Jax used to live a cushy life inside a house with fuzzy blankets and a comfy chair. Suddenly his person can no longer care for him, and he finds himself living in a stranger's backyard and missing his best human friend. He misses his warm bed, squeaky ball, and bowls with his name on them. Most of all, though, he misses his person's gentle scratches under his chin and the way he said, "Good boy, Jax." Will the kind animal control officer succeed in helping Jax get out of the doghouse and into the warm home of his new family? Find out in Out of the Dog House, perfect for ages 8 and up. Out of the Dog House is great for classroom and humane education efforts, too, and includes educational information and questions to provoke classroom discussion.

In 1963, Dick Portillo built a 6' x 12' trailer with no running water or bathroom and opened a simple hot dog stand in Villa Park, Illinois. He called it "The Dog House." More than 50 years and 50 locations later, his namesake Portillo's restaurants are a Windy City institution, famous for perfect, Chicago-style dogs. In Out of the Dog House, Portillo tells the incredible story of his life, sharing the ingenuity and hard-earned wisdom that went into building a beloved restaurant chain. From a modest childhood as the son of Greek and Mexican immigrants, to the core principles that became essential in growing a national business, this is a singular, at times surprising, tale of how one man crafted his own American dream, one hot dog at a time.

People who love dogs will find adventure, humor, and pathos in this family story. If every man needs one good woman and one good dog in his lifetime, Dad found both. Although the woman and their children appear throughout this book, the story focuses on the dog and her man. Julie was an undersized Llewellin English setter, amiable of disposition, and freckled of face. Dad, an avid outdoorsman, doted on her shamelessly for seventeen years. They roamed the great outdoors, sharing adventures with game birds, varmints, white-water rivers, and hang-gliders. So inseparable were they, Mama once remarked, "If that dog could cook and make love, I''d be out of a job!" Julie would never have won a field trial, but she became a serious bird dog, hunting bobwhites and ruffed grouse in the Appalachians. Later, the game was valley and mountain quail in California. She learned not to chase rabbits and deer, but Dad was powerless over her ground-hog addiction. Upon encountering a woodchuck, her eyes would glow with the joy of combat, and she would attack with colors flying. In the field, it was all business, but the professional training fraternity would curl its collective lip to see Dad coddle his dogs around the house. With her second litter, Julie produced a handsome co-character, Pretty Boy. Julie perfected a guilt-inducing stare that paid off in shares of whatever snack was being consumed. She endeared herself to all with her dance of joy when an outing appeared imminent. Disapproval was expressed by a disdainful sneer. In her old age, arthritis overwhelmed her. Dad tirelessly medicated and massaged her, but finally had to accept t

It's a joke that's been around for years. If a man does something wrong, he's "in the dog house." But how to get out of the dog house is another problem altogether. Not anymore. Filled with good-natured humor and a lot of old-fashioned fun, "American Dog House" discloses the reasons and actions that landed you in the dog house in the first place and reveals exactly how to keep yourself out in the future. By reading "American Dog House," you'll learn some time-tested principles necessary to navigate your relationships. But you'll also discover some great marriage advice from a dog house veteran. For example, the following pointers could save your marriage: Listen to your wife. Stop complaining about the past. Recognize the value of interdependence. Sound easy? It's not, but it's well worth the effort. After all, flowers, candy and the occasional evening out can't fix everything! With this handy treasure trove of advice, you can avoid that smelly dog house (after all, when's the last time the dog had a bath?) and stay happy, healthy, and comfortable in your own bed!

THE STORY: On the surface, Michael and Eden are a solid pair with a bright future. When their beloved Rottweiler, Jock, grows unexpectedly violent—killing the neighbors’ toy poodle, and then taking a bite out of the neighbor—Michael and Eden must confront darker truths in their relationship that have been ignored for too long.