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feminist_reader 's review for:
Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
by John Grogan
DID NOT FINISH
DNF : I’m sorry I couldn’t finish this. It just made me so mad but also was such a dated book.
I’m sorry but as a fellow dog owner I was shocked at this book and how different it was to the movie. ( I have grown up around dogs such as Border Collies, English Springer Spaniels and Labourers. All working dogs)
This feels like another dog owner essentially admitting to being neglectful and not only did they not get the adequate training for Marley or even seek out other alternatives to help Marley when the one training session didn’t help and his behaviour issues- they were lazy and just gave up so easily.
They made light out very serious and potentially dangerous situations by just going oh isn’t he wild! Like no! Him wearing a choke lead in training and essentially choking himself. Is not funny and there a millions of alternatives such a harness training!
They also didn’t do any research on the breed or any research into the breeder or insist on a second visit even after seeing the father just before they were leaving and having some concerns.
Marley was got for selfish reasons and I think the worst part was the idea of the “Alpha” and them having to be the “Alpha” but I’m sorry that is not how it works.
I will say that the writing about Marley and Jenny through her miscarriage shows how emotionally intelligent dogs are and I liked how the owners had some type of understanding of this. It was a beautiful moment that I was glad was included in the book.
We have the saddening moment when Marley gets utterly terrified of a thunderstorm and while he’s afraid he destroys parts of the garage to try and get out and into a place he feels safe but instead of working with his fear or then being responsible and creating a space for him to go to when he is afraid they just make it out to be a funny moment or a moment of OH NO! This Dog Is Crazy! They could have tried desensitisation training! Also be more concerned that your dog has hurt themselves to the point of blood! Not your house.
This whole story could’ve ended in the second or so chapter when the author does his own research into the dog breed and has second thoughts but instead of putting off buying the dog when he’s having these second thoughts, he essentially pushes it away and still gets the dog anyway knowing that these are intelligent and hard-working dogs and they need a lot of training and need a lot of time.
Also, the irresponsibility of getting a puppy and then trying to get pregnant at around the same time is absolutely irresponsible. And comes with even more complex issues and complications.
There is no such thing as a bad dog but bad owners and what we find here is bad owners.
Trigger warnings
Miscarriage and loss of child.
I’m sorry but as a fellow dog owner I was shocked at this book and how different it was to the movie. ( I have grown up around dogs such as Border Collies, English Springer Spaniels and Labourers. All working dogs)
This feels like another dog owner essentially admitting to being neglectful and not only did they not get the adequate training for Marley or even seek out other alternatives to help Marley when the one training session didn’t help and his behaviour issues- they were lazy and just gave up so easily.
They made light out very serious and potentially dangerous situations by just going oh isn’t he wild! Like no! Him wearing a choke lead in training and essentially choking himself. Is not funny and there a millions of alternatives such a harness training!
They also didn’t do any research on the breed or any research into the breeder or insist on a second visit even after seeing the father just before they were leaving and having some concerns.
Marley was got for selfish reasons and I think the worst part was the idea of the “Alpha” and them having to be the “Alpha” but I’m sorry that is not how it works.
I will say that the writing about Marley and Jenny through her miscarriage shows how emotionally intelligent dogs are and I liked how the owners had some type of understanding of this. It was a beautiful moment that I was glad was included in the book.
We have the saddening moment when Marley gets utterly terrified of a thunderstorm and while he’s afraid he destroys parts of the garage to try and get out and into a place he feels safe but instead of working with his fear or then being responsible and creating a space for him to go to when he is afraid they just make it out to be a funny moment or a moment of OH NO! This Dog Is Crazy! They could have tried desensitisation training! Also be more concerned that your dog has hurt themselves to the point of blood! Not your house.
This whole story could’ve ended in the second or so chapter when the author does his own research into the dog breed and has second thoughts but instead of putting off buying the dog when he’s having these second thoughts, he essentially pushes it away and still gets the dog anyway knowing that these are intelligent and hard-working dogs and they need a lot of training and need a lot of time.
Also, the irresponsibility of getting a puppy and then trying to get pregnant at around the same time is absolutely irresponsible. And comes with even more complex issues and complications.
There is no such thing as a bad dog but bad owners and what we find here is bad owners.
Trigger warnings
Miscarriage and loss of child.