Dog Reveals All in New Memoir…Interview with Bo Hoefinger

Hoefinger is the canine author of this season's smash hit, Bad to the Bone: memoir of a rebel doggie blogger. The book is a Dogtime 2009 holiday gift pick.

Most dogs spend their days digging up flower patches and chewing on shoes. What inspired you to write a book?

I used to chew too, but when my dentures fell into my mother's Keds, I decided on a new hobby.

What better way to pass the time than to write a book. So I wrote Bad to the Bone: Memoirs of a Rebel Doggie Blogger as a tribute to the great life I have with my parents. I started it when I was fourteen and getting into what my folks call 'bonus' time. I wanted to make sure that my memory would be well preserved.

Fortunately the material I had to choose from was so rich, what with my mother being the real life version of the main character from 'I Love Lucy' and me being a bad boy 'Marley'. The stories came fast and furious as I pounded on the keyboard to get them all down.

After I finished, I printed the tales out with an online service, in book form, and gave it to my mother for Christmas. She loved it! I got to eat a whole ham practically by myself! Who knew?

My parents took the book and carried it to the next step, ultimately getting it published in a traditional way. It's the first memoir pawed by a dog ever to be published in non-fiction.

Aside from physically typing, what's the biggest challenge facing canine writers?

Carpal paw syndrome.

The next biggest challenge is getting the world to read the nuggets of wisdom emanating from our rock hard craniums. It took me forever to build a following at BoKnowsOnline.com where I spout off on the latest wacky animal story. But it's this type of platform that helped get me an agent, and then a publisher.

It isn't easy being a writer in a fur suit. Luckily I have a lot of pup pals who have been spreading the word about Bad To The Bone and that has really helped.

Bad to the Bone is a memoir--how did your humans feel about you spilling the family secrets?

It wasn't authorized by them for a reason, although my father really had nothing to worry about since he came out smelling like a rose. My mother, on the other paw, wasn't nearly so fortunate.

But whose fault is that? It was her actions that caused for some of these stories to be committed to paper, was it not?

There is only one chapter where I may have, just a teeny weeny bit, gone over the line. If you've read the book, it's the chapter that smells a little funny, and one she was NOT very happy to read. But hey, a dog and his editor are bound to do some sneaky things.

Besides, all readers want an honest accounting of what transpired, regardless of how foolish your mother happens to look.

Some people say dogs don't understand humor, but your book is full of laughs. How do you explain that?

Do these people think we hump legs for our enjoyment? That we peel out after we poop to cover our mess? Or that we fart in the living room with guests over because we like the smell?

No my friends. It's because we know comedy gold when we smell it.

Don't believe me? Then just pull my paw. I dare you.

You call yourself a rebel. Why?

Let's be honest, I'm James Dean in a fur suit, the only difference is that I have a cause.

Mine is to separate the human from the cured meat in his/her hands, to eat it and eventually to leave it on his lawn to clean up.

All dogs have goals. Some have better outcomes than others.

What's the one thing you think all dogs would want their humans to know?

Thank you for saving me, but don't stop there, go out and get me a brother or sister (there are so many rescues that need a home). The book is dedicated to all the rescue and shelter workers who make this world a better place one animal at a time. They are our unsung heroes. A portion of the book proceeds is being donated to various rescues to help other homeless dogs.

Oh, and leave the toilet seat up.

Is there a sequel in the works?

Not until my father fixes my Commodore 64 computer.