Customer Reviews

The Labrador Retriever: The History...the People...Revisited; Second Edition

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a lavishly illustrated book that is just plain a treat for the eyes. It's also well written; slanted toward the working side of the breed and containing a few digs at the show breeders, it nonetheless offers up some good reading. The most controversial part of the book deals with Mr. Wolter's theory of the history of the Labrador (lost in the mists of time, so open to [wild] speculation), but the theory is interesting whether or not you buy it, and the photographs and supporting documents of interest. I like this book even though I have quibbles with parts of it and recommend it to people seriously interested in Labradors. If you're just looking for basic info on the lab, though, I would start with something else.

I have a great love of the Labrador Retriever and have been an AKC Field Trial judge, a trainer, a handler, and a breeder of Field Champion Labradors under the name of Saltair Labradors. I had run across a blog stating that Jack Cassidy, a long time fellow labrador enthusiast, and National Champion breeder, was mentioned in this book. I set about getting a copy to cherish for myself. This is a GREAT BOOK for true labrador enthusiasts. It is a really comprehensive history of the breed and is one of the very few books that deals with the Field Trial World where Labradors became King of the retriever breeds. Yes, there was a very active and real Field Trial World, devised of people who lived for these dogs. They were most often not the owners, sometimes not the handlers, but they were the trainers. This era of true love of the breed was the era of "Bad" Jack Cassidy and yes, there was a "Good Jack", but few people remember the bland. Read this book if you LOVE this breed.

This is a great book! It gives a good historical source of the breeds history, breeders instilled traits, and gives insight as to what the dogs natural abilities are, and how they came to be. If you are interested in hunting dogs, and are thinking of a Labrador Retriever this is a good book to have.

Good book, covers the Labrador retriever and all of the interesting history behind this breed that has made the retriever the great dog that it is today.