• Merle's Door

  • Lessons from a Freethinking Dog
  • By: Ted Kerasote
  • Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
  • Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (922 ratings)

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Merle's Door  By  cover art

Merle's Door

By: Ted Kerasote
Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
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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)

What listeners say about Merle's Door

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

My 3rd time listening.

I love this story. If you are a dog lover, you will love this story. Ted tells it so wonderfully. It’s informative, heartwarming, heartbreaking, memorable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

wow!

My cat is dying and Merle's door taught me about dogs and also about how to deal with life and death of my "animal" soulmate.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Merle is the best dog forever

I know and love this dog, grateful for the story, the best dog's human has kept his life in our hearts.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story...stay's with you forever!

Would you listen to Merle's Door again? Why?

Yes, just a great read. Very enjoyable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Merle's Door?

The end when he sings to his dog...I still replay that scene.

Did Patrick Lawlor do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Narration was not great, but I got over it easily once I fell into the story.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

There once was a dog named Merle...

Any additional comments?

A truly wonderful book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • DM
  • 05-05-18

Great story of a dog and owner.

Real life story of a dog and his owner. Great explanation of the mutual love and respect that developed over time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A very good story

I'm contracting a carpenter to install a dog door now. Written and narrated with a heartfelt love of this dog.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect book for outdoorsy dog lovers

The story was entertaining, gripping, and heart wrenching. However, the narrator ruins many parts with his sound effects and accents that are jarring and unnecessary.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An enlightened view of pet ownership

An exceptional appeal on behalf of Canis lupus, this story unfolds the unique, fluid relationship between dog and owner as it matures over time. The author weaves his love of the outdoors with reverence for the life it contains, sharing keen observations.
Smart, funny, and honest , this book is a MUST-read for every potential dog owner.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Great, personal and well written w stories and bits of wisdom and advise. Makes you laugh out loud and cry. Also perfectly narrated!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Merle's Door

I have been a member of Audible for at least 3 years and have downloaded on average 3 books a month. Although I normally love a good mystery, I was drawn to this book because of its subject matter, a dog named Merle. My husband and I are owned by two labs; so I related to the author and his relationship with this special animal. The book was by far the best on I have listened too. The fact that it was read by the author lent that much more interest and emotion to the read. I laughed a lot and toward the end cried a lot too. I cannot recommend his book enough to any reader who is owned or has been owned by a dog.

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7 people found this helpful