Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men: Searching Through Scotland For A Border Collie

This book is the non-fiction story of the search by one man for the perfect sheep dog. Intriguing for the dog stories, people and Scotland locales. If you have not read Nop’s Trial and the second one in the series (Nop’s Hope, I think) you are missing a rare treat. They are both indescribably wonderful books.

First, if like me you don't know anything about the world of herding trials then do a little research on the internet and get some basic info before reading this book. Wikipedia has a good entry for instance. McCaig explains how it works in the book but its kind of hard to grasp if you don't know anything about it.What makes this book readable for anyone but border collie or herding aficionados is that McCaig is a proffesional writer. Otherwise it probably wouldn't keep the interest of the casual reader. Since McCaig is a very good writer and storyteller the book can appeal to a wider audience.My favorite chapter in the book was the imagined conversation between James Hobb and the author in heaven. My least favorite part of the book is that McCaig seemed to pick up the habit of using Scottish words or terms himself, rather than just reporting how Scots talk. The word 'wee' sounds fine coming from a Scotsperson but kind of lame from an American.My own dogs are just pets, but I do mightily enjoy reading about all types of working dogs. So you don't have to be a shepherd to enjoy this book.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any dog person or person looking for an emersion into something new. However, if you have any interest in border collies, sheepdog trials, or the people, history, and geography of Scotland then I would HIGHLY recommend this book. It is a descriptive and crisply written travel adventure focused on the world of sheepdog trials in the US and mostly in Scotland. There are many interesting characters, both human and dog. I appreciate the details about the dogs and their amazing abilities as it gives them the respect they deserve. Also, the role of the sheep and sheepdogs in Scottish history was very interesting. As the author points out, sheepdog trials involve man, dog, and sheep and anything can happen. If you plan to visit Scotland, read this book and you might find yourself wanting to go to a sheepdog trial which appear to be plentiful during the summer. As others have commented, I would have liked to know more about what became of Pip and Gael, but did not feel that was a shortcoming for the book.

I bought this book to read more background information on the traditional life of a border collie, as my border collie has more to do with chasing balls and climbing on agility equipment than herding sheep.The book tells some amazing stories, about shepherds, about dogs, and about shepherds and dogs. The relationship between shepherd and dog in Scotland seems to range from impersonal and utilitarian at times, to warm and familial at others. Without a doubt, these dogs are there to work, not to be pets or "man's best friend", but at the end of the day, they are still cherished by their owners.If you already have a border collie, you likely already realize that they are among the most magnificent animals on the planet; if you don't, this book will show you the way.

Okay, bad pun, but I couldn't resist. I have both traveled thru Scotland, shared a lot of my life with 4 border collies or BC mixes, and spent some time with trials, and I very much enjoyed this book. I had read one other book by him (Border Collies and the AKC) and didn't think it very well written, but this book was a much better read, and the story was told quite well. I think people would learn a lot about the true nature of border collies just from reading this book - perhaps reading it ought to be prerequisite for adopting or purchasing one...

Donald McCaig has a very keen eye for people and dogs with a clear but entertaining way of sharing what he sees. I have read a couple of his "dog books". They are not the typical tear jerk treacle that can be satisfying in a different way but a more real life perspective of dogs and their people that interact with them.This book focuses on working dogs and the life that goes on around them.I think I will read some of his other genre books.Jay

As we follow this unique man and talented writer on his hunt through Scotland for his own border collie, the intricacies of the border collie 'culture' take one in. The story is warm and fascinating enough to have lured me to border collie trials. Mr. McCaig happened to act as 'emcee' at my first one. He explained carefully and humorously the steps being taken in the field as the dogs went about gathering in their sheep, and saw to it that even the rawest novice got the picture. "Nops Hope" and "Nops Trials" are two of his fictions and so well worth following up with after this one .

Good read for the Border Collie owner interested in knowing more about the breed, including their history. Also gives insight into the culture surrounding sheepherding competition in Great Britain. I found it interesting, informative and his writing style is most enjoyable.

I could not put this book down. I have a Border Collie--my second--and a few sheep, so the subject matter certainly appealed to me, but it was the author's evocation of the Highlands of Scotland, the sheepdog trials, his quest for a good dog, his fascination for the dogs and the people who worked them or kept them, all so vividly described, that made me read on and on. I felt the mists, saw the lochs, and rooted for every dog he encountered. He included some of the tragic history of the Highlands and while reading I almost heard distant plaintive bagpipes, so strong was the sense of place. It's a true memoir of McCaig's quest for a good dog for his sheep farm in Virginia, and he found one. I was sorry when I reached the end of this book. I wanted more. I'm now reading his book, The Dog Wars, which is about the struggle of the working Border Collie community to keep The American Kennel Club or AKC, from including Border Collies in their registry. A working dog is not the same as a show dog and when a Border Collie is bred for AKC conformation standards, you might get a beautiful dog, but the instinct to herd sheep could be bred right out of the breed.I spend a lot of time in Wales and Border collies are side by side with sheep farmers, all over the countryside. No two dogs look alike. They are not bred for conformation, but for health and for their instincts. A Border Collie working sheep is something to see.

grest read

Read only 2 chapters , but i can tell the book is very interesting with that much.The author has a knack for mixing humour with something serious. REGARDING THE SELLER , the books looks like deplicate copy because , 1 the picturee have lines like cheap xerox copy , the pages are not aligned in the last. Plus there is no indec or about the author.