"EMINENT DOGS, DANGEROUS MEN"

by Donald McCaig ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 27, 1991

The Virginia rancher and author of the talking-dog saga Nop's Trials (1984) sniffs around the world of the border collie. McCaig's border collie (a.k.a. sheep dog), Pip, is ripe for pasture, so the author heads to Scotland to find himself a young 'un. There he is welcomed or rebuffed by a number of Scots, all seemingly eccentric, taciturn, and keen-eyed. McCaig mimics their burr (""She dinna just look her best today. She's just comin' off pups, ye ken""), admires their dogs, marvels at their land with its cold green crags. Much of his time is taken up with sheep dog trials (""the most difficult test of a man and dog ever devised""), wherein a complex set of whistling commands by an expert handler (known as a ""Big Hat"") guides a collie through a course of fetching sheep and driving them into a pen. At these trials and on the road, McCaig fills us in on legendary Big Hats and dogs--especially a collie named Wiston Cap, who seems to be to border collies what Secretariat is to thoroughbreds. Finally, McCaig buys his new dog (for $1900!), takes her home to Virginia to meet the folks, then returns to Scotland for the international Sheepdog Trials. Heaven for dog-lovers, although a high tolerance for wet fields, sloppy tongues, and tartan is advised.

Pub Date: Feb. 27, 1991

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1991

Categories: NONFICTION