Wag Reflex

My Pet: Lenore the Labrador Retriever

Jon Katz is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books and a guest contributor to Wag Reflex. Order Jon's newest book, Izzy & Lenore, Two Dogs, An Unexpected Journey, and Me, available now.

Introduction: Lenore is a young Labrador Retriever, and she is all Lab, which is to say all love and food. She  is on the cover of my new book, "Izzy & Lenore, Two Dogs, An Unexpected Journey, and Me." She loves all people and every creature, and has worked hard to charm all of the animals on the farm. I call her the Hound of Love, the Love Dog, and the Light.

Home: Salem, N.Y.

Age: One Year

Breed: Labrador Retriever

Personality: Love, love, love, and eat, eat, eat.

Likes: Love, food.

Dislikes: The absence of love, food.

Favorite Toy: Frisbee

Trivia: Once ate an entire turkey carcass. You can see more Lenore on www.bedlamfarm.com.

--Jon Katz, Bedlam Farm

My Pet: Izzy the Soul Dog

Jon Katz is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books and a guest contributor to Wag Reflex. Order Jon's newest book, Izzy & Lenore, Two Dogs, An Unexpected Journey, and Me, available now.

Introduction: Meet Izzy the Soul Dog, a six-year-old rescue taken off a farm, where he lives mostly by himself and outside for five years until I got him and we decided to partner up. I was hoping to find some work to do with my dogs involving people. Izzy has made that come true - he has led me to hospice work, and my next book, "Izzy & Lenore, Two Dogs, An Unexpected Journey, and Me." Izzy was a wild animal when I got him, and he is not one of the world's gentlest and most intuitive of creatures.

Home: Salem, N.Y.

Age: Six years.

Breed: Border collie

Personality: Bright, sweet, loving, calm. Izzy can and does go everywhere with me, including to the doctor's office, where he hops up on the examining table and waits. As long as he is with me, he is happy everywhere. You can see photos of Izzy on www.bedlamfarm.com.

Likes: People, attention, hospice work, some sheepherding, women.

Dislikes: Most other dogs. He avoids them.

Favorite Toy: Slingshot ball

Trivia: He escaped from the farm once, and there are some little Izzy's running around.

--Jon Katz, Bedlam Farm

My Pet: Rose the Workaholic Border Collie

Jon Katz is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books and a guest contributor to Wag Reflex. Order Jon's newest book, Izzy & Lenore, Two Dogs, An Unexpected Journey, and Me, available now.

Introduction: Meet Rose, a six-year-old workaholic border collie who lives on my farm, Bedlam Farm, in upstate New York and helps me live my life. I wrote about Rose in my books and on my blog, http://blog.bedlamfarm.com/, doesn't care to be petted or cuddled. She lives to work. She herds sheep, rounds up runaway donkeys, makes goats behave, covers my back. I cannot imagine life on this farm without this ferociously work-obsessed creature. I imagine that late at night, she puts on her spectacles and chairs a meeting of the dogs and goes over the day's activities. She cannot be distracted or  deterred, and she never ever lets me down. Rose is in the glorious tradition of dogs in service to people, something dating back many thousands of years.

Home: Salem, NY

Breed: Border Collie

Personality: Determined, focused, a bit humorless, vulnerable. Crazy sometimes, as when she tries to herd big snow plow trucks. Loyal, and absolutely dependable.

Age: Six years.

Likes: Work, especially going out to get the sheep.

Dislikes: People who say "awwww, cute puppy," and anything that takes her away from work.

Favorite Food: Doesn't eat much.

Trivia: She was kicked once by one of my donkeys and every day she rushes into the pasture and nips the donkey in the butt.

--Jon Katz, Bedlam Farm