The Dog Selector: Choose the Best Dog or Puppy for Your Family and Lifestyle Based on Size, Traits, and Temperament - Hardcover

Alderton, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0764163655 ISBN 13: 9780764163654

Publisher: Sourcebooks, 2010

Synopsis

This big, handsome volume describes dogs of all sizes, shapes, traits, and personalities. Author David Alderton wants every prospective owner to find the very best dog to fit his or her own personality and lifestyle, and in this book he discusses breeds and their owners under the following categories:

* Absolute beginners * Family-friendly dogs * Good mixers
* Dogs for couch potatoes * High-maintenance hair
* Large dogs for large spaces * Hypoallergenic dogs
* Dogs with special skills * Dogs for runners * Portable dogs
* Weird and wonderful dogs * Smart dogs * Burglar deterrents

For example, exercise junkies will find a willing canine companion in a Dalmatian or an English Springer Spaniel. Couch potatoes, on the other hand, will probably prefer a Basset Hound or a Shih Tzu. First-time owners might be looking for an easy-going dog that makes minimal demands, such as a Labrador Retriever, and families with a houseful of kids might prefer a patient but playful pooch, such as a Beagle or an English Setter. Each breed is categorized and profiled with a large color portrait, a brief history of the breed, a description of the animal's traits, and a chart that pinpoints the dog's characteristics. More than 200 full-color illustrations.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

(back cover)
How to Choose the Right Dog for You

With so many dog breeds available, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. How can you tell if your dog will bark and disturb the neighbors, will be good with your children, will need extra grooming, or trigger your allergies? This authoritatively written guide gives you all the information you need about the essential character of 130 breeds, enabling you to make an informed decision and find the perfect pet for you. Whether you are loud and outgoing or quiet and reflective, an exercise junky or a sofa surfer, a fan of peaceful country walks or of family fun in the park, you can find a breed to fit your lifestyle.

From dogs that love to be pampered to dogs that love to perform, this book is packed with everything you need to know about selecting a dog.

Special selector charts at the beginning of the book help match the right owner with the right dog

Each entry includes information on size, exercise and grooming requirements, and specific health considerations

Over 200 stunning photographs accompanied by informative captions help you to identify the key characteristics of each breed

(front flap)
THE DOG SELECTOR
How to Choose the Right Dog for You
Choosing a dog is like choosing a partner--you need to be sure you can get along, have similar interests, and are both willing to make compromises. If you're more of a sofa surfer than an exercise junky, you should steer clear of the Irish Setter and the Belgian Sheepdog because these dogs love to run. And, if your home isn't spacious, you might not have the room for a Saint Bernard or a Great Dane. So how do you choose your canine friend for life?

The Dog Selector makes it easy. Expertly written text supplemented with helpful sidebar features, engaging photography, and intriguing facts on 130 of the most common breeds ensures that you'll find your perfect canine companion.

A carefully planned questionnaire at the beginning of the book directs you to detailed profiles of your top ten breeds, matching your personality and lifestyle to a suitable dog. Whether you need a low-maintenance Labradoodle or a super-smart German Shepherd Dog, you'll find the right dog in this book.

(back cover)
About the author
David Alderton is a writer specializing in pets and natural history. His books have sold over six million copies and have been translated into 30 languages. He also writes about pets and their care for a wide range of newspapers and magazines, and participates frequently in radio and television programs. Most recently, he worked on It's a Dog's Life, which was broadcast worldwide on the Discovery Channel.
David has been awarded the Maxwell Medallion by the Dog Writer's Association of America, and was nominated for the Sir Peter Kent Conservation Book Prize. He is an elected member of the Kennel Club.

About the Author

David Alderton is a writer specializing in pets and natural history. His books have sold over six million copies and have been translated into 30 languages. He also writes about pets and their care for a wide range of newspapers and magazines, and participates frequently in radio and television programs. Most recently, he worked on It's a Dog's Life, which was broadcast worldwide on the Discovery Channel.

David has been awarded the Maxwell Medallion by the Dog Writer's Association of America, and was nominated for the Sir Peter Kent Conservation Book Prize. He is an elected member of the Kennel Club.

About this edition

• Publisher: Sourcebooks
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0764163655
• ISBN 13: 9780764163654
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176