Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 Best quick reference book on dog breeds March 13, 2008
Cynthia A. Sherwood-alfano (Connecticut)
As an Animal Control Officer, I use this book often to help folks find compatible breeds. It is brief and to the point on each breed with easy reference guides to all the basic questions one would ask while exploring different breeds. I only wish it had color photos.
JUST A GREAT BOOK May 19, 2007
Randall C. Stein (Denver)
I keep this book by my desk and use it a lot to get information on different breeds. It gives a quick easy analysis of each breed, giving the reader a real good idea of the breed's positive & negative aspects, the information a person considering buying the breed really needs to know. Things like what health problems are characteristic of that breed and to ask breeders about, what the breed is Best With (for example: "fenced yards, obedience, close human contact, industrial-strength vacuum") and Not For (for instance: isolation, robotic obedience, inactive people")
The author's comments on English Bulldogs is funny, honest, and a good example. "Sleeping is this breed's favorite activity. Eatng is next, but they do love a good belly rub." "After drinking, they carry water in their jowls, slobbering across the floor. A sense of humor about the breed's propensity for flatulence is a good idea."
Absolutely must PRIOR to buying a dog April 13, 2007
Vespucci (Cranston, Rhode Island USA)
This book helped me find the PERFECT breed for me. You know how people try to tell you all about breeds from what they hear, or dogs they've known, but often they are wrong, or just plain uninformed. This book is ACCURATE, concise and totally reliable.
A MUST HAVE for anyone who is interested in buying a dog and being educated and realistic about the dog's needs and their own.
 Definitely worth looking at February 20, 2007
Cassie Abbott (WA, USA)
One thing I've always disliked about breed selection books is that they seldom give you a balanced description of the dog. Often it's heavily weighted for a positive outlook which makes every single breed seem like it could be the one for you. This book is different, and that's why I like it.
Describing the AKC recognized breed as of 1996, as well as a few rare breeds, you get a snapshot of the good, the bad, and the ugly with each breed. All of the basics are covered (protection ability, energy level, behavior with children/other animals, grooming) as well as some not typically covered (health problems, working ability). It also describes ideal and less-than-ideal types of owners. For example, the Rottweiler is described as best with strong confident owners who will train and socialize it early, not for pushovers with an invisible fence.
While a more detailed and lengthy description of each breed would be useful, you have to remember that this book has to cover 150+ breeds in less than 200 pages. This book is intended to help you narrow it down to a handful of breeds you might like. Once that's accomplished you go to breed specific books and other resources.
I give it 4 of 5 stars simply because it's from 1996 and doesn't include some of the breeds known today.
 Very Practical March 21, 2006
Townhomer (Pittsburgh)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
The reviews were very concise and well focused on the criteria that a prospective owner should consider.
The book only covers breeds -- it would also be nice to have a chapter on "choosing a mutt" and what the criteria, benefits and pitfalls might be.
Color pictures would make it easier to recognize familiar dogs, but, ultimately, it's not vital to decision-making.
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