Dogs For Dummies: How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend - Hardcover

Dogs for Dummies should be required reading for anyone considering purchasing or adopting a dog. In this comprehensive, yet concise and entertaining book, author Gina Spadafori, pet care columnist for Universal Press Syndicate and host of AOL's "Gina Spadafori's Pet Connection," makes a strong case for researching breeds and considering how certain types of dogs will or won't fit an owner's lifestyle. She doesn't pull any punches in describing the fate of dogs who have been wrongly chosen by well-intentioned owners, then given up for possible adoption, but probable euthanasia, because they are too active, too aggressive, poorly trained, or, appallingly, because they don't fit in with the owner's décor.

For readers considering a purebred dog, Spadafori provides extensive information on selecting a breed that will fit an owner's lifestyle, including sources of possible breeders such as magazines, Internet sites, and AKC breed clubs, and tips for screening breeders to weed out the unscrupulous or the ignorant. She strongly encourages adoption of shelter animals, though, pointing out that many of the dogs who wind up in shelters are healthy, young, and lovable animals who would make excellent pets for the right people. She recommends proceeding with caution when shopping pet stores for puppies due to the high percentage of pet store puppies that come from puppy mills where animals are bred indiscriminately and often kept in horrifying conditions. Likewise, she discourages purchasing puppies from "backyard breeders" believing that this only encourages irresponsible pet ownership by giving owners a reason to keep breeding their pets rather than altering them.

Once a breed or type of dog has been selected, Dogs for Dummies moves on to the practical aspects of ownership, including bringing home a puppy or adult dog, feeding and grooming, veterinary care from puppyhood to old age, training and dealing with behavioral problems, and traveling with pets. One of the most interesting chapters of the book debunks common myths about dogs--that a barking dog won't bite, for instance. Spadafori even includes a chapter on silly tricks to teach your dog and another on "must-see" dog sites on the World Wide Web.

"I enthusiastically recommend this book to all of my clients and to millions of pet lovers." Marty Becker, DVM, coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul "Two paws up! ... A wealth of practical information." Darris O. Hercs, Humane Society of Sonoma County Praise for the 1st Edition of Dogs For Dummies(R) "Written with intelligence, wit, and heart. If your dog had a credit card, he'd buy you this wonderful guide." -- Carol Lea Benjamin, author of Dog Training in 10 Minutes "An intelligent, thorough, and humorous reference that should be on any dog lover's list of must-haves." -- Duncan C. Ferguson, D.V.M., Ph.D., University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine "This book represents the best dog writing of the year. We honor it with pride." -- Mordecai Siegal, President, DWAA, and author of Good Dog, Bad Dog

The indispensable guide to selecting, training, and caring for your dog

From mixes to purebreds, puppies to seniors, this friendly guide tells you what you need to know to choose, train, and enjoy living with a dog. Get the best and latest information on nutrition, preventive health care, common diseases, and more -- along with tips for traveling with your pooch, dog gear, and even the hottest new dog sports.

Discover how to: Choose the right puppy or dog Keep your dog groomed, fit, and healthy Know what to feed your dog Solve common behavioral problems Have fun with your dog

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