Customer Reviews

Choosing a Dog: Your Guide to Picking the Perfect Breed

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As breed guides and puppy-choosing aids go, this one just wasn't a shining light for me. It's not atrocious -- try "Why We Love the Dogs We Do" if you want truly BAD advice. It's just not the one that seems to catch the personalities of the dogs, or not the dogs I know anyway. The breed descriptions just don't win me over. They aren't quite as pedantic in tone as the Encylopedia-style listings in some other mediocre guides, sure, but they just don't quite get to the essence of a breed.

That reaction is based on the several breeds I've had a fair amount of exposure to. For example, there's a Newfoundland sleeping against my foot as a write this. "Choosing a Dog" describes Newfies as "very active for a giant breed," but it makes no distinction between indoor and outdoor activity. "The Right Dog for You" has little charts that do make that distinction; "Paws to Consider" catches the personality of Newfs better. It's not that this book is harsh toward the breed, not at all -- it just doesn't give the best sense of what it's like to own a Newfoundland. It doesn't seem to know that Newfies eat tremendous amounts primarily during their first two years, nor does it mention the overriding concern that good breeders have with not allowing them to become overweight. It says they shed, but it doesn't give you a sense of just how Newf owners come to regard epic shedding as a badge of honor, if you know what I mean.

Several other breeds we know seem to be slightly off in the same way. Boxers drool -- my family's had generations of them, I used to ride with their jowls on my lap on vacations -- and this book doesn't mention that. They're also aggressive with other dogs in a particularly abrupt and unpredictable way that this book doesn't quite catch. Corgis can become quite a run-around-the-house-frenetically dog, and I don't see that reflected here. (No distinction between the personalities of Cardigan and Pembroke Corgis is made, either, which struck my Corgi-owning friends as extremely odd.) I've lived with a Chinese Crested, and for a breed that's intended as a companion, Cresteds have quite a bit of sight hound chase to them. This book describes Cresteds as active, but that's not quite catching the sense of the dog. Similarly, "Choosing a Dog" mentions that Border Terriers are diggers, but it doesn't mention their tendency to bolt impulsively after things; the breed club emphasizes that to potential owners, and cautions owners against letting them off leash. The description of Cairn Terriers here says "a barker, but not to the same degree as a Schnauzer or a Wire Fox Terrier." Cairns do bark some, but it's the unbelievably snarly noises when they play with other dogs that really strike the people I know who have one. Again, that trait is something the breed clubs, and some books, mention to people who are thinking about a Cairn. With respect to Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers, this book doesn't even mention the spring-legged leaping that Wheatens are known for. That's an almost impossible trait to train out of that type of dog. Wheatens are also described as "timid," which to my mind doesn't quite catch the sort of suppressed, pent-up enthusiasm Wheatens mostly seem to show people. I didn't see that personality in this book. (Also, Wheatens are often on people's lists because they're supposed to be less allergenic than other dogs, which this book didn't really address. I may have missed it, but allergies didn't seem to be on these authors' list.)

There are some positives here, and it sure wouldn't be the worst choice. The authors do repeatedly emphasize socialization and fair, positive training methods. The idea of a "Right Home" description for each dog is a nice one, though a lot of the listings are pretty similar to one another. ("Patient, confident leaders" are always the best choice.) I just don't see this as particularly inspired. The dogs are grouped in the same old ways -- Sporting Group, Terrier Group. If I'm a person with a nine-to-five job and allergies, where should I look? (I'd check the index under "allergies," but there IS no index.)

If you want a similarly concise book on the same basic topic, easily the best I've seen is "Paws to Consider" by Sarah Wilson and Brian Kilcommin(s?). "Paws" is thoughtfully written and put together and, judging by the reactions of all the breeders and owners I read it to, hits just the right notes for each dog. It's very enjoyable to read, too -- just right.

A less ably-written (and edited) guide that tries to assess each breed's personality in detailed charts would be "The Right Dog for You" by Daniel Tortora. Tortora's written descriptions aren't as consistently useful as those in "Paws to Consider," though they're sometimes really fun. Maybe his charts are a little TOO detailed and specific for the real world, but it's an interesting approach and definitely gives you a sense of a breed's general personality.

This book is a nice concise description of many of the most common dog breeds but I wouldn't recommend using it as your sole source of information when selecting a dog. I have two main complaints. The first is the use of drawings rather than pictures for each breed. Most of the drawings only vaguely resemble the breeds they are supposed to depict. I would have gladly paid more for some nice color photos of each type of dog.

The second and more serious complaint is that the authors seem to be overly hard on most breeds when it comes to their suitability as pets. In reading though most of the descriptions I got the feeling that only five or six breeds were suitable to stay in the house with humans. Fortunately, I forgot to bring the book with me when I went to the shelter and ended up with one of the most wonderful dogs I've ever had the pleasure to meet (an English Pointer). If I had read the breed description in the book I would have never gotten her and in fact, they recommended that Pointers shouldn't be used as pets, only for hunting. Like I said, this book provides nice, concise descriptions but there are many other sources of information you should consider as well before choosing a pet. All that being said my favorite description was of a Bull Mastif as a dog that "snores, drools and is prone to flatulence". :)

The problem with most books that describe breeds is that they're too sanitized (afraid to say anything negative about a breed at all costs) and/or use meaningless descriptors like "faithful," "loyal," "proud." The books end up being absolutely useless. THIS book is different. It relates the personal experiences of trainers who work with various dog breeds. Do I agree with everything? No, but the book isn't about ME. The book is about what THESE authors have encountered in THEIR contact with the breeds described. It's real, it's excellent. And frankly, as a dog trainer myself, I DO agree with a great deal of what they've experienced. This is always a book I recommend to someone exploring breeds. (Hey, if nothing else, it's cheap, so buy it and decide for yourself what you think!).

