The Dog Went Over the Mountain

Travels With Albie: An American Journey

Peter Zheutlin

The New York Times bestselling author of Rescue Road embarks on a cross-country journey to take the measure of America with a loyal friend.

*A Lowell Thomas / Society of American Travel Writers Foundation Award Winner *

On the cusp of turning 65, a man and his beloved rescue dog of similar vintage take a poignant, often bemusing, and keenly observed journey across America and discover a big-hearted, welcoming country filled with memorable characters, a new-found appreciation for the life they temporarily left behind, and a determination to live more fully in the moment as old age looms.

Inspired by John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, Zheutlin, hits the road for a 9,000-mile odyssey with Albie to experience all that America is and means today. Similar in approach and tone to Bill Bryson’s best-selling travel classics, with with an endearing canine sidekick, The Dog Went Over the Mountain will delight dog lovers, baby boomers and anyone who seeks to experience life on the open road with a four-legged companion.

Peter Zheutlin is a freelance journalist and author whose work has appeared regularly in The Boston Globe and The Christian Science Monitor.  He has also written for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, AARP Magazine and numerous other publications in the U.S. and abroad. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Rescue Road: One Man, Thirty Thousand Dogs and a Million Miles on the Lost Hope Highway and Rescued: What Second-Chance Dogs Teach Us About Living with Purpose, Loving with Abandon, and Finding Joy in the Little Things. Peter lives in Massachusetts with his wife, author Judy Gelman.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"A thought-provoking read very much in the spirit of Travels with Charley. Every generation rediscovers America anew; Peter and Albie capture the magic and essence Steinbeck discovered with Charley." Michele Speich, Executive Director, National Steinbeck Center

"Fans of Zheutlin’s previous titles will find exactly what they expect here: a deep affection for dogs . . . winsome curiosity about the folks he meets along the way, and a spirit of mature adventure. This is the territory of Bill Bryson: a wry, thoughtful look at the byways of America. Book clubs should certainly consider taking this delightful trip." Booklist

"An entertaining account of a man and his dog traveling along America’s highways. . . . Teen and adult fans of Bill Bryson’s travel books and stories of rescue animals will find this delightful." Library Journal

"While the journey itself wasn’t always easy, [Zheutlin’s] easygoing writing style makes for comfortable reading. . . . Your own next adventure might only be as far as the dog park, but reading The Dog Went Over the Mountain may inspire you, like Zheutlin, to end the trip with an ice cream cone and a hug for the dog who is part of your journey." BookPage

"Entertaining and thoughtful. Packed with history, fascinating characters, and of course, fabulous dogs. A great book for anyone who loves dogs, road trips, or America. As someone who loves all three, I was captivated right from the beginning." Teresa Rhyne, author of the #1 NYT bestseller The Dog Lived (And So Will I)

"Zheutlin and Albie got to share the kind of cross-country journey that most Americans only dream about in the autumn of their lives. This story should inspire countless to get out there and go while man and mutt both still have the energy and enthusiasm to explore." Kim Kavin, award-winning author of The Dog Merchants

"Zheutlin takes readers on a road to enlightenment that delights in the ordinary and spins gold from the day-to-day observations of our divided nation in flux. It’s a tale as timely as it is timeless, with the bond between man and dog as its beating heart. Peter and Albie’s journey gives us hope that the America we dreamed of isn’t as far away or as nostalgic as we thought." Rory Kress, journalist and author of The Doggie in the Window

"Poignant and magnificent. Brilliantly observed and Odyssean in breadth, this book reveals all that is generous about the American heart. A classic story of finding truth and humanity in the mundane—and how a man and his dog learned to live in the moment, on the trip of a lifetime." Elissa Altman, author of Motherland

"Peter Zheutlin has written a lovely, moving, important book about a subject that is both heartbreaking and joyful. Greg Mahle, the central figure of this story, is now a hero of mine. Dogs are not just property. They are one way God tests our compassion." (Praise for RESCUE ROAD) Dean Koontz