DEAR DYLAN'S DOG SQUAD

Troy’s helpful guide provides tips on training and caring for our faithful canine companions.

An American cocker spaniel named Dylan takes a detour from the fictional series he headlines. In this book, Troy—the author of that series and the real-life Dylan’s owner—fields fans’ dog-related questions and addresses their concerns. The book is styled as a series of letters written to Dylan’s Dog Squad, who happily reply to each letter. One couple who took in a late neighbor’s dachshund puppies wonders what the best age is to neuter or spay; for this and other questions, the members of Dylan’s Dog Squad encourage readers to seek advice from a veterinarian or ask friends who are “dog people” to recommend a local vet. The letters cover a wide range of subjects, including training (crate, potty, and leash), whether or not an Irish setter should poke her head out of a car window while on the road, and the case of a visiting relative’s Boston terrier who marks his territory all over the host’s residence. The responses are thoughtful and clearly explained throughout—and, when necessary, blunt. (To the owner whose dog has been snacking on shoes, dirty socks, and wet bath towels: “Pick up your stuff.”) Along with the Q&A sections, the book includes valuable tips delivered in a bullet-pointed format. Readers will learn what things to consider when adopting a dog and ways to make a new puppy happy (“Introduce him to your home one room at a time”).

Troy’s concise, easygoing prose is familiar from Dylan’s earlier fictional adventures. In one particularly notable section, she lists specific pointers on various canine commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “heel,” and “come”; her simple directions will surely make learning a breeze for humans and dogs alike. (The author clarifies that humans need to practice as much as their furry loved ones.) This guidebook is rife with heartfelt moments—like letters from owners who’ve lost a beloved dog—as well as genuinely curious cases, like that of a pug who, on the basis of smell, isn’t very fond of his humans’ 10-month-old granddaughter. Some of the letters to Dylan’s Dog Squad are quite amusing: One owner laments that a park ranger cited him for an unleashed dog; now his Weimaraner has a rap sheet. Another tells of a greyhound mix scraping her humans’ legs with her cone of shame—apparent payback for being made to wear it. While some of Troy’s advice understandably overlaps (“yummy treats” make an especially effective motivator), parts of the book are outright repetitive; for example, details on all 10 of the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen tests are repeated almost verbatim. The author rounds out this relatively short book with recipes for doggie pupsicles (peanut butter and blueberry) and a list of American Sign Language commands that owners can teach their dogs—and that Dylan, both real and fictional, has mastered.

A handy and often entertaining primer for brand-new and longtime dog owners alike.