There is something so special about the relationship between humans and dogs. Although I was raised with dogs, I really got my first dog in my 20s. He is very much a Starter dog – I’m learning so much about taking care of something and about myself as I raise him.

Reading Rona’s account of getting her started dog when she was much further along in her life was absolutely delightful. We follow as she goes from being really reluctant to absolutely loving the dog. She describes her daily walks with a joy that only those of us who do the same can truly understand.

The audio version was delightful, and I highly recommend this book to anybody who just wants a beautiful simple story about how much love these animals can bring into our lives.

Although I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press Audio for the opportunity to listen.

This book is about a reluctant dog owner's journey both to getting a dog and then figuring out that she was in fact a "dog person" and her life would never be the same without Casey. I loved seeing Rona's opinion of dogs slowly change through this book. I loved how Casey rubbed off on her and showed her how much the world had to offer. Casey, a rescue dog, rescued her and her husband from a boring retirement and showed them a new reality through his eyes. This was a quick listen and mostly uplifting. The best part, the book ends and the dog is still living! :D

My review: 3.5 stars

First of all, I love everything about dogs. Well, nearly everything. But a book featuring a dog.. yes, please!
I have opted out with audiobook, as I found out the author herself narrated it and that for me felt like the story told from the first lips. The beautifully narrated, easy-to-listen book about the author's dog's story is to her heart. It was truly interesting to listen to how her love for dogs, particularly her own dog grew upon her, developed and became a profound part of her life.
I could vividly imagine Casey, the book's canine hero, scamping around looking for treats and cuddles and being the best pal out there. We all need such Casey in our lives.

As someone who really wants to get a dog but can’t at the moment, I requested this audiobook to live vicariously through the author as she gets her first dog. It did the trick. It’s a gentle, upbeat audiobook to listen to, if a little poetic, whimsical and religious at times.
It’s great to have a book narrated by the author and I feel she did a really good job.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Cute story about a rescue dog named Casey who comes into a family and bonds particularity with the woman, Rona. Great story for any dog lover or those thinking about adopting a dog.

📍 Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advanced audio copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Review will also be posted to @redheadbookgirl (IG), Goodreads and Storygraph.

[Non fiction // no rating]

It is common knowledge to anyone who knows me, that I strongly believe dogs are the best thing to ever exist on this planet. We do not deserve them. So you best belief the second I saw this on NetGalley, I couldn’t click request fast enough. Firstly, THANK YOU to the author for the below first line — (I know it’s not just me.)

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨: 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙. 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙭.

Charming, thought provoking, heartwarming and funny, the story of Casey is narrated by the author herself and Rona’s conversational and easy-going narration allows you to fall in love with Casey along with her. The positive changes a dog brings to your life are unbeatable, and it was touching to experience the impact Casey had on Rona’s life and the change in her views on dogs.

This book wasn’t MARLEY & ME, and there was a lot of religious talk and focus on Rona’s life, but it was a brilliant and adorable story.

I tried to like this book. But I did not!

This book is not about a dog. It is about an author that thought she did not want a dog. But she agreed to get a dog because her husband had always wanted one. Then the author proceeds to tell her story, but now with a dog added.. The dog is not the star of the book, but a minor addition. The author seems actually surprised that she likes the dog at all. She also addresses her spouse after getting the dog, this dog actually got her husband out walking. Great news!

The author was the narrator of the audiobook and she did not do a good job. I might have liked the audiobook a little better if it had been read by another narrator.

I will not be recommending this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley and @ecwaudio for the Audio-ARC

I’ve been reading quite a few heavy books, so when this one popped up it felt like a nice change of pace. This little book is a love letter to KC the mutt that the author and her husband adopted after retiring from high powered jobs in Toronto. While not the first dog in the author’s life KC is the first dog she has fully interacted with. The telling is a sweet story of a woman that sounds a little like Merle Streep in Devil Wears Prada learning to soften up through the love of a Beagle mix.

As someone who has rescued most of the animals I have owned, and as someone who has volunteered on and off in rescues, I am happy to report that this is not rescue porn. Instead, Maynard does a good job of discussing the growing pains and the joys of rescuing an animal. I was happy to read that she spent time researching and looking for a good match, but in the end, it was all about the feel. An experience I keep having (i.e. Darrell – Charlie and I both swore up and down we would never have a house cat. Now I’m typing this next to a cat condo with Darrell purring away in my lap).

There are moments when the prose gets a little away from the author and we drift into the overly flowery. There is also a LOT of privileged experiences discussed in this book, and it is not addressed, however, not surprising given the author’s self-description and the intended audience of the book. Overall, this was a solid break from the more taxing emotional reads I’ve been consuming lately.

The narration is solid for an author read book. The pace was a little slow for me, but that is what speed modifiers are for on the apps.

Starter Dog is a wonderfully written narrative of the life of an, at first, reluctant new dog owner and how her life is forever changed by adopting a dog! As a librarian, I will most certainly recommend Starter Dog to my patrons. You cannot go wrong with this story and you will NOT be able to put it down!

