Fun book. The movie versions never hold up, though.
The author and his wife were first time dog owners and IGNORED every warning sign (including a specific comment from the breeder that they might not want that puppy) and chose a high-bred high-energy field trial Lab for a quiet suburban setting.
I've got one moderately high-energy half-field bred Lab. My second is a field dog, and I got what I asked for. It has taken careful and strict training to make a good dog of her. She still gets into trouble occasionally . . . but she is an absolute crazy wizard on birds.