Book: The Teachings of Shirelle: Life Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead by Douglas Green

I was asked if I wanted an advance copy of this book. It had a photo of a dog on the cover, so I said yes.

The author Doug takes us on the adventure he has had with Shirelle, a rescue dog he met when walking through a Pound.

I have to take a breath here; I was taken aback to learn that dog pounds exist in the US; I had thought they were only in movies. Once I got past that, I got into the story within a couple of chapters to discover the mischief, love, trust, and sheer joy that Shirelle brought into the author's life.

Like humans, Shirelle has experienced traumas, but for the most part, she is content, and everyone who meets her feels the same. And that, I believe, is the essence of having a dog around. They are a bit like humans, but better. When Shirelle goes through a tough time, treats are given out. It reminded me of when I visited the dentist last week; afterwards, I went to a coffee shop and enjoyed a sweet treat with my drink, as per my tradition. And my teeth got a clean bill of health! I believe it's no coincidence that they offer chocolate bars after donating blood (always an Orange Club, obviously).

A dog needs love, play, food, exercise and sleep. If we think of work as play/love/exercise, surely we are the same?

And while we’re drawing comparisons, how about treating the people we love with the same enthusiasm(ish) as dogs? They never take for granted that we are going to come home to them every day.

The author, who later retrained from being a film/theatre director to a psychotherapist, wonders a lot about what Shirelle is thinking, particularly during challenging times. Even when we can ask humans what they are thinking, we don't always truly know.

If the dog pound is the unhappiest place on earth, then the dog park must be the happiest. I have yearned to have a dog live with me for years so I’ll happily pause and admire a bunch of happy dogs full of life anytime I pass by. Frankly, I'd stop and chat with any dog I encounter on the street, in a coffee house or in a bookshop.

Having not known about the Ask Shirelle website, I, like everyone else, have met Shirelle and fallen for her solely through the telling of her story.

There were times when reading this I was hesitant about having dogs in my life. But that moment passed. I can’t wait.

Complimentary review copy kindly sent by Mindbuck Media Book Publicity.