Amazon.com
George Alston, an expert dog handler for more than 30 years, teams with author Connie Vanacore on The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets. Combining sports psychology and dog showing, topics include psychocybernetics, the making of a show dog, learning from the competition, and etiquette and sportmanship. The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets is "an essential for every dog exhibitor's bookshelf."
Book Description
George Alston has been one of the country's preeminent professional handlers for over thirty years. Now, the secrets of his success are shared with every dog fancier.
The Winning Edge is the very first book to apply sports psychology to dog showing. Here, serious exhibitors, including the seasoned veteran, will have the opportunity to develop and polish the skills necessary to take a place in the winners' circle. With award-winning author Connie Vanacore, George Alston shows us all how to gain consistent success in the only sport in which amateurs compete directly with the professionals. Chapters focus on the advantages of being an amateur and underscore the necessity for the mental preparation and psychology that are essential to every exhibitor's success.
The authors cover every ingredient in the recipe for show ring success, with chapters on the perfect handler, the making of a show dog, psychocybernetics, where and how to focus when in the ring and learning from the competition.
The Winning Edge, an essential for every dog exhibitor's bookshelf, now makes George Alston's professional know-how available to everyone with the desire to win.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction
Customer Reviews:
FANTASTIC.......2007-09-19
This book is an absolute must have if you want to enter the wonderful world of dogshows!
I've been showing for some time, and this book tought me so much, made me think things differently and be a better handler.
I absolutely recommend it to everyone involved in showing!
Puppy Intensive Care: A Breeder's Guide to Care of Newborn Puppies.......2007-07-22
nicely put together also I would recemmend this book to people that are just starting in the breeding world.
For an experience breeder I would want more infos ans explainations.
But over all a great book
Pay Attention!.......2007-07-20
That seems to be the main message George Alston is giving. Pay attention to your dog, the judge, the ring conditions, and your competition. He gives great advice on how to adjust your stride, the leash, your grooming, etc. to give your dog the best opportunity to win. He also includes wonderful chapters on Psychology and Ring Etiquette, something that can make or break the handler - not just the dog. He shows showing as the art, not just the mechanics.
Must have for a Show Dogs Library.......2007-01-18
When I spoke to my dogs breeder, her comment was that I needed this book. I was happy to tell her I had already ordered and read it! She is a veteran and reads it every Spring before she steps into the Show Ring to brush up on things. I found it to be very helpful as a beginner and I've found it even more helpful after I've been in the ring a couple of times. It leaves out a lot of the "fluff" but is a great companion book to some of the others that start out at the very beginning. Very easy to read. Confidence builder!
The Winning Edge:Show Rings Secrets by George Alston.......2006-12-08
Haven't been showing dogs for long so I was looking for any pointers to polish up my act. This book was great I read it from start to finish and about to turn around and do it again. Highly recommended !!!!!!!!!!
Product Description
In the show ring, judges assess the whole package, which is the sum of effective breeding, evaluating, rearing, teaching, conditioning, nutrition, grooming, care and presentation. Pat Hastings discusses all of these elements in this book and shares a variety of tips and tricks that she has found useful over her long career in the dog world. The revised edition is a significantly enhanced resource, with expanded text, more visuals and all-new illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Tricks of the Trade: From Best Intentions to Best in Show, Revised Edition.......2007-08-26
Good book, easy to read with plenty to learn for the beginner to the more advanced handler. This will be a book that I will read again, there is so much to get out of it that I expect to continue to pick up more each time I read it.
Wow!!! .......2007-05-13
If you're interested in breeding quality dogs, you need this book!! This is a fantasic resource which includes everything from making unbiased decisions regarding your own litter right up to the Best In Show ring. Pat writes with an easy to read and often humerous style. I was surprised at how much I learnt from this book. I lent it to friends who all got a lot out of it. It's packed with " Tricks of the trade" (things that no one will ever tell you) and so much more. Again if you plan on breeding or even buying a show dog- read this first!!
