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Let's Get a Pup #2
"The Trouble with Dogs..." Said Dad
Call in the dog trainer! Don’t-Care Dave, the high-energy destructive dynamo, is definitely out of control. But when the Brigadier turns up to teach this pup a few things, Dave is not the only one who learns something new. In a hugely satisfying sequel to the award-winning "LET'S GET A PUP!" SAID KATE, Bob Graham creates a funny, warmhearted story to remind us that when it comes to dogs -- and their humans -- it’s affection and trust, loyalty and love (and of course those silky soft ears) that really matter.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 12, 2007
4 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Bob Graham
91 books84 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
An Australian children's author and illustrator. His books include Max, which won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award, Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child, which won the Kate Greenaway Medal, and "Let's Get A Pup!" Said Kate which won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
An Australian children's author and illustrator. His books include Max, which won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award, Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child, which won the Kate Greenaway Medal, and "Let's Get A Pup!" Said Kate which won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 26, 2011
I just finished reading "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate and I adored it. This is the sequel to that book.
This one wasn’t quite a good as the first, but it was still charming.
This book is funny, sweet, has lovely sensibilities, and is just a great story.
For me, there was one flaw. I worried tremendously for several pages because of a dog training method employed, one too harsh. Luckily, the author feels the way I do about rough treatment of dogs. But, and it’s a big but, how this is resolved is far from ideal, in my opinion. I can think of several happy medium options that weren’t used. However, this is a completely delightful family, human and canine, and I hope that more books about them are written and published. Besides, the book can be used to discuss dog training in families who live with a dog or dogs or families contemplating dog adoption.
The illustrations are fun and wonderfully complemented the story.
This one wasn’t quite a good as the first, but it was still charming.
This book is funny, sweet, has lovely sensibilities, and is just a great story.
For me, there was one flaw. I worried tremendously for several pages because of a dog training method employed, one too harsh. Luckily, the author feels the way I do about rough treatment of dogs. But, and it’s a big but, how this is resolved is far from ideal, in my opinion. I can think of several happy medium options that weren’t used. However, this is a completely delightful family, human and canine, and I hope that more books about them are written and published. Besides, the book can be used to discuss dog training in families who live with a dog or dogs or families contemplating dog adoption.
The illustrations are fun and wonderfully complemented the story.
May 6, 2011
In this sequel to the absolutely wonderful "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate focuses on the family's energetic little pup, Dave. He is full of joy, and delights the family, but his zest for life becomes a bit taxing when he knows no boundaries and races through people's picnics in the park, jumps on laps and eats cupcakes when guests come to dinner, and is generally a wild thing. The family can't seem to say "NO!" firmly enough, so they hire a dog trainer. (The ad for the dog trainer is a hoot, but I certainly wouldn't have gone with that agency!) But will obedience tame Dave, or break his spirit?
I loved so many things about this book! The family is so close-knit and warm and unique. And the illustrations are great fun and full of winsome details (I loved seeing Kate's toys playing in the potted plant, for instance.) The family loves their dogs, too, and I can certainly understand that they wanted Dave to behave himself a little better. However, I don't think I would have allowed my dog to go to a trainer like that and also I am not sure I was completely satisfied with the ending* For all of that, though, I think this book has its heart in the right place and I just love this series and hope that, now that Dad and Kate have had their turn in the titles, Graham will give MOM a chance to say something--and his eager audience a brand new book featuring Kate's family, and their sweet dogs Rosie and Dave! :-)
*Spoiler: I did not like how the choke chain was used by the trainer. I know Kate's family was desperate and wanted to trust an "expert" but it didn't ring true with their gentle nature overall. Also, while I was happy to see that they wanted Dave to be a happy puppy and remain "unbroken" I did wish there was a little more said about a way of training him gently vs. not at all. While he can be wild in their own home if they want him to be, I think responsible dog owners should ensure their dogs will behave while in public.
I loved so many things about this book! The family is so close-knit and warm and unique. And the illustrations are great fun and full of winsome details (I loved seeing Kate's toys playing in the potted plant, for instance.) The family loves their dogs, too, and I can certainly understand that they wanted Dave to behave himself a little better. However, I don't think I would have allowed my dog to go to a trainer like that and also I am not sure I was completely satisfied with the ending* For all of that, though, I think this book has its heart in the right place and I just love this series and hope that, now that Dad and Kate have had their turn in the titles, Graham will give MOM a chance to say something--and his eager audience a brand new book featuring Kate's family, and their sweet dogs Rosie and Dave! :-)
*Spoiler: I did not like how the choke chain was used by the trainer. I know Kate's family was desperate and wanted to trust an "expert" but it didn't ring true with their gentle nature overall. Also, while I was happy to see that they wanted Dave to be a happy puppy and remain "unbroken" I did wish there was a little more said about a way of training him gently vs. not at all. While he can be wild in their own home if they want him to be, I think responsible dog owners should ensure their dogs will behave while in public.
