Off the Leash: Non-fiction Annotation

Off the Leash: A Year at the Dog Park
by Matthew Gilbert

Genre: Non-fiction
Publication Date: 2014
Number of Pages: 223
Geographical Setting: Boston, Massachusetts
Time Period: Present

Plot Summary: Matthew Gilbert is a dedicated TV critic who grew up afraid of dogs and who prefers the company of people when they're on his television screen.  He marries a dog lover, who still mourns the loss of a beloved yellow lab years after its death and who cannot imagine life without a canine companion.  Inevitably, the couple ends up finding a puppy of their own: a seven-week-old black/yellow lab mix they name Toby.  In an attempt to do right by Toby and raise him right, Matthew starts taking him to Amory Park, a popular destination for dog-parents and their furry children.  He recounts their first year at the park, including early mishaps, budding friendships, and life lessons learned for both man and dog.  Matthew explores how their experience at Amory became less about turning Toby into the perfect dog, and more about helping himself to see the value of being present in the here and now of the dog park world, as quirky as it might be.

Subject Headings: Dogs--Behavior--Anecdotes; Parks for dogs--Anecdotes; Dogs--Behavior; Parks for dogs

Characteristics and Appeal:
Characterization -- Matthew and Toby are the major "characters" in this book, but they interact with many important secondary characters.  They encounter the same few people and dogs every day at Amory, and many of their most memorable moments with these characters are documented.  Matthew's story revolves entirely around these other people and dogs that he and Toby meet at the dog park--they are crucial to Matthew and Toby's own development throughout their year at Amory.  These other people are "types" that are easily recognized, and each of their unique personalities contributes to Matthew's experience.

Tone -- This book is very upbeat, heartwarming, and humorous.  Matthew is known for his amusing TV reviews, and this carries over into Off the Leash.  He tells of his experiences at Amory in a funny light, even the moments that scared or intimidated him at the time.  The story is light, with a bit of snark, and always hilarious.  Dog lovers can easily relate to Matthew's observations about dogs and other dog lovers.

Writing Style -- Matthew's writing style is candid and charming.  He never shies away from cluing the reader in on his fears and misgivings about life with a dog.  Some of the funniest and most charming moments of the book happen when he discusses the trials and tribulations of people cleaning up, or not cleaning up, after their dogs at the park.  His writing is relatable and funny, as he commingles his personal thoughts, dialogue with others, anecdotes of behavior at Amory, and the meaning it all conveys about life.

Read-Alikes:
A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz -- This is an upbeat nonfiction account of how a dog changed a couple's lives.

Marley and Me by John Grogan -- Another upbeat, true tale of a puppy entering a family and the positive impact he had on them.

You Had Me at Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness by Julie Klam -- Another first-time dog owner documents the valuable life lessons she learned from her pets.