The Dog

While the book does not cover all dogs (there are 400 or so breeds), this book has an outstanding collection of dogs for every situation. Each breed is given its own page with a nice summary of characteristics and behavior. There is also a large picture of each of them.

What makes this book unique is how the breeds are arranged. Instead of the usual show-dog categories, each chapter highlights ten breeds that fit owners with particular characteristics such as lots of space, allergies, and first-time owners.

At the end is a questionnaire to figure out possible breeds and a table rating the breeds for many aspects with stars. A glossary rounds out the book.

I really enjoyed reading through thus guide. As a dog lover I think this is a must-read , especially for people who have no to little experience with dogs and are looking into becoming a dog owner. But also experienced dog people will get a kick out of it, learning new things about the wide variety of breeds and their characteristics.

What a fantastic book. I loved the way the dogs were grouped. If I was looking for my first dog, I wish I had this book so I could make sure I picked out the right breed for myself. This book has everything in it when it describes each breed, from typical behaviors to where the breed originated to size and grooming needs which should all be considered when getting a dog - I had no clue until I had my own dog squad!

I will be purchasing this book to anyone who is looking to get their first dog or their next dog.

4.5 🌟

Clearly explained and beautifully illustrated. The author has divided the dogs in 13 groups, such as dogs for beginners, low-maintenance dogs, hypoallergenic dogs, among others. From my point of view, I think this is quite helpful, because these are some of the concerns people have when looking for a dog.

You can find one dog breed per page with two paragraphs about their origins and some other details. There is a box with the dog main characteristics and some important notes, and a big-size picture of the dog.

The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because there's a point I missed in the box of main characteristics: the life expenctancy. I think this is very important too.

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - Chartwell Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The photos in this book are so appealing that even if you don't plan to have a pet, you may enjoy flipping through the pages.  Included are suggestions for the dog to choose based on what a person needs.  There are dogs for beginners, family friendly dogs, low and high maintenance dogs, hypoallergenic dogs and more.  The book also includes two charts that, if completed, will assist in making good choices based on the owner's lifestyle and different factors for each dog breed. 

Each breed entry includes some history, an additional entry (history, changing roles, etc.) and a list of canine characteristics.  There is also a helpful at a glance box. 

For those who want to make an informed decision on the pup that might be best either in daydream or real life, this title is a fine resource.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fabulous book for anyone either looking to add a dog to their life, or for someone that want to know more about bred or wonder why their dog acts like it does.
The book covers temperament, history and quick tips/rundown on the bred. The book is broken up into large sections each with its own suitability to type of owners. The section are Dogs for beginners, Family friendly, Good mixers (with other dogs/pets), Low maintenance, High maintenance, Small dogs, Large dogs, Dogs that like to run, Hypoallergenic dogs, Guard dogs, Super smart dogs, Talented dogs and finishing with Weird and wonderful dogs, There are beautiful photos of all the dogs and the information is relevant and easy to understand.
I have had many dogs breeds over my lifetime, from breeding to owning rescue dogs, I found this book very well written and with accurate information to dog type.
A great book to obtain information from.

I loved the photos in this ambitious book and appreciated the novel aspect of it -- dogs are recommended as top tens for a variety of purposes (dogs for beginners, hypoallergenic dogs, dogs for families, etc.) but I found myself disagreeing with the author quite often. I've grown up with dogs and have had my fair share, but I also have a best friend who is a dog sitter/walker for a living and frequently spend a week at a time going about the rounds with her. I've gotten to know so many breeds so well by spending so much time with them, and also have learned so much from her. Many of the descriptions of the breeds in this book don't mesh with my experience or hers, such as with huskies, Boston terriers, English setters... I could go on and on.

The book highlights and recommends many rare dogs that are going to be quite expensive, and there's no focus at all about the benefits of rescue and adoption. The "mongrel" is featured once, and that's it for recommending mixed breeds. Our current family dog, Moose, is a half and half mix of Labrador retriever and English setter, and he's the most fabulous dog. He's a rescue from a shelter but we couldn't have ordered a friendlier, more loyal, more loving and fun dog. Our last dog was a collie mix who was also such a wonderful family pet. The idea of seeking out quite rare breeds because they were recommended by a book like a dog catalog doesn't sit very well with me, to be honest, when so many wonderful dogs are put to sleep every day because people want to buy a designer dog.

In any case, even if that's what you want to use the book for, I don't feel that the information is complete. It's wonderful in some ways -- great color photos, good charts of things like activity level and coat care -- but doesn't give all the information I'd give. I kept wanting to add information to the entries. My favorite resource for learning all you could ask for about dog breeds is actually an online resource -- www.pets4homes.co.uk/dog-breeds. We used it when we learned our dog Moose's breeds (we sprang for a DNA test out of unbridled curiosity because he looked so much like he might have Great Dane in him) and we wanted to learn more about English setters. I appreciate that it has so much history, positives, negatives, etc. and it was spot on.

This is a fun book to look through, but I hope people will see it more as an interesting exercise and then go look for similar breeds at their local shelters and rescue organizations.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

I love this book!! I would have absolutely adored this book as a child looking through and learning about each dog. I am a very experienced dog lover and found some breeds I was not familiar with so had fun learning about those., I really like the pictures as well.. This would be a fun gift for family or friends either looking for a dog or with kids that love animals but don't have a pet (like myself as a child).

In this book, it let's us look at each breed and learn many facts about each breed in order to help you learn and make a decision about which would be the best choice for you as a pet.



Very thorough and informative along with playful images of each breed anyone can learn something from this guide book!



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

I love dogs and love reading tips, likes and dislikes about all dogs. I loved this very informational book.

A helpful guide for anyone looking to get their first dog, or considering a different breed. Chapters are broken down by dog temperament--good for first-time owners, family dogs, low-maintenance (and even high-maintenance!). Each page includes basic information on size, personality, coat, etc., as well as an attractive color photo of the dog breed on a white background. (Very DK-like.) Not comprehensive to every breed in the world, but will keep a prospective owner from getting overwhelmed by choices.

My only criticism is that I wish the author had included something about mixed breeds, although I suppose it would be harder to predict temperament. But when there are already so many dogs needing homes in shelters, books like this seem likely to encourage more dog breeding for purebred characteristics.