Product Description

Getting a dog is more like getting married than it is like buying a new car or lawnmower—it’s a melding of spirits and a lifetime commitment. So, before you take the leap, you’d better make sure that your choice is based on more than a nice smile and a lively tail. And with more than 400 breeds to choose from, it shouldn’t be too hard to find the right canine companion for you. Looking for a fun-loving pal for lots of rough and tumble family fun? You might try a Boxer or Spinone. Are you a neat-freak who values quiet? The meticulously clean, cat-like Basenji—the handsome Egyptian barkless dog—is for you. Looking for a dependable, even-tempered guard dog/baby-sitter? You might want to consider the fierce-looking Neapolitan Mastiff.

No matter what qualities you’re looking for in a dog, there’s a breed out there for you, and Choosing a Dog For Dummies can help you find it. Written by Chris Walkowicz, President of the Dog Writer’s Association of America, this friendly guide fills you in on what you need to know to:

• Figure out whether or not you really want to share you life with a dog
• Decide which pet qualities you value most
• Select and buy the perfect pet for you and your family
• Give your canine pal the care it deserves
• Find out about breed rescue
• Select a kid-friendly dog

From Affenpinschers to Xoloitzcuintlis, Chris gives you the complete lowdown on 150 of the most popular breeds along with priceless pointers on:

• Finding a reliable breeder and choosing the right puppy for you
• Navigating registration and pedigree issues and handling the paperwork involved with getting a purebred dog
• Preparing your home for the new arrival and adjusting to your new lives together
• Understanding the unique instinctual qualities  and demands of each breed, including grooming, exercise, training, and more

When it comes to matching the right dog to your lifestyle and temperament, it doesn’t pay to play Wheel of Fortune. Make sure that the breed you choose is the right one and have fun doing it with Choosing a Dog For Dummies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #78622 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-29
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 360 pages

From the Back Cover
"This book is a winner." Esme Treen, editor emeritus, The Spotter Quarterly Praise for Choosing a Dog For Dummies "This is a living reference work for both the new and the long-time dog lover." — Robert J. Berndt, DVM "Before you even think about getting a dog … you have to read this book." — Jacklyn E. Hungerland, PhD, author, dog breeder, and judge

Find out about the best dog for you and your family

"This is a book for everyone — prospective puppy buyers, breeders, and owners." Blackie H. Nygood, contributor, Dog News A mind-boggling number of dog breeds exists, and choosing the right dog for you may be confusing. No worries! This book provides a simple, straightforward guide to selecting the best breed for your lifestyle.

Discover how to: Decide which pet qualities you value most Choose a great dog Care for your pet Find out about breed rescue Select a kid-friendly dog

Get smart! www.dummies.com Sign up for daily eTips at www.dummiesdaily.com Sign up for tips on dogs, cats, or birds Keep your pet healthy and content — the Dummies Way^™

About the Author
Chris Walkowicz, author of The Perfect Match and other books, is president of the Dog Writer's Association of America. She has raised numerous champion show dogs.

Customer Reviews

The perfect starting point
I just finished reading this book and buying my first puppy. This was my bible. I even had folded down pages and brought the book with me when I went to pick up my puppy at the breeder. This book was great because if you go on the AKC web site, they describe dogs by the qualities I didn't care about. They talk about fur markings, tail length, and things about being show quality. This book told me what I wanted to know about each breed like if it's good with kids, how much it sheds, and typical behaviors you can expect. It does that for many breeds including those considered rare. All the info was here about how to find a puppy, questions to ask when interviewing breeders, what all the health certifications mean, etc. It's told from the perspective of a person on the inside who is clearly knowledgeable about the dog world. It would be nice if more of the pictures were in color, as opposed to just the top 20 breeds, but you can't have everything and it would cost a lot more if it did. But overall, it's a great book for someone interested in getting a dog and wanting to know about all the different breeds.

ALWAYS good to look at different qualities each breed has
Like the easy to find requirements for each breed.

A Godsend!
This book is a Godsend for folks trying to decide which is the right breed of dog for them. Concise yet complete, and very readable. You sit down intending to glance through your new book, and end up reading it cover-to-cover (often laughing out loud). You now have a short list of possible breeds, and you know just what to do next, to find your dog. Great book for dog-hunters!