When I read the news about the recent publication of Tommy Tomlinson’s Dogland: Passion, Glory, and Lots of Slobber at the Westminster Dog Show, I immediately took notice. I have been a fan of Tommy’s writing since his days at The Charlotte Observer. From 1997 to 2012, Tommy wrote a column that appeared in the paper three times a week. In 2005, he was named a Pulitzer Prize Finalist “for his provocative columns with a wide-ranging human touch.” Tommy’s ability to bring the “human touch” to the topics he writes about is very much in evidence in Dogland.
Ostensibly, Dogland is a behind-the-scenes account of the Westminster Dog Show and all the events leading up to this show, but it is also a thoughtful reflection of the special bond between humans and dogs. For much of the book, Tommy explores the relationships between show dogs and their handlers. However, he also writes about his relationship with a dog that he rescued named Fred. In my opinion, Tommy’s account of Fred’s final days is the most moving passage in the book.
In addition to writing about the world of show dogs, Tommy delves into the history of how humans and dogs first got together about 30,000 years ago. He argues that this bond between humans and dogs has had a transformative impact on both humans and dogs.
I reached out to Tommy and asked him for more information about how he came to write Dogland. Here is what he sent to me:
Years ago, I was watching a dog show on TV and a question popped into my head: Are those dogs happy? That was the start of a three-year journey into what I came to call Dogland–the traveling carnival of dog shows that criss-crosses the country, culminating in the Westminster Dog Show, the most prestigious dog show in America.
I set out to learn not only about the dog-show world, but about the 30,000-year history of dogs and their people. That included a lot of research, a lot of interviews, and a lot of time at dog shows. One of those shows was in Concord, where I talked to a dog owner and handler named Michelle Parris about the loss of one of her favorite Italian greyhounds while the chaos of the show swirled around us–including a giant Newfoundland who really, really needed to take a poop.
I hope that when people read Dogland they’ll end up with a better understanding of why dog-show devotees love what they do … and how it is that dogs and people have formed such an intense bond over the years. We invented dogs, and in a very real sense, they invented us.
For readers who are interested in hearing Tommy talk about Dogland, Park Road Books is holding an in-person discussion and book signing at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Tommy will be in conversation with author Joe Posnanski. For more information about this event, please click on the following link: https://www.parkroadbooks.com/event/tommy-tomlinson-discusses-his-new-book-dogland-joe-posnanski
I congratulate Tommy on the publicationof Dogland. I highly recommend Tommy’s latest book to anyone in Storied Charlotte who has an interest in the special relationship between humans and dogs.