Book Review: Dogma The Zen Of Slobber

I was offered the opportunity to do another book review, this time of the book Dog-ma, the Zen of Slobber. I love reading, so was eager to read this book and share it with my followers. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot. The writing is witty, snappy, and really gives character and depth to the stories. Since the book is basically a collection of short stories about Barbara and Ray's dogs, all woven together into a complete book, it is easy to read a bit at a time without losing the thread of the story. I started reading this book at a flyball tournament before going to bed for the night between tournament days. Even though I was tired I found the book very engaging, making me want to stay up to keep reading even though my logic told me I needed sleep for the next day. 

Like most dog related books, there are a few things I didn't care for in this. Over the course of the story, there are references to some practices (purchasing puppies from places other than reputable breeders, cropping ears of dogs not intended for show) that I don't approve of. Probably the biggest one for me was the lack of containment of their dogs and the use of an underground fence to keep the dogs home when unsupervised. I do feel a little like inexperienced dog owners may decide to use an underground fence based on its use in this book.

Even so, these points were more of slight bothersome points than something that ruined the book. It was still well worth the read, just as Marley and Me was worth the read despite some similar issues in that story. Overall, I found the book a fun read of mostly fun stories mixed in with sadness for just the right balance of lightheartedness and deeper emotions. It is a book I would be happy to pass on to more readers.


Below, you can find a few pictures of the book itself, a summary of the book, a brief about the author section, and links to where you can purchase a copy.

For dog lovers everywhere.......Barbara's vivid and dramatic stories, told with a wicked sense of humor, will make you laugh out loud. She definitely gets what living with rescued dogs (nine of them!) is all about. This book will inspire you with the couple's unstinting love, devotion, and respect for dogs as family members. You'll be glad to include it in your treasured collection of great dog books.

When Barbara meets her future husband, Ray, it is love-and dog-at first sight. Over the course of thirty-two years, seventeen relocations and nine dogs, their mutual love of dogs guides them on their unconventional path. The love that Barbara and Ray get in return is literally lifesaving, with one dog attacking a lethal intruder and another discovering Barbara’s cancer. Her own survival story underscores the story of how her dogs become survivors themselves. 

Each new dog adds its own dynamic to the family, sometimes upending it. From Turbo (whose Spock-like ears may have provided super powers), Barbara learns about the will to live; Lexington demonstrates incredible patience and an inexplicable love of golf; Madison teaches that laughter is truly the
best medicine and that the whole “nine lives thing” is not reserved just for cats; Morgan should be sainted for tolerating Izzy, who is as cute as she is bad. Barbara is certain that somewhere in doggie heaven there is a poster that says “If you are sick, injured or in need of really expensive medical care, FIND THESE HUMANS!”

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About Barbara Boswell Brunner 

Barbara grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with her parents, sister and always a dog, or two or three. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from a small women's college in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Meeting her husband in Washington, DC, they continued together on a journey as self-proclaimed dog addicts. In the ensuing years, she founded three successful businesses in the Pacific Northwest and is a prolific fundraiser for breast cancer research. She and her husband are retired and now reside in Southwest Florida with two dogs and copious amounts of dog fur. She is currently working on indulging her well known flip flop addiction.  



Buy the book from ....

Author's Website

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printed version           ebook version 

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.