I love this book! Each chapter is about one of Paulsen’s dogs. Some of the stories are sad, some funny, etc. At first I honestly didn’t like it very much because of the sad chapters—I hate sad stories. However, I found myself re-reading it multiple times, using some chapters for my classes (I’m a teacher), recommending it to others, and reflecting about how each dog leaves a special imprint on our lives, so their memories shouldn’t be avoided out of sadness. So I have given it 5 stars despite the few sad chapters.

I like that each chapter is about a different dog. I have read certain chapters more than others (Ike and Caesar are my favs), and I have used portions in class when teaching. One word of warning to teachers: Paulsen is a fantastic story teller, but tends to use LONG sentences. Take deep breaths when reading this book out loud! Haha

I expected to love this book, but I'm still surprised by how much.

I didn't think reading about someone eleses dogs, someone I've never met, would make me as happy as it did. Its the dogs of course, but also just the way that Gary Paulsen writes. Its so genuine and really makes me feel like I'm sitting around the fire listening to him tell me about the dogs he's had and loved in the past.

Each of these dogs had there own unique personality and you can tell how much they meant to him, and how much they shaped him as a person. I have read Winterdance, in which he talked about his sled dogs a lot and I really enjoyed that. However I am so grateful for this different perspective.

I am a true believer in animals. They can bring out the best in us and really bring joy to our lives. I have experienced it in my own, and I'm so glad to have the chance to read someone elses experience with this.

This is a nice quick read and I think it would be great for older children. Its defiantly something I am saving for my nieces and nephews.

My little boys and I had a great time reading this and were so interested in the author's life which has not been easy but was always full of dogs with fantastic stories and personalities. Made us love our dog even more.

Reading Gary Paulsen is like talking to an old family friend. And I forgot how much I love Gary Paulsen. I came across it and thought, I don't think I've read this one. It works like a set of short stories each featuring a dog from his life at various points in his life that they were much needed as friend and companion.

I forgot (or didn't know) that his parents were alcoholics and he generally raised himself in the Philippines and then back in Minnesota. So each dog is like a landmark in his life though as he mentions often, there were so many spectacular dogs, these were singled out for their upmost significance whether it was a silly story, their intelligence, or their companionship. Clearly the first one hits you right in the feels as he needed someone to hang out with while he was running around by himself in the Philippines-- until he was hit by a truck about a week before returning to the States. Pull the knife from my heart. And then there was the dog who hunted with him, showing up one day and months later leaving, never to return until a book tour led him to meet a man who mentioned how the companionship of a dog saved him especially after his tour in Vietnam-- well, Ike knew his owner had returned a broken man and went back to him after spending months with Gary before that. Ugh, man, that one.

Then I was bowled over by the intelligence of the border collie. Paulsen always showcases the humanity of animals and their importance in his life and others and this reminded me of all of those things. This is a cathartic and the kind of therapy book that anyone can adore if you are a dog lover.

This book is “ My Life Dog Years” by Gary Paulson.
This book talked about GaryPaulson raised from childhood to life. Saved dogs. And the death of these dogs. He is a great person, which lives with dogs in his hole life.

After having taught "Hatchet," his adventure fiction book, to junior high students, a riveting book I searched for memoir pieces of his, interviews to give more of the back story of this writer. Mr. Paulsen has written a few memoirs. This one is short and sweet, and this is my second time reading it. I like the structure, the message, and how he tells a story. Each chapter is about a dog who made a difference in his life or enhanced his days. As a writer I look at structure of a book as well as the way a writer writes. Perhaps it's Paulsen's conversational tone here that pulls me in, makes me feel like I'm sitting beside the fire on a cold night hearing the tales. If anyone can be applauded for seizing life this is one writer who has.

If you need a fun break, read this book! Paulsen writes so well, and he clearly loves animals, especially his many dogs. Each chapter is about one of his favorite dogs. They are often funny or poignant, and usually amazing in some way.

Boys book club read. Delightful stories of various dogs and how they impacted the author’s life. I had a hard time looking my son in the eye after reading this and feeling confident while saying “we don’t need a dog in our lives right now.”

4.5⭐️ Gary Paulson is such an amazing children’s author and it was very interesting to read about his life with my students. He did a great job being blunt about the hardships he experienced and the hope he continues to have. I love dogs and I really enjoyed reading each chapter with my students. Each one was so unique and riveting.

Dog lovers, this is a must read! I breezed through this book in a couple of hours this morning and thoroughly enjoyed Paulsen’s descriptive writing. Cookie, Ike, and Caesar were my favorite chapters. I feel inspired to pick up my pen and jot down memories with some of my favorite dogs.

A good book for dog lovers. What really made me laugh - one of the dogs needed to pee and the author said that the dog needed to go to the bathroom. I guess it's not proper to say that dogs pee. They use bathrooms :D Even though they pee outdoors and there is no bath anywhere near there... Oh well.
A good book all the same.

I read the book My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen. I think the main theme of the book is life passes by quickly but a lot of amazing things happen in that short while. I think this because the title, My Life in Dog Years means that his life is like dog years because dogs lives only last a short while and I think Gary feels the same way about his life. If the author wanted me to get one thing out of the book I think it would be to cherish the things you have. I think this because he made it seem like all of the experiences that he had with his dogs were amazing but they only lasted a short while. This book has accomplished to show me that dogs are really special and that you should show them a lot of respect.

The genre of this book is non-fiction and the setting is basically all of the place because he moves around the country a lot. The action also takes place everywhere too because he lives with all of his dogs in all different places. I think the author does a great job of making me feel like I am in the book and there with the dogs. He makes me feel this way because he describes what is going on so well. Gray Paulsen does a tremendous job of describing his feelings and describing the different dogs that he has had over time.

This book has a lot of strengths and that's the reason I like it so much. I like that the authors writing style is very descriptive and that is what makes me feel like i'm in the book with him. One other thing that I like about this book is that it is so well put together. It is such a cool collection of memoirs and was great to read. One weakness of this book is I think Gary should add more background before he starts a new memoir.I think this because in some of his stories he jumps in too fast and you cannot really understand what is going on.

I would recommend this book because I really enjoyed this book and it never gets old because a new story is introduced every chapter. I would recommend this book to animal lovers because well.... its all about dogs! I think animal lovers would love this book because I think they would enjoy reading about dogs.