Humorist Will Rogers once said, "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went" (source). We bet Gary Paulsen would agree. My Life in Dog Years is a tribute to the beauty and wonder of dogs.
Paulsen often sounds awe-struck as he describes the lives and accomplishments of his dog pals. (Reading along, it'd be hard not to admire these extraordinary animals.) There are many points in the book where Paulsen compares dogs favorably to humans, especially himself. Where he's bumbling and unskilled, his dogs are graceful, efficient experts.
There's no doubt Paulsen's admiration for dogs is heartfelt and true. Still, when he talks about how his dogs are smarter than some people he knows, we have to wonder: are the dogs really that smart? Or is it possible he doesn't give people enough credit?
Hint: Paulsen told a reporter from the New York Times that he doesn't like people much. "I don't have anything against individuals," he said. "But the species is a mess" (source).
Questions About Admiration
- Which dog do you think Paulsen admires most?
- Which dog do you admire most? Why?
- In Paulsen's eyes, what makes dogs so admirable?
Chew on This
The author admires dogs more than humans.
The author might overlook his dogs' less admirable qualities, like chewing the house to pieces, because they're dogs. He probably expects more of people, and therefore is less forgiving.