It’s just a wonderful feeling, knowing that what you’ve written has been published in a variety of languages. Imagining people reading The Other End of the Leash in Polish or Spanish makes me smile. It’s not just the intellectual knowledge that one’s books have circled the globe; it as much a feeling of connection. A connection to other cultures, other countries, other people who love dogs as much as I do.
It is that connection that feels so important right now, in a time when being truly connected to other people feels increasingly threatened. So, join me, in celebrating that people all over the world can bond over their love of animals, and that, in a variety of languages, we can read the same books, under the same sun and the same moon, on our tiny, green, gorgeous, and oh-so-vulnerable, little planet.
I haven’t sat down and figured out where all my books have been published in a long time, and I thought I’d enroll some of you in the journey to find out. I love LOVE hearing from people from other countries, so please jump in if you’ve read any of my books in a language other than English. (Not to mention what the titles of the book actually say!)
Here’s what I have right now in my records (which might be out of date, publishers are pretty slammed right now just keeping their heads above water):
The Other End of the Leash has been published in Austria, Brazil, China (in both “traditional” & “simple”), Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Korea, Poland, Russia, Spain, & Sweden. And, in Australia, which is still in English but I LOVE that the book is available there. My trip to Australia when the book came out in that country was a life’s highlight, so hello to everyone in that great country.
For the Love of a Dog has been published in Italy, Germany, Poland, Russia, & Spain.
The Education of Will was marketed as a “dog training book,” when it is actually a book about trauma and recovery in two species. I think the only other countries it’s in are Germany and Spain. I am very, very grateful that they are there!
Kynos publishers in Germany deserve a special shout out! They have published not just The Other End of the Leash, For the Love of a Dog, & The Education of Will, but also several of my smaller self-published training books. They have been a fantastic partner over the years, and I’m truly grateful to them.
Now, the super fun part. The Covers! Here’s a newly designed cover for OEL (Other End of the Leash) in Korea:
And here are a whole lot of other covers–can you guess which cover goes to which country? What the titles translate to?
It fascinates me how some publishers use the same title, while others use their own. The Spanish version of The Education of Will is the same, while the German version translates to “Thanks to Willie.” (At least, that’s what Google says. Anyone have a better one?) The Chinese version of OEL is ““Don’t compete with your dog to be the boss.” (Thanks to translator Vicki Huang for filling me in on Facebook!)
Please, please jump in here if you are fluent in any of these languages, and/or read any of the books in a language other than English. I’d so love to hear from you!
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Last weekend, with a high of 77 F, saw most of Wisconsin residents outside, cleaning windows, (should’ve), watering before we have to put away our hoses (did that), and/or painting or staining the thing we said we’d get to in June (our picnic table). After several nights well under freezing, not to mention some snow, it was great to be able to use the hoses again, and get into the garden.
It FINALLY rained this morning, it’s been terribly dry, and it’s been windy for days. These lovely leaves are now long gone off the tree in our yard, and it’s starting to look more like November rather than October.
Our bird feeders have been busy, busy, busy. Here’s a male Downy Woodpecker loving this combination of suet and seed. Right now we are seeing Downy, Hairy, and Red-Bellied WPs.
Love this photo of three birds, two real, on top of some feeders. That’s a female Downy and a female House finch.
This Great Blue wasn’t in our yard, but we got to say hello while out walking the dogs along Black Earth Creek in Cross Plains.
All of our wildlife encounters were not happy ones. This lovely thing was caught in our fence, probably for the better part of 24 hours. I found her when out walking the dogs, ran to get Jim and the bolt cutters. We got her out right away, and she moved a few feet away and lay down. She was gone the next morning. She will probably lose her hoof, if she makes it at all. I thought about bringing her water, she must have been horribly dehydrated after struggling for so long, but decided she’d be better off if I just let her alone. I thought about her all weekend, still do. I hope she makes it.
Watching the deer here brings me full circle–I’ll never forget coming back from safari in Africa and exclaiming how beautiful our White-tailed Deer are. That’s one of the many values of traveling to other countries, and being connected to others outside of our small, local circles. I hope I hear from many of you about translations and dog books in other countries, with apologies that I am only fluent in English . . . and that’s only part of the time.
Jodi Grzeczka says
How wonderful to hear about your books “traveling” to other countries. Over the years, I’ve felt so lucky that you were in my back yard, so to speak. I’ve had the pleasure to attend several of your lectures, and have met and talked with you in person; my own brush with celebrity. That has to be so exciting for you. Congratulations! Also love the photos you’ve posted of the local wildlife. Thank you!
Mia says
Hi Trisha,
I love the cover for “The Other End of The Leash” in Korean, it is very cute!
Lately, a downy woodpecker has been the bane of my existence. He’s been pecking at the siding of our house every day. I go out and talk to it to spook it off… But it just looks at me now and flies to a nearby tree. Not ten minutes later, the ‘lil guy is back once again, making a large hole in out house.
