The Boy Who Talked to Dogs: A Memoir

About this book

When Martin McKenna was growing up in Garryowen Ireland in the 1970s he felt the whole world knew him as just that stupid boy. Badly misunderstood by his family and teachers Martin escaped from endless bullying by running away from home and eventually adoptingor being adopted bysix street dogs. Camping out in barns escaping from farmers and learning to fend for himself by caring for his new friends Martin discovered a different kind of language strict laws of behavior and strange customs that defined the world of dogs. More importantly his canine companions helped him understand the vital importance of family courage and self-respectand that he wasnt stupid after all. Their lessons helped Martin make a name for himself as the Dog Man in Australia where he now lives and dispenses his hard-earned wisdom to dog owners who are sometimes baffled by what their four-legged friends are trying to tell them. An emotional and poignant story seasoned with plenty of Frank McCourtstyle humor The Boy Who Talked to Dogs is an inspiration to anyone whos ever been told he or she wont amount to anything. Its also a unique fascinating look into canine behavior. In these pages Martin shows how modern life has conditioned dogs to act around humans in some ways helpful but in other ways unnatural to their true instincts and how he has benefited enormously from learning to talk dog.