What Dog? [Paperback]

Dogs have a direct line to the hearts of most animal lovers. Those doleful eyes, that winning expression, that wagging tail - it's all too easy to fall under the spell of a canine charmer and to let cool reason fly out of the window when faced with a creature that pushes all your emotional buttons. But, in the familiar phrase, let the buyer beware! It's not good falling for a dog, and then discovering a few weeks later that you hadn't bargained for the fact that it needs grooming for an hour every day, or imagining that a leisurely walk to the end of the road and back will satisfy the exercise demands of a dog that can run for hours. What prospective owners of a new dog really need is an honest and in-depth portrait of the breed that highlights all its positive characteristics, but which also points out potential shortcomings or behavioural aspects of the breed that may come into conflict with their own chosen lifestyle. "What Dog?" is precisely that - a guide to the hundred most popular breeds of dog that highlights their individual characters and which provides welcome advice on how well they fit into a home, how much exercise they need, how much grooming, how amenable they are to training, etc., etc.

Each breed is beautifully illustrated, both adult dogs and puppies being pictured, while a colour bar-chart provides at-a-glance visual reference about seven of the most important character traits.

Armed with a copy of What Dog?, prospective dog owners truly have the essential buyer's guide in their hands. Here in one compact compendium is the key information needed to make an informed decision about choosing the right breed of dog for all sorts of lifestyle. Whether you are young or old, fit or infirm, a city-dweller in a tower block or the owner of rolling acres, there is a dog out there that will suit you well. The key to making the right decision is sound advice, and that is exactly what this attractive book provides. It features clear and honest descriptions of the personalities of 100 popular breeds, and reveals how compatible they are with people and other pets, their requirements in terms of grooming and exercise, and how easy they are to train.

Dogs have a direct line to the hearts of most animal lovers, but it's all too easy to fall under the spell of a canine charmer and to let cool reason fly out of the window when faced with acquiring a creature that pushes all your emotional buttons. What prospective owners of a new dog really need is an honest portrait of the breed that highlights all its positive characteristics, but which also points out potential shortcomings that may come into conflict with their chosen lifestyle. What Dog? is just that - a guide to a hundred popular breeds of dog that highlights their individual personalities and provides welcome advice on how well they fit into a new home. Each breed is beautifully illustrated, while a colour graphic bar-chart provides at-a-glance reference regarding seven of the most important character traits. Includes data on height, weight and lifespan and a comparative scale drawing. Features more than 400 superb colour photographs of adult dogs and puppies.

Amanda O'Neill was born in Sussex in 1951 and educated at the University of Exeter, where she studied medieval literature. She has written more than 20 books including The Best-Ever Book of Dogs and Cats and Dogs, and was editor of The Complete Book of the Dog. She is a regular contributor to a number of dog magazines in the UK.

No animal comes in such varied shapes and sizes as the dog, nor indeed with such a wide range of temperaments. Big or small, shaggy or bald, placid or dynamic, there are hundreds of breeds which will best suit your own personality, circumstances and lifestyle.

Before you choose a breed, ask yourself the following questions: How much exercise (truthfully) will you give your dog? Are you content with a stroll round the park, do you enjoy long walks every day, wet or fine, or do you prefer short walks during the week and long country walks at weekends or in fine weather? Different breeds have different needs. Owners who love walking can pick from a wide range - even some of the Toy breeds thoroughly enjoy regular ten-mile hikes or more. Couch potatoes should look specifically at less active breeds - a dog which needs lots of exercise and is denied this will be unfit and unhappy, and will usually find something awful to do with its spare energy.