Great for all dog people!.......2007-04-23
i love this book. it is easy to read and has so much information. i have already read it twice in less than 3 weeks! i learn something new everytime i pick it up. it is not a long book describing how a dog show works; this book teaches you about the dog you are showing in the ring. lots of little bits of tips throughout the book as well. i highly recommend this book to breeders or exhibitors working with dogs. you will not be sorry for purchasing!
Great Book!.......2007-03-13
I have bought just about every "How-to" show dog book out there, and this would be the only one that I would recommend. It is by far the best book of its kind on the market. I agree with the previous reviewer as well--it's not just for show people. There is a great deal of information that is valuable for any dog owner. All of my other books went straight to the bookshelf and stayed there. This one is sitting on my kitchen counter, and I have gone back to it time after time.
Packed Full of Information and Wisdom.......2007-02-07
All dog owners should read this book, it's not just for show dog folks! Great solutions, suggestions, and explanations for common issues. The combined years of experience from the authors provide the reader direct access to today's experts. Easy to read and very informative.
Book Description
Back by popular demand
the only breeding book endorsed by top breeders
"There are many books on breeding dogs, but Ann's book is so on-target and comprehensive that it has become a bible among successful breeders. The news that Howell is making this modern classic available again is to the benefit of both new and future generations of aspiring breeders."
— From the new Foreword by Wendell J. Sammet, The American Kennel Club's first Breeder of the Year (2002)
The bible of quality dog breeding, The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog is a must-have for novice and veteran breeders alike, covering everything from developing a viable breeding program to genetics to whelping, raising, and socializing puppies. Written in easy-to-understand language by renowned dog breeder Ann Seranne, this classic takes you step by step through the entire process of breeding a successful litter, from the moment of conception to a dog's first show. You'll see how to select a method of breeding, evaluate your own breeding stock and the potential of a litter, avoid the pitfalls of whelping, and properly care for the litter until the puppies are ready to go to their new homes. Ann Seranne's deep love of dogs, her vast knowledge, and her expertise make this the only guide you will ever need to become a successful breeder.
Download Description
Now back in print by popular demandthe only breeding book endorsed by top breeders The bible of quality dog breeding, this guide is a must-have for novice and veteran breeders alike, covering everything from developing a viable breeding program based on pedigrees and genetics to whelping, raising, and socializing puppies. Now back in print with a new foreword by AKC Breeder of the Year Wendall Sammett, this book has long been the reference of choice for successful dog breeders. Ann Seranne cobred and/or owned sixty-two Yorkshire Terrier champions, six Standard Poodle champions, and two Shih Tzu champions.
Customer Reviews:
Good Read.......2007-05-12
This book is put in simpler terms than a text book & makes it easier to understand for the novice. Very informative.
Excellent Information.......2006-11-10
This is an excellent book for basic canine genetics and picking a breeding partner as well as other aspects of Breeding for quality show puppies.
The best book on breeding.......2006-02-20
Excellent book a must have if you plan on breeding.Covers everything you need to know on breeding. I will always keep this book around.
The Breeding Bible.......2004-09-20
The absolute best information for breeders on breeding and caring for pups and mom. Written by a legend in dogs and her knowledge is extensive. I would not be without this book ~ I credit it with my being able to save many a pup & avoid many problems.
The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog.......2004-05-23
This book contained 100 pages of manuscript on whelping and breeding and care of neonates by Terri Shumsky. People who can no longer get this book should check out Terri Shumsky's HOW TO BUY AND RAISE A GOOD HEALTHY DOG, which contains all the same information given to Ann Seranne PLUS lots more.
Here's what Boxer Review said about Terri Shumsky's book.
The Book Shelf
How to Buy and Raise a Good Healthy Dog is mostly about breeding and
raising a dog. It contains one chapter on the buying of a dog, one chapter on general
health care (covering about 65 pages) and three appendixes on genetics, food and
nutrition and microchips.
