Five-Second
Book Reviews
With apologies to
the authors, all of whom deserve better.
_________________________________
There
is no book on working terriers that
actually tells you how to do it
-- what tools you need, what you
really need in a dog, how to locate
quarry, how to use a deben box, how
to dig, what to do in difficult
situations, or how to vet a dog.
You can read until
your dog is dead from old age, but the only way to
really learn about terrier work is to
go out a few times with people that
do it and are willing to teach it.
The books below are mainly
entertainment, and a few are
instructive about general dog
obedience or care.
_________________________________
Working Jack
Russell Terriers in North America: A
Hunter's Story - by Ken James. A
very good little book that is well worth
the price. Highest recommendation.
See "Rat Wars" in story section
for ordering information.
Hunt and Working
Terriers - Jocelyn Lucas. Very
good old text. A must have, if you must
have. A book you can read and reread.
Jack Russell and
His Terriers by "Dan
Russell" -- As good a history as
exists about the Rev. and his dogs. In
fact, not much is known.
Working Terriers
by Mark Giles -- a very good little book
printed in 1988 and hard to get. Well
written and with some sensible points.
Running
With the Foxes is David
MacDonald's masterpiece about red fox.
Very informative, well-written,
surprising, and extremely well
photographed, this book is the finest
book yet written on the world's most
widely distributed canine. Highest
recommendation. Out of print, but always
available from Abebooks.
Raccoons: a Natural
History by Samuel I Zeveloff is
well-written and gives some surprising
information about raccoon migration out
West -- and why it did not occur sooner.
For the die-hard naturalist, but of
interest to the hunter.
Dog
Training: The Gentle Modern Method
by David Weston - Excellent and useful. Highest
recommendation
Of Pedigree
Unknown by Phil Drabble -- A
nice little book with a few old pictures
but otherwise light.
A New Owner's
Guide to Jack Russell Terriers by
Linda Bollinger and Peggy Swager -- A
better than average general introduction
book to the breed.
The
Traditional Working Terrier by
Sean Frain -- A basic introduction to
terriers with chapters on breeds, how to
select a puppy, stock breaking etc.
Plummer's book (below) is better.
The Working
Terrier by D. Brian Plummer -
One of the better introductory books.
Idiot's Guide to
Dog Tricks - Not very good.
Border Terriers
Today by Rosyln Williams - OK
book, not especially great.
Eminent Dogs ,
Dangerous Men - About border
collies, by Don McCaig -- a very good
book by a Virginia writer, which
therefore elevates it to greatness.
Don't
Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor -
Great book about life - not just dogs. Highest
recommendation. Buy three copies
and give two away.
Adventures of an
Artisan Hunter - D. Brian
Plummer - A fun book.
About the Border
Terrier by Gardner - very good
border terrier book.
The Modern Working
Terrier by Michael Shaw (Plummer
pseudonym) - Worth having and better with
time, but proof that Plummer was an odd
man.
Idiots Guide to
Jack Russell's - A pretty good
book despite the name.
Speed Train Your
Bird Dog. Don't own a bird dog,
but interesting.
The Sporting
Terrier by D. Brian Plummer - A
compilation book. Not great.
Trog - An
awful novel about badgers but I learned a
bit about them anyway. By D.Brian
Plummer.
The
Complete Jack Russell Terrier by
D. Brian Plummer. A pretty good book.
The World of Dogs
- Totally useless book given to me as
gift. Must have been a remainder.
Housebreaking and
Training Your New Puppy - Can't
remember it, don't need it.
Culture
Clash by Jean Donaldson. A good
book about problem dogs, but the book is
not as well organized as it could be.
Dig In by
Migliorini - Not much use.
Simon and Schuster
Guide to Dogs - Good for all
breed identification.
Encyclopedia of
the Dog - Good all breed ID
book.
Tales of
a Rat-Hunting Man by D.Brian
Plummer. Very funny and a good read.
Secrets of Dog
Training by D. Brian Plummer -
The title promises more than the book
delivers.
A-Z of Dog
Diseases and Health Problems --
OK for figuring out what other people are
talking about.
James Herriot's
Favorite Dog Stories - A good
writer with some good tales.
The
Border Terrier by David Kline -
Very good American border terrier book.
The Terrier's
Vocation - Light reading, not
that useful.
The Poacher's
Handbook - Light but fun
reading.
Full Revelations
of a Professional Ratcatcher -
Reprint of the 1889 Ike Williams classic.
The World
of the Working Terrier by David
Harcombe. A book of
stories and opinion without too much practical information.
The Standard Book
of Dog Care - Old vet text from
the 50s -- occasionally useful.
How to Spot a Fox by
J. David Henry - Not quite up to the
promise, but worth getting.
Nops
Trials - Sheep dog novel by Don
McCaig.
The Fell Terrier by
Brian Plummer - Like trying to decipher
the begats section of the Bible, but
still very informative and should be read
if you want to get some idea of how
ephemeral the notion of a terrier
"breed" is.
The Jack Russell
Terrier by Catherine R. Brown -
A little light, but nice pictures and
some useful stuff.
Red Fox,
the Catlike Canine -- Another
fox book by J. David Henry that will be
enjoyed by those that want to know the
animal well.
Working Terriers:
Management and Training by J.C.
Hobson -- A basic introduction to terrier
work with chapters on breeds, how to
select a puppy, general health,
kenneling, etc. Notable in that it at
least mentions tools and locator collars.
Worth having.
The Well Dog Book
- A pretty tame-to-lame vet book.
How to Raise a
Puppy You Can Live With - Can't
remember it, don't need it.
No Bad Dogs
- Barbara Woodhouse. Can't remember it
and don't believe it.
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