Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

This book is a tribute to every dog who has made it to that time of life when the hearing and eyesight begin to go, when the step becomes uncertain, but when other, richer traits ripen and coalesce. It is when a dog attains a special sort of dignity and a charm all his own.

If you've known a favorite old dog, you'll find him or her on these pages. Your dog might go by a different name and have a different shape, but you'll recognize him or her by the look in an eye or the contours of a life story. There is the dog who thinks he is a house cat; the herder, the fetcher, the punk and the peacock, the escape artist, the demolition artist, the patrician, the lovable lout, the amiable dope, the laughable clown, the schemer, the singer, the daredevil, the diplomat, the politician, the gourmand, and the thief. Plus, as a special bonus, you will find the first Latvian elkhounds ever photographed.

Old Dogs is a glorious gift book and a fitting tribute to that one dog you can't ever forget.

Average Customer Rating:

For anyone who has ever loved a dog	Customer Rating:
I read a story written by this author in the Washinton Post. After I dried my eyes, I looked at the pictures included with the story. After I again dried my eyes, I thought how lucky we are who have dogs to love and be loved by. Get this book- beautifully written and so close to the heart.

Very heartwarming book	Customer Rating:
This is a great little book for any dog lover. There are over 50 pages of black and white photos of charismatic-looking old dogs along with short description of who they are. Anyone who has owned an old dog could probably relate to many of these stories.

"May Old Dogs Live Forever"

Customer Rating:

As an apartment-dwelling animal lover whose building forbids dog ownership, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review this. The title is self-explanatory--although I doubt it was their intention, photographer Michael S. Williams and columnist Gene Weingarten have collaborated on a work that's guaranteed to melt even the hardest of hearts. The dogs profiled in Old Dogs Are the Best Dogs were, at the time they were photographed, at least 10 years old. A short profile accompanies each photo; that we learn so much about each subject in so few words is a testimony to both Weingarten's skill as a wordsmith and Williams' ability to capture the essence of these cherished pets that I grew to love by proxy. Not only was I touched to the core by these grand old pooches (I get very sloppy over non-human animals), but as an editor, I positively reveled in the excellence of Weingarten's command of English. Indeed, while this book could easily be perused in an hour or so, I found it almost too rich to process all at once and like very fine tea, I preferred to enjoy it in small sips that I could savor over time. It really is that wonderful. I was planning to purchase a copy of this as a Christmas present for a beloved cousin, but she just lost the eldest of her five rescues and she and her husband are still crying for their old Barney, the Great Dane mix that literally thought he was a horse (her sister-in-law lives next door with her equine family). So while now is probably too soon, a copy of this will find its way to their bookshelf at a time I deem appropriate. For those lacking such constraints, consider this for the animal-lovers on your holiday list--I promise it won't disappoint. HIGHEST recommendation.

Touching

Customer Rating:

This is an absolutely wonderful book. It has beautiful black and white photos of the dogs, and marvelous vignettes for each dog that are heartfelt. Both the stories and the photos vary between being touching to humorous (From the story of Hank who had been shot with BBs to Mr. Stinky a six pound Yorkshire Terrier who fought crime.). I was tearing up one minute and laughing out loud the next. I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone who knows and loves a dog (young or old)! And I agree with another reviewer (MamaBear007), I too would buy a sequel to this book, with the remainder of the 1,294 stories that weren't included!

Articulate Genes or Reflective Antonyms

Customer Rating:

BOTH. We've all viewed the countless publications on puppies but never have we seen the bold, high contrast yet subtle/gentle connection to the aging dog represented so perfectly as we see through the eyes of Michael Williamson. BRILLIANT of course! Articulate Genes? Naturally placed perfectly on the page, the stories that with the IMAX like realness of these images that draw you in to read the words/stories on the page. Not just one page but page after page of intrigue, laughter, the things that make you go hummmm, and straight identification that in the end gives us all connection that leads to completion. Good day old dogs. M. A. L. C.