David’s Dogs

Paula Xiberras

David Darcy has been to Tassie at least a couple of times, most recently doing a story on Tassie’s axe man and celebrity dog owner David Foster to be featured in the former David’s photographic book ‘Every Man & His Dog’.

David says Tassie is perfect for his work as a writer/photographer with it’s backpackers and tourist towns.

When I ask David why the book narrows it’s focus to be called men and do’ Every man and his Dog’ he agrees that both men and women have strong feelings for dogs but with men there is a mask to the depth of that relationship, with the men wishing to adopt a macho expectation as evidenced by their clowning around in pubs and saying ‘its just a dog’ when we know from the stories in this book the dog is much much more.

One of the reasons men seemingly get along so well with dogs is that dogs, and indeed all animals, adopt a non judgemental attitude and love unconditionally, its no wonder without all the human baggage we attach to relationships that the love between dog and man, or dog and woman is so refreshing free from the friction that can be evidenced in human relationships.

David discovered some interesting anthropological information in his compiling of this book. . His book looks at a cross section of poor to rich dog owners and found that the same attitude to dogs was expressed by both the poor and the millionaire. David gives the example of a multi millionaire who allowed his dogs free reign to jump all over the furniture of his expensive house.

Even men as tough as nails like Victorian Man from Snowy River stuntman, Gerald Egan,showed his emotional side when his love for his animals, dog and horse was so strong he decided to keep them with him via taxidermy.

This book has appeal to both men and women by illuminating the softer side of the male and perhaps proving that when it comes to dogs everyone is an ‘Everyman’.
‘Every Man & His Dog’ is out now, published by Murdoch Books.