Review of Dogland: Passion, Glory, and Lots of Slobber at the Westminster Dog Show by Tommy Tomlinson

Dogland explores what makes a show dog "best" and what happens behind the scenes of dog shows in this intriguing, good-natured, and heartwarming look at one promising champion and his caring handler as they strive to win Westminster Dog Show.

Tommy Tomlinson's playful, intriguing nonfiction Dogland takes an engaging look at dogs--particularly show dogs, but also beloved pets as well as humans' connections to these onetime wild beasts.

Reporter and SouthBound podcast host Tomlinson found himself watching the Westminster Dog Show and wondering, Are show dogs happy? What's life like for a dog whose life is all about grooming, standing still, and moving in an orderly fashion around a ring? And: How did these wild beasts end up here, anyway?

In a fascinating, heartwarming, lovely account, Tomlinson spends three years traveling dog shows across the country, using backstage access to witness the hard work, discipline, obsession, and affection of "the Fancy." At times he good-naturedly highlights the absurdity of this world, at least for those looking in from the outside, and draws occasional correlations to the satiric comedy Best in Show--a movie that inspires mixed reactions from those in the competition scene.

Tomlinson explores what makes certain breeds unique and which features qualify a dog to represent as the "best" of the breed. But he focuses primarily on the path of one promising show dog, Striker, and his handler, Laura King, as they travel from show to show. He tracks the rhythm of their lives as they head toward a potential victory at the biggest show of them all: Westminster, and then to their inevitable goodbye as Striker retires and heads home to his owners after years of bonding with Laura.

Dogland is often fun, intriguing in its peeks behind the scenes, and heartwarming in the deep dog-human connections that Tomlinson highlights.

More about Tommy Tomlinson

Tommy Tomlinson was a reporter for the Charlotte Observer for over two decades and is the author of a memoir, The Elephant in the Room, which addresses being overweight in America.