What do you think?
Rate this book
Jack Russell Dog Detective #1
Dognapped!
When someone steals an old boot, Jack doesn't care. Then someone steals his squeaker bone. And his blanket. And Red's ball. Now Jack DOES care. Who is the thief of Doggeroo? How will Jack solve the case of - the DOG DEN MYSTERY?
Paperback
First published June 19, 2006
4 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Darrel Odgers
30 books8 followersDarrel Odgers was born in Tasmania. He has been married to Sally Odgers since 1979, and they have two adult children. Darrel and Sally Odgers have co-written several books, including the popular Jack Russell: Dog Detective series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 22, 2021
First sentence: Round and round and round. The paws are faster than sound. Round and round, round and round, round and...
Premise/plot: Jack Russell, our hero, is moving with his human, Sarge (a police detective), to a new town, Doggeroo, in this first installment of a mystery series for young readers. As he's settling into his place--in particular his new back yard--he discovers some disconcerting smells and makes some observations. His yard HAD an old boot when they arrived, but, soon after the boot is gone. At first he's fine--it's not HIS boot--but then his own things (like his food bowl, his blanket, his squeak bone, etc) go missing. Can Jack Russell solve this case of burglary and reclaim his stuff?
My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one. I loved the narration/narrative style. Jack has a very unique voice. He includes plenty of JACK FACTS and a glossary with each chapter. It is a fun, light-hearted read. I loved the characters, the dialogue, the illustrations.
Jack Facts
Cars have windows. Dogs have noses. When these things come together, one must be stuck out the other. This is a fact. (4)
Scratching and yapping gets you into the house when you're out. Scratching and yapping gets you out of the house when you're in. This is a fact. (14)
Jack's Glossary
Squekes. Small hairy dogs with bulging eyes and loud yaffles. (34)
Pan-dog-monium. A lot of noise that involves dogs. (62)
Premise/plot: Jack Russell, our hero, is moving with his human, Sarge (a police detective), to a new town, Doggeroo, in this first installment of a mystery series for young readers. As he's settling into his place--in particular his new back yard--he discovers some disconcerting smells and makes some observations. His yard HAD an old boot when they arrived, but, soon after the boot is gone. At first he's fine--it's not HIS boot--but then his own things (like his food bowl, his blanket, his squeak bone, etc) go missing. Can Jack Russell solve this case of burglary and reclaim his stuff?
My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one. I loved the narration/narrative style. Jack has a very unique voice. He includes plenty of JACK FACTS and a glossary with each chapter. It is a fun, light-hearted read. I loved the characters, the dialogue, the illustrations.
Jack Facts
Cars have windows. Dogs have noses. When these things come together, one must be stuck out the other. This is a fact. (4)
Scratching and yapping gets you into the house when you're out. Scratching and yapping gets you out of the house when you're in. This is a fact. (14)
Jack's Glossary
Squekes. Small hairy dogs with bulging eyes and loud yaffles. (34)
Pan-dog-monium. A lot of noise that involves dogs. (62)
January 30, 2025
My students and I both didn’t care for this book. I love Wish Bone and was hoping this would be better suited for my first graders but they were not interested.
January 9, 2012
I liked it so much i read it in one night!
Read
February 2, 2012It was a good mystery with really good characters.
July 18, 2017
Wishbone read alike. Cute mystery and a very sassy pooch!
June 14, 2019
Cool little story. I think that the introductions of the characters in this story will help for reading the other titles in the series.
I read this aloud during class library time at my local primary school. I read it to the Year 3/4 class and they got it. There are now three or four girls reading others of the series.
I also read it to the Year 1/2 class and while some enjoyed it, they always wanted to see the pictures which weren't really the best for sharing with a class of 25 students: next time I will choose a picture book instead.
I read this aloud during class library time at my local primary school. I read it to the Year 3/4 class and they got it. There are now three or four girls reading others of the series.
I also read it to the Year 1/2 class and while some enjoyed it, they always wanted to see the pictures which weren't really the best for sharing with a class of 25 students: next time I will choose a picture book instead.
August 23, 2025
We have this whole series and it was fine. It was perfectly wholesome and something I'm glad we have for my kids to read, but as a readaloud it was boring and kind of immature. We're following a dog named Jack (the Jack Russel) who is trying to figure out whats happening to all of his toys that go missing. He's trying to be funny (and punny) and maybe it would be funny for a 6 year old reading it solo, but for me I was ready to be done. This took 2 sittings of reading aloud so they're not long books, but they're also not great.
December 3, 2019
Breakfast reading. The dog is likeable and the story interesting. Jack has moved to a new neighborhood and a crime spree is ongoing. He will take the case and make sure everyone, humans and dogs, is happy when he's done.
Bought this at a benefit sale. I also picked up the #3 of the series. This is coming next.
Bought this at a benefit sale. I also picked up the #3 of the series. This is coming next.
