Customer Reviews

Paws to Consider: Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've read a few of these "breed choosing" books lately, and Paws to Consider stands out as being easily the best written of the lot. When I read most other dog books, I hear the ponderous narrator's voice from the Westminster Dog Show. This book is written in the real voices of the two authors, and it reads in that simple, direct way. I keep coming back to this one.

The breed descriptions in this book are just great. They aren't as long as some of the wordier books' encyclopedia-style listings, and somehow they seem to include much more information. (Partly it's just writing style; I wish technical writers were this good.) Comparing these descriptions to the lengthy temperament tables in "The Right Dog for You" by Daniel Tortora, "Paws to Consider" comes across as being a measure less objective but more genuine and intuitive and accessible. Temperament isn't described in 16 or 18 separate scales, but these are solid writers and they have a way of hitting the right note. Three different people I've shown the book to have looked for 'their' breed and immediately said something like "This is right, my bassett DOES hate to have his nails clipped more than my other dog."

It's also nice to see a dog book that doesn't group breeds by their official (usually AKC) categories. Instead of (cue the Westminster guy's voice again) "The Hounds" and "The Working Dogs" this book has categories like "The High Input, High Output Dog" and "The Low-Shedding Breeds." There's a category of dogs you can leave home alone for a working day. Geez, that should be in EVERY dog book. Okay, so finding a specific breed is a little harder this way, and some dogs really belong in more than one category, but it's a breath of fresh air to have a new way to think about this stuff.

Again, too, each breed starts with separate categories for the usual pluses and minuses you'll see in that type of dog. In just a few spare lines, they get across an awful lot: Newfoundlands are gentle giants who dream of doing everything with you and whose hearts would break if they were left in the yard alone, but they shed and drool and they're enormous. Some of my other books are surprisingly bad at getting those basic tradeoffs across. This one's well thought out and well laid out.

As an aside, I also love the way this book emphasizes positive reinforcement in training. They do it by using positive reinforcement... on the reader. Makes a person smile.

The thing this book lacks is a really thorough description of the process of buying a puppy from a good breeder. It gives you the usual mantra about reputable breeders and not puppy mills, but it doesn't tell you how to act on the advice. Personally I'm pretty impressed with Your Purebred Puppy, by Michelle Welton, for that stuff. It gives you detailed interview questions to ask, for example, and tells you specifically which health certifications you'd want to see for each breed. Its breed pages aren't as well-thought-through as those here, though.

If you're thinking about getting a dog, this book is NECESSARY. The literature out there that's breed-specific usually emphasizes only the good points of any particular dog.

Also, a lot of those books use "code": "Protective" really means aggressive; "active" means "hyper." Unless you have a lot of experience with dogs, you might underestimate what you're getting yourself into. But this book lists assets and drawbacks objectively, so the potential owner can make an informed decision.

The authors have decades of experience with dogs, and their training approach is humane and effective. They know what they're talking about. With my limited experience, a lot of what they say rings true. (I've had an Irish setter, a lab/terrier mix, and currently a golden retriever and a longhaired dachs.)

This book is also cross-referenced, so you can see if the family dog is also a good watchdog.

The only problem with this book is that it doesn't list every breed. That may make a future edition as big as the Chicago yellow pages, but I did find that to be a little limiting. Some of the super-popular breeds are suffering because of irresponsible overbreeding (goldens, for example) and I know a lot of people who are attracted to the less-popular types for that reason. It would be good to have profiles of some of those dogs in here, too.

Best of all, this book is FUN--I found myself chuckling at descriptions of dogs my friends and I have had ("If there is a God, there is surely a dachshund at His feet..."). It should be on the shelf of anyone who owns, works with, or just gets a kick out of dogs.

The thing that sets this book apart from similar ones is that the authors are working dog trainers, not freelance writers who get all of their information from other books. Kilcommons and Wilson have decades of real experience with the dogs they're talking about, and have seen the way that different dogs blend in (or don't!) with all sorts of families. Their view of each breed comes from their encounters with real dogs, and they know that many dogs from the more popular breeds will not resemble the ideal dog described in the breed standard.

My favorite aspects of "Paws to Consider" are the clear, concise list of common health problems each purebred has, and the way the dogs are broken down into categories. Instead of sticking to the AKC groupings, they divide breeds into city dogs, family dogs, "not for everyone" dogs, and so on. Important information is easy to find. I'm a dog trainer, and I constantly flip through this book to refresh my memory on the different breeds.

If you're considering a new dog, please buy this book! It will make choosing your new companion, whether single-breed or mixed, a lot easier.

This is a wonderful and badly needed book. Most (though not all) of the more popular breeds are represented here, catagorized not by the AKC group, but by where they would fit in with human life-styles. You will see what breeds need lots and lots of daily excerise, which breeds have high grooming needs, shedding problems (or not) temperment, and something most other books skip over, which genetic diseases are common in which breed. Input for this book comes not only from the authors, but also from professional dog trainers and vets so the opinions (or judgements if you prefer) are not just those of the authors. Your expericence with a given breed may be different than the authors would lead you to believe, (mine has been in two cases) but any one thinking about a canine additon to their family needs to read this book. BUT don't forget the best dog for you may not be a "breed" at all but a common, loveable mutt you can adopt from the animal shelter or the humane society....(a statement I believe the authors of this book would agree wholeheartly with....)

Owning a dog is a log of work and takes a great commitment. This book is frank about the problems and joys of each breed that it covers. The break down of different breeds into categories is very helpful in choosing a dog to fit your lifestyle. This book gives you a sense of exactly what to expect from several top breeds. Although the dogs I currently own are in the "Not for Everyone" category in the book, I respect the comments on their breeds and realize that they truly are NOT for every dog owner. Photos of each breed are very helpful and included with each description. The vast experience of the writers with dogs is apparent when reading through this thoughtfully written book.