Rona Maynard and her husband were middle-aged empty nesters when they decided to become first-time dog parents. Starter dog is full of stories about the ways in which their dog Casey enriched their lives. Rona engaged with people she likely never would have without Casey there to draw them in, I love dog stories but this one was just okay to me. A lot of the book focused more on the author than her dog. There is a part in which the author and her husband leave their home in Toronto and travel to the American prison where Casey was trained through a canine-prisoner training program. I mean, what dedication, I guess, but that vignette didn't really go anywhere and the trip seemed a little extreme even to a dog lover like me. I usually like it when audiobooks are narrated by the author, but this was an exception. I probably would have enjoyed the story a little more if it had been read by a professional narrator.

Thanks to ECW Press Audio and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.

I loved the storyline. I fell in love with KC and the family. My only complaint is the author is the narrator. I am not a fan or her reading it. I loved the story so much that I finished it. Thanks for sharing.

***** I received this audiobook free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

As a dog lover myself I was instantly drawn to this book. It was even better when right away the author tells you this book does NOT have a dog that dies in the end. It is filled with sweet and fun adventures as this couple decides it is time as they are reaching retirement to adopt their first family dog.

This book was a cute and moving book about their journey of having a dog. I really enjoyed the book and it was a delight to listen to.

A sweet story about a couple who become first-time dog owners in their sixties. The wife, who is the author of this charming tale, learns lessons about kindness and simple pleasures from the dog, which she articulates in this book. I am grateful to Netgalley and ECW Audio for gifting me this advance copy of the audio version of the book, which is narrated by the author, If you like straightforward stories about dogs and their role in our lives and in the development of our humanity, then this book is for you.

Combo review for ebook and audio (8 hrs. Narrated by author)

Rona Maynard doesn't know it, but we're kindred souls. Kindred dog people. Kindred souls who found their best selves "after dog". Unlike Maynard, true, I grew up around dogs. Heck, I grew up on a farm. There were always dogs, not to mention cats, sheep, calves, and assorted ducks and rabbits. Due to the circumstances of life, however, aside from my horses, the dogs were always the family dogs. Never dependent or particularly attached to me. That changed after my parents' deaths, when a teacher friend convinced me I needed a dog. I got one. A husky/collie mix. That dog ultimately lead me to Alaska. Long story. I'm currently owned by a diva dog corgi mix, the Daisy of my book review blog. through her I've become part of my neighborhood, enjoying the not always quiet walks in Alaska, and admitting that my life isn't my own. It's better, fuller, just as Maynard has learned.

I won't detail this story of finding one's life through a dog's unconditional love and zest for living. Dog owners, oh, who am I kidding, people owned by a dog (or any pet, for that matter) know what I mean. Maynard, like me, found many reasons to resist a dog. One of my roll my eyes as I chuckle moments was when she admits that even when finally giving in to her husband's desire for a rescue dog was to declare, basically, okay, but it can't get on the bed. Bet you know how that turned out. I've also got to admit, that I much appreciated her letting readers know the "dog doesn't die" in this book, something that tends to make me wary of any specific dog focused books. Thanks, Rona. Casey has taught you well.

I was lucky enough to get both the audio and ebook to review. Read by Maynard, the audio book had me smiling from the beginning. While I flipped back and forth from audio to ebook, there is something about hearing a personal story of growth from that person. After thought, I decided that dog person that I am, I would have been just as sucked in by the written words as the audio had I only had it to go on, so I highly recommend both/either.

Just as anyone who has ever walked a dog quickly learns that they won't be hurried to "do their business", the story pace is leisurely. Maynard spends some time revealing her pre-dog self, which was when I began to see much of myself in her, and then allows us to see how one not-so-well-behaved dog changed her for the better.

Thank you #NetGalley and #ECWPressAudio -#ECWPress for introducing me to #RonaMaynard and her very good dog. My Daisy sends a slurpy kiss and gives this a four paws and a tail wag rating.

This engaging and cute audiobook by Rona Maynard was fun and I felt as though I was going through finding my first dog with her all over again. Although it took me a minute to get into the orator I did finally come into step at the end of the first chapter and it was smooth sailing.

The author takes us through making the decision of going from just a cat family with her husband and children and looking for a dog somewhat later in life. She talks about what her idea of the perfect dog was and in searching for the perfect dog postponed picking one I think by about a couple of years.

She and her husband finally find one to adopt from a prison work program with training dogs. The dog had a name that they both didn't really like and so they changed it when they brought the dog home. She goes through her stories about how the dog was allegedly a mixture of two breeds and didn't act like that at all. She would take the dog to the park and the dog would just go nuts over squirrels.

She gives a funny story about how they had to involve a pet trainer that looked even younger to them than their own children and I can identify with that. And they talk about how they went on to train the dog and do a DNA test on the dog and the dog turned out to be a mixture of two breeds she had originally said we're not the perfect dog.

This is a heartwarming tale how a dog ends up picking you and the changes that you get in your life for the positive as the result of having one.