"This is another Doral publication which was written by breeder and judge Terri Shumsky. The illustrations are effective particularly in regard to the birthing process. As a matter of fact, the information given in the "Having Puppies" chapter is exceptional and useful for both the novice and experienced breeder. I think that the information on general health care is quite sufficient for most dog owners. Other books which have been reviewed in this column (The Merck Veterinary Manual,Hands-On Dog Care, The Purina Encyclopedia of Dog Care and the Five Minute Veterinary Ready Reference) are perhaps too extensive for most health questions. Shumsky's book fills a niche of providing just about enough information."
Book Description
New Secrets of Successful Show Dog Handling is the definitive book on the sport of exhibiting purebred dogs. From early training to ring strategy and promoting a special dog, this comprehensive, illustrated guide reveals the actual practices, procedures and etiquette involved in showing.
• What dog shows are all about • Early show training • Setting up your dog • Baiting • Ring procedures • Conditioning • Presentation and ring strategy • Tricks of the trade • The secret formula for success • Publicizing your dog.
Gems From The Book: *Handling is the art of making dogs look their absolute best! *Handlers must convey a positive attitude: Those who doubt their ability to win are rarely mistaken. *A person who has never failed has failed to extend himself. *Subtlety can mean the difference between superior and merely adequate handling.
Customer Reviews:
New Secrets of Successful Show Dog Handling.......2007-07-22
WOW!!! what a book up to date info and so exact .
excellent techniches and stape by stape on how to.
you feel like you are in the show ring and when you put the book down you want to put the show lead on your dog to practice...very helpfull and inspirering.
Have the basics but ready for the next steps?.......2007-07-20
Starting my second show dog's career, after blundering my way through with my first one, Peter Green and Mario Migliorini gave me excellent tips and strategies to make the handler pay more attention to his/her job. I love the section on stacking - wonderful photos to show the sublties that beginners don't see. An excellent book for someone with the basic knowledge already down who wants to take their showing to the next level.
Not what I was Looking for.......2007-06-06
This book would be helpful for anyone beginning showing dogs. They really needn't know anything. If you already know what a show is, how to enter and have been in the ring before, you're probably not going to get much out of this. I have a few books on showing that far outwiegh this one. It's basic, simple and for complete novices only...It is written well, and is easy to understand. If this is to be your first book on dog showing, then it will provide you with enough info to get you started. I preferred, The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets (Howell Reference Books) and Tricks of the Trade: From Best Intentions to Best in Show, Revised Edition
Very well done!.......2007-02-21
Great book for the learning dog handler. Combine it with a book like "Eye For a Dog" and you are on your way to understanding America's second longest running sport (next to horse racing).
New Secrets of Successful Show Dog Handling by Peter Green.......2006-12-08
Wonderful read with plenty of good tips that I'm sure would benefit anyone wanting to improve their dog handling.
Product Description
Want to enter the world of dog shows and don't know how to begin? Here's your answer: a richly illustrated book that starts with the assumption that you have little or no experience showing dogs. Learn the basics for showing your dog successfully.
Customer Reviews:
Very Informative.......2007-05-30
I purchased this book and two others prior to showing my 9 mo. old puppy at a four day show with a Specialty in his breed. He placed Second in puppy sweeps on one day of the show and Reserve Winners on another day. In my opinion, my mentor and this book gave me a greater understanding of what the judges look for, how the point system works, how to work with my puppy in segments, and how to handle my dog in the ring. Some breeders at the show said I did fine, my puppy did fine, and that we were a team in the ring.
It was a very exciting and satisfying experience and I look forward to learning more from this book in the future. I am a beginner and there is much to learn.
Great Beginners Guide.......2007-01-18
This book starts at A and goes to Z. I was very grateful when I stepped into the ring the last time and the Judge asked for a "Triangle"...the illustration from this book came to memory and we did just fine though I'd never seen the pattern in practice or at a show! I highly recommend this book and I will no doubt refer to it many times over the coming years. I plan to utilize it as I raise my next litter and look forward to seeing the results when used on a pup from the very beginning!
Raising a Champion: A Beginner's Guide to Showing Dogs.......2006-08-31
Thank you for an awesome beginners guide! Even with confirmation training lessons, this guide is invaluable.
