The Dangerous Book for Dogs: A Parody by Rex and Sparky [Hardcover]

Joe Garden (Author), Janet Ginsburg (Author), Chris Pauls (Author), Anita Serwacki (Author), Scott Sherman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 2007

A LAUGH-OUT-LOUD PARODY: AN lLLUSTRATED GUIDE FOR--AND BY--DOGS, UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF DOGHOOD AND TEACHING THEM HOW TO DO THE VERY ACTIVITIES THAT HUMAN SOCIETY SAYS ARE WRONG.

The Dangerous Book for Dogs asks a simple question: isn't there more to being a dog than wearing a mini cashmere sweater and riding around in a $400 evening clutch? What about the simple pleasures of life -- feeling the wind in your fur, digging up the grass beneath your paws, smelling another dog's butt? Isn't that part of the great joy of being a dog?

Written (with help) by dogs and for dogs, The Dangerous Book For Dogs provides insight on everything from the tastiest styles of shoes to chew to the proper method for terrorizing squirrels. It also contains portraits of noble dogs throughout history, the mysteries of cats and humans, and everything else your dog ever wanted to know but was afraid to ask–like how to make toys out of human's household items, or how to escape from a humiliating reindeer costume.

Generously illustrated with drawings by cartoonist Emily Flake, this hilarious parody is for good dogs, bad dogs, and the millions of people who love them.

Rex and Sparky wrote this parody without authorization (because they are dogs and they do what they want.)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This gentle parody of the bestselling Dangerous Book for Boys-identical in look and tone to its source material-offers an often funny, surprisingly insightful take on dog behavior that's sure to resonate with the Spot set. With the "assistance" of their human companions, canine authors Rex and Sparky relate practical and authoritative information on topics simple (baths, fleas, bones, poop, "things you can chase") and complex: the rules of fetch (it's not officially over until a player earns 17,572 points), tips on crotch sniffing (under the heading "How to Make Your Owner Look Like an Idiot") and a critical guide to frequently ingested items (vomit and poop receive top marks; rocks and keys rank considerably lower). Among more than 50 short entries, the authors seem to have thought of everything, including escape tips for humiliating costumes, stirring true stories ("Great Dog Battles-Part Two: Pepper vs. A Patch of Light") and even a report on Pavlov (written by his two dogs). Though it occasionally pushes the envelope of good taste ("mounting a bitch is never as simple as it seems"), this goofy, gleeful guide to the dog life will tickle anyone with a soft spot for canines.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Villard (October 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345503708
• ISBN-13: 978-0345503701
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "The great thing about your tail is that it's always there, ready for a good time.", November 5, 2007

By 

Luan Gaines "luansos" (Dana Point, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dangerous Book for Dogs: A Parody by Rex and Sparky (Hardcover)

As we look back on the good old days, BD- Before Domestication- canine life was simpler, this humorous book a parody of the best-selling The Dangerous Book for Boys. If only they could speak in human tongue, today's dogs would explain how they yearn for those halcyon days of freedom, before they were forced to parade around in precious costumes or hide inside the designer bag of an owner- necessities, not accessories. And if they had a voice, these canines would demand a return to the times when dogs were dogs, frisky, smelly and joyful tail-wagger's, not those pretentious, over-dressed toys of those who would elevate them to people status. With such purity in mind, The Dangerous Book for Dogs addresses a history as childhood companions, fearless journeyers and the courageous dogs of war- essentially what it really means to be a "dog".

In an age defined by excess and the boredom of routine, here is a call to rediscover adventure: "Things You Can Chase"; "Begging- A Primer"; "Courageous Dogs in History"; "How to Escape Humiliating Costumes"; "How to Choose and Bury a Bone"; Dog Jobs"; and "Five Things Every Dog Should Have". Lest any canine forget his responsibility as family entertainer, there are instructive chapters on "How to Make Your Owner Look Like an Idiot", "Creative Pee Stains" and "How to Ruin a Perfect Dinner Party". Sprinkled with lively illustrations by Emily Flake, "Rex and Sparky" have no great mission other than to remind we very goal-oriented humans to take time out from busy schedules and sample the basic joys of life- the welcome of a salivating pet after a long day at the office, a country walk with your best friend at your side and the unconditional love offered by a pure-hearted pet, sans costume and picky eating. Real dogs don't care how they look, they just want to "be" with their owners. There's a lesson here for all of us. Luan Gaines/ 2007.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous parody, November 9, 2007

By 

David W. Nicholas (Van Nuys, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dangerous Book for Dogs: A Parody by Rex and Sparky (Hardcover)

This summer we had the Dangerous Book for boys. It's been commented that the book was written more for parents or even grandparents of a certain age, than for the boys it's supposedly intended for. That being said, this current book is clearly intended for adults, also. Dogs don't understand parodies.

This is one of the funniest books I've read through in a long while. There are marvelous parodies of parts of the Boys book, from a "Famous Battles" section that tells of legendary conflicts with mailmen and (in one case) a rogue patch of light, all the way around to a series of diary entries from the dogs who trained Dr. Pavlov to give them food when they salivated. The illustrations are rudimentary, but add to the overall effect of the book quite nicely.

I enjoyed this book a great deal, and expect that I'll be going back to read it in pieces in the future. The part about "How to escape a humiliating costume" was wonderful, and I'm sure there are other gems in the book.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the bees knees, October 26, 2007

By 

Mangy Fox "dreadlock goddess" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dangerous Book for Dogs: A Parody by Rex and Sparky (Hardcover)

I happened on this little gem while I was looking at new books that I might get my kids. Dangerous book for Dogs! My son had recently received the Dangerous book for Boys from my brother. I took a peek and it looked like a very well done parody. I was right. This book has met and surpassed my expectations. It is wickedly funny, so very funny because it really breaks dogs down to how you know they are thinking. Any dog owner/lover will understand that this book really was written by Rex and Sparky. Bravo! Good boys, what good boys you are!!