THE PERFECT MATCH: A Dog
Buyer's Guide, © by
(my Perfect Match)
Dogs come in more shapes, sizes and colors than Dior designs. Canine designer genes aren't "one size fits all." They have to be customized. No other species offers as many choices. More than 400 breeds were developed for specific purposes; thus, a wide variety of personalities exists. This spectrum of dogs is wonderful, but it's also mind-boggling. How to choose?
In trying to find the ideal dog, first know yourself. I enjoy advising puppy seekers about breeds and groups of dogs. But even more important is individual matchmaking. What's great for a family with three teenage boys who like to wrestle and play football is not right for the couple whose favorite pastime is bridge.
During the 30+ years I've been in dogs, the world has grown more aware of the need for responsible owners and breeders. The primary time dog lovers need to practice responsibility, however, is before succumbing to the seduction of soulful puppy eyes.
The average person cares more about whether Rolff could pull a child on a skateboard and jog with Mom than whether the breed's roots go back to Tibetan Mastiffs and Pekingese. Someone who wants a dog as company for Grandma is more interested in tractability than IQ rating. Eye color is less crucial than possible vision problems.
Understanding the dog's needs and matching them to your own requirements lead to a happy household. This book is to assist buyers in making an informed decision and to aid them in raising a dog responsibly. Dogs that are chosen wisely and raised properly during the first few months are more likely to remain beloved family members.
Chapter openings describe general characteristics of each group, followed by a list of characteristics, including: size, color, protection level, energy level, life expectancy, good with children and other animals, abilities, shedding/grooming, health clearances and problems to ask about. Each breed includes the kind of family they're best with and which to avoid.
When buyers learn to look first at the Group, then the breed and, finally, the individuals, understanding their attributes and needs, each pet will be wanted and kept in a nurturing environment for life. Then many shelters, pounds and rescue groups can close their doors.
(Excerpted from The Perfect Match©
Contents:
- Designer Dogs
- Alphabetical Listing of Breeds
- Who Says You Can't Buy Love?
- Reading Between the Lines, or Caveat Emptor
- Be a Sport (sporting dogs)
- To the Hounds!
- A Dog's Work is Never Done (working breeds)
- Heart of a Lion (terriers)
- More Than a Toy
- Potpourri (non-sporting dogs)
- Round Up (herding dogs)
- Et Cetera (miscellaneous and rare breeds)
- Walkowicz's Words to the Wise
- Medical Glossary
- Index
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