Merle's Door

Lessons from a Freethinking Dog

By: Ted Kerasote

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Ted Kerasote met and adopted Merle, a Labrador mix, while he was on a camping trip. Merle had been living in the wild, and after taking the dog home with him to Wyoming, Kerasote soon realized that Merle could not adjust to inhabiting exclusively the human world. So he put a door in his house to let Merle live both outside and in.

A deeply touching portrait of a remarkable animal, Merle's Door explores the issues that all animals and their human companions face as their lives intertwine and presents the latest research into animal behavior, as well as the origins and evolution of human-dog interaction. Merle showed Kerasote how dogs might live were they free; Kerasote suggests how they should be allowed to live, and the doors that should always remain open to them.

©2007 Ted Kerasote (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"Informative....Kerasote gives readers much to consider that will enrich their own relationships with their pets....Highly recommended." ( Library Journal)

Great love between man and dog

Narrator put me off just a bit, although can't say why. Not just a story, but infirmative as well.

Slow mover

You could skip all but the last two chapters is only when the book was good,

One of my Favorites!

This is a wonderful book. I just finished the last 30 minutes of the book while viewing the "Merle Slideshow" on the author's website (www.kerasote.com). I wouldn't recommend doing this unless you have a box of tissues close at hand.

A great book for dog lovers

Let me first state that I love my dogs - I view them as members of my family. I believe that dogs have very distinct personalities and can communicate with humans and other animals.. If you feel that way about your dog - then you will love this book - you will laugh and cry - and wish that you too had met Merle. If you view a dog as a pet and not part of the family - then skip this book. This is a very personal insight into Ted and Merle's relationship.

Best dog story ever

I've heard or read most of the dog stories available and this is the best! The author understands the non-human communications (panting, barking, circling) of Merle plus he respects Merle's dog-world-view that I've often seen and admired. What if our eyes were noses (primary scent-organs) - a 3-dimensional (add time) view of the world. Anyone who has shared their life with a dog should hear/read Merle's Door!

Nice story. A great choice for the daily special.

I don't think I'd have used a credit but as the special of the day, it was great. Nice story, well told and well narrated. You don't have to be a dog nut to enjoy it. Who doesn't like a good dog story?

Moving and educational

I loved this story and found the balance between Merle's biography and research perfect. I learned a lot and it made me question how I am raising my dogs. This is a great book for anyone who has ever loved a dog.

Great Book for all Dog Lovers

A beautiful story about the close relationships between people and and their dogs. I listen to audiobooks on the way to work and found myself crying openly while driving. What makes this book even more special is the history and scientific information interspersed into the personal remembrance of an amazing bond with an incredible dog. This is a must read for all dog lovers. One of my favorites.

Changed life for my dog and I

What did you like best about this story?

As much as I have always loved my dog and thought of him as my partner, I never truly understood the concept of partnership until Kerasote explored freedom through the eyes of Merle. I have listened to this book three times now and I get something more from it each time. I loved that Kerasote included research on dog and animal behavior in a way that I easily understood and adds a great dimension to the story.

Which character – as performed by Patrick Lawlor – was your favorite?

Merle was my favorite! Of course...

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Oh yes. I fell in love with Merle, head over heels. Kerasote didn't just write a book about a dog, this was a biography of a beautiful soul, and I felt that I came to know him through Kerasote's words. I laughed out loud at Merle's antics and loved his discovering himself. Although I knew before the final chapter that Merle had passed, I still grieved over his loss. Kerasote is correct in saying "too soon gone" but he also has the right idea, to love them with everything we've got while we can.

Any additional comments?

If you're a dog lover/parent, you've just got to read this book. It's not so much about training or anything, but it'll change the way you think about your dog and how he or she experiences life. If you're not a dog parent (yet?), this book will help you understand the love between a dog and its person. So worth it!! AND his next book Pukka's Promise, is every bit as wonderful, maybe a bit more science-y but very informative about extending the lives of our best friends (and ourselves too really).

A life changing story.

The story of Merle and Ted transformed my once troubled relationship I had with my own dog. He has since passed away, but because of reading this book, I had a deeper understanding of our relationship. He was such a vital influence in my life, and I am grateful to this book for opening a whole new world, that I otherwise might never have even known was possible.