Customer Reviews

Tricks of the Trade: From Best Intentions to Best in Show, Revised Edition

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this book based on reviews suggesting that this is the one book to get if you are a novice in the conformation ring. It is definitely not that. It is maybe a good book for a novice breeder who is intending to also show their first prospect - and who may be clueless about how to identify a good foundation stock puppy. Much of the book's substance is how to identify a prospect and then how to proceed as a breeder - like advertising, etc. Very little of the book helps a notive/intermediate handler actually do as the title suggests - from best intentions to best in show. It is not very helpful for people who already know how to get a good puppy, know the basics of stucture and how to do basic grooming and care, but would like to learn the basics of showing and the stepped up demands of grooming.

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.

This is the next best thing to hiring a professional handler. My copy is already getting dog eared. If you are new to showing or have been handling your dogs yourself without advancing as far or as quick as you would like, this is the book to buy.

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!!

This book is a must for anyone competing or looking to compete in a dog show. I'm sure this book would be valuable to exhibitors at any level of competition.

The revised edition of Pat Hastings and Erin Ann Rouse's Tricks Of The Trade: From Best Intentions To Best In Show expands information for any active in purebred dogs, discussing judging, effective breeding, rearing a show dog, training, nutrition, grooming and presentation. There are many insider tricks and tips included, all gained from the author's experiences, and practical reviews which are absolutely essential to successful showing. Tricks Of The Trade is a must for any serious dog show competitor; especially newcomers.

I am new to conformation. This book was easy to read and had alot of great tips/suggestions/ideas for conformation.

Pat has done it again! The tremendous wealth of information that was in the first edition, only bigger and better! The skeletal images are a fantastic addition and all of the extra material contributes enough to make it well worth it. I loved the first edition and this one is even better.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about purebred dogs - and even for someone who is just interested in canine sports like agility or flyball. There is so much structural wisdom in these pages that it is a benefit to all who read it.

A++ in my grade book!

This is the third book I have purchased in pursuit of knowledge on showing my dog. It is by far at the bottom of the stack insofar as it contains virtually nothing on how to show or handle a dog in the ring. I'm not entirely sure what the author was shooting for, but what she ended up with is a bullet point style Cliff Notes version of "everything you ever wanted to know about structure but were afraid to ask." Perhaps the book's description isn't clear enough, but this is certainly not a book on how to show your dog. It is a basic introduction to the author's method of assessing structure in puppies (but contains virtually nothing on temperament assessment, genetic health screening, etc.)....if that's what I had been looking for I might be more impressed. Even so, my dog would not have passed her "8 week structure test" but coalesced into a fabulously strong specimen so I'm a little leery of her method being your only determining factor when assessing a litter.....truth is even the most experienced show breeder is still only guessing what a puppy will grow up to be. When I am ready to start reading on puppy evaluation, however, I will certainly look for a book with more meat in it--this really is just a light introduction.

All in all I'm glad I got this book as a gift. If you want to part with a hard earned $20 and really learn something about how to show your dog look into Peter Green's "New Secrets of Successful Show Dog Handling" and George Alston's "The Winning Edge". Keeping in mind that with any book on the topic, you need to take any statements made in the "absolute" vein with a grain of salt. I gave three stars because there were two or three tidbits that I will use in my own show training program. Bottom line is I try to take something away from anything I read...but while the other two books I mentioned are dog-eared and highlighted to oblivion (and referred to weekly) this one is going to find itself lost on the shelf once I've integrated the couple of odd tips I picked up.

If you are seeking an introduction into structure assessment in puppies you will probably like this book....in that sense I can see where it would be useful. If your looking for help with your prep and presentation in the ring, look elsewhere.

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!