Book Review: Pack of Two by Caroline Knapp

I just finished a most intriguing book by Caroline Knapp. Not intriguing because it brings new research to the table or doles out spellbinding facts by the fistful. No, what drew me into this book was its honesty.

Knapp outlines her broken life, strewn with alcoholism, bad relationships, and feelings of childhood inadequacy that crept into adulthood. She makes you privy to her personal neuroses (I say that not as a psychology expert but in the sense that we all have our issues in life), which is a gutsy thing to do, but she does it with such forthrightness and grace that you can’t help but feel like you’re hearing the heart and confession of an old friend.

One message that threads its way through this entire book is that our relationships with our dogs are something we should feel free to celebrate, not something that should label us as emotionally crippled or otherwise askew.  As Knapp once told a skeptical friend, “People have very powerful relationships with their dogs, and that doesn’t mean they’re crazy, or that they’re substituting dogs for humans, or that they’re somehow incapable of forming intimate attachments with people. It’s a different kind of relationship but it’s no less authentic.”

To illustrate this point, Knapp shares how her life changes when she decides to address her alcoholism, becomes sober and adopts Lucille, a shepherd mix, into her life. This has ramifications on everything from her sense of self-worth and responsibility to the relationship with her boyfriend. As she works through the implications of dog ownership, she is a keen observer of greater truths to be seen. These truths include the way in which dogs can unlock our hidden emotions, the physical and emotional benefits of owning a dog, and the various roles we have asked them to play in our lives. She says:

"Dog as symbol, dog as mirror, dog as barometer of human affairs. We tend to think of dogs as sweet and easy adjuncts to family life, simple beings with simple roles: the dog doles out affection to the nuclear unit, the dog offers the kids companionship and lessons in responsibility, the dog protects the family home. Dogs can—and often do—perform all those functions, but they often execute other tasks as well, reflecting—and sometimes participating in—much more complicated aspects of family life."

Has it always been that way? No. Knapp points out how the roles of our dogs have changed over the years. Each generation has taken the family dog and moved it closer and closer to an intimate part of family life. Think about it. In former generations, dogs were often seen more as utilitarian beings who helped out on the farm or served a specific purpose. Then they became pets that roamed our neighborhoods and ran with our kids on their bicycles through the neighborhood. And then we brought them indoors and they became members of the family.

Why did that happen? Is that a statement on our culture? Granted, even with the advent of smart phones and Facebook and all kinds of social media, society still has an epidemic of loneliness stemming from the lack of authentic relationships. We’re more scattered geographically than ever before. There are many more demands on our time and resources than our parents had. What’s a person to do? Enter…..the dog. This is when a dog often becomes a stabilizing factor, a constant companion…man’s best friend.

Doesn’t this support the argument that we’re moving towards a relationship with our dogs and away from people? Absolutely not. Again, from the author:

"Dogs are excellent social lubricants, and they tend to attract relatively social people. Psychologists at the University of Oklahoma have found that people with affectionate attitudes toward their dogs have a proportionately affectionate attitudes toward people; British researchers have reported that people who interact frequently with their dogs have a higher desire for affiliation with other people than non-dog owners; A California study reported that elderly pet owners were more self-sufficient, dependable, helpful, optimistic, and socially confident than non-pet owners."

So chalk one up for the dogs and dog owners! Best friends, constant companions, guardians, or however you want to look at them, our dogs take an important role in our lives. There’s no one right way to live life. One may live a solitary life by themselves or with a pet. Another might choose a large family and an extensive network of friends. Both might be perfectly happy where they are. For me, I’m happier with a canine friend in my life.

Pack of Two is one woman’s story. I found that Caroline Knapp said many things that resonated with me on a personal level, while other things rang true on more of an intellectual level. Regardless of your bent towards dogs and the role one may play in your life, A Pack of Two is a fairly quick read that brings good food for thought to the table. Its fresh approach that likens it to a personal essay makes it feel like a commentary by a close, earnest friend.