Winner of the 2005 Ann Bremer Memorial Artists’ Book Prize from the San Francisco Art Institute, this is a look at the historical and contemporary culture of dog-fighting and breeding for “gameness”.

Printed by letterpress, this book is bound as a classic, gentlemanly manual in a rich brown full-cloth binding. Approximately 8”x 6” in landscape format, it includes a smaller 4”x3” removable book inside in a pocket.
A Deeply Game Dog contains two found texts by different authors, both culled from contemporary internet discussion groups. The first is a fascinating mixture of spelling errors and genetic science. The second text (the mini-book, “Jolly Jumper’s Aftercare Guide”), is an incredible document for the strong morality it exhibits within such a context. There is also a section of delicately-rendered dog genealogy charts, as well as a portrait gallery of dogs and handlers.

The book’s images, which are printed by letterpress as well, are from original ink drawings and etchings, all based on historical found photographs and pedigree charts. An etching, (“Earl Tudor with Shipley’s Johnny”) is mounted as a removable frontispiece in half the edition. Edition of 20 copies.