Great book for beginner.......2006-02-20
Great book, really like this book it has helped me alot as I am just beginning in showing.What I really like about this book is it shows detailed pictures and information.It has alot of pages on stacking and gaiting it shows you step by step how to teach your dog to stack and gait.It has information on counting points, how to enter a show and everything you need to bring to a show and how a show works. Really great book for a novice, easy to understand.
Perfect book for the perfectionist in all of us!.......2005-09-16
I own three or four books on showing dogs and I have to say that this book is the most detailed book I've found on the "art" of the dog show. Major confidence booster because they don't leave out a single detail. There's nothing left to figure out, instead it is simply and concisely spelled out. For the novice (like myself) it's a live saver. I suspect that there are some valuable lessons for dog handlers of all levels.
Book Description
This book is the first book written for the lay reader on how to prepare dogs for athletic endeavor, whether that means top-level competition or casual recreation. This second edition has been completely updated and extensively revised.
Customer Reviews:
Learning about structure, movement & condition for your canine.......2007-08-03
More than just a book on performance. Zink covers all aspects of conformation and it's importance, genetic dispositions, conditioning and movement as well as some preventative exercises designed to strengthen the core muscles. A reasonably well written book, by a Vet, who truly understands athletic needs for our canines. Would recommend anyone who is working agility, water or hunting trials, etc.
Worth the read.......2002-03-24
I found this book very useful especially how to warm your dogs up before a competition and also before training also there is a fair amount of information about the dogs structure which helps explain why some dogs can do some things and others can't.
The most comprehensive, brilliantly conceived work to date........1998-08-24
Chris Zink writes with great authority and depth of knowledge unlike any other author I have read to date. This book has completely changed how I work with my dog. Thanks a million!
Amazon.com
Mark Haddon's bitterly funny debut novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is a murder mystery of sorts--one told by an autistic version of Adrian Mole. Fifteen-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone is mathematically gifted and socially hopeless, raised in a working-class home by parents who can barely cope with their child's quirks. He takes everything that he sees (or is told) at face value, and is unable to sort out the strange behavior of his elders and peers.
Late one night, Christopher comes across his neighbor's poodle, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork. Wellington's owner finds him cradling her dead dog in his arms, and has him arrested. After spending a night in jail, Christopher resolves--against the objection of his father and neighbors--to discover just who has murdered Wellington. He is encouraged by Siobhan, a social worker at his school, to write a book about his investigations, and the result--quirkily illustrated, with each chapter given its own prime number--is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Haddon's novel is a startling performance. This is the sort of book that could turn condescending, or exploitative, or overly sentimental, or grossly tasteless very easily, but Haddon navigates those dangers with a sureness of touch that is extremely rare among first-time novelists. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is original, clever, and genuinely moving: this one is a must-read. --Jack Illingworth, Amazon.ca
Book Description
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher’s carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.
Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents’ marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher’s mind.
And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon’s choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one of the freshest debuts in years: a comedy, a heartbreaker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.
Download Description
Narrated by a fifteen-year-old autistic savant obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, this dazzling novel weaves together an old-fashioned mystery, a contemporary coming-of-age story, and a fascinating excursion into a mind incapable of processing emotions.
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order, and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher's carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor's dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.
Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents' marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher's mind.
And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon's choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one of the freshest debuts in years: a comedy, a heartbreaker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.
"Mark Haddon's portrayal of an emotionally dissociated mind is a superb achievement. He is a wise and bleakly funny writer with rare gifts of empathy."
IAN McEWAN, AUTHOR OF
ATONEMENT AND AMSTERDAM
"I have never read anything quite like Mark Haddon's funny and agonizingly honest book, or encountered a narrator more vivid and memorable. I advise you to buy two copies; you won't want to lend yours out."
ARTHUR GOLDEN, AUTHOR OF
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
"The Curious Incident brims with imagination, empathy, and vision -- plus it's a lot of fun to read."
