It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump

And Other Life Lessons I Learned from Dogs

By: John O'Hurley

Narrated by: John O'Hurley

Years before he played J. Peterman on Seinfeld, danced his way into the hearts of America as the first-ever champion of Dancing With the Stars, and hosted NBC's National Dog Show, award-winning actor, composer, and writer John O'Hurley was devoted to dogs. From the New England woods of his childhood to the manicured lawns of Los Angeles, he has never known life without the pleasure of a dog by his side.

Now, in It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump, a charming and hilarious book about the enduring wisdom of dogs, O'Hurley brings his love for dogs to listeners, exploring with his characteristic wit and warmth personal yet universal lessons learned from a life lived with canine companions.

Within these pages we meet the dogs of O'Hurley's life, both his and others', who have served as some of his most valuable and enlightened teachers: Taffy, O'Hurley's first dog, a dachshund who demonstrated that compassion is best expressed by listening; Betty, a sweet bearded dachshund/black Lab mix, who encourages us that not only will a safety net appear if we're brave enough to leap, but that every moment has the potential to change our lives; and Scoshi, a wizened Maltese and O'Hurley's loyal companion for 15 years, who reminds us to always bark the truth, to be grateful for every meal and every moment, to never fear a face-off, and to never miss a nap.

At once poignantly moving and laugh-out-loud funny, It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump is a must-read for dog lovers everywhere.

©2006 John O'Hurley (P)2006 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. All rights reserved

Dog Gone Insightful

Great listening. Makes you think. You see a life through the dogs you have in it. I have had my mother and best friend listen to it. It is worth it.

Shirley

held my attention but was boring in many areas. I am a dog lover but this is not the epic tale I was hoping for.

You'll wish it would keep going

If you're not afraid of looks and pointing as you laugh hysterically while driving, this is a book for you! For 3 straight days I arrived at work with the biggest smile on my face. There's something about those furry little faces and wet noses that turn professional people into babbling idiots.

I have always appreciated my dogs for the wonderful creatures they are but I wasn't prepared for the way this book would expand on those feelings. In a positive, feel good fashion, this book is an experience in life from our dogs perspective.... similar to the saying "Don't sweat the small stuff".

sweet

John O'Hurley shares his heart-felt views of lessons learned, many garnered from dogs. If you are a dog lover, or just enjoy thoughtful perspectives, this book is well recommended.

funny & touching

This is a great listen all around. John O'Hurley is quite a talented performer AND WRITER.

A dog lover's delight

What did you love best about It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump?

The story itself & the life lessons that are learned

Who was your favorite character and why?

John's two dogs. He was constantly amazed by the lessons he learned from and how they related to the dogs & his life.

What does John O'Hurley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He reads with a feeling that draws one in and not leave until the end of the story

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely and I did

Any additional comments?

n/a

A really good book!!!

Would you listen to It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump again? Why?

Absolutely! It was funny, moving and downright interesting!

Who was your favorite character and why?

John O'Hurley is more than Peterman. His delivery of his own words is perfection. You cannot help but laugh when the time is right. He can be serious at times and he pulls you right int

What does John O'Hurley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

There is nothing better than an author reading his own words. The inflections add to the emotions that the author is trying to portray.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book makes you laugh more than cry but it does have its moments. If you do not say "I can relate to that!" then you have never had a dog. A truly great book.

Any additional comments?

Every dog owner should read this book. Listening to John O'Hurley was pure joy!

Wonderful story and voice

Loved John Hurley and his story telling. We need more from him. The animal stories are the best to listen to at bedtime.

Extremely fun listen

The only con I can mention is that it wasn't longer! If you're a dog lover, you will thoroughly enjoy this book and likely identify with some of the stories and personalities. At times laugh out loud funny and at other times tender and touching, this book is a pure joy to listen to (and John's narration is top-notch!).

Highly Recommended

This isn't an epic dog lover's novel. These are the poignant thoughts of a well-accomplished man. John O'Hurley shares with us some of the life lessons he's learned with the help and companionship of the dogs in his life.

This book is not a laugh-fest, but rather the reflection of some of his interpersonal and memorable moments of his life. It's lighthearted, but did bring tears to my eyes at one point. The way he chooses to describe the events that helped shape him into the man he is today is touching, witty and very though provoking.

There are some very funny moments in this book! His humor was not wasted on me, or my boyfriend. We both listened to this book on our way to dinner and on errands, and I’m glad we did.

The messages in this feel good book are simple… slow down, live in the moment, don’t miss the small but important things going on around you, stretch often, nap when you can, and numerous others.

I look forward to reading any other books he writes, and hope they will be longer in length, as this one was over way too soon.

I plan on giving copies of this book to several of my friends and family this year for the holidays. It’s a great read that hopefully will inspire them (and you) to see the world a bit differently.

Enjoy!