Courtesy of Beaverdale Books

Review by Harriet Leitch

By Jill Abramson

Times Books

10/13/2011

$22

242 pp

Jill Abramson, executive editor of the New York Times, decided to chronicle the first year in the life of Scout, her Golden Retriever puppy. Abramson and her husband had become empty-nesters and were urged to get a puppy. As many baby boomers have found out, a puppy can become a “fur” child and their demands can often echo prior experiences in dealing with children.

The book follows the trial and tribulations of raising a puppy as Abramson and her husband eagerly learn how to train their platinum-blond ball of energy, seeking assistance from friends and experts. They were introduced to the clicker method, a positive reinforcement approach that helped them deal with many early issues. However, pulling on the leash while on walks proved to be a persistent problem, exacerbated by Scout’s entry into adolescence. Abramson and her husband deal admirably with this stage, demonstrating patience, persistence and using as much praise as possible. However, the couple also realizes when additional expert assistance is needed. An interesting part deals with methods to ensure they were able to handle Scout in the often-dangerous New York traffic.

“The Puppy Diaries: Raising a Dog Named Scout” is an excellent book for new puppy owners to get grounded in current methods of training. A favorite quote from the book describes raising a puppy best, “no matter who you are or what you do for a living, it is invariably humbling to try to persuade a puppy to do your bidding.” CV