Are you going to be at BYB’s trial next weekend? I just started taking my 7 month old Border Collie to him. While I love the sport already, I am not in love with the corrective methods I’ve been told to use. What are some of the things you do when first training a pup?
Mia
Cristina says
About the German title: “Will sei Dank” is more like “Thank Will”. The English “Thank God” translates to “Gott sei Dank”. I believe it’s easy to see the similarity in the syntax.
Trisha says
Jodi: Celebrity? Oh that’s just silly, but thanks so much for the kind words.
Trisha says
Mia, thanks for your comments. Sorry about the Downy. I know there are some solutions out there on the internet, but what about putting up a bird feeder and giving them something better to eat? You could put up a simple suet feeder and possibly enjoy the Downy instead of shaking your fist at him. Her?
Trisha says
Thanks Christina!
RA says
OEL in Finnish translates as ‘in the other end of the leash’/ ‘in the leash’s other end’.
Mireille says
I think the Swedish title says:’ Dog and human. To understand and to be understood.’ Not enterily sure if it is human or the human. I’ve learned Norwegian and Swedish and Danish are so like that, I can read all three, although Swedish is a bit more difficult.
I would translate ‘Will sei Dank’ as ‘Thanks to Will’ and ‘Trafen sich zwei’ ‘where two meet’ – some thoughts (or considerations) about humans and dogs’. Can’t really find a good English word, but betrachtungen has a philosophical feeling about it.
Alas, no Dutch or Norwegian translations of your books 🧐
Zazie says
This is so great! I am so happy you are published in so many countries. I love seeing all the covers all together like that. I think that Korean one is my favourite. I like the German cover of The Education of Will too and it’s really interesting how they changed the title. Thanks to Will! Por el amor de un perro is a neat title too.
That’s sad about the deer. I’m glad you could free her and I hope she makes it.
Trisha says
Thanks Zazie!
Jean Silva says
I am so glad that your books are available in a wide variety of languages. How sad that, as a species, we are unable to accept that other species communicate with one another.
Martin says
I’m fluent in German, but I’ve only read your books in English. That’s partially because I first got to know them in the US, and partially because I try to read the original language whenever possible (only German and English). I so regret not bringing my copies with me when I moved! We had limited space in the shipping container, and I had already read them often enough that I thought I would just remember the contents. “The Education from Will” came out after our move, so I bought an American import.
My attempt at translating the German book titles:
I agree with Cristina on “Will sei Dank” being a parallel to “Gott sei Dank”/”Thank God” so “Thank Will.” The subtitle is “Memoiren einer Frau mit Hund,” which means “Memoir of a Woman with [a] Dog.”
“Das andere Ende der Leine: Was unserem Umgang mit Hunden bestimmt” means “The Other End of the Leash: What Governs Our Interactions with Dogs.”
“Die Hundegrundschule: Ein Sechs-Wochen-Lernprogramm” seems to be the translation of “Family Friendly Dog Training,” but the direct translation of the title would be more like “The Elementary School for Dogs: A Six Week Program.”
“Liebst Du mich auch?: Die Gefühlswelt bei Hund und Mensch” is “For the Love of a Dog” and translates to “Do You Love Me too?: The World of Feelings/Feelingsworld of Dog and Human.”
I don’t know what “McConnells Erziehungskiste” is a translation of, and it seems to be out-of-print. I would translate the title as “McConnell’s Upbring Toolbox.” That sounds way better in German.
I also don’t know what “Trafen sich zwei: Betrachungen über Menschen und Hunde” is a translation of and it also appears to be out-of-print. It means something like “Two Met: Reflections on Humans and Dogs.”
Trisha says
Jean, I hope then that you are buoyed by the knowledge that scientists have been studying animal communication, in all its richness, for a very long time. It’s a wonderful field!
Trisha says
Ah, thank you so much Martin! Much appreciated.
Uta says
It is awesome to see all the different covers!
I am very grateful that so many books of yours have been widely translated, it is so good – and so vital – to have their wisdom, knowledge and kindness towards both humans and canines available for readers in different languages.
Just in addition to Martin’s post – ‘Trafen sich zwei: Betrachungen über Menschen und Hunde’ is the German version of ‘Tales of Two Species: Essays on Loving and Living with Dogs’.
Angela Alston says
So so grateful for The Other End in English! I thought I would have to relinquish my Boodie to the breeder in August. Was completely unprepared for his hyper-vigilance with people and dogs on streets of Somerville. To the point where he couldn’t pee or poo outside for days. Re-reading The Other End, plus advice from several friends and family, turned the tide.
He’s only my second dog and arrived with many unknowns, up to and including his breed. I thought he was a Tibetan Terrier-Weimeraner mix: no! Pumi-Weimeraner! Happy accident at the breeders. :}
Yes, breed isn’t everything, but it’s something.
Thanks again!
Royal canin says
I am so happy that your books are available in a wide variety of languages.
Trisha says
Thank you Royal canin. Me too!