's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/4 stars. Let me first say I LOVE Patricia McConnell. She was first introduced to me by my boss and mentor at work, and she is absolutely the best resource out there for all things dog behavior. I am constantly recommending her blog to anyone that asks (or doesn’t ask) for advice on loose leash walking, reactive behavior, and dog introductions. I use her blog myself when I want to reinforce concepts that I feel less confident about. So I was VERY excited to read her book.
This is not your typical “Marley and Me” story about a person and their dog. It is told from the perspective of an expert, and it is intertwined with her own personal struggles. I will say I preferred the sections on Willie and other dog cases to the memoir sections, but I still enjoyed the book overall. I’d love to see her do a case study collection of dogs she worked with over the years.
There are several moments that I found very powerful in this book, the first being her discussion of the emotional turmoil working with behavior cases can bring.
“But I was not prepared for the emotional toll of “Do I have to kill or rehome my dog?” cases day after day, week after week.”
I applaud her confrontation of the issues of rehoming, humane euthanasia, and aggression as a response to fear. These issues are not discussed nearly enough, which results in a lot of shaming, guilt, and lack of support both for and from shelters and rescue organizations. If a shelter uses humane euthanasia, they may be boycotted by people who do not believe in the practice. If a person rehomes their animal, they may be shamed or seen as unfit to adopt another. If a dog behaves “aggressively”, we may design a backstory of abuse or see them as a bad dog. Often times, it is just that they are afraid, and no one is listening. There are often good reasons for these actions, and I encourage everyone to read this book and more to learn before passing judgement.
Another moment I love was McConnell’s take on responsible dog ownership.
“The dark side of being a responsible dog owner is being plagued with guilt and its handmaiden, shame.”
I know plenty of reactive dogs, and I know how long it can take to see improvement in the behavior. Months or even years can pass with only small changes that aren’t obvious to the general public. Your dog may have gone from lunging, snarling, and barking to just barking at strangers, but as the owner you will likely still be treated with a nasty look or comment, especially if you have a bully breed. I work with reactive dogs every week, and seeing their progress is so rewarding, but so much effort. Another aspect for people to learn more about before judging an owner or a pet.
The only issue I really have with this book is the structure. There are a lot of jumps between time periods, and I think it might have been better to remain on a linear timeline for clarity’s sake. However, I understand that the goal was more to connect traumas between author and dog, so it isn’t too much of an issue.
I hope to one day be as knowledgeable as Dr. McConnell and to help as many dogs as I can. If you have any interest in canine behavior, trauma, training, and one of the best behaviorists out there, read this book.
This is not your typical “Marley and Me” story about a person and their dog. It is told from the perspective of an expert, and it is intertwined with her own personal struggles. I will say I preferred the sections on Willie and other dog cases to the memoir sections, but I still enjoyed the book overall. I’d love to see her do a case study collection of dogs she worked with over the years.
There are several moments that I found very powerful in this book, the first being her discussion of the emotional turmoil working with behavior cases can bring.
“But I was not prepared for the emotional toll of “Do I have to kill or rehome my dog?” cases day after day, week after week.”
I applaud her confrontation of the issues of rehoming, humane euthanasia, and aggression as a response to fear. These issues are not discussed nearly enough, which results in a lot of shaming, guilt, and lack of support both for and from shelters and rescue organizations. If a shelter uses humane euthanasia, they may be boycotted by people who do not believe in the practice. If a person rehomes their animal, they may be shamed or seen as unfit to adopt another. If a dog behaves “aggressively”, we may design a backstory of abuse or see them as a bad dog. Often times, it is just that they are afraid, and no one is listening. There are often good reasons for these actions, and I encourage everyone to read this book and more to learn before passing judgement.
Another moment I love was McConnell’s take on responsible dog ownership.
“The dark side of being a responsible dog owner is being plagued with guilt and its handmaiden, shame.”
I know plenty of reactive dogs, and I know how long it can take to see improvement in the behavior. Months or even years can pass with only small changes that aren’t obvious to the general public. Your dog may have gone from lunging, snarling, and barking to just barking at strangers, but as the owner you will likely still be treated with a nasty look or comment, especially if you have a bully breed. I work with reactive dogs every week, and seeing their progress is so rewarding, but so much effort. Another aspect for people to learn more about before judging an owner or a pet.
The only issue I really have with this book is the structure. There are a lot of jumps between time periods, and I think it might have been better to remain on a linear timeline for clarity’s sake. However, I understand that the goal was more to connect traumas between author and dog, so it isn’t too much of an issue.
I hope to one day be as knowledgeable as Dr. McConnell and to help as many dogs as I can. If you have any interest in canine behavior, trauma, training, and one of the best behaviorists out there, read this book.
willowthewildandco's review against another edition
5.0
Courage and compassion reverberate through each chapter. More than a book about helping a troubled dog, it's one about the dogs we love as catalysts for helping heal our own scars, how we share shadowy corners in our own stories. It's about the seeds of trauma, helping others heal while healing oneself and finding your voice.
julis's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
This is my third Patricia McConnell book and I’m still loving everything she writes. Where the first two were dog training books, this is, as stated, a memoir. It’s about her trauma and recovery and how she worked through it with the help of an equally anxious border collie pup.
McConnell is a superb writer, which is great when talking dog behavior and…hard to read when talking trauma. But the very fact that she wrote about my brain was telling, and I love her thoughts on dog training as it relates to recovery.
I got it from the library, or else I’d definitely put it on my dog training shelf.