Pukka's Promise

The Quest for Longer-Lived Dogs

By: Ted Kerasote

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

When Ted Kerasote was ready for a new dog after losing his beloved Merle - who died too soon, as all our dogs do - he knew that he would want to give his puppy Pukka the longest life possible. But how to do that? So much has changed in the way we feed, vaccinate, train, and live with our dogs from even a decade ago.

In an adventure that echoes The Omnivore’s Dilemma with a canine spin, Kerasote tackles all those subjects, questioning our conventional wisdom and emerging with vital new information that will surprise even the most knowledgeable dog lovers. Can a pure bred be as healthy as a mixed breed? How many vaccines are too many? Should we rethink spaying and neutering? Is raw food really healthier than kibble, and should your dog be chewing more bones? Traveling the world and interviewing breeders, veterinarians, and leaders of the animal welfare movement, Kerasote pulls together the latest research to help us rethink the everyday choices we make forour companions. And as he did in Merle’s Door, Kerasote interweaves fascinating science with the charming stories of raising Pukka among his dog friends in their small Wyoming village.

Funny, revelatory, and full of the delights of falling in love with a dog, Pukka’s Promise will help redefine the potential of our animal partners.

©2013 Ted Kerasote (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

One of my Favourite Books EVER!

What made the experience of listening to Pukka's Promise the most enjoyable?

The fact that it was a mix of fact and story. (Not fiction but the story of Pukka and Ted). I learned so much from this and the way Ted bonds with the dogs in his life is pretty darned amazing, amusing and heartwarming.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All of them.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes where Burley is stealing the balls from Pukka, AJ and Goo!

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

That the pet care industry doesn't always have your pets best intrest in mind!

Any additional comments?

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THIS BOOK! I RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE!

A must listen for every dog lover.

If you love your dog and want to do the best by him or her, don't listen to your vet or big pet food marketing. Listen to this. Dogs need to run free, eat things close to their natural diet and take it easy on the medication in order to be healthy. Ted Kerasote presents this information with lots of understandable scientific evidence and keeps it entertaining with backup anecdotes of his life with his dogs, Merle and Pukka.

Awful Narrator

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I don't know - it is a great story but the narrator ruined it.... maybe as a book

What didn’t you like about Luke Daniels’s performance?

After listening to Merle''s Door this performance is horrendous... Luke Daniels makes the dogs sound like stupid children... instead of the wonderful character that the narrator of Merles Door gave them... it was so bad I had to stop listening and read the book instead

Was Pukka's Promise worth the listening time?

No -i didn't finish it - read the book instead - because it is a great story - just horrible horrible narrator

Good content, strange narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The content of the book was interesting- factual data about canine health issues interspersed with snippets from Pukka's real-life experiences.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Pukka's Promise?

The story about how euthanized pets are rendered and used in pet food.

Did Luke Daniels do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

He did a good job differentiating them. Too good, I guess. It seemed so patronizing to hear him try to do different accents to indicate who was speaking. He also used a lot of "little baby" voices to indicate the dogs were speaking. It was distracting. I don't have a better suggestion, but the voices were a bit over-the-top for my taste.

Very informative book for all dog lovers

What made the experience of listening to Pukka's Promise the most enjoyable?

The author interwove the story of his second dog, Pukka, with his research about the health and well being of dogs. He mostly sticks to science to explain many things associated with living with and owning dogs.

What did you like best about this story?

I am a dog trainer. I've lived with dogs my whole life and I rely on my service dog to live in a world made for able bodied people. I do my best to stay up to date on the best ways to care for my dogs. This book opened my eyes to a few new things I can do to ensure my dogs live long and healthy lives.

Any additional comments?

If you are a dog professional, a dog lover, or just someone who wants to learn more about these animals we share our lives with, read this book. I promise you will learn something.

Ted writes another knockout!

This book is as intriguing as was Merle's Door with its enormous information as well as heartfelt sentiment for those four legged angels who cross our paths! Few books leave me in tears when I am through reading them. This one does not disappoint! I'm such a fan of this author and his dogs!

An wealth of information for dog enthusiasts.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend it. Great information on vaccines, spay/neuter, dog food, picking a puppy, and much more.

What did you like best about this story?

Wonderful reference book with an excellent story.

Have you listened to any of Luke Daniels’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't think so, so I wouldn't know.

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

Enjoyed the book.

If you love your dog, you'll love this book. . . .

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. This book is both a fascinating view of our relationship with our dogs and a good primer on how dogs are treated in our society and how they are raised.

What other book might you compare Pukka's Promise to and why?

Merle's Door, another book by Ted Kerasote; though Merle's Door is much more about the personal bond between Ted and Merle.

Which character – as performed by Luke Daniels – was your favorite?

Pukka . . . of course.

outstanding book...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

as a dog lover but clearly a novice...i found this book to be extremely eye opening...the story was ok but the research was outstanding and has pointed me to a path of exploration as find my next dog (s)...

Would you recommend Pukka's Promise to your friends? Why or why not?

yes...for the reasons stated above...

Which character – as performed by Luke Daniels – was your favorite?

i actually thought the character portrayals were a little hokey...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Very Good, Although 'Less Would've Been More'

We lost two golden retrievers to cancer way too soon and before the breed's ostensible median age. We do our best to be responsible dog owners, to stay informed about canine health issues, and to try to give our dogs their best and longest lives. But, there is so much information out there that it's like drinking from a proverbial fire hose. Moreover, much of that information is conflicting, is presented in an emotionally charged and judgmental way, and is presented without much (if any) supporting evidence. So, I really appreciated the effort that the author undertook to research several key issues that affect canine longevity, address / question / challenge the various approaches to those issues, and share the results of his research in a dispassionate and seemingly even-handed manner. That said, I would've paid more for a CliffsNotes version of this book. The various anecdotes that the author shares are charming and all, but I was ultimately just interested in his research. Also, I thought that the narrator generally did a fine job -- although when he narrated the author's quotes from the dogs, his dog voices could be really grating.

Excellent book.

The book raises very relevant interesting issues for dog owners. Well worth listening to. Wish more dog books were as questioning and informative as this.