"Starter Dog" was an easy book to read, but I had expected it to be more about the dog than the author. Really, this book digs into the impact having a dog had on the author's life, how it opened her up to new experiences and taught her to value others more. We read a lot about the author's thought life and the decisions that were made in her marriage and home that came about because of Casey's presence.

While Casey plays a role in everything that happens, there is often more about how the author and others reacted to Casey than there is about the events of Casey's life. During one particular major medical emergency, Rona and her husband opted to take a wait-and-see approach and we never learn anything more about the situation, other than that a specimen of the plant that had poisoned the dog disappeared from the author's office later on. (I have no idea why or how or what we're supposed to take away from that bit of detail.)

Unfortunately, the end of the book seemed to come from nowhere. I assume that Casey is still alive at the conclusion, but that wasn't clear to me.

Ultimately, the book didn't give me the "warm fuzzies" I typically expect from animal-focused memoirs. It wasn't poorly written. It just didn't seem especially moving either.

Thank you to Rona Maynard, ECW Press Audio and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Starter Dog is perfect for dog parents, especially those of the rescue variety. We will all see ourselves in Rona Mynard’s story. She recounts her experience, at age 65, with getting a rescue dog of unknown breeding. She was not the instigator; that would be her husband. But she reluctantly goes along and soon finds herself in love. Not that Casey is the perfect dog. He has his faults, including not liking their grandson. But those of us with dogs know that unconditional love tends to work both ways and we love our dogs despite their faults.
She is accepted into the world of dog lovers. She learns more about her neighborhood and her neighbors, as living without a fenced yard means multiple long walks a day.
This would also be a good book for anyone considering adopting a dog, as she’s realistic about the changes necessary to incorporate a dog into your life. There are no spur of the moment long nights out or day trips anymore.
As the book goes on, Maynard speaks more along philosophical and moral lines - a move towards kindness brought about because of the time she spends out in her neighborhood.
This isn’t great literature but it’s an enjoyable and thought provoking memoir.
The author narrates the audiobook and does a fine job.

I really wanted to like this book as I am abdog person through and through but I just couldn't. The religious aspect of this book really turned me off and made me not want to finish it. I powered through but this is not a book I will be recommending

Starter Dog is a memoir written and read by Canadian author, Rona Maynard. Considering that her husband Paul has always been a dog lover, it’s unusual that they’ve managed to reach the age of sixty-three before he suggests to Rona that they get a dog.

In their relationship, after more than 40 years of marriage: “We had a pattern: he brought me an idea, I told him why it might not work.” There are obstacles to be overcome, in this case, are: dog fur everywhere; the effect on their travel bug; and walks with a dicky knee.

And when, objections neutralised, they do agree, it takes another two years before they find the one: a rescue dog named Tucker (and before that, Shotgun), apparently a Labrador/pug mix that has been trained in prison by a convict. Deciding on a name finally results in Casey Jones, and Casey immediately bonds with Paul; it takes longer with Rona.

Walking Casey turns out to be a whole new experience for Rona: constant stopping to check and leave peemail; eating trash; chasing cars; attacking squirrels; altercations with neighbour dogs; and poor behaviour that leads to park exile.

Expert help is required, and a trainer teaches Paul and Rona what Casey will respond obediently to. Rona learns to shout, and Casey teaches her to sleep. Rona describes how she migrates from being a novice dog owner, to becoming a fully-furred dog-person, with its attendant Insta flooding, special attention to dog food, addiction to dog videos and Casey as the automatic conversation topic.

As a rescue dog, Casey comes without any real history, and a DNA test puts his stated breed in the realms of fantasy: Casey is a beagle-Boston Terrier-bulldog mix. Not knowing who trained Casey to be such a good dog sends Rona and Paul on a trip to Ohio, to Casey’s hometown, to find out more, and trace his journey from there to Ontario.

Living with Casey changes their priorities on furniture preservation, and also bring harmony to their daily lives, helping to connect with strangers with dogs, despite the odd encounter with a nasty owner. Rona recalls the one dog in her childhood and why she didn’t connect then. By the time they are on vacation in Mexico City, just a short period without Casey has Rona seeking a dog-fix.

How does Casey, the Dog Of Very Little Brain, end up with a diploma from the University of Toronto? Will he be ever-hungry for any vaguely-edible morsel? Is it just Rona’s perception that, when Paul walks Casey he attracts pretty young women, while she manages to draw poor cowboys?

Snowfall in Ontario makes walking Casey presents a fracture risk for his ageing owners, so necessitates they go south for the winter, and encounter a whole new set of neighbours during walks. Rona finds herself moved to acts of kindness when out walking Casey, and recalls instances where she could have been kinder. Having Casey even helps her understand her father a little more.

“To run a magazine, I had looked out on the world and shaped a vision of it for readers. To take Casey out on patrol, I ventured into the world and let it surprise me, time after time. I wasn’t just passing through. Not anymore.” Funny and moving, this is a very entertaining read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and ECW Press