Customer Reviews

For the Life of Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Having a Dog From Adoption and Birth Through Sickness and Health

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

 

 

If you have a Great Dane, then you will love this book. Although the author tries to speak in general, and give his advise, you can see his passion for Great Danes in almost every line. I would do the same I think..but for poodles. But I wouldn't give a general title to the book as the author did.

As a shelter volunteer, when I read this I kept hearing my own voice...talking to people who were wanting to adopt dogs: gently and encouragingly explaining how they should choose a dog (not based upon looks or on their general understanding of a certain breed), how to train their dog in a positive fashion (not using an "I'll show you who is boss" attitude)...It's ALL here...EVERYTHING... everything that I explain over and over and over again as I try to educate potential adopters hoping some of it sticks, and as I try to find the VERY BEST match for "my" dogs. I really don't understand when people say this book is about Great Danes..I didn't get that AT ALL. Just because he uses his own dogs as examples and draws from his own experiences doesn't mean you can't generalize ALL of this material to other dogs, not to mention that there is a large section devoted to terriors (he owns a JRT) and to mixed breed dogs. The only shortcoming I found was the lack of information the absolute necessity of spaying and neutering. Breeding should be left to a very few professionals, and the rest of us need to spay and neuter...and I wish he had touched upon that issue more adamantly. Also, the way the book is layed out isn't really user friendly. It's more memoir style so that you might miss out on some really good ideas and tips that are buried in a paragraph of text. Other than that, this book is the perfect primer for new pet owners. I bought three copies -- one for myself, one for our shelter library, and one for a friend who was contemplating dog ownership.

I have read many books recently about dogs and have found this one to be among the most helpful and interesting. Highly recommended!

When I saw this book I was surprised-like many people might be-to discover Greg Louganis trains dogs and lives with a pack of them, from several great danes to a "Jack Russell terrorist". As I read the book I found his enthusiasm towards dogs and understanding their behavior absolutely contagious. I found this book very encouraging and helpful. It may not be the best book on specific training techniques but I thought it provided great overall information on what you can do to really enjoy having dogs into your life.

Part 1: A Lifetime Committment
Part 2: The Joys and Pains of Puppyhood
Part 3: The Prime of Out Lives
Part 4: The Golden Years

I found that as I was reading the book, the author talked about his personal experiences on owing and raising dogs. While I did agree on most of his advice and tips, I didn't find this book very worthwhile to read. This book doesn't contain an index which I find useful in a book

If you don't mind reading a book where the author brags and talks about his experience on owning and rasing dogs, then you may like this book.
Some of the things he discusses:
Owning more than 1 dog
Chewing, barking, digging and other so-called behavior problems
Gromming
Discusses his pet peeves such as dogs running loose
Mutts vs. purebreeds
Puppies vs. older dogs
Discusses what to look for when choosing a dog
Devotes a chapter on preparing for a new puppy, what it needs, getting him/her on a routine etc.
Housetraining and longterm dog training
Dog health and well-being

Greg does an excellent job in helping the owner of a dog through the various stages of its life. He lists some great tips on dealing with "accidents" and other training suggestions. Great photos of him and his dogs. It's a must own for any Greg Louganis fan or dog lover!

I really liked this book. It added a loving perspective to dog-rearing that I did not find in other books I'd read -- and I read many! Yes it's true that Louganis uses personal stories about his dogs and lifestyle, but I did not find them to be bragging. Instead, he is realistic about what it is like to live and travel with dogs on a daily basis. He also has stories which exemplify the difference between large breeds vs terriers which were helpful to me as the new owner of a Norwich. If you are looking for a book specifically about dog training, this is not it, but his perspective on many aspects of dog-rearing: puppyhood vs adolescence, breeding,illness, and euthanasia are helpful to put the lifespan of your dog in front of you when you start. I personally would have liked a little more on puppy socialization, and that includes interacting with young children, and a little more on housebreaking, but this is a warm tribute from a man who obviously loves his dog family and gives them a great deal of respect.

I ordered this book because I recently brought home a beautiful golden retriever. I was alittle worried about doing everything correct with his training and everything. Greg writes alot about what can be expected in raising dogs and keeping them healthy. I feel alot more relaxed now. He speaks of this great love he has for his dogs, and I truly understand the meaning now. If you have a dog, I highly recommend this book. It is a great read. Thanks Greg for what you have done. This was the 2nd book I read on the subject, I am reading now a third. I think, this one is the most helpful.

I'm glad I found this book in a remainder bin for four bucks, as I do NOT think it is worth [money] unless you are a serious fan of either Greg Louganis or Great Danes. It is primarily about Greg, Greg's dogs, Greg's life, Greg's opinions, with a sprinkling of brags to show what a really wonderful dog owner Greg is. I had hoped there would be a bit more on being a successful dog owner while having an often-debilitating chronic illness that could interfere with everyday dog care and training, but other than passing references to snuggling in bed with the dogs on bad days, there's little mention. Disappointing, as it had the potential to be a really good book.

I really liked this book. It added a loving perspective to dog-rearing that I did not find in other books I'd read -- and I read many! Yes it's true that Louganis uses personal stories about his dogs and lifestyle, but I did not find them to be bragging. Instead, he is realistic about what it is like to live and travel with dogs on a daily basis. He also has stories which exemplify the difference between large breeds vs terriers which were helpful to me as the new owner of a Norwich. If you are looking for a book specifically about dog training, this is not it, but his perspective on many aspects of dog-rearing: puppyhood vs adolescence, breeding,illness, and euthanasia are helpful to put the lifespan of your dog in front of you when you start. I personally would have liked a little more on puppy socialization, and that includes interacting with young children, and a little more on housebreaking, but this is a warm tribute from a man who obviously loves his dog family and gives them a great deal of respect.