Book Review: The Teachings of Shirelle: Life Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead By Douglas Green

Douglas Green’s book, “The Teachings of Shirelle: Life Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead” is the story of one man’s experiences with his pet, an exuberant mixed breed pup he named Shirelle. (A lifelong music fan, Green borrowed the name from 1960s singing group the Shirelles.) 

When Green first met Shirelle, the pup was confined to a shelter, next on the list to be put down. The shelter workers referred to her as “Knucklehead”, an outgoing Husky mix, who impressed her soon to be new owner by playfully biting the ear of the pup next to her! 

After some looking at pups at another shelter, Green knew this was the one, and he went back to claim her.  Shirelle was no shrinking violet or obedient Westminster dog show candidate, but she wasn’t out of control, either. A curious, friendly pup she didn’t just greet people by sniffing at them – she’d enthusiastically jump all over them. After a few mishaps, it was time for obedience class. Shirelle’s behavior gradually improved, but she was still a knucklehead – in a good way. Green writes about how Shirelle’s presence helped him through a career change, various relationships, and life’s general ups and downs. She was always there to entertain and comfort him, in her own quirky way, and he was always there for her.

Along the way Green dates a woman who doesn’t like dogs. (Shirelle stayed, and the woman is long gone.) He directs a play about a couple and their dog, with Shirelle making an appearance.

Sadly, Shirelle developed cancer, but Green pursued different treatments for her. The cancer went into remission, and she lived another few years.

“The last years of her life she worked with me,” says Green in a short phone interview, “She had a profound effect on clients” and “helped them go to a deeper place and access emotions.”

Green, a psychotherapist in West L.A., keeps Shirelle’s lessons alive through a Q and A feature on the website AskShirelle.com. Kids, teens and even parents write in to Shirelle and she answers their questions about life. The page has become quite popular, with upwards of 10,000 visitors a month. 

 “The Teachings of Shirelle: Life Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead” is a different kind of book about pets, since it looks at how a pet helps us through our daily lives, not just about how we can help them. It’s a heartwarming and engaging read for anyone who’s had a dog that’s inspired- and at times, exasperated them. 

Buy "The Teachings of Shirelle" at Amazon.com.

Doug Green will be appearing at the Cavalleria Press booth at the L.A. Times Festival of Books  on April 9^th and 10^th.