Surviving Henry

TITLE:  Surviving Henry
AUTHOR:  Erin Taylor Young
PUBLISHER:  Fleming H. Revell Company
RELEASE DATE:  August 5, 2014 (already available)

FROM GOODREADS:  You don't always know what you're getting into when you bring home a puppy. Enter Henry, a boxer who suffers from Supreme Dictator of the Universe Syndrome. He vandalizes his obedience school, leaps through windows, cheats death at every turn, and generally causes his long-suffering owner Erin Taylor Young to wonder what on earth she did that God would send this dog to derail her life.
Through his laugh-out-loud antics and escapades, Henry will steal readers' hearts. Anyone who has ever owned a dog, especially a canine catastrophe like Henry, will enjoy this lighthearted book about a dog who brings new meaning to the concept of unconditional love.


MY THOUGHTS:  My husband and I have owned 5 boxer dogs over the past 20 or so years, and currently have 2 in our home, so when I saw this cover, I immediately knew I had to read this book. I was provided a copy by Netgalley and Revell Publishing and I cannot thank them enough. Henry is definitely a trying dog. I have been lucky enough to never quite have a Henry, but I did have a Cooper, who suffered so badly from separation anxiety when he was young that I quickly learned the inside workings of several pieces of furniture.

I admire Young's dedication to this dog. And I love how along the way, she seems to learn that she dearly loves the dog she thought she despised. Young's anecdotes are mostly hilarious and sometimes sad and scary. However, I cannot believe she continued to try to find creative ways to wear this dog out. I mean, my 9 month old pup is pretty rambunctious and I would never dream of tying him to a scooter or a bike and pulling me as a means of exercise. Although this just goes to prove how desperate Young was at times to reign in Henry.

I cannot say enough that I loved this book. It was just what I needed as our family is just again starting to raise another young boxer through his life. In addition, I was approved for this title just after we lost our 16 year old boxer, so I took it as a comforting sign that I should read it and reminisce about all the good times, and sometimes crazy times, we shared with Barkley. Thank you Erin Taylor Young for sharing your escapades with Henry. You truly do have an amazing dog and an amazing heart.

RATING: 5 PAWS