His first book, The Working Jack Russell Terrier was outstanding and now has given us further thoughts, opinions and experiences of the real Jack Russell. It is a book that no follower of the breed will want to be without and I believe that it will come to be regarded as essential reading for the many admirers of the Jack Russell terrier. It also contains much useful and enlightening information for those who favour other breeds of working terrier. Eddie is well qualified to write this book for his involvement with the breed took root in the good old days when terrier men could go where they pleased and dig anything they wanted, governed only by their own rules, standards and practices. He has seen many years of hunt service with a variety of fox hound packs and he has personal contact with those in the breed whose experience stretched back to the early part of this century. In short he has done it all and has now put the accumulated knowledge of a life time to good use by producing a gem of a book, a credit to himself and to the breed. Perhaps it is appropriate that I review this book for Eddie and I disagree on many points and so you can be sure that what follows is in no way sycophantic.

There are plenty of photographs, including a complete colour section and this wonderful breed is shown in all its glory. Indeed, the reader is spoilt for choice. One little rhyme beneath a photo of Foxwarren Nell, at the end of her tenth working season goes;

I'm only an old working terrier who over the years has gone slow,

But in the gone bye I ran with hounds and was once even best in the show. 

The bitch was JRTC of GB Supreme Champion in the National Show of 1984.

And this perhaps, sums up not only the breed but, inevitably, Eddies approach to it for he believes that the working terrier can be and should be a specimen of some aesthetic appeal as well as being a worker of the highest quality. Eddie is concerned for the future of his breed and deplores out crossing in any form and throughout the book he urges his readers to join him in what amounts to his crusade to keep the breed pure as ' The Real Jack Russell' rather than any old white cross-breed which loosely fit's the standard. For Eddie seeks to preserve, not only the appearance but also, and more importantly, the unique working qualities and temperament which he so much admires. 

The book opens with a chapter on the breed standard and Eddie furnishes it with much detail, including his own thoughts and evaluations. He is highly critical of the Kennel Club registered Parson Jack Russell and is adamant that they are, already, ruining the terriers, and have indeed, ruined it from the very beginning with their foundation stocks.  This chapter is invaluable to both novice and expert alike and can be regarded as the definitive blueprint for the Real Jack Russell.

There follows a chapter is devoted to the late Dan Russell, one of Eddie idols, a man he held in great regard. It takes the form of a question and answer session which includes much information on the legendary Arthur Heineman. Unlike Frank and Jean Jackson in their book, who seem to hold him in some contempt, Dan Russell was a great admirer of Heineman and I prefer to believe his account.

Chapter three deals with breeding good Jack Russell terriers and here Eddie sounds an ominous note. He says that for every litter bred for work, fifty are bred for pets or show dogs and a concentrated effort has been made to use other blood to improve on show appearance. This chapter contains much sound advice and many hints including don't breed on a first season. Personally I would feel that, where work is concerned, that could safely be extended to (don't breed until she has proven herself). At least 2 years of age, preferably three, unless there are over-riding reasons for urgency , such as use of a stud dog that may not be around for much longer or use of a rare bitch from outstanding lines in case illness should befall her. Undue haste, I humbly suggest, can be the reason for a breeds decline and patience can overcome it.

The chapter on mating is again very interesting and contains much of Eddie's knowledge gained as running possibly, the breed's largest kennel. In this section he mentions that it is wise to let a dog prove his working ability before using him at stud and this, I feel is advice that everyone who owns workers should take heed of. But the same must surely apply to bitches. The chapter dealing with whelping and rearing is practical and comprehensive and full of good sense, written, as usual, from personal experience and not in any way reliant on the writings of others and this is followed by an informative chapter entitled Hints on training, communicating, controlling and punishment. In addition to this there are many hints on showing revealing Eddies close affinity with his dogs.

The first time I visited Eddie, many years ago, he came toward me over the fields, surrounded by about thirty terriers running free, not many could do such a thing. To the average dog man this would be a recipe for disaster, a time bomb waiting to explode. Eddie also kennels about seventy terriers together!  How does he do it?  By understanding his dogs and by insisting on good behavior and good manners. This requires more than mere discipline. It cannot be done by incessant thrashing though, when severe punishment is called for, it is quickly forthcoming. The punishment must be in proportion to the crime committed. This chapter is a real gem and offers a unique insight into the methods and attitude of one of Britain's great terrier men. If you understand it completely you will be on your way to success with the working terrier.

Chapter seven is a compilation of terrier names and, I must admit, contains a few which would make me cringe but thankfully, it takes all sorts to make this old world of ours and someone somewhere christened one unfortunate Jack Russell, wait for it, Moo Moo . Come on Eddie you slipped that one in just for a laugh didn't you?

Chapter eight is simply entitled, 'Working' and who better to deal with the subject? There can be no one who has worked his terriers more than Eddie Chapman. He has dug and bolted on a scale which we will probably never ever see again. He has worked as an individual and in hunt service. He has seen men come and go. In short, he has done it all. He is not a big man physically and some may doubt his capabilities as a digger. To do so, however, would be to make a great mistake. I remember one old gamekeeper, a mutual friend, remark, "That bloody Eddie never stops digging, he's at it every day. He'll dig anywhere; he doesn't care how deep it is." And these words are true, or rather were true for youth is a fleeting gift we must all relinquish though maturity dose its best to make up for the loss.

Never stops digging.  And always, always, to his beloved Jack Russell terriers. This chapter is compiled from some entries in his diaries when he was terrier man to the Cattistock one of the most intense periods of his work in his entire life. Mere mortals would find the volume of work to be incredible and unacceptable. The sheer physical burden, the long, arduous hours, the often demoralizing lack of any appreciation or understanding, all these combined would soon blunt the enthusiasm of all but the dedicated, dyed in the wool, super enthusiast. To work as Eddie did requires a special application and special attitude. But above all it demands a sheer love of the life and a sheer love of the working terrier. I will not spoil this by going into too much detail. If you have read this magazine and its predecessor you will be familiar with Eddie's articles and will realise that he writes, from authority and from experience. He cherishes the terrier that works with voice alone and this is where, in my opinion, he undertakes his most difficult task. He seeks the terrier with enough intelligence not to get hurt but with enough courage to work right up to the quarry a difficult balance and one which stays too far back to exert pressure. I personally, seek the other extreme terriers with the courage to force but with enough intelligence to save themselves from the more severe injuries. Both are difficult to obtain or to manufacture in just the right balance.

This is easily the biggest chapter and is of vital importance if you to understand Eddie Chapman and his terriers. Go with him on his early morning earth stooping expeditions, revel in his sheer knowledge and expertise and smile at his home spun humour for Eddie, in this department, is a product of the mining valley whence he sprung where humour, ever in the most dire adversity, is never far below the surface.

 He ends the book with the words work, work and more work, day in day out there will many times, soaked to the skin, tired, hungry, when you will curse the day you ever dreamed of being a terrier man.

True no doubt but still if Eddie had not been a terrier man, what else could he have been? If there is such a thing as fate or destiny then it surely decreed that Eddie be just what he is, a great working terrier man, a great authority on his breed and a great credit to the sport we all love and with varying degrees of success, seek to grace.