Zip Zap: The True Story of a Dog and a Dream

by Mike Gaddis

On the heels of his highly acclaimed novel Jenny Willow, Mike Gaddis reaches again into a half-century love affair with pointing dogs and upland birds to retrieve the true-life story of Zip Zap, his greatest English setter. Gaddis swore to be painfully selective in choosing the puppy that would accompany him as he pursued his dream of competing in horseback field trials. He knew the smallest female of the litter was special, but he didn't fully realize her potential until he let her loose in the field. Her lightning speed earned her the name Zip Zap, and she grew to be the most brilliant bird dog Gaddis ever owned. In this absorbing memoir, Gaddis celebrates the dog's indomitable spirit and tells the story of training and developing a superior pointer, from her first unrefined runs in the amateur puppy stakes to victorious performances in major championships. Evocatively told and set against the plantation quail hunting and field trialing legacy of the Old South, here is a rich, powerful memoir, certain to gain favor with anyone who has shared the destiny of a once-in-a-lifetime dog.

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2006

Reviews

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is far and away one of the best books I've read so far this year. I initially picked up the book because it is about an English Setter, but it is about so much more than that. It's about the love between a man and his dog, how that relationship is nurtured by doing trial work together, and how a dog that is more special than all others often only comes along once in a lifetime. By reading this book, I received a very thorough education on the subject of horse trialing, about which I had previously known very little. The author respects and appreciates the traditions of the sport and his predecessors, as well having an obvious love of the land and its gifts. His writing is rich and descriptive, so much so that I easily found myself tranported to the situation he was describing at the time. My only regret in reading this book is that Gaddis has only one previously published work. I sincerely hope that will change in the future because this book is truly a treasure.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptional!