5 comments about The French Bulldog (Kennel Club Classic).

1. The French Bulldog by Muriel P. Lee is the definitive guide on this charming breed. The books' design, layout and lavish illustrations have as much personality as the breed itself. This text is an encyclopedic approach to the French bulldog and will appeal to both the dog fancier and the novice alike.
   The chapter "Pieces de Resistance" by Gary Bachman, who is a connoisseur of French Bulldog related ephemera, creates an extraordinary overview of objet dart ranging from a pair of Faberge smoky quartz Frenchies to unusual knickknacks, lamps, toys and tobacciana of the breed. Chapter by chapter The French Bulldog chronicles the history of the breed's popularity from the 1800's to the present with contributions of canine specialists worldwide. This book, a Kennel Club Classic, is an informative and entertaining guide that will introduce you to the Frenchie as an authoritative text and a superb introduction to unusual collectibles for every dog lover.



2. A tour de force. Muriel leaves no stone unturned. The only book about Frenchies that you'll ever need. Outstanding photos!



3. The French Bulldog by Muriel P. Lee is a must have book for any French Bulldog owner or fancier. This book comprehensively and deftly covers topics ranging from the history of the breed to the breed's portrayal in art and collectibles. The author's decades of experience with Frenchies shine through in this piece, as does the expertise of the other top notch contributors to this book. This book is one of depth, substance and beauty. The excellent text is accompanied by wonderful photos. This is a book that French Bulldog fans will enjoy reading and re-reading over the years.



4. Ms. Lee, a well-known and respected author in the industry, first made her name with the still popular "The Whelping and Rearing of Puppies: a complete and practical guide". This book follows her excellent reputation for books on specific breeds. A number of chapters are written by experts in their field such as Dr. Jan Grebe, current President of the French Bull Dog club of America, and Anne Hier, respected AKC and UKC judge. Despite the different viewpoints of the various contributors, the book is a cohesive whole and reads extremely smoothly. This must be considered one of the most complete and authoritative books on the subject for years to come, and is essential for all frenchie enthusiasts and fanciers.



5. The French Bulldog by Muriel P. Lee is not only the most complete book on the breed, but it includes a section written by Gary Bachman on Frenchie collectibles. Lee also engaged Dr. Janice Grebe to contribute a comprehensive section on health and care of this wonderful breed. French bulldogs doing utility, obedience and therapy work also are included. But for many readers, the icing on the biscuit will be the superb pictures of Frenchies being the adorable and adored family members they were born to be. Making people happy is what Frenchies do best of all!

5 comments about The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behaviour and Interactions with People.

1. I particularly recommend this book for it's Chapter 9: Lockwood, Randall, The ethology and epidemiology of canine aggression.
   
   For those experts and attorneys looking for detailed information regarding dangerous dog law and breed specific legislation (BSL), Lockwood's article provides subtle but direct information regarding the unique dangers presented by pit bulls that provide a rational relationship to their regulation or prohibition.
   
   This article has been reviewed and cited by experts in the field of animal behavior as being relevant to this issue, and I found Lockwood's analysis of "fighting dogs" (read 'pit bulls') to be an objective analysis of the problem, one that is not readily acceptable to the "politically correct" members of most organizations opposed to BSL.
   
   For any governmental official, administrator, or attorney, you HAVE to read this article before making a decision on BSL. Don't get blindsided by the irrelevant issues toward propensity to bite/attack, but examine the potential for severe injury or fatal maulings from these dangerous unique behaviors by pit bulls.
   
   I am a municipal government attorney involved in litigation over BSL, so I've worked with copies of the article from the old hardcover publication - now I'm buying my own copy of the paperback version.
   
   Kory Nelson, Esq.
   Asst City Attorney
   Denver CO



2. First published in 1995, nothing else as comprehensive and as carefully researched on canine behavior and development has been published. For the general reader, the writing style may be a bit dry; however, because each chapter has different authors, the writing style, while basically academic and fact driven, varies.

   Any serious dog breeders, trainers, or owners will find themselves returning to certain chapters over and over again. Breeders and even new puppy owners would benefit from the chapter by Serpell and Jagoe on "Early experience and the development of behaviour," which updates the standard beliefs about puppy development resulting from the Bar Harbor experiments of over 50 years ago.

   Excellent book!




3. For those people hungry for scientific literature on dogs and curious about what other references there are on particular dog topics, this is a must read/must have text; almost every chapter serves as a review of the scientific literature on that topic. Those who don't care for reading anything drier than James Herriot's "All Creatures Great & Small" should avoid it.

   The book is probably used as a text for graduate students and upper division majors in ethology, comparative psychology, zoology, etc. It was published in 1995 so most of the information is fairly current. The book is in its 5th printing so some professors must share my judgment of it. Let's hope that by 2005 there's a revised edition including and evaluating recent work.

   It has 17 chapters written (or co-written) by 21 specialists in their fields -- British, American, Italian -- (after an introduction) divided into 3 major divisions: I. Domestication & evolution (2 chapters) ; II. Behaviour & behaviour problems (8 ch.s); III. Human-dog interactions (6 ch.s). The chapters provide an excellent summary and the key references to the area discussed. A few chapters have a definite British flavor but American readers will be able to transpose when needed.

   Dog breeders (& many owners) may be especially interested in the chapters dealing with what's known about heritability of traits, temperament, etc., as well as the role of early experience on later behaviors, disorders, etc.

   A few chapters are filled with research results in tables and graphs. One is dense with specialist jargon. But all are readable if you're interested in learning what the applicable sciences know and do not know about the dog. All chapters have information I found important and to some, I'll refer back to many times.




4. Does it seem that retail book stores stock dog books that appear opinion-based and poorly referenced or researched? The early chapters of The Domestic Dog concerning evolution may be a little bit factual and historically oriented (read: a tad dry) but presents an excellent understanding of how dogs came into contact with humans and the resulting reliance and interations. The book, in part, looks at areas of canus familiarus and human interaction from both a biological, survival necessity to what kind of kennel should be considered based on breed selection. There are many discussions on topics not normally covered in commercial or general appeal dog books that will compliment, inform and provide insight into otherwise unknown or insufficiently covered areas about dogs. Areas of new information include (but is not limited to): pack hierarchy, dog development and growth, dog psychology and others. It is one dog book I can rely on for its research, reference material and impartial analyses into breed types. It has helped me learn more about dogs than previously possible in other purported books based on fact. I do believe that one must be more interested in dogs than just a casual manner (i.e.: one must really want to get into the nuts and bolts) to enjoy and finish this book.



5. This book is packed with easily understandable, concise information. Whether you are a behaviorist or simply a dog lover, this is a must have.

5 comments about Bulldogs (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. If you're new to owning a bulldog, this is the book for you. The book is broken down into sections with a very detailed table of contents for different issues, which is great! You can easily find the information you need quickly. It's also not a long book so it doesn't seem overwhelming to read. Of all the Bully books I purchased, this is the one I used the most. Good Luck!



2. This is realy a manuel that gives you insight in how to be the Owner of a Bulldog. A must for any bulldog owner or someone that want to have one.



3. This book was a good intro into what we needed to care for this unique breed however we got our Bulldog as an adult so there were about 5 Chapters that weren't applicable to us so I didn't read them- if you are a buyer considering purchasing an English Bulldog puppy this should help you get started.



4. I believe this book is great especially for the new Bulldog owner. I'm in the process of buying my first puppy and I think the information in this book will help me along my way.
   There's information on the breed history, health, grooming, training, and selection. Definitely worth purchasing.



5. This book is a nice, easy to follow guide for people interested in buying a bully. It gives basic care instructions, a short history, product info and such to help you make your decision and let you know if a bulldog is right for you, or, more importantly, if you are right for a bulldog.

3 comments about Dog Culture: Writers on the Character of Canines.

1. Fantastic read! I couldn't put it down. Do yourself a favor and read everything with Ken Foster's name on it!



2. A great book of essays by Chuck Palahniuk, Elissa Schappell, Chris Offutt and others, and about dogs--the good, the bad, the ugly. But apparently Amazon isn't interested in selling it, so go to any of the other bookstores online or ask your local bookstore to order it. (Amazon has been listing it as Out of Stock, but it actually is available!!!)



