Just Labs

by Dale C. Spartas and Steve Smith

Book Overview

The Labrador retriever is the most popular breed of dog in the country, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). And no wonder: Labs are big, beautiful, and all personality. Just Labs is a lavishly produced photographic tribute to these unique animals and their masters (who number in the millions). More than 200 color photos, accompanied by warm and insightful text, depict Labs being Labs - at home, at play, and, especially, in the field where...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1572230290
• ISBN13: 9781572230293
• Release Date: September 1995
• Publisher: Willow Creek Press
• Length: 143 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 10.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Perfect Photo and Story Book For Labrador People!

For someone like me who has spent countless hours, days and weeks in the company of four or more Labrador Retrievers, this book is a hoot. It takes light-hearted look at Labradors, sharing a bounty of beautiful photographs of man's best friends with us, and looking at the personality traits and character qualities that make them the single most popular breed in America today. Labs are among the most social of canines, yet they are remarkably calm and pacific once they know you. Which isn't to deny the fact that they are very active and energetic, and that anyone who lives with one needs to ensure the dog and he or she spend sopme time outside in vigorous play every day. But as the author tells us, we love labradors because they seem to represent the best and most admirable qualities we happen to admire.Labradors are amazingly loyal, and are quite keyed into your emotional state and sense of well-being. As a person who sometimes suffers from migraines, I can attest that the dogs seem to reconize my symptoms and key their own behavior from this perception of the way I am feeling, being much more willing to simply take a nap with me than usual, since they seem to understand from past experience that the migraine will dirve me back to bed. They show many endearing and remarkable traits, and we find ourselves amazed by just how intelligent, perceptive, and attractive they are as a species. Labradors also live almost exclusively in the moment, and are ethusiastic and energetic in their pursuit of fun and frolic. Anyone living in their company can attest to the fact that you are never at a loss for entertainment when your Labrador friend is around, and he or she are happy to just be with you, and are almost oo willing and too anxious to show you just how excited they are to have you around. Coming home after a long day's work means a kidn of instant celebration, with four Labradors jumping, barking, and wall-banging, so glad are they to have me back home with them. Find a human who is that glad to see you, and you have found true love, my friend. Yet it is all here in spades with the Labradors, and this entertaining little book will seerve to amuse you, educate you, and sometimes surprise you with its nuggets of information, parcels of knowledge, and bits of wisdom about just why it is that Labradors rule the roost around my house! Enjoy!

Dog photos...

Ask any photography instructor, and he will say, "I don't want to see any puppy and kitty pictures!" How wrong they are. Dale does a great job of presenting the working Lab in everyday situations, from the field trial to the duck blind and the upland field, and he does it with a great sense of humor. This book, however, is not a training manual. If you're wondering how to train Labs to do what Dale shows them doing, check out Mike Gould's "The Labrador Shooting Dog". Another great look at working Labs is Paul and Julie Knutsons' "The Pointing Labrador." Both books have great photographs of Labs in action, by the way, and the training techniques to back them up.

Just for your Enjoyment

Just Labs is a book of few words an magnificent photography. This is not a book that will tell you how to raise your dog, or what kind of food to feed it, or what dog won best of show 10 years ago. It will amuse you and is guaranteed to sit on your desk at work, your coffee table, or your nightstand as a book that will make you smile. It is very easy to read and quite humorous. One section reads:"Someone once said that it's possible to train a Lab by treating him like a three-year old child; if so then it's no wonder Labs and kids are so inseparable. Imagine a guardian who never sleeps, one with the eyes and ears to rival the best security system ever devised, one that knows roads are bad things and will steer your youngster away from them. At the same time, they realize that a short little kid with an ice-cream cone is like a gift from God."If you want a fun book to just make you smile, this book is for you.

A perfect gift for the lab-lover, and a treasure in our

collection. The book is full of great photos paying equal homage to the "field" vs. "English" labs, and does not disciminate over color. His photography skills capture the personalities of the breed, and the depth of the relationships between dog and handler. The captions are perfect, and some will bring a tear to the eye of even the most stoic of us all. The book is slanted toward field work, domestic life and hunting activities, rather than conformance or obedience work. My husband loved this as a gift, and he is nearly impossible to buy for. All in all, though, it is a beautiful tribute to this remarkable breed.

A stunningly illustrated, joyful look at the best dog of all

JUST LABS features a series of gorgeous, imaginative photos of labs in all walks of life. Equal billing is given to blacks, chocolates, and yellows. Both writer and photographer are clearly long time lab afficionados, who provide heart warming glimpses into the character and spirit of labs, explaining why these guys are the most outstanding dogs in all fields. An easy and enjoyable read, a super coffee-table book, Just Labs is a keeper.