The Complete Book of Dogs

Description

Opening with a brief look at the origins and history of dogs, the main part of the book explores ten major dog-related themes. Each chapter opens with a concise introductory text that sets out the core of the subject and the succeeding pages form a photo-essay that further explores the theme in question using crisp, colorful photographs fully described in detailed accompanying captions. In this way, the book looks initially at the wide range of shapes and sizes in the dog world, from miniature lapdogs to massive mountain dogs. This is a topic that the later chapters return to in more detail. This brief glimpse of the variety of dogs leads naturally to a section that looks at the important decisions to be made when choosing a dog, whether you are looking for a non-pedigree dog to become a cherished household pet or a pure breed destined to vie for the champion's podium in the show ring. The following section features the life cycle of the dog, focusing particularly on how to cope with a new puppy in the home. At this point, the book turns its view towards the practical aspects of keeping a dog, with two sections that look in turn at caring for your dog - including basic training and maintaining its health and safety. The next two sections highlight the range of tasks and pursuits that dogs become involved in at work and in sport, from sniffing out drugs at the airport to sled-racing across the snow-covered wastes of Alaska. The final three chapters look in more detail at the different breeds of dogs, with separate sections on large dogs, small dogs, and curious dogs such as the almost hairless Chinese Crested and the amazing Shar Pei. ISBN:0517065940