Throw the Damn Ball: Classic Poetry by Dogs Hardcover – Box set, October 29, 2013

Not only is this collection of poems hilarious, but the poems are so well done and beautifully written. A great gift for yourself or another dog lover in your life.

I'd originally bought this for a dog lover friend, but ended up ordering a second one to keep. This 6" square hardback book is filled with quirky poems written from a dog's viewpoint along with an appropriate photo of an adorably wonderful pooch.With the well-over 100 poems included, there are bound to be a few duds--and there are a handful. But most of them had me smiling, especially when coupled with the photo and name of the featured dog. There are a few selections that are sweet and touching, although the majority of them tend to focus on things that dogs find tantalizing -- treats, balls (both the toy version and licking the ones attached to themselves), dog poo, and horny dogs. So if you were considering gifting this to your sweet elderly poodle-loving aunt who swoons when faced with profanity or crudeness, you may want to give this a pass or select another recipient.The poem that shares the name of this book is a favorite, as are ones called "Licking my Balls on a Snowy Evening" and "The Mighty Mound," an ode to dog poo. Here are a couple of other favorites of mine (they're devoid of naughty language so Amazon will let me post them):KEEPSAKE'S END by Rufus"Your mother’s mother’s afghan, a treasure from the past,Each stitch a loving message to future family cast.Until just now the scent was faint, of sandalwood and rose,But my incontinence brought its fragrant journey to a close."OH BEAUTIFUL ABSORBENT LAND by Archie"Oh beautiful absorbent land,Too vast to find itself defiledBy any single dog or child!So spacious it’s as if you plannedThat every mountain, plain, and river,Every sacred rock and stumpBeseeched my very bowels to quiver!On you I proudly take a dump."Despite a Springer Spaniel named Rory's claims that he has a "pome" in him, I'm somewhat confident that these poems were actually penned by a collaboration of human writers since dogs often have trouble with rhyming verse.

I've lived with dogs for 30 years on my own and longer when I lived at home. I love them. I started collecting children's picture books 50 years ago and have added dog books to that as there is a crossover. Lovely children's stories with illustrated drawings and paintings of dogs and then dog books with photographs. Vintage photographs. Current photographs. Non-fiction. The dog books just started growing in my collection. Poetry included. I have several books of dog poetry both about dogs and purported to be written by dogs. (Also letters to Santa Paws and a dog "Dear Abby-paws" book. I bought this book mostly because of the title. That poem is entertaining as are the rest of the poems in this book. As a long time dog companion I think these poems reflect the essence of dogs. How they behave and what they are thinking. Humorous with sometimes a underlying sadness. Just a delightful book.

I bought this as a lark with the intention of just leaving it on the coffee table. Well, that is where it lives but it has been fun. I am owned by an English Springer Spaniel. He belongs to my Girlfriend but he decided that I belong to him... Each evening after dinner I read on or two of these poems to my buddy, much like you might to a small boy. He loves it, and I enjoy the poems as well. They are written as though written by dogs...

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my husband, who loves poetry. Everyone in the family loved it, and I ordered 2 more! It’s funny because it’s written in the dog’s voice..

I saw this book at a friend's house, and enjoyed maybe a third of the poems. Some rise to the truly great level. I thought at first of giving it to a pre-teen dog lover, but the entries get a little raunchy in places. "When you say no", though, the first entry, is worth the price of the whole book. I bought two, one for myself and one as a gift.

I don't know if it's just the dirty minds in my family or what, but there is some serious double entendre in a couple of these poems. I bought it for my 14 year old son for his birthday and he started reading some of them out loud after he opened it and we ended up rolling on the floor laughing. But I wouldn't have bought it for him had I known.... Maybe I missed something in the description? They're not all like that though. But be forewarned. It will probably go right over younger kids' heads, but if there are adults in the room or teenagers, forget about it.

My fifteen crisp new copies arrived yesterday from Amazon. I will be giving these as Christmas gifts to dog-lover friends and family, to poetry lover friends and to friends who love a chuckle and a guffaw. The authors have written some hilarious verses, and the dogs featured are beyond adorable. My favorite canines are Banjo, Barky, Nancy, Fura and Amee--dogs I happen to know through the grapevine of life. The poetry attributed to them fits perfectly--almost as if the authors were taking dictation directly from their doggie-thoughts. Additionally, the book is a beautiful example of graphic design, tastefully elegant, with a clever edge of irony. These dogs ain't such dogs as they think they are! They have been immortalized in image and in poetry.

Great book for doglovers

Good gift for the dog lover