Woof

Mr. and Mrs. Dog

I am a fool for books about dogs. (Well, a fool for dogs—but that’s another story.) And I find very few dog books to my liking. The sentimental ones embarrass me. The silly ones annoy me.

But every once in awhile, I read a dog book that charms and enlightens me. Mr. and Mrs. Dog: Our Travels, Trials, Adventures, and Epiphanies by Donald McCaig is one such book. Despite its arch title, the book is a pleasure to read. McCaig reveals a great deal about his own gruff persona, as well as bringing us along on his bumpy road to the World Sheepdog Trials in Wales. The section on his travel challenges alone is worth the price of the book. Imagine the logistics of getting two 45-lb Border collies, June and Luke, two heavy dog crates, and a duffle bag through security at Dulles, onto an Air France flight, off the flight, through security at Charles de Gaulle, into a too-small Citroen, onto a ferry at Calais… not to mention voluminous paperwork, in English and French--the challenge must have been overwhelming, but reading about it is hilarious.

And after the nightmare trip, McCaig and June and Luke arrive in Wales for practice runs before the big event—and encounter endless rain and mud for days and days. Not to mention the horrors of driving on the “wrong” side of the narrow rural roads. Still, it is worth it to participate in this world-class sheepherding trial and to meet friends, old and new, in the world of sheepherding. McCaig brings all this alive to readers whose urban lives are light years away from the gritty reality of sheep farming and trialing.

Woven into his tale of the journey to Wales are vignettes with trainers of pet dogs, whose approaches to training vary wildly. His insights are typically acerbic and funny, but don’t particularly enrich his narrative. Doesn’t matter. The sheepdogs and the sheepdog trials are the thing, and he writes about that wonderfully.

As an aside, I had the pleasure of meeting McCaig recently when he talked about his book at my local independent bookstore, McIntyre’s Books in Fearrington Village. He is an avuncular fellow, just as gruff as his books would lead you to guess, but completely, authentically charming. Almost as charming as his “literary dog,” Joy who accompanied him on the book tour. But no one, really, can expect to beat a Border collie for charm.