Paws to Consider: Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family

The thing that sets this book apart from similar ones is that the authors are working dog trainers, not freelance writers who get all of their information from other books. Kilcommons and Wilson have decades of real experience with the dogs they're talking about, and have seen the way that different dogs blend in (or don't!) with all sorts of families. Their view of each breed comes from their encounters with real dogs, and they know that many dogs from the more popular breeds will not resemble the ideal dog described in the breed standard.My favorite aspects of "Paws to Consider" are the clear, concise list of common health problems each purebred has, and the way the dogs are broken down into categories. Instead of sticking to the AKC groupings, they divide breeds into city dogs, family dogs, "not for everyone" dogs, and so on. Important information is easy to find. I'm a dog trainer, and I constantly flip through this book to refresh my memory on the different breeds.If you're considering a new dog, please buy this book! It will make choosing your new companion, whether single-breed or mixed, a lot easier.

We have owned several dogs in the past and when our last one passed away we decided to do some research this time. We bought 5 books on dogs looking for advice on choosing a dog. This book was far and away the most entertaining to read and in some ways the most useful. The last chapter entitled "Not for Everyone" is hilarious. The book isn't comprehensive nor does it take everyone's opinions into account. Rather it unabashadly gives the opinions of experienced dog trainers who aren't afraid to speak their minds about various breeds of dogs. It has the feel of a friendly chat. I recommend this book highly although you might want to purchase other books to supplement it.

This is a wonderful and badly needed book. Most (though not all) of the more popular breeds are represented here, catagorized not by the AKC group, but by where they would fit in with human life-styles. You will see what breeds need lots and lots of daily excerise, which breeds have high grooming needs, shedding problems (or not) temperment, and something most other books skip over, which genetic diseases are common in which breed. Input for this book comes not only from the authors, but also from professional dog trainers and vets so the opinions (or judgements if you prefer) are not just those of the authors. Your expericence with a given breed may be different than the authors would lead you to believe, (mine has been in two cases) but any one thinking about a canine additon to their family needs to read this book. BUT don't forget the best dog for you may not be a "breed" at all but a common, loveable mutt you can adopt from the animal shelter or the humane society....(a statement I believe the authors of this book would agree wholeheartly with....)

What a godsend if you're trying to figure out what breed to add to your family! This book helped me figure out the criteria I need to keep in mind when trying to choose a suitable breed. The personality descriptions are concise, honest, and already categorized according to how suitable they are to certain conditions. I just kept returning to this book after surfing the net to make sure of the information. This book never let me down. He also gives you internet addresses to supplement information found in the book, and a great section of resource books to help you get through the puppy selection process. Let me tell you that this book is very dog eared at this point and I haven't even purchased my dog yet!

The authors have created a work that EVERY prospective dog owner should read! Kilcommons and Wilson are frank and brutally honest in their discussion of dogs: who should get a dog, what dog ownership REALLY entails, why some people would be better off with a stuffed toy instead, and which breed to consider and where to obtain that dog. As a breeder and as a Rescue worker, it is very heartening to see the truth told about our particular breed. If people read this book, perhaps they would NOT choose our breed, and we would have far fewer "throw-away" pets to rescue and re-home.The authors have created an exceptional book! They are right on the money with their appraisal of each breed discussed, and furthermore, the book is fun to read! Thumbs up to this one!