Dogs for Dummies 2e

I'm a cat person. I love cats. I know so much about cats, that vets think I am a former vet tech. Dogs? I know a few things like wagging, the play bow, and "sit!". I am contemplating getting a dog, partially to keep my cats humble (a joke! OK?) and mostly to keep me company while I walk. I love to walk, so I figured a dog would be a great co-conspirator. We'll see if I do get one. However, if I do get a dog, I understand now what is involved in keeping one. There's a discussion on breeds, which points to more sources of information on more obscure breeds. (An obscure dog might work better for me than the Dog in That Movie I Saw Last Week.) There is a lot of discussion about the work involved in raising a puppy and the aggravation of a "teenaged" dog being rambunctious and the mystery of the adult adoptee and the glorious karmic gift of taking in a senior dog. There is not one, but two veterinary chapters. One is for puppies and one is for dogs in general. This is a good idea. As someone who has adopted adult cats and kittens, I can tell you that baby animals are a different, um, animal, medically than an adult. There is a lot of coverage on behavior and discipline. You do have to be bossy with dogs. This is reiterated throughout the book. One thing I was not aware of at all was the issue of grooming requirements. Anal sacs? Yeesh! Toenails? Gee, my cats have scythes and I don't care, but doggies need pedicures. Folks have told me they don't like to wash their dogs. It was a relief to read that you can wash your dog pretty frequently. I don't like smelly dogs. I do love freshly bathed dogs. Their fur is so yummy when they are clean. I laughed out loud at her gleeful confessions about her love for paraphenalia, like toys and colorful leashes and trinkets. At least she's honest. Once you get past the basic kit, the rest of the dog goodies are for the owner. But still, a pink rhinestone collar on a Doberman or a black leather collar with studs on a toy poodle can be a joy to behold, even for someone who does not have a dog. Now, a couple of readers ganged up on the book with long screeds about not leaving the dog alone while the human is at work. Well, if no one with a day job adopted a dog, we'd have a lot more dogs languishing in shelters. Its just a fact of life that the human has to go work to buy Kongs and Chewies. The crating and feeding and doggie day care recommendations all match what my dog owner friends have told me. Its an imperfect world and some folks can't take the dog to work and do hire a mid-day dog walker. Now, this *is* a book for "Dummies". Its an excellent start. If you decide, after reading the book, that you want a particular breed or want to enter the dog in agility competitions, you need more information. Fortunately, this book will point you to that additional information. It does not leave you stranded. The book also points you to fun resources, like Letterman's Top Ten lists, including what the country would be

Our new puppy would be joining our family soon, and I needed a few reminders. I had forgotten a few things since our 8-year-old dog was a pup! I was also interested in advice regarding introducing the "new kid in town" to our older dog. Although I never cared for the "For Dummies" titles of these books, I ignored that and purchased it anyway. I found this book to be a wonderful reference whether this is your first dog or tenth! The text is very clear and straight forward. Great tips and practical information. Abundant topics, answers every question you can imagine. F.Y.I. - We found our puppy at a shelter listed on the [related website]. Check out the dogs in the shelters before going to a breeder. (Please don't even consider a pet shop or puppy mill). This little guy is a wonderful dog and a happy addition to our family!

I was inheritor of a new "adopted" SPCA puppy.... We knew nothing about her including just what her breed(s) were. She Was fearful, way too thin & adorable, they thought she was 2 to 4 months old. This book helped me, through all the steps of helping her adjust to us as us to her. Gina's advise got me through alot of the "Puppy-Hood" events with pleasure & now our Puppy-Girl is a maturing solid member of the household. I can't stress enough the help, & encouragement this book gave me. It's an important Refernce guide to all problems that can crop up. First Aid, Traveling, Toys... Do you have a super-chewer, What to do about it!

As the local coordinator for Great Dane rescue and the person in my neighborhood that people come to with their dog questions this is THE book I recommend. So much good information on dog pack behavior and adopting an older dog I recommend it to everyone thinking about adding a new dog to their family.Especially good for people considering a second dog and how to integrate it into their home.