Gary Paulsen has owned dozens of unforgettable and amazing dogs, and here are his favorites--one to a chapter. Among them are Snowball, the puppy he owned as a boy in the Philippines; Ike, his mysterious hunting companion; Electric Fred and his best friend, Pig; Dirk, the grim protector; and Josh, one of the remarkable border collies working on Paulsen's ranch today. My Life in Dog Years is a book for every dog lover and every Paulsen fan--a perfect combination that shows vividly the joy and wisdom that come from growing up with man's best friend.

A Washington Post Book World Best Book of the Year Winner of the Israel Fishman-Stonewall Book Award for Nonfiction "Tender and amusing. . . . Doty brilliantly captures the qualities that make dogs endearing." -- The New Yorker When Mark Doty decides to adopt a dog as a companion for his dying partner, he brings home Beau, a large, malnourished golden retriever in need of loving care. Joining Arden, the black retriever, to complete their family, Beau bounds back into life. Before long, the two dogs become Doty's intimate companions, and eventually the very life force that keeps him from abandoning all hope during the darkest days. Dog Years is a poignant, intimate memoir interwoven with profound reflections on our feelings for animals and the lessons they teach us about living, love, and loss.

The author describes Ike, a dog that had special significance in his life.

The author describes the dog Dirk, who protected him from bullies.

The author describes Fred, an "amazingly persistent" dog. To illustrate Fred's determination to finish his projects, Paulsen relates Fred's "Great Wire War" against the electric fence Paulsen had strung around the holding yard for Fred's best friend, Pig. Pig had hit the fence once and didn't care to try again. Fred decided a few days later that he wanted to visit his friend ...

Sixteen dogs and their roles in 50 years of the author's life are described. This is a book about the love of dogs, the pain of losing them, the joy of traveling and living with them, and the effects they have on our lives. It also details the author's growing up in Alaska, relationships, moves to various states, and struggles to survive life's tragedies, all with the help of her dogs. Additionally, this book details her work as a humane society director and volunteer in various states. The powerful bond between humans and dogs and what the love and companionship of a dog can mean are key themes.

Tradition has it that one year of a dog's life is equal to seven years of human life.The lifespan of the average dog is about twelve years.It follows that in eighty-four years a person could sequentially share life with seven dogs.My goal here is to "tell my life" in dog years, to measure phases of my existence by the lives of the dogs that have shared it.Of course, this is a thinly disguised excuse to tell stories about the humans who have shared my life as well.Are these stories true?Mostly.Exaggerated? Possibly.Engaging?Hope so."