I have never read such an offensive description of a bloodhound. Ms. Baer either ignored or failed to consult the more popular works on bloodhounds or the various groups that handle them. Her contention that bloodhounds do not make good family dogs is nothing less than intellectual laziness.

Bloodhounds are wonderful dogs. They are very determined and curious. They need not work for a police force to be happy (as Ms. Baer would have us believe). All they need is a family that's firm and patient.

If Ms. Baer was that far off the mark with bloodhounds, I could only imagine how deep her misunderstandings of other breeds must run.

If there is one word to sum up my review of this book it has to be disappointment. The authors have obviously not looked beyond their own viewpoints and biases. If one could award negative stars I would most certainly do so because I was so negatively affected by the pictures drawn about certain breeds. Yes - there may well be some terrible examples of every breed of dog which appear before a trainer. But to then brand an entire breed with that bad example is unacceptable. I have been bitten once in my life by a dog - by a cute playful beagle. Would I dream of announcing to the world that each and every beagle alive is a miserable bitter and cannot be trusted with people because they will always bite? NEVER! No honest and unbiased person could or would do that. YET - read the description for the Chinese Shar-pei in this book. NOT ONE sane or intelligent person in the world would dream of getting one after reading the remarks and judgements included here! But I happen to have and raise Chinese Shar-pei and there is little close to reality in this book in the picture of the dogs I personally own and love. The book says they are not the dog for a family with small children, that they can not be touched on the head even by their owners without being bitten, that they are dog agressive, on and on the negatives flow. And to each one of them I say - you have never seen my dogs, or the most of the Shar-pei owned by the people I know, or the majority of Shar-pei now being shown and produced by concerned & caring breeders. For proof of that - go to a dog show. Watch the Shar-pei in the ring. Then go and talk to the owners and handlers and ask if you can pet their dog, then, touch it's head, feel it's bristly fur, check out those tiny ears, run your hands over those endless wrinkles. Giggle in delight as that dog licks your face. I know loads of families which own and love shar-pei and who have NEVER experienced any problem. The American Kennel Club, in fact, lists the Chinese Shar-pei as one of the top 10 dogs best suited for families. That, most certainly, is a far cry from the opinion this book projects and presents. Sorry - but this book if off my list. I dread hearing from people in other breeds about the inaccurate pictures they see printed in this book. If they are as far off the mark with them as they are about the CSP it makes you wonder.

I would rate this volume four stars for information, except that there's little on inherited health issues, but only two stars for tone. After reading every section on the twenty or so breeds I was considering, I found myself becoming quite discouraged; it seemed that every breed demonstrated one or more characteristics that should discourage any potential owner from making a purchase. From the point of view of some breeders, this might be seen as a useful purpose, but I was certainly looking for something more positive. The book relies on sketches of each breed rather than photographs.

I think that this book offers valuable information without the bias often found in books by breeders. Although they've got tough words on certain breeds (not by the fault of the breed - but constant bad breeding) they know what they're talking about. I've seen both authors train in person, and if they see a trend, I for one would listen to it!

I really enjoyed this book because it tells you the true facts about the breeds. Most books pretty much always say all good points about the breed and very rarely anything bad. Then the people realize all the problems the breed has and get rid of the dog.Where this book they know what they are getting into before they buy the dog.

Organized traditionally by dog groups, this book focuses mainly on the behavior of breeds as opposed to the appearance of breeds. As a dog lover and reader of many dog books, this book revealled often undiscussed the behavior problems associated with the limited genetic diversity of dog breeds. For example, the darker "redheaded" golden retrievers tend to be more aggressive and hyper than the lighter goldens. The puppy tests given at the end of the book were interesting and useful in picking a puppy. The book tended to focus more on the negative characteristics of a breed. Overall the book is an informative and interesting read for those interested in purchasing a purebred or those interested in the genetic consequences of highly selective breeding.

Remember the drill sergeant in "Full Metal Jacket" who said that he didn't discriminate against any race or ethnic group? He assured the recruits that "you are all equally worthless in my sight." That sort of sums up this book. The authors are dog trainers so they are faced most often with negative behavior in the breeds. Their conclusion is, in almost every case, that all of the dog breeds are bad and it would just be safer for everyone if you didn't get one.

Still, the book serves as a valuable counterweight to some of the other "sunshine pumping" books out there. Just like when teenagers fall in love, we don't always consider a dog breed with our eyes open. This book is the equivalent of your mother slapping you in the face and telling you to "snap out of it." If you know the downside of the breed and still want it, then that's probably true love, isn't it?