MYLA GOLDBERG, AUTHOR OF
BEE SEASON
Customer Reviews:
Light read.......2007-10-10
Light, pretty easy ready. Mark does a great job of narrating from an autistic teen's POV. However, that was about it for me. Didn't get too wrapped up in the actual story line, I just enjoyed the frame of reference.
Awesome book!.......2007-10-09
Mark Haddon is skilled at narrating from the point of view of Christopher, an autistic boy. The story of Christopher's investigation weaves in math and numbers. Personally, I love math, and I finished this book in 2 days during a busy weekend! This book is great for all readers: light and amusing.
How the mind works.......2007-10-07
"It was 7 minutes after midnight." Every detail matters in the solution of the mystery of the neighbor's murdered dog, which is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. That's partly because the detective on the case is Christopher John Francis Boone, a 15-year-old boy with autism, a penchant for numbers, a genius for math, and a determination to solve the mystery and write a book.
Clues abound, but Christopher's strictly literal view of the world prevents him from seeing or understanding them, even as he records them. In his mind, metaphors are "lies," and phrases like "raining cats and dogs" and "you'll catch your death from cold" are incomprehensible nonsense. As the story behind Wellington's death unfolds, Haddon masterfully gives the reader the clues that escape Christopher while allowing him to pursue the more logical details he does understand and to get help with the more subtle ones.
Along the way, Christopher offers insight into the autistic mind and people's reaction to it. While he cannot read emotions or pick up on verbal cues and body language (unless they are explained to him; for example, he knows that a raised voice may indicate anger), his mind processes details the average person would miss. While we might see cows and some flowers in a field, he knows how many cows, he can draw each of their individual patterns, and he can name the species of flowers.
Just as Christopher doesn't understand why everyone won't or can't notice these important details, the people he encounters, while quickly picking up that he is different, can't figure out how and adjust themselves. His working-class father tries to, but his understanding of his son seems limited to an intellectual rather than an emotional one. He knows that Christopher hates to be touched and is wise enough to develop a hand signal that signifies love in lieu of a hug, but he doesn't understand at an emotional level the pain that touch causes his son. Not surprisingly, he can become frustrated when Christopher can't behave in the normal way. If Christopher's perception is limited by autism, his father's is limited to what he knows and can see. He cannot feel what it's like to be Christopher any more than Christopher can figure out that his father's quiet, slow speech indicated tightly controlled anger.
As Christopher works on the mystery and his book, he learns how to do things he may not have thought possible; for example, he survives the ordeal of going to a crowded train station and traveling alone. More significantly, he learns how to twist and withhold the truth when necessary. When his father makes him promise not to do something, Christopher rationally determines what he can and cannot do within the very literal sense of the promise, thereby breaking it in spirit. As he pursues his investigation, he seems to grasp that he is on questionable ground according to his own standards, even as he senses that the mystery is important enough to justify his rationalizations. By the end, he can say with pride and with some truth, "I can do anything."
Haddon uses a simple technique to convey the linear, mathematical nature of Christopher's mind and thought process; as the story builds, Christopher begins many if not most of his sentences with "and." "And I bent down . . . And I walked after him . . . And someone said . . . And I said . . . And the man . . . And then I heard . . ." The use of "and" not only sounds genuine, but it is also additive--that is, mathematical. For someone who squares numbers in his head to stay calm, "and" is one way to manage the sensory and emotional overload he encounters in his quest to determine the killer.
Only someone who is autistic can say whether Haddon has captured the thought process and emotions accurately. Even if The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is not a complete insight into the autistic mind, it is a valuable one, and a reminder that not everyone sees the world we see in exactly the same way we do.
©Diane L. Schirf
7 October 2007
Inside a Different Kind of Head.......2007-09-30
"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" is a fascinating novel about an autistic teenager who runs away from home. The story is narrated by the disabled teen himself, so the reader is immersed in a world of bizarre obsessions and pointless details, where other human beings are question marks and math problems are a safe haven from the onslaught of unfiltered perceptions. The book is unsentimental -- the narrator never "outgrows" his autism and his parents are hapless and selfish -- yet it succeeds in expanding our minds and deepening our conception of humanity. It does so by giving a vivid human voice to a mentally disabled person. No one who takes the message to heart will ever dismiss a lost soul holding his hands over his ears and groaning in a crowded public place as a "freak."