September 11, 2019
Kate and her family return in this sequel to
"Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate
, discovering that adopting a puppy is one thing, but living with him is another! Rosy, the gentle older dog they brought home in the earlier book, is a sweet and restful companion, but Dave, the active little puppy with lots of spark, is the cause of many a crisis. When his natural exuberance finally causes one scene too many, his desperate family look for help from "Pup Breakers," a dog-training service run by the Brigadier. But is harsh discipline really what Dave and his human family need...?
Many of the things that I loved about Bob Graham's first book to feature this winsome family can be found here as well, from the depiction of Kate's very contemporary parents, with their piercings and tattoos, to the obvious love that they all have for one another. Unfortunately, although "The Trouble with Dogs..." Said Dad is quite heart-warming in some respects, I was troubled by the idea, implicit in the resolution of the story, that there is no middle ground between harsh discipline and no discipline. Since I firmly believe that a lack of training can often lead to heartache, for both humans and dogs, I was quite concerned to see that message presented here. Leaving aside that issue, which most child readers will probably glide by, this was an engaging read. Recommended, with the caveat that parents might want to talk to their kids about the importance of training dogs, to all readers who enjoyed "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate .
Many of the things that I loved about Bob Graham's first book to feature this winsome family can be found here as well, from the depiction of Kate's very contemporary parents, with their piercings and tattoos, to the obvious love that they all have for one another. Unfortunately, although "The Trouble with Dogs..." Said Dad is quite heart-warming in some respects, I was troubled by the idea, implicit in the resolution of the story, that there is no middle ground between harsh discipline and no discipline. Since I firmly believe that a lack of training can often lead to heartache, for both humans and dogs, I was quite concerned to see that message presented here. Leaving aside that issue, which most child readers will probably glide by, this was an engaging read. Recommended, with the caveat that parents might want to talk to their kids about the importance of training dogs, to all readers who enjoyed "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate .
October 27, 2015
I was so excited about this book because I loved the first one. But I was really disappointed in the ending. Dave the dog is out of control and needs obedience lessons. When the dog jumps up on the table and eats a cupcake off a guest's plate, the family hires a big gruff taskmaster to train the animal. But the man uses a choke chain and other negative techniques and ends up scaring the dog. The next time the man comes back to train, the family shows him that Dave lost his sparkle at first and now has it back. At the end he again jumps on the table and eats a cupcake and they all laugh and the taskmaster is now happy and nice.
NO!
The bad training was terrible and I'm glad they showed it wasn't acceptable. However, it is not fair to the dog, the family, nor its guests not to train him properly using positive reinforcement techniques. The family should be training the animal. (In fact, modern dog training is training the trainer to be a good dog owner.) If the dog can't behave, he can't be around guests. Guests won't want to come over. The family will have to go elsewhere all the time which is less time to spend with the dog. When he does something really bad, the family will yell and just confuse and upset the dog.
It is a terrible disservice to a dog to not train and socialize her properly just like you would a child. That doesn't mean taking away her exuberance and spark. It means knowing when and where to play hard.
NO!
The bad training was terrible and I'm glad they showed it wasn't acceptable. However, it is not fair to the dog, the family, nor its guests not to train him properly using positive reinforcement techniques. The family should be training the animal. (In fact, modern dog training is training the trainer to be a good dog owner.) If the dog can't behave, he can't be around guests. Guests won't want to come over. The family will have to go elsewhere all the time which is less time to spend with the dog. When he does something really bad, the family will yell and just confuse and upset the dog.
It is a terrible disservice to a dog to not train and socialize her properly just like you would a child. That doesn't mean taking away her exuberance and spark. It means knowing when and where to play hard.
May 1, 2010
I love Bob Graham's illustrations so much and they definitely don't disappoint in this sequel to "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate. The illustrations alone are worthy of 5 stars, in my opinion, since they're just so gosh darn adorable. The positions of Rosy the dog especially. I'm also a huge fan of the non-traditional way Bob portrays his families. Pierced and tattooed Mom and pierced converse shoe wearing Dad. I imagine my family would look very similar, which is refreshing to see in a children's book!
I have to admit that I didn't enjoy this sequel as much as the first book. There was just something off about the story. Still a cute read with wonderful illustrations though!
I have to admit that I didn't enjoy this sequel as much as the first book. There was just something off about the story. Still a cute read with wonderful illustrations though!
November 12, 2018
Not as good as the previous book, but, still love the modern looking family. This time they are trying to train the little dog who just has a bit too much spunk. Then they sort of change their minds.
Basically, it's sort of the old ways meet the new ways. They hire a rather authoritarian figure to train their dog and then realize they would rather have their dog be himself.
The book is somewhat relatable, you can either have a jolly, carefree dog or you can have a dog that immediately obeys. It can be hard to find a good middle ground. When I had giant dogs, I had very strictly trained dogs. Now that I have little dogs, I'm a lot more forgiving of their behavior since they aren't as capable of getting into as much trouble.
Cute book, but not as magical as the previous book.
Basically, it's sort of the old ways meet the new ways. They hire a rather authoritarian figure to train their dog and then realize they would rather have their dog be himself.
The book is somewhat relatable, you can either have a jolly, carefree dog or you can have a dog that immediately obeys. It can be hard to find a good middle ground. When I had giant dogs, I had very strictly trained dogs. Now that I have little dogs, I'm a lot more forgiving of their behavior since they aren't as capable of getting into as much trouble.
Cute book, but not as magical as the previous book.
January 4, 2012
We were able to borrow this book and "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate together from our library, so we were excited to read them back to back. While I preferred the first story, it was great to see the family all together again in the second. And the trouble they experience with Dave and trying to teach him some obedience lessons is all-too familiar for many families. Since we're a military family, we thought Brigadier was hilarious. Overall it was an entertaining story and we enjoyed having a "double dose" of dog tales tonight.
June 18, 2012
Graham knows people, families, and dogs. The characters and story is real. The family adopted two dogs eight months ago, in the book "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate. Now, the youngest dog is causing some trouble and the family doesn't know how to control his spunk. Can they learn to keep him line without squashing his spunk?
Great book and illustrations.
Great book and illustrations.
September 9, 2014
Really didn't think this book taught anything about how to train a dog, which bothered me a great deal. While the story might be funny, it encourages kids to let their dogs break the rules, and if you've worked to train your dog, might undo some hard work. Didn't like it for this reason.
January 30, 2009
i like bob graham and his less than traditional portrayals of family.
April 2, 2022
The continuation of "Let's Get a Pup." Readers see how both dogs are settling (or not) with the family. Rosie is content to laze and move little, but Dave continues to be energetic and bound everywhere. They bring in a dog trainer but decide they prefer Dave as he is. Fun illustrations bring joy and energy to the story.
January 22, 2020
Davy is not well behaved and the family is too meek to give him structure. Someone is called to help, but the family decides that its preferable to have him act horribly, rather than cause Davy to be unhappy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2024
General moral of this story lands somewhere between: let your naughty, untrained dog do as the please and shouting at dogs is mean.
June 23, 2024
This is the first book I ever read, so it’ll always hold a special place in my heart—a well deserved 5 star according to me!
Read
December 10, 2012When it comes to getting and training a dog, it takes a lot of patience, responsibility and love. In his book “The trouble with dogs…said dad,” Bob Graham presents all the aspects of taking care of a dog. In this book the main character is Kate and her family with two dogs, Rosie and Dave. It is written from a third person point of view with some dialogue. This book is taking place at home or outside in Kate’s backyard. One day when Kate wakes up she decides that her family needs a puppy. When her family agreed, they took Kate to animal shelter and they not only found one but two dogs. One was a little puppy and the other was a bit older. The puppy Dave is a little trouble maker, running around through flowers, ripping people’s clothes, and eating cupcakes. The older god Rosie is more trained and calmer. Finally, the family decides to call a dog trainer to train Dave. When the top dog trainer Brigadier arrives and trains poor little Dave with hard-love and discipline, the puppy looses his “spark.” The family thanks Brigadier after his first lesson. Kate and her family enforce some discipline but they still love their trouble maker puppy.
I highly recommend this book as it teacher children valuable lessons about responsibility and family love. The family is very close with each other which sets up a warm mood for the reader. This book carries valuable features of winsome family. The parents are very contemporary with their piercings and tattoos, yet they all show support for one another. Students not only can get the sense of loving family and being there for each other but also the sense of discipline even when it comes to taking care of the dogs. I would recommend this book for teachers to introduce this book and then talk to the students about being patient, responsible and caring not only when it comes to dogs but also to people around. The inspirational story about the family and their dogs
February 22, 2015
Personal reflection – This was an interesting book to say the least. The lesson was decent and the story was fun to read. The first thing that stood out to me and my daughters were the pictures. My how times have changed from when I was a kid. The parents in the story are much more modern looking as the mom has her nose pierced and a rose tattoo on her right arm. The dad has two earrings in his left ear. Rescuing dogs is a loving thing to do and children would relate to being upset with the mean dog trainer that come in and thickens the plot.
Purpose – Read aloud or read-to-self (2nd-3rd grade)
Curriculum – Pets have feelings just like people. We must be nice to our animals. This would be a fun book to read when a student gets a new pet or to use as a discussion prompt for daily journaling and sharing stories about their own pets. This book is filled with large vocabulary words that would be great to expand upon, thus, enhancing their little word banks and overall knowledge. Some examples of those words would be, admiration, exuberant, and Brigadier. There is a good amount of figurative speech as well, an example being, “polish of the rough edges.” The artwork could also serve as a lesson as the illustrator uses interesting design and color choices. Asking the class why the illustrator may have chosen to color the mean dog trainer in gray while he was training the dog. It is obvious the family is upset by the way he is doing the training. Ask the students how they feel about the color choices and how they would feel if that was their pet?
Purpose – Read aloud or read-to-self (2nd-3rd grade)
Curriculum – Pets have feelings just like people. We must be nice to our animals. This would be a fun book to read when a student gets a new pet or to use as a discussion prompt for daily journaling and sharing stories about their own pets. This book is filled with large vocabulary words that would be great to expand upon, thus, enhancing their little word banks and overall knowledge. Some examples of those words would be, admiration, exuberant, and Brigadier. There is a good amount of figurative speech as well, an example being, “polish of the rough edges.” The artwork could also serve as a lesson as the illustrator uses interesting design and color choices. Asking the class why the illustrator may have chosen to color the mean dog trainer in gray while he was training the dog. It is obvious the family is upset by the way he is doing the training. Ask the students how they feel about the color choices and how they would feel if that was their pet?
August 26, 2009
A funny book on the challenges of dog ownership.
This book is a sequel to Let's Get a Pup!. Bob Graham needs to learn from Lynley Dodd or Eric Hill on how to effectively create sequels and series in childrens' books. Bob provides an extensive summary of the first book in this sequel - it really just isn't neccessary!
Other than this little niggle it is great to continue contact with Rosie and Dave's family.
This book is a sequel to Let's Get a Pup!. Bob Graham needs to learn from Lynley Dodd or Eric Hill on how to effectively create sequels and series in childrens' books. Bob provides an extensive summary of the first book in this sequel - it really just isn't neccessary!
Other than this little niggle it is great to continue contact with Rosie and Dave's family.
May 12, 2012
The trouble with dogs, at least charming while little terriers, is that sometimes they lack manners. Dave, an exuberant puppy, gets into trouble and his family is forced to call a dog trainer. The dog trainer has a successful first lesson but the family decides that they like their ill-behaved dog and his antics and call of the lessons. I'm not sure that I agree that a trained dog is a boring dog, but I liked Dave's caring and loving family.
Recommended for pet lovers and students in Kindergarten - first grade.
Recommended for pet lovers and students in Kindergarten - first grade.
January 19, 2016
The family has two dogs - one of which is rather rambunctious. They decide that they can't deal with him any longer and hire a Brigadier to get him under control. But the Brigadier's methods tend to squash the little dog's joie de vivre and they all learn an important lesson about being kind.
Fun illustrations.
Fun illustrations.
September 30, 2007
Sequel to Let's Get a Pup! Said Kate. Their puppy has lots and lots of energy but when they hire someone to train the pup and the trainer is really strict and mean, the family learns that they like their puppy the way he is.
November 7, 2014
Reality sets in after Kate and her family have adopted Dave from a shelter. They decide perhaps his behavior needs some adjustment so call in an expert who turns out to be somewhat heavy-handed. They have to decide what sort of behavior they really want in their family pets.
November 7, 2015
It's taken me a while to warm to Bob Graham's work which is somewhat of a failing on my part. He writes warm, gentle domestic stories. The Trouble with Dogs suggests that we should accept our dogs as they are, even though Dave is really out of control.
March 21, 2016
The dog in this story lacks of discipline. I don't like the message that it is okay. More than that is the story of acceptance- accepting the dog the way he is who, despite his disobedience, is still cute and loving. But I still think the dog needs training.
May 15, 2008
too many words, not bold enough pictures. boring.
January 4, 2009
Weird
May 22, 2010
Companion book to "Let's get a pup." Just as charming.
April 15, 2011
A family is having trouble with their puppy and call in a trainer. They decide yelling isn't a good way to discipline and the dog wins over the trainer.
Simple and sort of cute.
Simple and sort of cute.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2012
The dog lovers in this family say this book is just right (unfortunately I'm not among those) but the book is still just fun and warm.
June 11, 2012
Cute book about a rambunctious puppy. Henry liked it a lot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews