Description: It's the playfulness of the Labrador retriever - perhaps even more than its eagerness to please and learn - that has made Robert F. Jones an owner and enthusiast of the breed for nearly thirty years. While most upland bird hunters prefer a surefire pointing breed, Jones delights in the existential rhythm of working the fields with a good flushing dog - it's the spontaneity and the teamwork, not the number of kills, that mark the spirit of the hunt for him. During the past eleven years, Luke, a black Lab who's nearing retirement age, has been an invaluable companion both in the field and at home. But as Luke gets older, Jones realizes that it's time to train a new dog. That's when he decides to get Jake. And upon their first meeting, Bob can tell that this eight-week-old yellow Lab has all the makings of a beautiful, strong hunting dog. Accompanied by Bill Eppridge's lively photographs, Upland Passage is a wonderful weave of history, biography, and personal philosophy. Tracing the roots of the Labrador to its earliest ancestors, Robert Jones examines the relationship between man and dog, teaching us the elements of proper training, and showing us the lessons both man and dog stand to learn from each other.

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