Dogs Ultimate Care Guide (Hardcover)

by Matthew Hoffman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Return the Love and Devotion Your Dog Gives You!

Reap the knowledge and wisdom of more than 100 top veterinarians, trainers, groomers, and other pet experts! Dogs: The Ultimate Care Guide offers powerful, practical advice on everything from obedience training and stopping misbehavior to providing the best health care, snacks, grooming, accessories, and more.

With over 800 full-color photographs and helpful, step-by-step illustrations, Dogs: The Ultimate Care Guide captures the excitement and doggone good fun that goes into raising and caring for your canine companion.

Discover:
* Why changing your dog's food bowl might make him healthier (page 236)
* How to stop fleas for good (page 325)
* Premium foods-- are they worth the extra cost? (page 216)
* A complete guide to the top 50 breeds (page 17)
* A toy that's guaranteed to stop barking (page 144)
* Why dogs stick their heads out car windows (page 202)
* How to teach your dog to wave-- and other fun tricks (page 134)
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover
Return the Love and Devotion Your Dog Gives You!

Reap the knowledge and wisdom of more than 100 top veterinarians, trainers, groomers, and other pet experts! Dogs: The Ultimate Care Guide offers powerful, practical advice on everything from obedience training and stopping misbehavior to providing the best health care, snacks, grooming, accessories, and more.

With over 800 full-color photographs and helpful, step-by-step illustrations, Dogs: The Ultimate Care Guide captures the excitement and doggone good fun that goes into raising and caring for your canine companion.

Discover:
* Why changing your dog's food bowl might make him healthier (page 236)
* How to stop fleas for good (page 325)
* Premium foods-- are they worth the extra cost? (page 216)
* A complete guide to the top 50 breeds (page 17)
* A toy that's guaranteed to stop barking (page 144)
* Why dogs stick their heads out car windows (page 202)
* How to teach your dog to wave-- and other fun tricks (page 134)
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 450 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (May 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875965326
• ISBN-13: 978-0875965321
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #985,456 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bible for dog owners, present and future, January 18, 2004

By	Phome "phome" (NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dogs: The Ultimate Care Guide: Good Health, Loving Care, Maximum Longevity (Paperback)

As a first time puppy owner of an Old English Sheep Dog, I bought this book to help me through the mystifying world (to me) of dog care, and absolutely loved it.

The guide is by far the most comprehensive, yet easy to read, with easy to follow instructions of many books that I have seen out there, some of which I own. Each topic is covered in about 2 pages, yet they contain enough detail and handy advice for the new dog owner to feel confident about his or her new relationship. Building that confidence leads to a well-behaved, confident pet, and the tremendous pleasure of ownership of another being.

The guide is divided into several useful sections as follows:

1. Getting acquainted - what kind of dog should you get? Coverage on the top 50 breeds in the US (although unfortunately my lovely puppy wasn't in it). How to deal with new puppy, how to read your dog's body language.

2. Training - everything from house-training your puppy, through to basic and advanced training. It also has a very useful section on correcting unwanted behavior such as chasing cares, digging, anxiety and much more.

3. Essential care - what you need to do to keep your dog fit and healthy. What kinds of toys to buy, whether to leave your pet in or out, and traveling with your dog.

4. Food - Nutrition, water, eating problems, snacks and special diets.

5. Health watch - preventing sickness and common problems, choosing a vet, neutering, breeding/birthing and caring for older dogs.

6. Easing common complaints - what to do about bad breath, bloating, sunburn and ticks, and many other quirks like flatulence and drooling.

7. First aid - in case your dog (I hope it never happens to you) needs emergency care.

8. Looking good - grooming and washing your dog.

These useful and crucial topics are interspersed with dialog boxes (Paws for Thought) that address questions you've thought about but never expected to get an answer on, such as "do dogs fake being hurt?" (p.300), or "why do dogs stick their heads out of car windows?" (p.202),

The book, not surprisingly, boasts contributors ranging from veterinarians, trainers, groomers and other animal experts.

So far, everything I have needed to know, or any questions I had about my dog, has been in this book. It's the first place I look to for answers. In short, this amazing book has been like a bible for me to raise my new puppy (and how to deal with all that long shaggy hair!). I highly recommend it for any present, new or future dog owner.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Pet book Money can buy, April 13, 1999

By A Customer

I am not sorry one bit. I absolutely love the book. It is the best book anyone that has a dog or thinking of getting one could get. I am so pleased. And you will be to. I have A German Shepherd Puppy And now I can care for her better than before I got the book.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly the ultimate care guide to owning a dog or puppy., February 12, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Canmore, Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

As someone who has never owned a dog this book answered all my questions and more. (I've been a cat person for over 30 years, but am now getting a dog.) It is well illustrated, authoritatively written and full of hints to make your dogs life (and yours) a happy and healthy one. I borrowed it from the local library an am now going to buy a copy.