32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Essential Lab (...) is proof: you get what you pay for, May 1, 2000
This review is from: The Essential Labrador Retriever (Essential Guides Series) (Paperback)
The book is small, mainly pictures of lab puppies and, for somereason a few full pages of huskies? As far as advice on how totake care of the breed, it's as generic as they come. This is the only lab book I have purchased since getting my puppy, but I can not recommend it. My last dog was a Golden Retriever and this could have been written about that breed (or huskies for that matter). Sorry I don't know of a book I can recommend, but I just didn't want you to order this and be disappointed.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Terrific Compendium On Labrador Retrievers!, September 2, 2004
This review is from: The Essential Labrador Retriever (Essential Guides Series) (Paperback)
One of the several intriguing and quite useful aspects of this book that drew me in was its premise that the Labrador Retriever is perhaps the single most agreeable and people-oriented of all the domesticated breeds, which also creates the situation in which the dogs are also quite trainable and thrive on interpersonal interaction with humans. The author shows the reader how and why to care for what some of us consider the single greatest act of creation, the Labrador Retriever! Thus, by showing us the degree to which the breed represents a witch's brew of intelligence, honesty and loyalty to its human companions, the author illustrates why the Labrador has become the single most popular breed of dog in the world today. Labradors are sturdy creatures indeed, bred for sporting use along the quicksilver shores of Newfoundland, where the water temperatures and sea conditions require a healthy dollop of strength and endurance, and those are qualities these dogs have in spades.
For those of us who have witnessed them at work and at play in the fields and in the water, the Labrador's singular combination of physical attributes and obvious intelligence makes them the ideal human companion. I should know; I live with four of them! The proof of their adaptability to almost any condition and their loyalty, intelligence, and unparalleled work ethic is demonstrated by the wide use of them as guide dogs and as adjunct partners for the physically handicapped. Stories of Labradors crawling out onto the ice to save their masters are legendary, as are the tales of them rescuing children from fires or from underneath rubble. Never has there been a dog superior to them.
The author has recruited a wide variety of experts to testify as to the qualities and abilities of the dog, and one walks away from a reading of the book much better informed as to the all of the many qualities and capabilities of the breed, which seems to represent an astonishing list of useful and worthwhile attributes. We also get quite critical information as to what to look for when choosing a lab, and how to analyze the quality of the puppy you see before you. The author offers a compendium of information regarding genetics, feeding, health care, and inherited dispositions, as well as some sage advice as to how to ensure your puppy becomes the grown up Labrador companion you will come to view as another family member. This is a great book, and one I heartily recommend! Enjoy
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Essential Lab is proof: you get what you pay for, May 1, 2000
This review is from: The Essential Labrador Retriever (Essential Guides Series) (Paperback)
The book is small, mainly pictures of lab puppies and, for some reason a few full pages of huskies? As far as advice on how to take care of the breed, it's as generic as they come. This is the only lab book I have purchased since getting my puppy, but I can not recommend it. My last dog was a Golden Retriever and this could have been written about that breed (or huskies for that matter). Sorry I don't know of a book I can recommend, but I just didn't want you to order this and be disappointed.
Incidently, when I called to find out about returning the book, the Amazon representative recommended I write this review. Although it's a "dot com", Amazon still has very good LIVE customer service.
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