The Fell Terrier -Brian Plummer

[Xx-Mac-xX 8]

After some opinions

 

I have a young Patterdale & was considering the purchase of the above book

 

 

I was looking for some backgound / history on the breed & the men behind the dogs

 

Stories of bygone hunters & dogs & perhaps some useful tips on bringing on my dog

 

 

Would this book hit the spot or would I find it a waste of my hard earned money ?

 

Thanks in advance of any responses

[the_stig 6,614]

hang onto your cash .. do a google search for what your looking for,.. thrs is odd extracts from the book on some sites .. for better reading look up dave harcombes books ..

[Big bald beautiful 1,231]

old book, and older lines.could do with an updated book

[redpat1 225]

I have read The Fell Terrier and found it a bit old fashioned and lacking action in detail. Go for something like Work them Hard by Dave Harcomb. That will hit the spot.

 

ATB

 

Pat

[p3d 879]

Would agree with the above, Plummer was a talented writer, but nearly all of the book is false or misleading.

He patched together tales and stories to suit an audience that were hungry for information.

 

IMO The history of the Patterdale is so recent (early 60's) that there is no history.

In Eddie Poole's own words, "This Patterdale terrier breed they talk about is a load of boll@cks!!"

(Eddie lived in Patterdale all of his life, as did his father and grandfather before him.)

 

Gould and Nuttal must take most of the credit for the dog in front of you.

Bred a black Staffordshire bull terrier into a fell terrier and were clever enough to keep the size down,

The real marketing trick was getting the Black colour as a dominant gene.

If they were mostly White with brown or black patches, they would have been another Russell line.

Had some good dogs (Spartacus etc..)and bred the Ar$e off them until the working terrier world was flooded with them.

and convince everyone around them that these smooth black dogs were the best thing since sliced pan.

 

Old style Russell's, Working Border's, Working Lakeland's, Fells were pushed aside by this new breed.

They started earlier, worked harder, etc, etc...

 

This is what I believe is the truth behind the Patterdale history. JMHO

 

But what you have is a Smooth Working terrier, right size and hopefully an excellent drive to get the job done.

This is all we can ask for. What does it matter what it is called?

 

IMO the books are full of "Legends". Good fireside reading, but you can read 50 of them

and still not get advice on locating quarry, entering a terrier, or digging a hole correctly.

 

If you can find a good digging guy in your area and get out with him, it will help you more than any book.

ATB.

[Cleanspade 3,322]

as said above. good fireside reading. i enjoyed it. and despite what everyone says. there is some interesting info and cracking old pics. well worth a place on a terriermans bookshelf

[Bosun11 537]

Whilst I totaly agree with p3d on both Plummer and the history of the black dogs, i'd also agree with Cleanspade in that it really does deserve a place on any terriermans bookshelf.

Go on, get yourself a copy.

[gonetoearth 5,144]

LAST TIME I LOOKED HANG ON A MO

[Strong Stuff 2,171]

I'm told that this is the book that was produced from the writings that were sent to a publisher, who seemingly passed them to Plummer and he wrote the final book and stole all the photos, never returning them.

 

The man who did all the hard work has definitely got a book or 10 in him, and an amazing collection of old photos and diaries, some of which may soon be published

 

I've no reason to doubt the man who told me about "his" book being stolen, he's as genuine as they come, even if he does look like Ken Dodd

[gonetoearth 5,144]

yep FELL TERRIER not patterdale get the book good read some ones got mine and fooked if i can rember who

[gonetoearth 5,144]

I'm told that this is the book that was produced from the writings that were sent to a publisher, who seemingly passed them to Plummer and he wrote the final book and stole all the photos, never returning them.

 

The man who did all the hard work has definitely got a book or 10 in him, and an amazing collection of old photos and diaries, some of which may soon be published

 

I've no reason to doubt the man who told me about "his" book being stolen, he's as genuine as they come, even if he does look like Ken Dodd

been in the company of another sage of the fellterrier who could write a few but wont shame all there past will go to the grave with them unless , some one records it all

[hedz31 1,308]

it's the only hunting book ive ever read but it must be 15 to 20 years ago i read it i think i liked it back then