Conversations with Raika

I’ve been searching for books to help me know how to love my senior dog the best that I can- like Denise, I work with dogs, and I know about canine behavior and anatomy and so on, so most of the books I was suggested just... didn’t help. This was the book that I needed. My Boots is little, and only 12 thank goodness, but this was the book I needed to start thinking about the things we all need to think about when we love a senior dog.

This book couldn't have come at a better time in my life. Its touching, heartwarming, and hilarious.It's one of those books you can't put down!

If you love dogs and share your life with them, you don't want to miss this book. It will make you laugh, cry, and reflect. If you have a senior dog, or if you've lost one, you'll find healing in theses pages. I HIGHLY recommend it!

A lovely story that resonated with me, being a dog parent.

I have read and re-read this book so many times I cannot even remember how many. Despite this, I have consistently found this book to be laugh-out-loud funny. I normally find things written from the dog's point of view to be cloying at best and irritating and annoying at worst, but not here. Raika's wit and humor shine through on every page. She's a compelling character that is entirely a dog and yet somehow relatable and wise.***SPOILER ALERT***Yes, the dog dies in the end. I have consistently cried every time I read it, even though I know it's coming. And yet there is a message of hope in it, and maybe more importantly, it's helping me think through the decisions I am making for my 14-year-old dog whose health is clearly fading, and how I want to spend my last days with her.***END SPOILER ALERT***Anyway... I have read all of Fenzi's books and this is by far my favorite. I hope she continues writing fiction, because she clearly has a talent for it.

If you have had a dog who was as close to you as any other being could be, and if you still think and remember them much of the time then I'm sure you will love this book - it will bring you back and revive so many memories.On a personal level I could really relate to having a dog that you competed with and who you spent that kind of time with (actively training; learning; planning; moving forward with goals) and then the relationship had to change due to (in Raika's case) old age, or (in my case) traumatic injury, and watching how that new way of being together was like walking through a door that you didn't know was there...Well done all the way around.

Some of us spend a lot of time with dogs - lovely, obedient, fun, happy dogs. But we often don't learn to actually LISTEN to them until a special one comes along that opens our eyes (or ears, to stick with my own metaphor). This book is a joy to read, but my favorite part is seeing dogs through Denise's eyes. Relationships are always a balancing act, a push and pull of needs and desires, and relationships with dogs are no different. It's just that we don't always see that because the balance is (often) so far in our favor, as the humans. Dogs have short lives and we tend to be the center of their worlds. It's our responsibility and privilege to make their lives as fulfilled as we can, if we choose to bring them into our lives. And such a big part of that is learning to listen to what they're saying. And they say so much more than we ever expect once we learn to start hearing them. Denise and Raika don't fit in our traditional boxes of "dog" and "owner" (or worse, "master"). Maybe they don't fit in any boxes or labels we'd like to give them. Maybe they are just two beings, learning to dance the dance of life together. As are we all.

There are so many layers to this book. A sweet, funny recounting of the author’s “dialogues” with her sassy, aging dog. A window into a dog’s perspective on living in the moment. A guide to coping with the aging and decline of a loved one {human or animal}. A philosophical treatise on metaphysics, life, love, and the longing to survive. An analysis of how our loved ones live on in our Hearts and MindsFor me, the molecular redistribution piece was a revelation, particularly as I struggled with the demise of my old girl, my ♥️ dog, Boudica. Denise Fenzi is a special breed of writer. She opens up her life to guide you through opening your own heart and mind. She is also a brilliant communicator whether writing on the joys of dehydrating dog treats, the “challenges” of training a terrier, or the perils of leaving a tasty snack unattended. This book is my go-to Christmas gift. Cannot recommend it enough.

The most honest and beautiful story of an aging dog and the owner who loved her . A sensitive, funny and very moving story that you could easily read over again.

An amazing conversation with an older dog as she makes her journey to the end of life. An emotional journey that we all will face with our pets.

I laughed and I cried. A wonderful book that addresses the ups and downs of living with a senior pet. Highly recommend to all dog lovers.