That said, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" is not a conventional novel. Since the narrator is autistic, all of the descriptions are flat, the characters are undeveloped, and the dialogue is stenographic. There are long passages like this:
"Then I imagined a red line on the floor and I walked over to the wall where there was a poster which was a list of places to go and it was alphabetical and I saw 'Willesden Green' and it said '$2.20' and then I went to one of the machines and there was a little screen which said 'Press Ticket Type' and I pressed the button that most people had pressed, which was 'Adult Single' and '$2.20,' and the screen said 'Insert $2.20' and I put three '$1 coins ' into the slot and there was a clinking noise and the screen said 'Take a Ticket and Change' and there was a ticket in a little hole at the bottom of the machine and a $.50 coin and a $.20 coin and a $.10 coin and I put the coins in my pocket and I went up to one of the gray gates and I put my ticket into the slot and it sucked it in and it came out on the other side of the gate." ['$' has been substituted for the 'Pound' sign.]
I'm sure this monotonous passage, so filled with meaningless literal details, faithfully recreates the way autistic people perceive the world. But while writing like this can be justified as verisimiltude, it started to eat into my enjoyment of the book after 100 pages or so. The bottomline is that "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" probably works better as phenomenology than as fiction. But it should definitely be read.
An insightful novel........2007-09-26
Mark Haddon does a good job of writing as an autistic child. You really feel like you know what it is like to be in Christopher's mind. A few parts were a little boring, they went into a lot of description about nothing interesting, but that's Christopher's mind at work. You can forgive the boring parts because it's all part of how Christopher thinks. Well done!
Book Description
Dogs have been featured in works of art in various ways—from primary subjects to supporting characters to props. Best in Show is the most up-to-date, comprehensive survey of the dog as shown in painting, sculpture, works on paper, and photography from the end of the sixteenth century to today.
This beautifully produced book features sixty works by such illustrious artists as Francis Bacon, Gustave Courbet, Salvador Dalí, Lucian Freud, Thomas Gainsborough, Edouard Manet, Andy Warhol, William Wegman, Andrew Wyeth, and many more. Four fascinating essays by distinguished scholars discuss the dog in the context of the art of the 16th through the 21st centuries; examine the purebred and how breeds have developed and changed over the years; and outline the results of scientific inquiry over the centuries regarding the nature of dogs.
Best in Show brilliantly illuminates the captivating and intriguing history of the dog in art––offering myriad interpretations and irrefutable reasons for celebrating “the artist’s best friend.”
Customer Reviews:
Nice blend of "cocktail table" and reference.......2006-09-23
I am an artist who paints animals - wildlife and pet portraits. I bought this book in hopes that I would have, in one volume, fine art images of dogs: to learn from, to get inspiration from.
This book did not disappoint me. WHile it is not by any means a scholarly work - in other words, it contains no real information on the methods, motives or analysis of the works depicted. It is very well illustrated and has light context commentary about the works and the artists who produced them. The number of color plates is generous, the range of illustrations is broad, well produced and includes little known as well as famous works, by masters from western and eastern traditions, from pre-renaissance through modern times.
I recommend this book for anyone who loves dogs - and for artists who are looking for a compilation reference.
Amazon.com
Dog shows are phenomenally popular, immensely competitive, and often perplexing for beginners. Show Me offers easy-to-follow tips and words of wisdom for those new to this challenging sport. Author D. Caroline Coile is quick to point out that the average pet pooch (although lovely in your eyes) will not make it in professional competitions. Most show dogs are bred for this very purpose, and the book includes practical advice for selecting and raising your top dog. (Can you really handle that Great Dane?)
Coile divulges her immense knowledge of competition culture, from grooming tips and obedience training to the psychology of dealing with competition loss. Crisp color photographs and expertly drawn pencil sketches of that perfect show dog will capture the imagination of any would-be competitor.
