Do You Know 150 Dog Breeds? Barron's Encyclopedia Does!
Written: Oct 07 '05 (Updated Oct 08 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very detailed profile of the breeds, including health info, beautiful pictures.
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Any dog lover would love this book.
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| ladyconsumer's Full Review: |
Barron's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds is a great book for anyone who loves dogs. It's a beautifully illustrated book - elegant enough to display on your coffee table, detailed enough to be used as a very comprehensive reference book. It provides a full profile of 150 dog breeds, each breed covering two facing pages. There are two photographs on each profile. Every photograph is absolutely exquisite. Dog lovers will enjoy just flipping through the pages for the pictures.
The breeds are grouped by their major classification: sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting, and herding. At the start of each classification is a beautiful two-page photograph (spanning the left and right side of the page) and a brief description of the group, itself.
For each breed, the following 7 sections are included:
1. History This is a full paragraph describing how and when the breed was developed. Knowing the other breeds that contributed to the make up of a new breed will help you understand the traits of that new breed. Alongside this paragraph is a box listing a number of facts about the breed such as geographic area of origin, date of origin, original function (what the breed was originally developed to achieve), and the functions that the breed serves today.
Here's an excerpt from the history of the Komondor (one of my favorite dogs to watch in dogshows - this is the dog with the long corded hairs that are like thick, white braids)
The earliest documentation of the breed dates back to 1555... The Komondor earned its keep by guarding the flocks against marauding animals. So effective was it that some claim it is responsible for wiping gout the wolf in Hungary... The first Komondor came to America in 1933, and the AKC recognized the breed in 1937.
One interesting note - the plural is Komondorok (could be helpful to know if you're ever on Jeopardy!)
2. Temperament This is a short paragraph describing the breed's behavior and personality traits. Here's an example:
The Keeshond combines many traits of the best housedogs: fairly energetic and playful, very attentive and loving, and ready for adventure... It makes a good companion for a child or adult. It is friendly to all but, nonetheless, an alert watchdog
3. Upkeep This section discusses how much maintenance this breed will require. Energy levels and coat care are discussed. Also, it will tell you if the ears require any special attention (common in long-eared dogs), if the dog can live outdoors, and even if the breed is known for excessive drooling.
The Bloodhound needs a good deal of daily exercise... once on a trail it can not be called off. It thus must be exercised in a safe area. The Bloodhound drools a lot, so its facial wrinkles require daily cleaning; the ear tips drag in food and must also be kept clean.
4. Health This section discusses the health issues known to be prevalent in the breed. The disorders are ranked as being of major concern (common and serious) or minor concern (either rare and serious, or common but not serious). For some breeds, this section lists recommended tests that a prospective owner should apply to the puppy prior to purchase. These are broken down between essential and suggested. The expected life span is also listed.
Airdale Terrier:
Major concerns: canine hip dysplasia
Minor concerns: gastric torsion (twisting of the stomach)
Occasionally seen: colonic disease
Suggested tests: hip
Life span: 10-13 years
5 Form And Function This section describes the look of the dog including the general shape and size of the dog, the type of coat, and the gait. Frequently the way in which these features relate to the dog's function is described.
Akita: This is a large and powerful breed, with much substance and heavy bone; it is slightly longer than tall. The Akita's build reflects its original job of hunting big game through deep snow and rugged terrain. Its double coat consists of a dense undercoat and straight, harsh, outer coat... Such a combination provides ample insulation from water and weather.
6 At A Glance This is a chart listing 13 characteristics, with rankings from high (shown as 5 squares) to low (one square). (If I were the author I would have shown stars, or smiley faces. I don't know why they used squares.) The 13 characteristics are: Energy level, Exercise requirements, Playfulness, Affection level, Friendliness towards dogs, Friendliness towards other pets, Friendliness towards strangers, Ease of training, Watchdog ability, Protection ability, Grooming requirements, Cold tolerance, and Heat tolerance. At the bottom of the chart the standard height (in inches) and weight (in pounds) for both the males and females are listed.
The American Cocker Spaniel (an extremely popular breed in the US) rates 5 squares in affection level, friendliness toward dogs, friendliness toward other pets, and friendliness toward strangers. Most of the other characteristics score 3 or 4 squares. But one characteristic scores only 1 square - protection ability. Don't buy this dog if you're looking to safeguard your home - it's more likely to invite strangers in and beg them to play.
7 Illustrated Standard This is a black and white sketch of the dog with a listing of the breed's standard characteristics, as defined by the American Kennel Club (AKC). In most cases, the listing includes the shape and color the eyes, the shape of the ears, snout, and tail, the acceptable colors, and any breed disqualifications. Note that these are the standards for AKC purposes, only. If you're not interested in showing your dog, don't worry if his brown spot disqualifies him!
That's A Lot Of Information About Each Breed - But What Else Is There?
In the back of the book is a glossary of medical terms, followed by a guide to some of the more common hereditary health problems. Listed under each problem are the breeds most associated with the problem, and, for some disorders, the occurrence rate expressed as a percentage. For example, the first disorder listed is canine hip dysplasia. The German Shepherd is listed with a 20% incidence, the akita with 15%. Deafness is another disorder listed; the Dalmation has a 30% incidence rate.
Following that section is a general glossary of terms. Here you can learn terms such as:
"plume" (profusely feathered tail carried over the back)
"parti-color" (spotted) -- why wouldn't they just say "spotted"?
"brachycephalic" (broad head with short muzzle)
"dew claws" (extra toes on the insides of the legs)
Following the glossary are 3 pages of diagrams showing the body parts, the skeleton, the musculature, the skull shapes, and other anatomical areas of the dog.
Finally, there's an index listing all of the breeds.
My Final Thoughts
This is a large, heavy book, 11.5" by 9.5", with 328 high-gloss pages, weighing 4 pounds. It's the kind of book that you might choose to leave sitting on your coffee table for guests to browse. It makes an excellent gift for any dog enthusiast. As a resource book, it's very comprehensive. I like the fact that it delves quite deeply into the health issues.
Dog ownership is a big commitment. Please take the responsibility seriously when choosing a pet for you and your family.
Thanks for reading!
Note:
If you're more interested in a pocket-sized reference book that gives a brief synopsis of each breed, rather than two pages worth of details, you might be interested in Simon & Schuster's Guide To Dogs
Or - if you are more interested in a REALLY big book - one which discusses over 420 breeds, and has loads of beautiful pictures, you might want to check out The New Encyclopedia of The Dog
Recommended:
Yes
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