On a recent trip to the Netherlands, I read a sweet little Dutch novel written by my cousin, Bertien de Moor. It’s the story of Fuut Mons, recently widowed, who walks his dog Flip and meets other dog walkers in the woods. They talk and the dogs play (or fight). These humorous vignettes show how the dog gets Fuut out of the house on a regular basis and how this speeds his recovery from sadness and loss, through interactions with others.
The author captures well the therapeutic health benefits of dog walking – not only the physical exercise, but the emotional outlet of being able to interact and connect with others who are also out on the trail. Though discussions may begin with the weather or the age of the dogs, walkers often share a common bond and it is not unusual for strangers to open up and spontaneously (and candidly) share personal triumphs or woes while the dogs run and frolic. Sort of letting off steam while letting out the hound!
The stories about the people Fuut meets, are funny and heart warming, indeed a bit of fresh air. The book is written in Dutch, so if that is not your language of choice, stay tuned. I plan to translate this little gem into English.
Joanne's Reading Blog 
Very appropriate since we are in Holland where a cousin and his wife visited us yesterday with their newly acquired dog. They talked about the benefits of having a dog. Gets them out and talking to others. Will recommend the book to them.
How fun is that! I imagine any bookstore in Holland can order it in.
You’re so ambitious! I can’t wait to read it in English; my Dutch isn’t good enough to understand a clever novel.
Weet jij dat zeker? 🙂
That would be very nice. I’ve read the book and enjoyed it very much
That’s super! Thanks for letting me know. I’ll pass it on to Bertien.