A thoughtful look at dog ownership in My Boy, Ben

David Wheaton (left) is best known for his successful tennis career. However, Wheaton is also an author with a touching book about a beloved dog, Ben.

My Boy, Ben was authored by David Wheaton of Golden Valley, who was an international tennis star. His family has owned a cabin on the North Shore of Lake Superior for many years. This is a great story about the love he and his family shared for his beloved dog Ben. The book also shares his and his family’s religious beliefs in a thoughtful way, which can be appreciated by anyone.

In an amusing manner, Wheaton will teach you the difference between the egalitarian and utilitarian dog owner. Which do you think you are? I feel our family is probably of the egalitarian style. That alone makes the book an interesting read.

He tells some of his trials in the world of tennis and training. While doing all of that, he decided he’d like to get a hunting dog of his own. His parents had dogs, which he and his brother enjoyed to the fullest when they were young.

 

His parents helped search for a special puppy. While on the tennis circuit, Wheaton spent time researching the selection, buying and training of a dog. Back home, he made the thousand-mile trip with his parents to make the choice, where they faced the daunting task of picking one of the litter’s darling, perfectly formed labrador retrievers.

After comments of “cute” and “adorable,” playing with, testing and watching, he chose a buff colored male. The breeder kept the puppy for eight weeks, until he could be separated from his mother. Wheaton’s parents then made the trek back to pick him up. Traveling for tennis, Wheaton couldn’t wait to see his puppy again, and, even though it had been two weeks since he’d interacted the puppy, it remembered him and, he was sure then that he’d made the right choice of a very special dog, who came to be known as Benjamin P. Bear, or just Ben.

The story tells of the joy, love and sadness of owning a great dog, along with some other surprises. If you’re a dog lover, it will be a great read for you.