Jewish Dog
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How to Raise a Jewish Dog
Saturday, 10 May 2008
Book Review by Miss Kotevet
The Rabbis of the Boca Raton Theological Seminaryas told to Ellis Weiner and Barbara Davilman
This book made me laugh out loud.
This book was so tedious that I simply skipped pages at a time.
And that is the conundrum of the book, and the relationship that it envisages between you and your dog. Sometimes all goes well and it is a delight. Sometimes, it is a plain hard slog with much dissatisfaction on both sides.
Let us be clear – this is not a serious dog training book! It is, without a doubt, highly satirical. And yet, the book is infused with a genuine recognition of the importance of achieving a loving and trusting bond between owner and dog.
As far as the Jewish content goes, it draws heavily upon the stereotypical, neurotic Jewish persona, so beloved by Woody Allen, Jerry Seinfeld and their ilk. I am unsure how readers who are unfamiliar with this stereotype will react to the book; if they will “get it”.
Much of the “training” method involves replicating the passive aggressive interactions that supposedly characterise the neurotic, upper middle class, American Jewish family.
A large chunk of the book is devoted to detailed explications of this and its application to the upbringing of a Jewish dog. I am not sure how much the average reader will be interested in this – I certainly wasn’t!
Even the setting – the Florida town of Boca Raton – has many cultural assumptions built into in. I happen to have relatives who live there so I can kind-of get the jokes. Boca Raton is filled with many New York Jews who have fled south to the sun - think of Jerry Seinfeld’s parents in the show.
And yet, some stuff is universal. After all, the idea of turning mundane herding dogs (such as mine) into dogs that no longer simply herd sheep but direct them in a Broadway musical must be attractive to all owners of overactive working dogs!
And the suggested breeding programs are also a hoot! Wouldn’t you want one of these:a cross between a soft-coated wheaten terrier, silky terrier, Kerry blue terrier, Welsh (cardigan) corgi, produces a soft ‘n silky blue cardigan whose advantages – when raised Jewish – include respect for clothes, looks good as an accessory when you dress up.
There are many, many more such cross breed suggestions – the rabbis obviously had too much time on their hands! But it does bring on a chuckle, if not an outright belly laugh!
So if you are looking for a fun diversion, this book and its methods could be just the thing.