Common Sense Book of Puppy and Dog Care: The Complete Guide to Choosing and Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog

This book has been indispensable in raising our two dogs, especially through the puppy years. A must have and a great gift for new dog owners.

The best and most complete, inexpensive puppy and dog care is required reading for all interested in dogs and an excellent gift for the dog owner you know. Despite this the book has several weaknesses. First, it needs a new revision, the last being 1990. Coronavirus, a serious disease, especially for puppies is unmentioned. Crate-training, the proven, most effective means of house-training a puppy, gets little attention. Second, the author does not mention animal shelters or humane societies as a source of obtaining a dog and the author's attitude toward mixed breed dogs especially, may be repulsive to some. He states that mixed-breeds are often "given away" and that "(W)hat one gets for nothing is often worth nothing". In fact, every dog, pure or mixed can provide love and devotion that are valuable beyond price. Every dog, pure or mixed, has the same physical and emotional development and the same needs for care and training. Mr Miller's classic provides this information inexpensively and fairly completely. Those of us who care about mixed breed dogs will find it worthwhile to control their temper and appreciate the contents.