Lisa Hasler has one of my English Shepherd Puppies by Ringo and out of Gabby. She has written a delightful book about her life with her new pup. I loved this book. She captures the mind of this young English Shepherd and gives a voice to her thoughts. Amazingly insightful.
Here is a press release about the book
Bridget, The Adventures of an English Shepherd Puppy
Written by Lisa Hasler
This 260-page book is the story of the busy first year that Bridget, an English Shepherd puppy from Arkansas, spends with her new human on a little farm in New Hampshire. The book is chocked full of traveling, hiking, backcountry skiing, training, and socializing adventures. Some are suspenseful and some comical. Some are joyful and some frustrating. All serve to forge a solid bond and common language between Bridget and her human, Lisa. Bridget attends contra dances and business meetings, takes an agility class, earns a therapy dog certification, swims a channel in Lake Winnipesaukee, and enjoys a wonderful road trip to the Rockies. The book includes lots of photos.
Anyone who knows working farm dog breeds will relate to the challenges that Lisa and Bridget face on their little farm where chasing livestock is not allowed. The book offers insights into the question of how a high drive dog with an instinctive passion for herding can settle happily into a life of guarding chickens, hiking, watching vegetables grow, and hanging out in the office. Lisa must dig deeply into the genetic makeup of her pup. Rather than asking Bridget to deny her natural instincts, Lisa learns, from Bridget, how to capitalize on them.
Bridget comes into Lisa’s life to be a traveling and hiking companion. Those who take pleasure in long road trips and treks into the mountains will be reminded of their own adventures when they read descriptions of rest stops off of I80 and scenic trails in several mountain ranges. Those who’d rather read about backcountry travel from the comfort of their armchairs can journey vicariously down the road and up the trail.
The book offers seasonal snapshots of homesteading in a close-knit, rural community in central New Hampshire. Bridget offers her own version of condolences to the little dog next door whose human passes away. She learns not to chase chickens and helps find lost cattle as well as hidden eggs. Together, Bridget and Lisa deal with snowstorms, power outages and an endless list of farm chores, as well as lovely morning walks in the woods. Country and city dwellers alike can spend a few chapters imaging life on Bridget’s farm.
Bridget follows in the paw prints of Cora, Lisa’s previous dog, who summited all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4000-foot mountain peaks. Honoring the dogs of our past is always part of bonding with a new pup. With Bridget’s help, Lisa finally finds a suitable tribute to Cora’s memory in a mystical scene on a windy mountaintop.
The book can be purchased directly from the author for $14.00 plus postage. ($2.41 book rate, $4.05 priority mail.) Local readers can arrange for delivery to Concord or Laconia, NH in order to save on postage.
Lisa Hasler, 19 Buzzell Rd, Gilmanton, NH 03237, (603) 267-7227 lisahasler@prodigy.net