The authors have created a work that EVERY prospective dog owner should read! Kilcommons and Wilson are frank and brutally honest in their discussion of dogs: who should get a dog, what dog ownership REALLY entails, why some people would be better off with a stuffed toy instead, and which breed to consider and where to obtain that dog. As a breeder and as a Rescue worker, it is very heartening to see the truth told about our particular breed. If people read this book, perhaps they would NOT choose our breed, and we would have far fewer "throw-away" pets to rescue and re-home.

The authors have created an exceptional book! They are right on the money with their appraisal of each breed discussed, and furthermore, the book is fun to read! Thumbs up to this one!

This book should be mandatory for anyone even thinking of getting a dog. Even if that dog is ten years off. Since I became interested in dogs and dog welfare, I have heard and seen too many times the unhappy scenario of dogs being dumped because their owners just did not bother to do ANY reasearch. Families duped by Beethoven, Lassie, and 101 Dalmations decide tv never lies and buy one for their young children. People who want a guard dog buy a Rottweiler for "protection" and dump it out in the yard. A calm couple wants a "small, quiet, easy-going dog", so they judge on size and get a terrier. A jogger wants a partner and thinks a great dane will keep up.

I love that the book lays it out flat that almost half the breeds listed require more exercize than the average Joe is willing to give them. Sure, we're all charmed by those Weimaraner costume photos... but will you spend at least an hour every day playing with it? Do you even have space for it to do so? Lack of exercize spawns so many behavioral problems that it cannot be emphasized enough. I know another reviewer complained that "too many negatives" were listed for each dog; I prefer it that way. Better that someone realize that the dog they want is too loud, too big, too headstrong, too energetic, too needy, too expensive, or even too gassy, than to get one and then dump it somewhere because they did not realize the mismatch. Or, even better, it may give someone new ideas as far as what is a good match. (Everytime I mention I would love a sighthound, especially an ex-racing greyhound, the immediate reaction is that I shouldn't take something so hyperactive. I say, uh-uh, if I wanted hyperactive, I'd get a lab!)

The book's organization is excellent. It starts off asking why you want a dog and what you want in one. It gives you a starting point as far as where to look for one, and I was ecstatic to see rescue groups mentioned, although I do not think the book went into them enough (it would have been great to say that you can easily find one by googling "[x breed] rescue [your state/area]", or, nowadays, on [...]). I understand that the authors assume the reader wants to buy from a breeder, because I think those people are the ones who will be perusing breeds, and the ones who really need the most assistance. (It's not mean, it's true.) Then the book does something essential - it goes over groups of dog breeds and what jobs they were INTENDED to do, and explains how it affects their behavior and temperament. I recently heard of a man lamenting that he bought a mini schnauzer who was obsessed with his rat cage and would not leave the rats alone. He had not read up that these dogs were originally bred for ratting!

There is a lengthy section going into individual breeds. There are always both pros and cons. Looking into my dog experience and research, I have to say these people know what they are talking about, even without looking at their credentials. The only drawback is that they do not touch on every breed, but then again there are so many it could make this book three times its size. I also think the "not for everyone" section is great, but could use more info. The more people are discouraged from getting Rotts and Pits on a whim, the better.

I personally think there is enough info here to find that dog you want, but it is always recommended that you look to other sources; the book itself says so. Spend time with members of your chosen breed, search the web, read other books. Then buy Kilcommon's/Wilson's Good Dogs, Great Owners, and you're on your way!

We have owned several dogs in the past and when our last one passed away we decided to do some research this time. We bought 5 books on dogs looking for advice on choosing a dog. This book was far and away the most entertaining to read and in some ways the most useful. The last chapter entitled "Not for Everyone" is hilarious. The book isn't comprehensive nor does it take everyone's opinions into account. Rather it unabashadly gives the opinions of experienced dog trainers who aren't afraid to speak their minds about various breeds of dogs. It has the feel of a friendly chat. I recommend this book highly although you might want to purchase other books to supplement it.

This is the most down-to-earth, honest book on the subject I have ever read. Brian and Sarah are dog trainers who base the book's information on actuall experiences with the breeds. They also cover health screening, breed rescue, and tips to find the best breeder. Insted of putting breeds in the standard grouping (Sporting Group, Toy group, etc.) They had catagories for dogs that were good with kids,nine-to-five dogs, and active dogs.

My only bone to pick (pardon the pun) is that they didn't do a review of every breed. They had one scetion of breeds that was made up of breeds that could be hard to handle (Like Jack Russels, Dalmations, Border Collies). For these breeds, they only did a paragraph or two on what put the breed in that catagory. What frusterated me was that Bulldogs and Shar-pei's were put in that section just because of their health problems. This is probably a good idea for first-time dog owners, but difficult if you have had plenty of experience (experience meaning you have successfuly controled over a number of dogs recently, not that you managed one golden retriever or had a dog growing up.)

However, this is still a good book to bring along on your dog search. If you want info for the experienced, a good book would be "The Perfect Match: A dog Buyers Guide" by Chris Walkowicz. This Book has tons of breeds, and has activites the breed is well suited for (agility, compition obedience, etc.) However, for novices, "Paws to Consider" can't be beat.

What a godsend if you're trying to figure out what breed to add to your family! This book helped me figure out the criteria I need to keep in mind when trying to choose a suitable breed. The personality descriptions are concise, honest, and already categorized according to how suitable they are to certain conditions. I just kept returning to this book after surfing the net to make sure of the information. This book never let me down. He also gives you internet addresses to supplement information found in the book, and a great section of resource books to help you get through the puppy selection process. Let me tell you that this book is very dog eared at this point and I haven't even purchased my dog yet!