Customer Reviews

Dogged Pursuit: My Year of Competing Dusty, the World's Least Likely Agility Dog

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Being an agility enthusiast, I had to pick up this book - and so glad I did. The author brings this world of competitors, camaraderie, characters and dog fur to life with hilarity and sensitivity. This book manages to put into words what so many of us have realized- that working closely with a beloved dog creates such a deep bond, and is full of wonderful surprises; that we are not really training the animal; we are training ourselves to work with the dog. In doing so, we are so lucky to oftentimes develop a deeper understanding of their behavior and emotions, as well as an appreciation of the gifts they give us. Mr. Rodi, for all of his fancy tastes and appreciation of culture, acknowledges that some of the simpler pleasures (a smiling dog; surprise support, quick weave poles!) are really the stuff and wonder of life.
The author shows us what the agility world has to offer - not just the ribbon obsession- but the lessons one learns from other people, and from their 'furpeople'- and how funny they are!!

I bought this book as soon as I saw it reviewed in People magazine. I absolutely loved the book. I have been doing agility with my shelties for the last five years and can really identify with the funny things that happen. I read the book in one day. Just could not put it down and could not stop laughing. Well written and just plain fun!!!

Enjoyable and funny read. There were many laugh out loud moments. If you have ever trained an animal for anything, you can appreciate the moments in the book when Dusty and Rob are presented with new obstacles or conditions. I thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful agility instructor and her humor and the description of fellow competitors. But the star of the book - Dusty (well and Rob). By the end of the book, we are captivated by Dusty and feel empathy for Rob dealing with events that conspired to ....... Well you have to read it - it is wonderful!!

As someone experienced in agility, I enjoyed reading about it. But I think it's unfortunate that it somewhat feeds the mentality of "Whose fault? - dog or handler?" Mistakes on the course are 99 percent the handler's "fault."

If our dogs knock down bars, or duck under jumps, it's often because we didn't given them methodical jump training, or we sent them to the jump at the wrong angle. If they come out of the weave poles, you can bet they're losing their balance. That's a practice issue. Even running around or sniffing - that's stress. I get tired of seeing people coming out of the ring poking fun at their dogs or withholding Rover's treats because he couldn't do the agility poles this day. I wish some of them could see their own handling!

If this book inspires anyone to try agility - here's the best advice: never blame your dog, even in your own head. The ribbons and glory mentality is pretty immature. Aim for a great time with your dog. Consistently make agility the most fun your dog can possibly imagine - and you'll be amazed how he improves.

Let me say from the get-go that you probably need to have some interest in the canine sport of agility to like this book. What is agility? Doggie track and field, basically, where the dog runs a timed obstacle course and the owner has to run along, too, giving instructions. Formal competitions allow the dog to earn certain qualifications, which gung ho spirits like this author pursue tenaciously.

So who then is Rodi? He is a terrifically funny professional writer, living in Chicago with his partner Jeffrey. He is an urban and urbane chap of about 50, given to gourmet cooking and classical music and Italian poetry. In short, he's not the kind of fellow you would expect to find at a Midwestern dog trial. His teammate is Dusty, a bedraggled 19-pound rescue Sheltie who is perhaps none-too-keen at the prospect of being turned into a professional athlete. Together they train for 18 months with the All Fours, a group of owners taking classes together, and then they hit the circuit for a trial year. Such experiences they have! Dusty chalks up a few successes here and there, but his mishaps are hilarious and endearing. Rodi psychoanalyzes everything to pieces in witty detail, such as how he is relating to the other humans in competition and whether or not his neuroses are transferring to his dog.

But no amount of effort seems to turn Dusty into the winner that his master wants him to be, the attractive pooch sailing effortlessly over a hurdle on the book's cover (helped along with some digital technology). Rodi gets desperate, and decides to attempt some new strategies. He calls in a dog whisperer, tries aromatherapy, and signs Dusty up for acupuncture. In the process, his performance is not enhanced much but the bond between the two deepens. Surely that will help . . .

However, Rodi is now sidelined by a succession of cumulative injuries, and their trial year is drawing to a close. Unwilling to quit the competition, he calls Jeffrey into service to run Dusty at the next meet. And for the first time, he is able to step back from the course and just watch his dog run: "Yes, it's true he's not a fast dog, nor is he poetry in motion or an unstoppable juggernaut or anything like that. He's a little wad of scruff with a scrap of determination, that's all. But there are times . . . that he seems suddenly beautiful, suddenly graceful, suddenly powerful--and it occurs to me that I really do love the little guy." But still the question hangs in the air; should they continue their agility career or pack it all in? While the surprise ending to the book resolves this issue, I must confess to a letdown. It was not the outcome I wanted for these two, but it is the beginning to a whole new story.

I bought this book because it was a tale of a handler with a reactive sheltie, which I have as well. Turns out, the reactivity is not quite the same as mine, but I was just drawn into the book by the author's captivating way of describing the agility world. I laughed and cried along with him as he struggled to qualify with his dog. The descriptions of the shows is so accurate and I empathized with him at every turn. I highly recommend this book to anyone doing agility or even thinking about it.

Robert Rodi is a fabulously funny man. I absolutely loved his commentary and perspective on agility. I was, however, SO sorely disappointed by the missing bond between him and Dusty. Half-way through I started longing for what I was sure to come ... taking Dusty in his arms for a hug, or stroking him gently as Dusty's eyes lowered in sleep. I was SO aware of these poignantly missing moments, that I can actually recall when a speck of it finally did happen - page 233, 37 pages from the end. An end that left Rodi acquiescing to his partner Jeffrey's leadership of Dusty in the ring ... and going off to find another to replace him. Billed as "How a rescue dog rescued me," I ask, "Really?? How?"

I rarely laugh out loud when reading a book, but with this one I lost count of the times I cackled or giggled or even occasionally guffawed. Like the author, I adopted a shy/reactive, irresponsibly-bred, small herding dog (Mini Aussie) from a rescue and have been working with him in Agility, and have experienced almost every one of the awkward situations about which Mr. Rodi writes so vividly. But thanks to the fluid, fun, and engaging voice in which this book is written, it should appeal to anyone who loves dogs, whether or not they're involved with agility &/or shy dogs, and whether they're the type who wears "I (heart) My Dog" T-Shirts or Brooks Brothers pinpoint oxfords. The only frustration I felt was that, due to the author's frequent references to Dusty's odd & scrappy appearance, I kept pining for pictures. But then I discovered, late in the book, that he had posted a few videos of Dusty on YouTube. Very cool!

Fair warning: As others have said, this book is hard to put down. I rarely finish a book in less than 4-5 weeks due to a hectic schedule, but once I started this, I couldn't leave it lie. I polished it off in 3 days...then passed it on to my agility teacher, with the most effusive and heartfelt recommendation I could think of: "You just GOTTA read this!"

As a proud owner of a rescue dog and an agility enthusiast, I HAD to read "Dogged Pursuit" by Robert Rodi. Even those that do not compete in agility can relate to the bond that forms between Dusty and Robert. Through training and the competitions that the duo shared, Robert (and probably Dusty, too) learned more about his partner and more importantly himself. This book is a must for anyone that would like to experience or has experienced the joy of why dogs are "man's best friend" and what man will do to keep his best friend happy.

This book really sneaks up on you. Though I was laughing from the get-go, there were also pages that had me in tears. Rodi's memoir is full of heart, not only for his dogs but especially the people that would never have entered his life, if not for his canine adventures. Even if you're not a dog nut, "Dogged Pursuit" still makes for a great read.