3. Dog Culture has a little of everything for the dog lover. Its funny at times, sad, and up lifting. This book is a collection of stories/essays about people and their relationship to dogs. Ken Fosters' story is probably the best one in the book. But this book also contains a Chuck Palahniuk (Author of Fight Club and Choke)essay about rescue dogs which is also very good. There were about two or three stories that just didn't seem to fit here, but all in all, collectively this is a very good read.

5 comments about Welsh Corgis: Pembroke and Cardigan (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. The book was filled with good information regarding the breed and temperment of the Corgi's. Although lacking some more specific details on training, it served to provide background material to help with training of the corgi puppy. I would recommend the book to any corgi owner wishing to know more about corgis in general, but there are better books for training.



2. I bought this book while I was still puppy-hunting, and it was great. It has lots of tips and breed-specific info about both Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis, and was invaluable in helping me locate a good breeder and find the best puppy for us. It also has great tips for when you first bring your puppy home, and is full of gorgeous color pictures. A+.



3. If you already are familiar with the corgi breed, you'll love this book because it's filled with marvelously appealing photos of corgi puppies! There's an unusual number of great photos, unusual even for a book about the breed.

   The book also is right on the money with advice on how to raise your corgi to avoid behavior problems. These are working dogs, and if they are trained properly (and it's easy) they are a delight, but without that training they can dominate the household and be a real nuisanced. It's clear that the author knows a lot about the breed.

   Most dog books are about dogs in general, with little about the particular breed. You get the impression that there's a general dog book on the word processor that's customized slightly for each breed. This is a book about corgis, written to be just about corgis, and full of great information that's useful for every corgi owner.




4. The problem with many dog-related books is that they contain a few dozen pages related to the breed & the rest is filled with generic information that pertains to all breeds. This book in particular deals with corgis the whole way through. A great deal of helpful information concerning corgis appears within.



5. We purchased this book to help us learn more about Corgis, as we were pretty sure we wanted to add a Corgi to our family. This is a concise book, with much Corgi-specific info (though the requisite all-dog info sneaks in, too). Great photos. Showed it to a breeder, and she liked it a lot, too.

No comments about German Shorthaired Pointers (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

No comments about Dog Psalms: Prayers My Dogs Have Taught Me.

No comments about Town & Country Dogs.

5 comments about The New Encyclopedia of The Dog.

1. Not only are the pictures beautiful,but also very interesting context.
   I enjoy reading it and get so many useful information for my dogs too.



2. I think it is hard to find a good dog encyclopedia. That is why I would like to share some information this book contains. Chapter One: Historical Development of the Dog. Chapter Two: Dog's influence on humans. Chapter Three: A Dog's Biology. This chapter contains information for those interested in dogs design, structure, and movement. Chapter Four: A Dog's Lifecycle. Chapter Five: Domestic Dog Breeds. This is what sells the book. It has 375 breeds with excellent pictures. I want to emphasize the pictures because they have at least two pictures per breed. In on case the German Sheppard has 11 pictures. The book also has a good amount of the more uncommon dog breeds. Chapter Six: Caring for your Dog. It contains dog safety, health, feeding, nutrition, grooming, traveling, boarding, behavior, and equipment. Now that you have the general information on the book, I wanted to clarify that in the Domestic Dog Breeds section it is not deeply descriptive on each specific breed. If you were to ask my opinion on the book I would say if you aren't trying to get a lot of information on a specific breed or a lot of information on a certain subject than buy it! From what I was expecting I would rate it a 10.



3. Great "coffee table" book , everyone who comes over to my house HAS to pick up this book & peruse through it......ALL making comments ,men & women alike , they LOVE the pictures , facts , etc. Would recommend for anyone who loves/likes dogs/animals , has children , has lots of friends who visit & need a "start-up" conversation , a visitor's "MUST" , surprising impact book......



4. This book is a quick guide to all the dog breeds in the world. My husband and I refer to it frequently; for example, if we see a breed we're unfamiliar with we'll look it up in this book. Or if we meet a dog that is behaving in a certain way, we go to this book to learn what the typical behavior for that breed is. The photographs are straightforward and not overly styled. Yet the photographs are so professional that you really don't need a different book that may have lot's of "beauty" shots in it. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs in general, and who is interested in learning a little bit about all the specific breeds.
   
