Woof Worthy Reads – DOG-MA: the Zen of Slobber

Sure, the house looks like it should be condemned, any noise sets of a cacophony of woofs and whines and there is a fine layer of hair over everything we own (feng shui, it is not), but there’s a peace and a sense of enlightenment that I get from having dogs by my side. That’s why I jumped at the chance to read DOG-MA: the Zen of Slobber by Barbara Boswell Brunner. Any book that focuses on that zen feeling is on my must read list.

It was easy to get lost in Barbara’s story.

After all, who among us wouldn’t relate to the tales of puppy antics, neurotic rescues and how the love of a good dog can change your life?Dog-ma: the Zen of Slobber follows Barbara and her husband Ray’s life over the course of thirty-two years, seventeen relocations and nine dogs. Each dog adds its own dynamic to the family, sometimes upending it, sometimes saving it, but always addng to the love and laughter.The dog are the real stars of this book and the story shines when it focuses on them. The narrative reads in such a way that you can tell the author remembers each story fondly and it’s easy to get lost in it, much like you get lost in a good conversation.I found myself falling in love with the family dogs. I knew exactly how Barbara felt as she described some of the “mistakes” they made with Kashi and my heart jumped when they knew it was time to get her a friend. Tears flowed freely when they had to say good bye to the dogs they loved and my heart soared as they welcomed each new pup into their lives.

The story captures the spirit and personality of each dog, as only someone who loved them truly could. You’ll see bits of your own dog’s personalities in each one. I growled at Kolchak when antique furniture got chewed and snuggled into Felix when a rescue dog ran from his old people. Barbara’s dogs are just like everyone’s dogs: furry and full of love and wisdom. Dog-ma: the Zen of Slobber is a woof worthy read that dog-lovers will thoroughly enjoy. We encourage you to order your paperback or e-book. (Pssssst – plus stick around! On tomorrow’s book tour stop, we’ll be giving away five signed copies!)

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. You can find her online at dogmathebook.com, on Facebook or on Twitter.