Book Description
What are the physical qualities and special training methods that make a good dog a prize-winner? When is it better to hire a professional handler, and when should owners show the dog themselves? Here are answers to these and many more questions. Owner's will find advice on grooming, training, dress rehearsals, and understanding the points that judges are looking for. Many full-color photos.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent gude for the first time handler!.......2007-06-05
If you have never shown a dog before and don't know what you are getting yourself into this is the book to buy! It even provides a supply list so you know what to bring! If you want to start showing your dog(s) and need to know what to do and how to do it this is one book you MUST buy!
Worth Your Consideration.......2007-03-30
This is probably not the best showing how to book out there but it certainally teaches you a lot without encouraging you to be a snob that cares about nothing but winning at any cost. It covers a lot of material and though it doesn't teach you EVERYTHING you need to know this book combined to going with some other people to a show made me feel confident enough to start showing my own dogs. I have never forgotten some of the things she said in this book. As I go through the dog showing life events can cause her words to ring in my head and bring me peace such as when I meet the occasional meanie "...but keep in mind the meanest people are often the ones with the least going for them." Ain't that the truth!
D. Caroline Coile is a good author. She writes good breeding articles for Dog World all the time and her book Pit Bulls for Dumies, I think, is the most breed-informative of all the "for Dummies" books on dog breeds. I have or have had Labrador Retrievers for Dummies, Golden Retrievers for Dummies, Rottweilers for Dummies, Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies, and Boxers for Dummies, all by other authors, and, blah, I felt like I was reading a general dog care book with just a tiny amount of breed-specific information you could find ANYWHERE in ANY BOOK. I feel like Coile gets more into explaining the essence of the breed in her book.
Wow! This little book packs a punch!.......2005-09-20
This book is an excellent start for beginners. It answered almost every question I had and is very easy to read. I would highly recommend this book.
The best book for starters.......2005-05-18
i started reading this book already knowing some about dog showing but this book is great it tells you the good things and the bad tells you how to find the best show dog for you i recommend this book to anyone wanting to start showing like myslef
The BEST Book I've Read Yet!.......2004-09-28
This is a fantastic book for the owner-handler competing against the professionals! It helps out the novice as well by explaining dog shows. However, I've been in dog shows since I was young and needed a book for the next level. This was perfect! There were so many hints, tips and techniques that I had never heard of. There were hints on training your dog, using your dog's best assets, handler techiniques etc. I couldn't put the book down! This book needs to be in every dog showers library.
Book Description
A basic introduction to the "bits and pieces" that put canines together combined with a glossary of everyday vocabulary used to describe dogs and their structure. This book takes intricate, sometimes complicated and challenging subjects and presents them in an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand format.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent!.......2007-08-23
An excellent, well-written guide for the dog fancier wishing to understand the terminology and the "why" of various dog breed structures and movement. A resource to be read and reread, consulted often.
Superior Book on Dog Structure.......2007-07-12
This book is right on, with very accurate descriptions of Dog structure. Every person who has Show Dogs, or is involved in the Show Ring should keep this book as a reference.
EXCELLENT SOURCE OF INFO ON DOGS STRUCTURE.......2007-05-31
This is a great book for people who are not very involved with dogs and are trying to understand structure ang gait in dogs. Easy to read and well explained, this book is also a good reminder to people who already know about dog's structure. Best book yet.
Great Technical Book on Canine Structure.......2007-02-07
This book is a "must have" for anyone interested in canine structure. Great illustrations and pictures help explain what would otherwise be difficult to understand subject matter. The information is very enlightening and presented in an easy-to-read format. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it to others.
Fabulous book on structure.......2006-11-10
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and keep it handy as a reference guide when I study a dogs movement, conformation etc. I could read it several times and still learn something new each time I pick it up.
great book!
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New Secrets of Successful Show Dog Handling
Show Me!
Tricks of the Trade: From Best Intentions to Best in Show, Revised Edition
The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Showing Your Dog (Absolute Beginner's Guide Series)
An Eye for a Dog: Illustrated Guide to Judging Purebred Dogs
