I own several (in fact, six) dog breed references, including this one. I am a bit of an obsessive personality, and one of my fixations is dogs. I love this reference book. It has beautiful pictures, and a two-page spread for each of the over 400 breeds featured. The information is well-written and concise...understand, a book this size with the scope of information it is covering, can hardly be expected to go into any great depth about the breeds. Each breed has its' orgins discussed, the personality generally found within the breed (making allowances for individual variations), physical attriubutes, training and exercising needs and food requirements (in fact, this is the only resource I own on the subject that individually treats the subject of food for each breed). The author also addresses grooming needs and suitability with children to a point.
I gave the book a five, because I have several other resources to suppliment it and I didn't need it to give me a comprihensive look at each breed. It fulfilled the purpose for which I bought it, which was basically to have a book with great pictures and more breeds then most of my others, as well as more updated information.
I will say, however, that I thought there where a couple things that weren't quite perfect: for one, the book tends to be determinately sunny about all breeds. I'm not saying that all breeds don't have good virtues, and I am a happy-ending girl myself, but the reality is that different breeds have special needs, and sometimes those needs mean they won't be good around children or that they need to have experienced owners. This book tends to (not in all cases, but in some) gloss over this to a point, occasionally leaving out known problems with breeds (such as Rage Syndrome in certain strains of American Cocker Spaniels). A lot of the information is good and fair, but sometimes, like I said, they sugar-coated it a bit more then I was comfortable with.
Like I said, I have enough knowledge to begin with for this not to affect me, but it does concern me where the novice dog owner looking for a new pet comes into play. I would definately recommend this book, but with a suppliment: Howell's Boook of Dog breeds is my favorite where breed information is concerned...the pictures aren't great in that book, but if you get both, you will have great pictures and decent information in one and more complete information in the other. (Howell's is about 100 dogs short, but it covers the 300 dogs it does have quite well) I am not saying that the information in this book is defective, just that it needs occasional supplimenting. For those interested in more information on breed confirmation (the way a breed has to look to be eligable to show) a good suppliment would be the International Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. This is an older book (1995, I believe) and, agian, the pictures can't hope to compete with this one, but it's information is useful for those interested in showing.
Overall, it's beautiful and I enjoy it very much. To sum up, I would recomend this wholeheartedly, but would suggested a suppliment if you are looking for a more then very basic information and great picture