   The last comment I'd like to add is that this book is really quite beautiful for a reference book. It's worth the price, and if you are a dog lover it will be in your library forever.



5. I love this book. I knew what it was before buying it, as had borrowed it for a while before buying. If you love to look at the various breeds of dogs, or need some background on a variety of dog breeds, you will enjoy this. Tons of information on each breed, great photos, and a historical section that is fascinating. Also a good dog anatomy section.

5 comments about Puppy's First Steps: The Whole-Dog Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, Well-Behaved Puppy.

1. If you, like me, have no idea on what to do with a new puppy, this is the perfect book for you too.



2. On the subject of raising dogs there are as many opinions as there are, well, dogs. Internet's full of 'em. Several of the negative reviews of this book have one thing in common: The reviewers differ *in opinion* with the scientifically based positions taken by the authors. Example: One reviewer scoffed that the book does not support alternative dog/puppy food alternatives, e.g. raw, or "home cooked". First of all, the book clearly supports their position on that with numerous, significant, fact-based rationale. The critic offers no evidence to support her counter-claims. Advice on socialization requirements and methods are also supported. And so on throughout the book. Perhaps those who rate the book poorly because they have a different opinion should offer a link to some scientific evidence and/or alternative book to back up their claims?
   
   Regarding the narrator of the book on tape, yes his voice and reading method are somewhat unusual, however I would not classify him as sounding like "sociopathic killer". That's a little unfair. I don't know if I could necessarily sit down with the intent of just listening to the book from beginning to end, but I have been listening to the book on CD on my commute to and from work and while driving around town and find it's quite pleasant in that venue. After all, this is a textbook, not a novel. The narrator is trying to convey information clearly. The concerns regarding being able to locate content on the CD's are valid. Many times I've wanted to re-hear a part, and had to listen to the entire track again, but my current CD player does not have a fast-forward or reverse option. My previous car did have that and it made short work of those issues.
   
   My wife and I just got a bullmastiff puppy and have found this book to be extremely helpful. It starts out as many such books do, advising you on the commitment required in having a puppy: According to the book 1/2 of all puppies don't make it to their second birthday in the home they started out in. The authors lament this fact and clearly are trying to give you sound advice that will benefit both you and the dog. They move on to describing health care, food requirements (they very clearly spell out what to look for on the dog food packages), socialization, how your dog sees the world (how their senses differ from ours), etc., etc.
   
   Sure, there are some parts on the CD's that you'd skip over if you were reading. Perhaps not. We found it all interesting. If that doesn't appeal to you, get the book not the CD. Better yet, check it out at the library first, and if you like it, then get it here.



3. This book does not translate at all into audiobook form. If you are interested in the content, purchase the print book. As a very long and thorough reference manual covering many topics, it is near impossible to reference needed information on CD's. Some information is in list format which is tedious to listen to. For example, the book gives detailed information on every single dog breed. This is information you want to look up based on your dog's breed, but you do not want to listen to hundreds of other breed information. The CD's do not have track titles so it is even harder to navigate the information. The narrator also has a monotonous and actually sort of creepy voice. His voice reminded me of what a sociopathic kidnapper might sound like if he was trying to lure a child into his car.



4. As a longtime breeder of purebred dogs I wanted to like this book but it has too many flaws to recommend it to a new puppy owner. The book is written by a committee of veterinary specialists from Tufts and it clearly suffers from that multiple author approach. Several chapters are well worth reading such as socialization, pet insurance the first aid kit are some that I would recommend but others such as the discussion of puppy nutrition, the Tufts temperament test, young children are not complete or contain incorrect information. It would be nice to have a single book to recommend to puppy owners that would cover all aspects of puppy ownership including veterinary care, training, development, health problems, etc. This is NOT THAT BOOK.



5. I heard the author speak on NPR and thought it was worth reading his book, since I am buying a new puppy. Being a first time owner, I really wanted to know what I was getting into. The book is quite comprehensive starting from the very first day and extending far beyond. I have been able to fly through it and it is not boring like you might think a manual might be. Chapters are well organized so you can skip over non applicable items and move forward... Really gives you a good idea of all the work, time, and effort that goes into good pet ownership.