Panther: And Other Stories of Great Hunting Retrievers: Original Stories About the Special Bonds Between Man and Dog [Hardcover]

Art DeLaurier Jr. (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2003

The story of Panther, the small Labrador retriever with the big heart, leads off this exciting collection of tales devoted exclusively to hunting retrievers. A diminutive pheasant hunting dog from the Dakotas, Panther rose from obscurity during the late 1940s and early 1950s to become the most consistent winner in field-trial history. His 24 wins and 172 championship points rank him as the best field-trialer of his time. Only one thing eluded him: A national championship.

Seven times, Panther's wins qualified him to run in the nationals, where he was known as the dog to beat. And seven times he fell just short of the national title-twice on technicalities that seemed designed to keep the "outlaw dog from the Wild West" from attaining his rightful prize.

Though Panther never placed first in the nationals, he did eventually earn first place in his irascible owner's heart. And so it is with the other retrievers in this anthology. Each is first in his master's heart, and each inspires a unique story about the special bonds that form between man and dog when engaged in the common pursuit of hunting waterfowl and upland game birds.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The story of Panther, the small Labrador retriever with the big heart, leads off this exciting collection of eighteen tales devoted exclusively to hunting retrievers. A diminutive pheasant hunting dog from the Dakotas, Panther rose from obscurity during the late 1940s and early 1950s to become the most consistent winner in field-trial history. His 24 wins and 172 championship points rank him as the best field-trialer of his time. Only one thing eluded him: A national championship.
The book's title story chronicles Panther's quest to win the national field-trial championship, and his ultimate triumph of earning first place in his irascible owner's heart.
Each of the other retrievers in this anthology is first in his master's heart as well, and each inspires a unique story about the special bonds that form between man and dog when engaged in the common pursuit of hunting waterfowl and upland game birds.

About the Author

Leading the list of notable authors-which include E. Donnall Thomas Jr., John Barsness, Michael McIntosh, Ted Lundrigan, and Doug Larsen, among others-is Sandy Smith, the former investigative reporter for Time magazine who helped break the Watergate story. Smith puts his veteran reporting skills to the task of uncovering the truth behind Panther's thwarted quest for a national title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; 1st edition (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932052143
• ISBN-13: 978-1932052145
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,390,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you understand hunting dogs..., August 12, 2009

By 

Klipspringer (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panther: And Other Stories of Great Hunting Retrievers: Original Stories About the Special Bonds Between Man and Dog (Hardcover)

I've hunted with Labrador retrievers for nearly 30 years, and can attest to the "special bonds" that exist between a hunting dog and the two-legged hunter, something that the average dog owner will never experience, no matter how much they love their pet. Only the hunter will ever experience the incredible feats, heart, and emotions that a good hunting dog is capable of. Retrievers in particular are capable of showing you exactly what they think; miss an easy shot on a bird, and they will look over their shoulder at you as if to say, "I'm out here doing my job and you miss THAT shot? Maybe you should give that shotgun to me!"

"Panther" is a book hunters will enjoy. The non-hunter can appreciate these special dogs, but not to the same degree. It is not a book you will sit down and read cover to cover, but one you'll pick up on a cold winter's night to read one story at a time. Normally I avoid most "me and my dog" stories, since I have enough "me and my dog" stories to write my own book. I also dislike overdone sentimentality and the wailing and gnashing of teeth when a good dog passes on, since over 30 years I've had to deal with that heart-wrenching inevitability many times. I don't care to read someone else's eulogy to "old Shep." Been there and done that myself, and have shed my own tears over my own dogs. That's enough.

Fortunately, "Panther" in general avoids excessive sentimentality and simply relates the stories of some exceptional dogs. It is not high literature, it does not set out to "prove" anything or make any points. It simply tells some good stories about real dogs. Any hunter who has had that "special" dog once in their lifetime will understand. It reaffirms why an addiction to hunting retrievers is more expensive, at times more frustrating and more difficult to break than a heroin habit...and why people like me can't live without them.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Dog Stories Ever, November 3, 2003

By 

John Peterson (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panther: And Other Stories of Great Hunting Retrievers: Original Stories About the Special Bonds Between Man and Dog (Hardcover)

My wife gave me this book for my birthday and I was bowled over. The title story made me laugh, cry--and that was only the beginning. The comparison to Seabiscuit is apt. Panther is the definition of an underdog. What a great heart. The other stories, too, were wonderful. I loved John Madson's tale about the Lab Bess, who fetched mallards between giving birth to a whole litter of puppies. And the story of the boy who saved an old duck dog who had fallen through the ice, returning an earlier favor. Ted Lundrigan's story "Trust in Black" was so good it made me look up his other books on Amazon. What a brilliant writer. I don't think I've ever read a more poignant, heart-felt confession about a man's love for retrievers, or any other breeds or individual dogs.

Buy this book for yourself or someone else. It will be one of the best presents you'll ever give or get!

5.0 out of 5 stars Lab Lover's Tearjerkers, June 12, 2007

By 

T. Martin "Walk with the Ancient Ones" (Prairie land USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panther: And Other Stories of Great Hunting Retrievers: Original Stories About the Special Bonds Between Man and Dog (Hardcover)

We've got Triever Fever, and our Yellow Lab is 3 years old now. I had to get this book because it's kind of like that license plate frame that says "If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand". The stories are wonderfully written and we'd love to see a "Panther II". It will pull at your heartstrings like no others can, and if you are owned by a Lab or know someone who is, it's a great gift as well. Highly recommended!