Garden & Gun magazine's 'Good Dog' essay collection 'pulls at heartstrings'
Some people are dog people. Arguably, these are the best kind of people. At least that's the opinion of David DiBenedetto, editor-in-chief of Garden & Gun magazine, and the majority of his readers.
Since its inception in 2007, G&G's "Good Dog" column -- reader-submitted essays about man's best friend -- has been the most popular feature in the Southern lifestyle publication.
DiBenedetto and his editors have recently compiled 51 of the best stories into book form. "Good Dog: True Stories of Love, Loss and Loyalty" tells the tales of the troublemakers, the escape artists, the best friends and the bird dogs that are as maddening as they are lovable.
DiBenedetto also asked notable Southern writers to contribute new material, such as Rick Bragg's story about growing up with coon dogs in the mountains, Allison Glock's story about her crazy rescue pup, Sadie the White Devil, and Guy Martin's story about moving his forest-loving gun dog to New York City.
As Martin puts it, "It's simultaneously never the right time for a new dog, no matter what, and always the right time for a new dog, no matter what."
The stories are popular because they are real and relatable, DiBenedetto said. "And it also pulls at the heartstrings. A lot are about dogs that are no longer with us, so it's a sad story that ends with a death of a dog, but at the same time very powerful."
DiBenedetto will sign copies of "Good Dog" books at G&G's Jubilee weekend, which starts Dec. 5 and ends Dec. 7. The Jubilee is the largest event the magazine hosts and will feature Southern chefs, makers, musicians, designers and sportsmen as well as an oyster roast and a quail hunt.
Many of the events have sold out, but Friday and Sunday Jubilee passes are still available.
Mike Stewart, the owner of Wildrose Kennels in Oxford, Miss., which raises and trains Labrador retrievers, will be on hand to conduct dog demos and training sessions each day.
"Mike is an unbelievable trainer," DiBenedetto said. "You can bring your own dog, and Mike will run him through the paces."
Certainly no dog can be trained in one day, he added, but even a little extra training can help turn a bad dog into a good one.
Follow reporter Erin Shaw at twitter.com/IPBG_ErinShaw.
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This story was originally published December 3, 2014 at 6:50 PM with the headline "Garden & Gun magazine's 'Good Dog' essay collection 'pulls at heartstrings'."