"A DOG FOR ALL SEASONS," by Patti Sherlock, Thomas Dunne Books, 244 pages, $26.99
In her engaging memoir "A Dog for All Seasons," Patti Sherlock shares with the reader heartfelt vignettes of her life on an Idaho sheep farm with her winsome border collie, Duncan.
Duncan, obtained to be a working sheepdog, quickly makes his way into the family's hearts. Sherlock writes that she had been cautioned by expert farmers not to let working dogs become family pets, but Duncan is, well, Duncan. His exceptional intelligence, intuition and likability have him multitasking as both sheepdog and family pet — and enjoying remarkable success at both.
When the family tries to sneak Duncan into a Salt Lake hotel during a business trip, the concierge stops them:
" 'Madame,' he said, with a faint foreign accent. 'Iss that a dog?'
I looked at Duncan then looked the man in the eye.
'No,' I smiled. 'That's Duncan.' "
Duncan wins over the concierge, and when the bellhop spots Duncan and tells the family that dogs are not allowed in the hotel, the concierge corrects the bellhop: " 'That iss not a dog. That is Doon-can.' "
Sherlock's delightful descriptions of Duncan's zest for life are a joy to read, as in this lovely passage about Duncan playing in the irrigation hose:
"As water sputtered from it, Duncan would pirouette once, twice, dancing after it. When water began to spray with more force, Duncan would do a series of pas de chat — small, graceful jumps. Soon, the pipes would fill with water. Then it was time for Duncan to execute grand jetés. He would launch his agile body heavenward, extend both front and back legs, toss his head toward the front, and sail, sail, sail. It was a celebration of health and life and movement and sunshine."
Although Duncan gets title billing in Sherlock's memoir, the book is about much more. Sherlock writes about the joy and heartbreak of working on the farm, raising three children, tending to a troubled marriage, bolstering a writing career and finding her own place in the world.
The passages where Sherlock describes the farm offer a lovely and lyrical description of the life-affirming link between humans and nature.
"It was the Peaceable Kingdom," Sherlock writes. "We had two exceptional dogs, two foolishly affectionate cats, calm horses, and terrific ewes. To have this collection of wonderful animals all at one time seemed like phenomenal fortune. The Peaceable Kingdom. That's what our farm resembled."
During the 16 years of Duncan's life, he weaves in and out of his people's lives, guiding them through their days as expertly as he guides recalcitrant sheep through the fields.
Sherlock's memoir charmingly gets to the heart of the human-dog relationship: Your dog might not understand your problems, but he's perfectly happy to sit by your side and keep you company while you figure things out.
e-mail: jwilliamson@desnews.com