Life with Forty Dogs

“I could not put [Life with Forty Dogs] down and finished it in less than a day, even with going into work! As someone who rescues huskies in the lower 48 (California, to be exact), the topic of sled dogs is near and dear to my heart. Thank you for thoughtful stories - some of which were laugh-out-loud funny, others brought tears to my eyes. A great read for anyone who loves dogs, especially rescue dogs.” – Jane Cordingley,
“Honest dog stories told with lots of heart, guaranteed to win yours over from the start as it did mine! Robertia tells the truth about dog mushing and points the way towards making the sport humane and less about speed and money. He models how to put humanity and compassion at the forefront, not only for the sake and love of all dogs but to ultimately make us better people.”– Andrea Thalasinos, author of Fly By Night, Traveling Light, An Echo Through the Snow
“Here’s an invitation to understand the essence of life with 40 dogs, and appreciate what author Joseph Robertia sees daily — but never takes for granted. In words and photos, he shares the qualities that define the unique character and personality of every animal. Not everyone can sacrifice their spare time, salary and sanity to get to know so many characters ― from well-mannered to wily ― but LIFE WITH FORTY DOGS describes the endless adventures and misadventures that such a life invites. Robertia and his family have made a life-changing canine commitment — one they don’t regret.” – Alaska Dispatch News
“When he’s not writing for the Alaska Dispatch News, Robertia can often be found with and his wife, Cole, and their mushing dogs, training for or participating in Alaska’s many competitions, which often cover hundreds of miles in temperatures below -40°F. Here, he shares his experience in integrating, training, and living with so many high-energy canines in this delightful ode to mushing and all it entails. Alongside profiles of his dogs (such as Tatika, a German shepherd who once ate an entire Thanksgiving turkey), Robertia recounts tales of rescuing horse carcasses for feed, getting lost in subzero temperatures in the Alaska wilderness, and encountering less-than-reputable breeders and mushers. Tales of nursing sick or injured rescues back to health, integrating them into the pack, and enduring the emotionally painful death of one of his dogs are sure to resonate with dog-lovers, as is Robertia’s wry, occasionally caustic wit. This is more than just another valentine to canines: it’s an insightful and occasionally heartrending account of life with a team of working dogs. It’s sure to resonate with Alaskans as well as those in the lower 48. B&w photos.” –Publisher’s Weekly

Winner 2017 Dog Writer’s Association of America Best Book: Rescue or Adoption

Winner 2017 Dogwise Best Book Award

For the past fourteen years Joseph Robertia has been an award-winning writer and photographer. He spent more than a decade as an outdoors reporter at the Peninsula Clarion newspaper and currently writes for the Sports & Outdoors section of the Alaska Dispatch News—the state’s largest newspaper. In recent years he has freelanced as a professional journalist with articles and photographs published in Alaska Magazine, Mushing Magazine, Salmon Trout Steelheader, and in Alaska 50: Celebrating Alaska’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood, just to name a few. Along with his wife, he has mushed dogs with his kennel fielding teams in the 1,000-mile lditarod, Yukon Quest, and more than thirty other races.

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