View source for Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram

{{infobox1
|title=Conversations with Kammie
|author=Annie Ingram
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Pets
|summary=A delightful look at the conversations Annie Ingram has with her dog, Kammie.  What! You didn't know that dogs could talk? Of course they can!  Annie Ingram popped into Bookbag Towers to [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Annie Ingram|chat to us]].
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=64
|publisher=Brown Dog Books
|date=August 2017
|isbn=978-1785451997
|cover=Ingram_Kammie
|aznuk=1785451995
|aznus=1785451995
}}

It was something of a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie.  You see, Annie knows something which has been self-evident to me for a long time: dogs are perfectly capable of communicating with humans and not just on a level of ''food!'', ''walk!'' or ''play!''.  You do require extensive training to become fluent, but most dogs will be perfectly willing to give their time to teach you and all you have to do is listen.  Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and the pair have allowed us to share some of their conversations.

Now I don't want want you to get the idea that Kammie is some sort of wonder dog who loves nothing better than to settle down in her basket with the latest edition of the ''TES''.  What she ''really'' loves is to play with a ball, and given that she is in charge of the house, she fails to see why life should not revolve around what she wants to do.  The fact that a ball might be filthy and absolutely nothing to do with Kammie does not mean that she's going to do anything other than take it home with her.  Not being allowed to do so brings a threat that Annie is going to be reported to whichever charity is in charge of caring for abandoned balls.  ''And'' if there isn't such a charity, she's going to start one!  She's just so ''caring'', you know.

Kammie's obsessed by ''Fetch'' and she'll bring virtually anything in the expectation that it will be thrown for her to retrieve.  Annie thought it might have gone too far when Kammie brought her a small tree...  She's not so fond of cats though and has failed to understand that a wagging tail does ''not'' mean that the cat wants to play.  Kammie went to Cat lessons at puppy school, but well, er, she fell asleep!

It's a delightful book and it would make a lovely present for someone who loves dogs. (Get a couple so that you can keep one for yourself.)  On the surface it might look like gentle humour, but it hides a deeper truth: happy dogs are ones who are understood by their owners rather than ruled by them.  If you are in tune with how your dog is feeling you are more likely to be able to spot when something is wrong in good time to be able to do something about it.

I'd like to thank Kammie for allowing the publisher to send a copy of the book to the Bookbag.

For a few words from a dog on training a human we can recommend [[The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell]].  For a child's view of history, try [[The Complete and Utter History of the World According to Samuel Stewart Aged 9 by Sarah Burton]].

You can read more about Annie Ingram [[:Category:Annie Ingram|here]]

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[[Category:Humour]]