One Nation Under Dog: Adventures in the New World of Prozac-Popping Puppies, Dog-Park Politics, and Organic Pet Food |  | Author: Michael Schaffer
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Category: Book
List Price: $24.00
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Seller: strandbookstore
Rating:  49 reviews
Sales Rank: 67858
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Pages: 304
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 5.5 x 1
ISBN: 0805087117
Dewey Decimal Number: 636.70973
EAN: 9780805087116
ASIN: 0805087117
Publication Date: March 31, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A witty, insightful, and affectionate examination of how and why we spend billions on our pets, and what this tells us about ourselves In 2003, Michael Schaffer and his wife drove to a rural shelter and adopted an emaciated, dreadlocked Saint Bernard who they named Murphy. They vowed that they’d never become the kind of people who send dogs named Baxter and Sonoma out to get facials, or shell out for $12,000 hip replacements. But then they started to get weird looks from the in-laws: You hired a trainer? Your vet prescribed antidepressants? So Schaffer started poking around and before long happened on an astonishing statistic: the pet industry, estimated at $43 billion this year, was just $17 billion barely a decade earlier. One Nation Under Dog is about America’s pet obsession—the explosion, over the past generation, of an industry full of pet masseuses, professional dog-walkers, organic kibble, leash-law militants, luxury pet spas, veterinary grief counselors, upscale dog shampoos, and the like: a booming economy that is evidence of tremendous and rapid change in the status of America’s pets. Schaffer provides a surprising and lively portrait of our country—as how we treat our pets reflects evolving ideas about domesticity, consumerism, politics, and family—through this fabulously reported and sympathetic look at both us and our dogs.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 49
 loved it! September 15, 2009
OLIVER (PA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. AS A SENIOR AND FIRST TIME DOG OWNER, I RELATED TO MANY OF THE COMMENTARIES IN THE BOOK. MANY "AH HAH" MOMENTS!
Entertaining Analysis of Dogs in America--the Culture of the Canine September 11, 2009
Valerie J. Wood (Maryland)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
OK; first I gotta say. The cover made me want to pick up this one. Yes, you sometimes can tell a book by its cover, particularly if there is a cute, speckled puppy face gazing at you on it. And the catchy title. One Nation Under Dog is truly an engaging, serious (and sometimes not so serious) look at dogs in our culture today. How we treat them. What we feed them. How we dress them. Pop culture divas carry them around in little purses. From big shaggy dogs to elegant medium sized ones to itsy-bitsy status symbols, dogs are part and parcel of the American landscape. Billion dollar industries have been built around what we feed them, how we provide medical care, you name it. This book is a detailed look at the canine culture today--the explosion, over the past generation or so, of professional dogwalkers, organic food makers, pet spas and boutiques, veterinary specialists, etc. This is an investigation into people and dogs and how and why our beloved pets have become such a mainstay industry. Be prepared for lots of detail--but this is an entertaining and fun read, as well.
 One Nation Under Dog July 27, 2009
Sacramento Book Review (Sacramento, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Michael Schaffer offers readers a behind-the-scenes look at what has become commonplace in American homes today: pampered pets with expensive tastes. This well-written book tells stories of dogs whose owners have done everything humanly possible to save them--the kind of owners who hire drivers to get the dog to the vet, to the dog walker, and to their pre-scheduled play-dates! There are a plethora of touching tales about pet lovers who have gone to great lengths to find remedies, cures, and therapy for their pets when standard veterinary care could not save them sprinkled throughout the book.
For the dog lover, this book will provide some entertaining anecdotes and some incredibly shocking facts about the food, supply, and service industries which have grown considerably in the last decade. From delis that have switched from serving humans to serving only prime cuts for dogs to mortuaries specializing in providing full-service pet funerals, this book reveals fun facts and tales that even the know-it-all dog expert will find fascinating, funny, and sometimes frightening.
//One Nation Under Dog// gives readers a look at how we, as a nation, have brought dogs from being outdoor pets to being "latchkey pooches" with their very own trendy clothing, customized health insurance, and canine boarding schools. For a book of its genre, it's an enjoyable and informative read without so much detail that it puts you (and your pooch) to sleep.
Reviewed by
Doreen Erhardt
An Entertaining Look at "Canine indulgence" July 23, 2009
Thomas Tracy (Northern GA, United States)
"One Nation Under Dog..." is an interesting & entertaining look at the multi-faceted phenomenon of "canine indulgence" in contemporary Western culture. Written in a light, informative & highly readable style, the author explores the infatuation many of us (myself admittedly included) have with our dog companions and the way this unbridled love manifests itself in our social interactions, financial decisions, political passions, etc. As a dog lover, I enjoyed the book from start to finish & would recommend it to anyone infected by, or interested in, the truly special bond between humans and dogs. Although the author is certainly a dog owner and lover himself, he nonetheless presents both sides to some controversial and passionate societal and political issues the increasing integration of dogs into their owners' lives has brought to the forefront in many communities. I found it thought provoking and a fun read.
 Woof Woof July 18, 2009
Butterscotch (USA)
This book read more like a documentary on the subject of pets in the USA and how trends in our human lives are affecting our pets' lives. For instance, as we become more healthy so too does our pet food - or, at least, we aim to feed the dog more raw foods, natural ingredients, organics, etc. Each of the 13 chapters focuses on one particular pet ownership issue, and the author shows some examples of how times are changing for America's pets; how they are becoming more a reflection of their owners. There are trends in medical care (insurance), playtimes (dog meetups and parties), clothing and carry bags, personal services (dog walking, sitting), and designer mixed-breeds, among others. The book is interesting whether you own a pet or not because it's filled with fun facts and just an overall look at how pets are emerging as a huge business. The author claims to have a done several years worth of research and, in fact, most of the chapters do have direct quotes and observations from his time in the field with professionals.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 49
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