March 3, 2020
Jack Russell is a jack Russell terrier who solves mysteries. He moves to a new town and someone steals his blanket and toy! He solves the mystery but not before making some wrong assumptions.
Told from a dog’s point-of-view, but not my favorite dog series or mystery series. Fairly short but not many pictures.
Told from a dog’s point-of-view, but not my favorite dog series or mystery series. Fairly short but not many pictures.
May 16, 2020
There must have been some new scent of Foxy on the basket and in the yard when Foxy stole Jack's squeaker bone, bowl with food, and cozy blanket from Antie Tidge. You know, Jack can notice that he passed a yard where someone buried a bone last march from a driving car window. How could he miss a new scent of Foxy? It doesn't make sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2022
The Dog Den Mystery series was a favorite of my children/niece in early elementary school. I loved reading it with them. It's funny, sweet, mysterious, and a tiny bit edgy. Great series for kids who love dogs and a bit of adventure.
August 25, 2023
Such a cute story and Odgers captures a Jack Russell's spirit! I actually read this to my Jack Russell because why not? He would perk up all the time when I said ball or bone haha But he also snuggled in and went to sleep on occasion which was too cute <3
December 22, 2024
Was a cute quick read told from a pups perspective!! Love that there is a series!
September 28, 2016
Jack Russell was having a nice day in the morning, when he noticed his boot was gone. He chews on it. He doesn't mind that it is gone. His bowl, blanket, and squeeker bone were all missing. Now he cares.
Jack went to find out who stole his things. I liked when he actually found the "person" who took his items.
I liked this book because there were a lot of misunderstandings that were worked out.
[read and reviewed by a 7 year old, typed by his mama]
Jack went to find out who stole his things. I liked when he actually found the "person" who took his items.
I liked this book because there were a lot of misunderstandings that were worked out.
[read and reviewed by a 7 year old, typed by his mama]
March 4, 2021
Good for a 5 year old
Read
February 17, 2017These books (I have 3 of them from the series) made me so happy as a kid, combining my 3 favourite things to this day: books, dogs and puns!
June 6, 2015
My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.
http://spreadthewordnevada.org/
Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.
I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.
http://spreadthewordnevada.org/
Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.
I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.
June 13, 2010
Jack Russell, Dog Detective is told from Jack's point of view.
Jack's owner is Sarge and they are moving out of Sarge's Aunties house to a town called Dogeroo.
While you read you will find lot's of "jacks facts" as well as explanations regarding words that Jack uses like, "terriertory" and "terrierfying". This chapter book also has imaginative little maps and illustrations through out the pages that makes it really fun and funny. Yes, I LOL'ed a few times.
I think this series would be great for boys or girls and have been recommending it and getting good feed back about it at work.
Jack's owner is Sarge and they are moving out of Sarge's Aunties house to a town called Dogeroo.
While you read you will find lot's of "jacks facts" as well as explanations regarding words that Jack uses like, "terriertory" and "terrierfying". This chapter book also has imaginative little maps and illustrations through out the pages that makes it really fun and funny. Yes, I LOL'ed a few times.
I think this series would be great for boys or girls and have been recommending it and getting good feed back about it at work.
August 25, 2016
Enjoyed reading this and the other 11 from the series with my son. They are not very long chapter books which is perfect for my 7 year old. The stories are fun little mysteries that kept my son guessing and wanting to read more to find out who did the crime in the book. Also loved how it was written....as Jack Russel would say it was "Pawfect". Great reads and recommend them to any one with younger children!
October 14, 2015
This was a homeschool read for my son and I. We needed a short read and boy was it worth it. It's funny, filled with doggy puns and laugh-out-loud good. A Jack Russell has moved into a new ho e but shortly after, he's robbed. So he becomes a detective (his human landlord is an officer), and is on the case!
September 23, 2012
It was about a dog detective and he found a old dogden and he thout there were dog nappers. But it terned out tobe no dog napers.But he found a dog named foxy and he had stolen jack russell's toys and reds toys.
May 17, 2009
Funny first chapter book for kids who like dogs or mysteries.
May 22, 2009
Intended readers (ages 4-8) would probably love the broad humor of this series about (what else) a Jack Russell terrier's sleuthing.
March 4, 2010
Lower level, very short.
May 13, 2010
Book 1 in the Jack Russel: Dog Detective series. Jack Russell terrier solves the mystery of his stolen squeaker toy and blanket. Early chapter book.
March 27, 2011
jack lost all of his dog toys blanket and food.where is it he said .he found it with reds ball with Foxy.the mystery was solved
Auryn 7yo
Auryn 7yo
May 10, 2011
My son and I read this together. Great story...although there were times it would lose him. I had to reign him in and get him up to speed. We will definitely be reading the others in the series.
September 11, 2011
N. said that it was not quite as good as the magic treehouse books, or the A to Z mysteries.
March 28, 2012
In this story, Jack's favorite items have been stolen. He finds out another dog named Foxie took his things. Auntie Tige wanted to take him home. L.A.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews