What do you think?
I Don't Want a Posh Dog
A posh dog, a pattern dog, a handbag dog, a snappy dog; children will love imagining what makes the perfect dog - and what doesn't!
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Emma Dodd
319 books149 followersEmma Dodd Author/Illustrator
Emma was brought up in Guildford, Surrey, in a family of artists and from as far back as she can remember she has wanted to be an illustrator.
Emma studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Central Saint Martin's School of Art and has worked extensively in advertising, editorial and book illustration.
She was nominated for the Booktrust Early Years Award in 2006 for her book "What Pet to Get" and in 2009 for "Miaow said the Cow"
Emma lives in Surrey with her husband and two children, who provide inspiration for her work, and their Jack Russel Terrier, Bart, who keeps her fit. She likes to spend any spare time in North Cornwall, surfing and walking in all weathers.
Emma was brought up in Guildford, Surrey, in a family of artists and from as far back as she can remember she has wanted to be an illustrator.
Emma studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Central Saint Martin's School of Art and has worked extensively in advertising, editorial and book illustration.
She was nominated for the Booktrust Early Years Award in 2006 for her book "What Pet to Get" and in 2009 for "Miaow said the Cow"
Emma lives in Surrey with her husband and two children, who provide inspiration for her work, and their Jack Russel Terrier, Bart, who keeps her fit. She likes to spend any spare time in North Cornwall, surfing and walking in all weathers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
not-read
December 26, 2015Here's my non-"posh" poodle:
I'll be the first to admit poodle-cuts are goofy and silly looking. I dislike them. Alot. I have news - when you own a poodle you don't have to give them the goofy do! There are no Poodle Police who will come after you!
However, poodles are awesome dogs! They are SMART, #2 on AKC's breed intelligence chart. Number TWO.
http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/smartes...
They have a strong desire to please their owner which, coupled with their intelligence, makes them one of the easiest breeds to train.
They don't shed. Because they lack the dander other breeds have some people who are allergic to dogs can tolerate poodles.
They are silly and fun. They have a high play drive and lots of energy, love attention and are very loyal. They love to run and play. They're great dogs for kids, as long as the kid isn't too young to understand not to pull their ears or pound on them.
Poodles also, when raised well, are very friendly and social and enjoy people. They also, when raised well, are not yippy or snappy. Their hair is soft, perfect for petting.
Also great for young girls who actually like to brush and blowdry their dog's hair. Or shoot, even give them a home haircut, like I used to do when I was a kid. But I'd suggest not putting them in a doll dress,
This dog used to pull me down the block while I was on my roller-skates. Slept on my bed, saving me from my fear of the dark, comforted me all the times I cried my kid heart out. We had the best times. Not at all "posh", this dog was not simply my best friend but my hero.
"A tail-not-meant-to-wag dog."
Happy poodles wag, a lot. And "happy" is their default mode.
"I just want a silly dog."
Poodles are not only silly, they are clowns who enjoy making their people laugh. Laugh at their antics and their eyes sparkle, and their tails wag like crazy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2JvH...
So sure, hate on the goofy poodle DO, but blame people for that, not the dog. Don't want a "posh" dog? Don't turn your dog into one.
Look beyond the goofy hairdo some are prone to give them, and you'll find a wonderful, fun, loyal, smart dog who would walk through fire just to be your best pal.
I'll be the first to admit poodle-cuts are goofy and silly looking. I dislike them. Alot. I have news - when you own a poodle you don't have to give them the goofy do! There are no Poodle Police who will come after you!
However, poodles are awesome dogs! They are SMART, #2 on AKC's breed intelligence chart. Number TWO.
http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/smartes...
They have a strong desire to please their owner which, coupled with their intelligence, makes them one of the easiest breeds to train.
They don't shed. Because they lack the dander other breeds have some people who are allergic to dogs can tolerate poodles.
They are silly and fun. They have a high play drive and lots of energy, love attention and are very loyal. They love to run and play. They're great dogs for kids, as long as the kid isn't too young to understand not to pull their ears or pound on them.
Poodles also, when raised well, are very friendly and social and enjoy people. They also, when raised well, are not yippy or snappy. Their hair is soft, perfect for petting.
Also great for young girls who actually like to brush and blowdry their dog's hair. Or shoot, even give them a home haircut, like I used to do when I was a kid. But I'd suggest not putting them in a doll dress,
This dog used to pull me down the block while I was on my roller-skates. Slept on my bed, saving me from my fear of the dark, comforted me all the times I cried my kid heart out. We had the best times. Not at all "posh", this dog was not simply my best friend but my hero.
"A tail-not-meant-to-wag dog."
Happy poodles wag, a lot. And "happy" is their default mode.
"I just want a silly dog."
Poodles are not only silly, they are clowns who enjoy making their people laugh. Laugh at their antics and their eyes sparkle, and their tails wag like crazy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2JvH...
So sure, hate on the goofy poodle DO, but blame people for that, not the dog. Don't want a "posh" dog? Don't turn your dog into one.
Look beyond the goofy hairdo some are prone to give them, and you'll find a wonderful, fun, loyal, smart dog who would walk through fire just to be your best pal.
June 27, 2009
Adorable.
Sweet.
Good Read-aloud too!
I don't want a posh dog! is a charming, kid-friendly book that is all about a little girl's criteria for the perfect dog.
You might think the author, Emma Dodd, would start the book off with a list of attributes the little girl wants for her pet, but in fact she takes the opposite approach. Thus we find out that snappy, growly, never-happy dogs need not apply. And that the little girl definitely doesn't want "an itchy dog. A scritchy, scratchy, twitchy dog."
Ms. Dodd does this on purpose, of course, for by the time she turns this theme around, you find yourself waiting in anticipation for exactly what it is that she does want. And that's when Dodd zings you, hitting with a barrage of sweet messages -- ones that left us going Ahhhh.
Wrap Up:::
I Don't Want a Posh Dog! is a lovely book. The pages are thick and glossy and the artwork is adorable. On the whole, the book seems very substantial, although I must admit that nothing can stand up to a rowdy toddler on a rampage.
The lyrics and artwork (the principal charm of this book) are delightful. My kids, currently 7 and 9, chuckled throughout. I especially liked the breath of vocabularly words that were introduced.
The resource I referenced gave the Accelerated Reading level as a generic "1". Given the fact that the vocabulary includes words like "snooty", "bouncy" and "attitudey" I can only assume that it must be towards the high side of the 1 range-- perhaps 1.9.
The interest range for this book is fairly broad. Boys and girls as young as toddlers and as old as 8 or 9 could find it appealing. I'd consider it as a gift for dog-lovin' children under 6 years of age.
Very Good Read-a-Loud.
Pam T~
mom and reviewer for BooksforKids-reviews
Sweet.
Good Read-aloud too!
I don't want a posh dog! is a charming, kid-friendly book that is all about a little girl's criteria for the perfect dog.
You might think the author, Emma Dodd, would start the book off with a list of attributes the little girl wants for her pet, but in fact she takes the opposite approach. Thus we find out that snappy, growly, never-happy dogs need not apply. And that the little girl definitely doesn't want "an itchy dog. A scritchy, scratchy, twitchy dog."
Ms. Dodd does this on purpose, of course, for by the time she turns this theme around, you find yourself waiting in anticipation for exactly what it is that she does want. And that's when Dodd zings you, hitting with a barrage of sweet messages -- ones that left us going Ahhhh.
Wrap Up:::
I Don't Want a Posh Dog! is a lovely book. The pages are thick and glossy and the artwork is adorable. On the whole, the book seems very substantial, although I must admit that nothing can stand up to a rowdy toddler on a rampage.
The lyrics and artwork (the principal charm of this book) are delightful. My kids, currently 7 and 9, chuckled throughout. I especially liked the breath of vocabularly words that were introduced.
The resource I referenced gave the Accelerated Reading level as a generic "1". Given the fact that the vocabulary includes words like "snooty", "bouncy" and "attitudey" I can only assume that it must be towards the high side of the 1 range-- perhaps 1.9.
The interest range for this book is fairly broad. Boys and girls as young as toddlers and as old as 8 or 9 could find it appealing. I'd consider it as a gift for dog-lovin' children under 6 years of age.
Very Good Read-a-Loud.
Pam T~
mom and reviewer for BooksforKids-reviews
March 28, 2011
The illustrations in this book are loads of fun! As are the rhymes which - aside from the last few pages - flowed incredibly well and would probably be super fun to read aloud!
I liked the intent of the ending, and the sweetness that came along with it. But, I couldn't help but feel a little... not five-star-ish... about the 'stereotyping' of the various dog breeds. Maybe this is far too picky of me, and I know it's all in fun, but I love dogs and I had a hard time accepting that various breeds were 'posh' or 'snappy' 'snooty' or 'never-happy...'
I think the final - very important - message could have been conveyed in a different way.
I liked the intent of the ending, and the sweetness that came along with it. But, I couldn't help but feel a little... not five-star-ish... about the 'stereotyping' of the various dog breeds. Maybe this is far too picky of me, and I know it's all in fun, but I love dogs and I had a hard time accepting that various breeds were 'posh' or 'snappy' 'snooty' or 'never-happy...'
I think the final - very important - message could have been conveyed in a different way.
November 11, 2009
Much like me, this little girl knows more what she doesn't want then what she wants. Unfortunately, she doesn't want pretty much every type of dog, or at least things that characterize every type of dog at some point. It would be hard to find a dog that has never jumped on a person, drooled, needed a bath, or ran around. Frankly, she doesn't want a posh dog, she wants a pound puppy toy. I was disappointed, considering how much I have enjoyed Emma Dodd's other works.
March 26, 2015
I have to say that this would be great for storytime and also, I agree with her. I wouldn't want a posh dog either.
October 30, 2019
This girl knows what she wants and what she doesn't want in a dog. It's super refreshing to have someone who knows their own mind, and owns their likes and dislikes.
** Talking Points - what type of dog would you like if you could choose? What type of dog would you want to be if you were a dog? Which dog do you like best in this book? If you had to write a book like this but about a different subject than a dog, what would be your subject and what would you want or what would you want or not want?
** The girl in this book is setting boundaries about what she wants and doesn't want and healthy boundaries are good! I'd diffuse 3 drops Lemon, 2 Drops Wild Orange and 1 drop Tea Tree (Or Melaleuca - it's the same thing). Citrus oils are super uplifting and Tea Tree essential oil is wonderful in supporting us in forming good boundaries.
** Talking Points - what type of dog would you like if you could choose? What type of dog would you want to be if you were a dog? Which dog do you like best in this book? If you had to write a book like this but about a different subject than a dog, what would be your subject and what would you want or what would you want or not want?
** The girl in this book is setting boundaries about what she wants and doesn't want and healthy boundaries are good! I'd diffuse 3 drops Lemon, 2 Drops Wild Orange and 1 drop Tea Tree (Or Melaleuca - it's the same thing). Citrus oils are super uplifting and Tea Tree essential oil is wonderful in supporting us in forming good boundaries.
July 8, 2019
An adorable, quick-read picture book of a young girl telling on what sort of dog she wants. The images are stunning; I love the different textures used to represent each type of dog mentioned. I also love how there are different breeds of dogs featured, from poodles to bulldogs to dachshunds.
October 3, 2017
The rhyme was cute but I didn't like that all dogs were shitty for various reasons except the one mutt. All well and good to have a loveable mutt but there's nothing wrong with a poodle.
October 12, 2017
Nice rhyming book about dogs.
March 13, 2018
Describe what you don't want and find what you do want, a good concept for kids to learn!
March 20, 2018
Clever rhyming book about the types of dogs (which were amazingly described) the main character did not want a s a pet. Fun pictures.
June 23, 2018
probably wouldn't read in storytime
March 12, 2021
A little girl wants a dog that is just right for her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2021
Delightfully fun rhyme and illustrations that will be enjoyed by littlies and dog lovers everywhere.
June 2, 2023
Cute kids dog book with fun illustrations.
September 14, 2023
Girl just gotta have her kinda dog! Westies are besties!! Just saying.
June 15, 2009
Eh. I can't decide about this one. I love Emma Dodd. I love the illustrations and how they pair with the text. But it seems like too much text for the very young audience for whom it is intended. I don't mean the book is wordy, because it's not, it's just not short enough for the concept. This is starting to be my problem with really simple books and maybe I'm just taking it out on this poor, innocent book. I mean, to me, this is a toddler book but they get bored about half-way through. Anyway, it's really cute, so try it for yourself.
March 26, 2013
The little girl in this story is enumerating her criteria for the perfect dog. She definitely doesn't want a snooty, high-maintenance pup, just a "sweet, willy-nilly dog." The rhyming, rhythmic text makes this book fun to read aloud, and the rough, playful cartoon illustrations filled with color and texture will definitely give children something to talk about. Ages 2-5. Recommended for additional purchase.
May 16, 2009
Hooray for more from the author of Dog's Colorful Day! The dogs in these illustrations are so cute! There's great vocabulary and a fun lilting rhyme--very fun to read aloud. The bright, vivid illustrations and rhyme make this appropriate for toddlers, but the silliness and antics of the dogs will capture preschoolers as well.
July 15, 2015
Despite me being a dog person, I actually preferred the author's cat book to this one. The rhymes just weren't quite as solid - and this might seem too advanced but my little one noticed too! She prefers the other one every time when given the choice. This one isn't terrible by any means, but it's not our favorite.
October 12, 2009
Cute book about a little girl looking for the perfect canine companion for her. (Reminded me of the last dog we adopted, whom my son zeroed in on as soon as we got to the shelter, refusing to even look at any other dogs!)
November 25, 2009
This is such a fun story to read aloud. With its fun, sing-song narrative and comical illustrations, it's very engaging and entertaining. It's a good story to describe how one child finds her perfect pet - one that fits her personality and her preferences.
January 29, 2011
I read this in tandem with "I Don't Want a Cool Cat" and pointed out the author's name on both books. The kids also identified what else was the same (and what was different) on the covers of each book.
March 3, 2011
This book uses great descriptor words along with rhyme to describe the criteria for the perfect pet dog. The illustrations are silly fun for all!
Early Literacy Skills:
Phonological Awareness
Print Awareness
Print Motivation
Vocabulary
Early Literacy Skills:
Phonological Awareness
Print Awareness
Print Motivation
Vocabulary
June 20, 2011
In the town I work, where dogs sometimes matter more than kids (Doggy Bakery? Doggy Happy Hour, anyone? Really.) this would be a hit even if it weren't very good. But Emma Dodd's rhymes have a good swing, her pictures are hilarious and I can gladly add this one to the picture book shelves.
Read
October 27, 2013Emma Dodd's charming offering for dog lovers depicts a little girl who first describes what she's not looking for in a pet and then describes her ideal dog. Children will enjoy paging through the large illustrations to point out their doggie favorites.
January 16, 2015
I Dont Want a Posh Dog is about a little girl who goes on a search for the perfect dog for her. The story is filled with humor and interesting illustrations. I would use this as a fun read for students in the classroom.
March 12, 2015
A little girl describes the types of dogs that she does not want. All not wanted dogs seem to be pure-bred dogs. Towards the end she tells readers she just wants a silly dog to play with. The end result dog seems to be a mutt.
Maybe a commentary on shop, don't adopt.
A great storytime book.
Maybe a commentary on shop, don't adopt.
A great storytime book.
November 8, 2015
See, it seems like the problem with dogs is, there's just too many kinds. And what if you get one and it's not the kind you want? And then you're STUCK.
This is why I think we should get a cat. Why ASK for trouble?
This is why I think we should get a cat. Why ASK for trouble?
March 1, 2016
So far from the books I've read, I really like Emma Dodd. In this book a young girl proceeded to show and tell us what kind of dog she doesn't want until at the end she tells us what kind of dog she does want. The kids and I enjoyed this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews