There’s a new book out for children that is designed to help them cope with the death of their dog. It’s titled “Give a Dog your Heart” and is written by Aubrey Fine, Ed.D., a child psychologist who has been using dogs in AAT as long as anyone. I’m not completely objective, Aubrey and I co-authored a chapter in his new Handbook of Animal Assisted Therapy, and I found him to be kind, compassionate and a joy to work with.
Still, if I didn’t like the book I wouldn’t post a note about it. The book is beautifully written and designed, has break your heart photos of a black lab, and a wonderful section at the back for children to use as an album and a journal. Hard as it is, pets are such a good opportunity to help children learn about how to wend your way through the woods when you are grieving. I just read an advice column in which a woman felt guilty because she took her child to a movie in which a pet died, and the child was upset. The columnist, yeah for her, wrote there was no reason to feel guilt, but that the movie was a wonderful ‘teaching moment’ to help a child learn that death is a part of life, and that we feel sad about the loss, feel grateful for a beloved pet’s life, and go on to celebrate it as best we can.
I’d love to hear about other books that you have found useful, especially for children. Any others out there?
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Well, I’m not actually. I’m about in the middle of the Milford Track right now, deep in the South Island of New Zealand. I pre-posted this, knowing that my connection to the internet will be sporadic at best. Here’s a photo from home, to remind me that it might be spring in New Zealand, but this is probably what it will look like when I get home.
Laura Anne Welch says
When we lost our beloved Keeshond, our child was four and found it very hard. Judith Viorst’s book, The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, was a wonderful help. It tells of the loss of a family cat, and the child in the book has to think of ten good memories of her pet. She has trouble with # 10, then finally is able to come up with a special memory. Talking about ten good things about our dog helped our son in his grief. Number ten in his memories was, “I only ate her dog food once.”:0)
mungobrick says
I was going to mention The Tenth Good Thing About Barney as well. My problem was that I couldn’t read these kinds of books to my boys without crying myself…which I don’t think helped them all that much.
AnneJ says
I don’t have a book to recommend but when our son’s best doggie friend Farley died it helped him that we framed a picture of him and Farley together and and put it where he could look at it all the time.
Karen says
Wow! Your home is beautiful, but I am soooo glad I don’t live where it snows!
Christine says
When our 3 1/2 year old Donar died of a heart attack on a walk, my grandchildren were so sad and and asked where he could be now. I found a wounderful book “Vier Pfoten am Himmel” (four paws at the sky) from Annette Langen and Antje Bohnstedt. Whenever the girls look at the sky and see small clouds they laugh and say “look Grosi, Donar’s paws!”. And now they even combine it with Granddad’s footprints, since my husband died a few months ago. I feel it is very comforting!
Keli says
Well, have fun with your spring weather, because we got dumped on last night and today!! Lots of snow to welcome you back! Hope those new born lambs are keeping warm 🙂
Keli
Stephanie says
A book that I found to be very helpful was given to me when my first dog Rocky passed away a few years ago was “The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog” by Eugene O’Neill, on the inside a friend who gave me the book wrote “To Stephanie Love Rocky” whenever I’m missing him I like to pull it out and read it, it is such a comfort.
chloe says
Hello,
I was searching your website for articles and maybe a book to help me with a client. I am training her pup with your book Family Friendly Dog Training, which I have used very successfully for beginning obedience.
But my client would like her 5 year old to be involved and frankly I have ideas once the pup has her general commands (tricks) learned but because of the gentle steady somewhat precise nature of teaching a puppy I don’t know how to have him participate and for the 30 minutes to be about the dog and not about the child etc. Any suggestions would help. I also use your ‘play together stay together’ I teach tug very quickly that way ‘take it and drop it’ are taught. at any rate my clients love your books.