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How to Raise a Jewish Dog

by The Rabbis of the Boca Raton Theological Seminary as told to Ellis Weiner and Barbara Davilman



      The authors, Weiner and Davilman, concoct an irreverent, canine-loving rabbinical society in South Florida that should have the real rabbis of Boca Raton cringing beneath their robes. In this humor book, dog owners (of all religions) are encouraged to raise their dogs in accordance with time-tested Seminary methods (i.e., cultural Jewish stereotypes) including excessive worrying, eating, and guilt-tripping. All the authors’ suggestions are intended to entertain readers, so don’t expect any practical advice in How to Raise a Jewish Dog.

Instead, you’ll find lots of "inner monologues" of Jewish dogs that guide pet owners in areas such as socialization, obedience, diet, exercise, equipment, travel, and canine emotional health. While most of the book comes across as "cute" rather than "funny," the sections on missing dogs, pet sitter applications, and The Six-Pointed Mogen David Star of Pampering stand out as especially humorous. Readers also might get a chuckle out of the three meal plans: scheduled, free, and dog-being-raised-Jewish feedings.

Photos by Susan Burnstine appear throughout the book, with each demonstrating various techniques described in the text. The similarly cute pictures also occasionally mark some funny territory. Among the obligatory, posed pet owner and "rabbi" photos, you’ll find particularly amusing pictures depicting various dogs’ emotional states which might cause you to sit up and beg for more.

The Book

Little, Brown and Company / HachetteBookGroupUSA
September 2007
Paperback
0-136-15466-0 / 978-0-316-15466-6
Humor
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE:

The Reviewer

Leslie Halpern
Reviewed 2007
NOTE: Reviewer Leslie Halpern is the author of Reel Romance. The Lovers' Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies and Dreams on Film. Coming Soon: A Writer's Guide to Fearless Interviews.
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