The Puppy Report: An Indispensable Guide to Finding a Healthy Lovable Dog (Hardcover)

by Larry Shook (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Many would-be dog owners are unaware of the hidden hazards of buying a puppy. That adorable collie in the pet shop could grow up blind, or the beautiful springer spaniel with the impressive show pedigree may as an adult be prone to sudden fits of "rage," attacking without warning. Shook, whose heartbreaking experience with a beloved but dangerous Irish Terrier sparked the research for this book, offers important information for the general public on the crisis of hereditary problems in purebred dogs. He provides sound advice on researching a breed and tracking down a responsible breeder. Charts on breed susceptibility to genetic diseases such as hip dysplasia and autoimmune deficiencies are especially useful. This valuable little book should be handed to every patron seeking information on selecting a puppy.
- Jennifer King, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Marlboro, N.J.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 135 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Pr (June 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558211403
• ISBN-13: 978-1558211407
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,623,081 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too important to allow to go unread ...., May 20, 2000

By	goodoldmac "goodoldmac" (Charlotte, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews

This book, by investigative reporter Larry Shook is an eye-opening and sometimes horrifying look at what is happening in the world of pure-bred dogs today... Using his first purchase of a pure-bred as a tragic example, he begins a search to find what went wrong and finds that we are killing our dogs with kindness. The popularity of certain breeds has allowed puppy mills (worth a tell all book in itself) and unprincipled breeders to pass on gentic diseases and defects that doom the dog from the start, and now, because of these practices have been allowed unchecked, these same diseases and defects are not merely common but to be expected in certain animals. One shocking bit of information is that the AKC has, to a certain degree, encouraged these practices by allowing "fashion" to rule in the show ring and simply by the fact the AKC makes money by simply registering purebreds, healthy or not...(n fairness Mr. Shook also points out that at the time of the book's printing (1992) the AKC had begun to take some steps toward correcting this)Mr.Shook details exactly what the potential buyer of a pure-bred should be looking for, what questions to ask and where to go for ACCURATE information on the breed you are interested in...Sadly, this book is out of print now, as it should be required reading for anyone considering the purchase of pure-bred dog.....