Customer Reviews

The Complete Mastiff (Book of the Breed)

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

 

 

This book and its authors have produced a book that lacks good research and provides little insight into the breed's shortcomings. As another reviewer has noted, it even lacks an index. To call this the best book on Mastiffs is a disgrace to the noble breed. I have found at least two others at Amazon that are clearly superior and another I own, that is out-of-print, unfortunately, would leave this book in the kennel. Even the quality of the photographs is poor.

This book has some nice photos and drawings that may help you learn about the breed, but it lacks updating and warnings about such terrible things as blindness and possible characters faults. It needs an index and sections added on such elements as rescue dog organizations and other important contacts.

Lots of photos of nice dogs, but so what? Why are they champions. Captions are lacking relevant data. For example, world's money making champion dog--not one photo from the movie or why the owner was paid so much.

Betty Baxter, a renowned breeder and owner of the Farnaby Kennels in the U.K. has teamed with David Blaxter of equal caliber and knowledge on the breed, to write the most comprehensive book on the "gentle giant". Limited text is spent on history of the breed. Instead, she and Mr. Blaxter focus on the Old English Mastiff's traits, personality, conformation, breeding, and rearing. The illustrations provide visual understanding of good and bad characteristics to look for. Additionally,they include discussion on common diseases of the breed, nutrition, behavior, obedience and showing. Many excellent photos of mastiffs are peppered throughout the book making it superior to all other books on the mastiff breed

I looked forward to reading this book and found it lacking for something that calls itself the ultimate book. There is much better elsewhere. Amazon has a great collection, check them out before you buy this one--if needs an editor.

This was a great book for the price. Alot of information on the mastiff from its origin to current. Just wish it was in color and was alittle more up to date. The description of the book should say its in black and white.

I had purchased other books on the Mastiff from Amazon in the past and passed this one up because of the $65 price. When I saw it for about $17, I ordered it. It is a hardback book, but not very thick. It has some good information, and not bad for the $17 but deffinitely not worth anything close to $65. For $65, I would want more information and a whole lot more colored pictures.

If you only read one book on the Mastiff, this should be the one. A wonderful presentation of the history, nature & information on owning & raising a Mastiff, from the foremost authority in Mastiffs in the world today.

This helped me learn about the