The Way of the Dog

The Way of the Dog from The Memoirs of Eros, the Metaphysical Dog by Eva Ann MacDonnell was an exceptional tale told through the eyes of the main character, Eros, a dog. Throughout the story, the reader is presented with little life lessons, which forces us to recognize many of the emotions that we experience in our lives—from happiness and joy to confusion, sadness, and grief. We are presented with Eros as a brand new puppy, as his mom begins to communicate telepathically with him and her other pups. She also uses a system of imprinting to help the puppies learn the “Dog’s Mantra.” I quite enjoyed reading the “Dog’s Mantra” because I found it applicable to my own life and perhaps a standard that we should all strive toward. Throughout the story, we see that Eros is a dog that is full of questions, so much so that it often exhausts his mother and, at one point, makes him feel almost like an outcast. But as he is determined not to change and to stay true to himself, he continues asking questions and keeps learning, not only from his mother, but also from the other animal characters on the farm—despite his mother’s opinion that they are unintelligent and inferior. Eros, through his explorations, learns about other beliefs, religions, and philosophies of life. Eventually, his mother accepts that Eros will challenge her, and she issues warnings and allows him to explore the world in his own way.

I think that Eros is a relatable character on many levels. Although some of us may not outright question as much as he does, most of us, deep down, do have the questions inside us. I think that one of the best lessons I took from this book is that there is no right or wrong. As Hercules the horse explains to Eros, his way and his mother’s way are not necessarily the right way. “You do it because your mother’s philosophy is all you know now, and at this point, it is all you want to know. But reality may have different plans for you that require a different philosophy, especially when you find inconsistencies in Skylark’s.” At the end of the day, it is ultimately up to each of us to find our own source of happiness because that is what will make others around us happy, too. Eva Ann MacDonnell has given us an exceptional book filled with an interesting take on our own journey through life. I would definitely recommend this book to others.