Marley and Me: Life and Love of the World's Worst Dog

Marley and Me by John Grogan, is a great book. I'm not one who usually reads books about pets, but once I got started I didn't want to put it down. This book details the adventures of a newlywed couple as they start their life together. Marriage is hard enough in the first few years, without the addition of the worlds worst pet.

John and his wife went to a puppy farm only to look at puppies, but as soon as they got out of their vehicle it was evident that they weren't leaving without choosing one to be their very own. They looked at the mother and all of the pups and chose a male. They made out the check, while the owner told them that that particular puppy was at a reduced price. The Grogans couldn't believe their luck. That was, until the father of the brood came crashing onto the scene. However, they didn't let that deter them.

Meant as a training exercise, the two adopted the dog as a practice run before having a child. They bought toys, food, a leash and a collar. They were ready for problems with house training and chewing, however they didn't expect the chaos and upheaval that comes with a rambunctious, untrainable dog. For example: How does one safeguard their home from a dog that destroys a seemingly impenetrable steel dog pen? What do you do when that same dog eats a very expensive anniversary gift to your wife? How do you quash his doggie ego when he stars as himself in a feature length movie?

As life went on, the family grew to include three children and an assortment of frogs and various other pets. However, Marley was always the focal point. The book details his maturity from puppy to senior citizen with funny, dramatic, and sometimes poignant stories. Marley was not just the first pet dog the Grogans had as man and wife. He was also the first dog their three children had. While he was a zany force of nature, he was also able to nurture. He was not just man's best friend. He was sometiems also wife's and kid's best friend too.

I loved this book because it reminded me of some of the horrible yet wonderful pets I've had in the past. It's an entertaining book that would be enjoyed by both dog lovers and haters alike.