Upland Passage : A Field Dog's Education

As author Jones watched his beloved black Labrador retriever Luke grow older, he decided to add a puppy to the household. Enter Jake, a cuddly, photogenic yellow Lab puppy, eager to learn and please. With great patience and compassion, Jones tells how Luke helped him train Jake, both as a retriever in the field and an obedient household pet. Luke's death, and Jones' and Jake's reactions to it, are movingly told. A loving, humorous book accented with many glorious full-color photographs.

A truly delightful and beautiful book about the wonders of the Labrador retriever at home and in the field.

Robert F. Jones was one of the foremost outdoor writers in America. He was also a novelist of great prowess. His thirteen books include the novels: Blood Sport, The Buffalo Runners, Deadville, and The Run to Gitche Gumee, and his nonfiction includes: Hunter in My Heart and Dancers in the Sunset Sky. He is an American literary treasure.

Bill Eppridge has been a contact photographer with Sports Illustrated since 1974 and was a staff photographer for Life until it ceased publication. He has covered everything from political campaigns to African wildlife.

It’s the playfulness of the Labrador retriever—perhaps even more than its eagerness to please and learn—that made Robert F. Jones an owner and enthusiast of the breed for nearly forty years. While most upland bird hunters prefer a surefire pointing breed, Jones delights in the existential rhythm of working in the fields with a good flushing dog. Upland Passage features Luke, a black Lab who’s nearing retirement age. He’s been an invaluable companion in both the field and at home. But Jones realizes it’s time to train a replacement. That’s when he decides to get Jake, a wriggling yellow Lab puppy. The training of Jake by Jones and Luke and the pup’s coming of age is the subject in photos and prose of this charming, irresistible book.

Publisher: The Lyons Press
Distributor: The Globe Pequot Press
Publication Date: 10-01-2004
Pages: 80
Measurements: 9.00in X 8.00in