Who Knew There Were That Many Breeds? Simon & Schuster. That's Who.
Written: Oct 06 '05 (Updated Oct 08 '05)
Product Rating:
Pros: Comprehensive - covers 324 different breeds. Beautiful pictures.
Cons: The "personality" sections are not as detailed as I would prefer.
The Bottom Line: With 324 breeds discussed, I dare say this book covers every breed you've ever heard of, plus hundreds more! With beautiful pictures, it's a great resource.
ladyconsumer's Full Review: Elizabeth Meriwether Schuler - Simon and Schuster'...
Simon & Schuster's Guide To Dogs is a great reference book for anyone who loves dogs. Want to read about the history of dogs, how they first came to be domesticated, how they've been used over the years to herd sheep, to help the blind, or to rescue victims? The information's in there. Or, maybe you need some advice about choosing a dog for your family, training that new puppy, or figuring out why Fido keeps scratching his ears. The first 90 pages of the book is called "Introduction" and includes all of that general information.
But the REAL purpose of this book is to discuss the individual traits of each of 324 breeds. Each breed is discussed on the left side of the page, with a beautiful picture or two on the right side of the page. The pictures are mostly of the adult dog. Occasionally the adult is shown with a puppy. But the picture is never just of the puppy. Most of the pictures are like "portraits" where the dogs are standing perfectly straight as if they're being judged at a dog show. Sometimes the pictures are of a more casual setting, but for the most part, the dogs look very "regal" and perfectly posed.
The breeds are grouped by their major classification: working dogs, terriers, hunting dogs, companion dogs, toys, and greyhounds. At the start of each classification is a beautiful two-page photograph (spanning the left and right side of the page).
For each breed, the following topics are discussed:
1. Origin This is usually just a sentence or two discussing the history of the breed. It tells you where and when the breed was developed, and if the breed had any particularly interesting uses in the past. It will also specify the year the breed became recognized by the American Kennel Club. Sometimes the origin of the breed is not precisely known, and that will be pointed out as well. Some examples:
The Border Terrier: Bred near the border between England and Scotland for the purpose of driving out the extremely predatory foxes of the region, the breed was recognized by the Kennel Club in 1920
West Highland White Terrier: In the middle of the 19th century, it happened that a breeder of cairn terriers…got some white pups in his litters. These dogs were selected and bred to obtain the West Highland white terrier, which is simply a white cairn terrier
2. Description This is a full paragraph describing the standard height (in both inches and centimeters) and weight (in pounds and kilograms) of both the males and females. Also discussed: the shape of the dog's snout, what kind of ears, how long the tail, what type of coat, and what colors. The descriptions can be rather lengthy, especially if the dogs come in several colors, or if they have some unique qualities. The smaller breeds tend to have the shortest descriptions, mainly because the description is the same for the males and the females, so they don't need to print two sets of stats. Sometimes if the breed is just a variety of a more well-known breed, the description will simply state what is different from the well-known variety of the breed. For example:
Long-Haired Dachshund: It differs from the short-haired variety only in its coat... The longest and thickest hair is on its tail. Colors: the same as the short-haired variety
3. Personality This is usually just a list of adjectives or phrases. Occasionally it's a short paragraph. In many cases, this section is too brief. If I were the author, this section would be far more comprehensive - at least a full paragraph describing the breed's character traits. But - it does give at least a brief synopsis of the breed's personality. Some examples:
Welsh Corgi: Lively, affectionate, spirited, intelligent, easy to train
Bullterrier: At one time, the bullterrier was an extremely ferocious dog. However, it has been gentled considerably by modern breeders, and today it is a good, loyal, polite, and obedient dog
Basenji: Cheerful, affectionate, patient with children…it also has a quality rare among dogs: it does not bark
4. Uses This paragraph describes the purpose for which the breed was developed, how the breed was used historically, and how the breed is still used today. This section also gives some advice regarding choosing a breed for your individual situation. For example:
Giant Schnauzer: In the 1700's it was used to guard the beer halls and butcher shops of Munich. Later, it was used in police work and by the military. Because its size and its looks command respect, it is still esteemed as a watchdog and a bodyguard. It is an excellent companion dog but is not adapted to apartment living
Lhasa Apso: … is a hardy dog with an excellent sense of hearing. It will give good early warning at the approach of strangers
Doberman Pinscher: Bred as a watchdog and bodyguard, the Doberman has continued to serve these functions… It has been used by the police, the military… and for guarding all sorts of industrial property
Then there are some dogs that seem to have practically no usefulness - other than to look funny, like the very rare, hairless Chinese Crested dog. There's really not a whole lot say when it comes to its "usefulness".
Chinese Crested Dog: This is a companion dog that needs a warm atmosphere
And other dogs that seem to have no purpose except to be very cute:
English Toy Spaniel: It is exclusively a companion dog.
5. Note This is an extra paragraph included on a few of the breeds, where there is something truly unique to the breed. For example:
Brindle Great Dane: It is important that all Great Danes be well trained to obey immediately in order to avoid their frightening strangers or knocking someone down in a headlong rush
Neopolitan Mastiff: …needs a great deal of exercise. It is adaptable… so long as there is a strong person willing to take it on long walks twice a day.
Boxer: The boxer is not a long-lived dog. It often does not reach ten years of age. It is subject to rheumatism and should therefore be dried carefully when brought in from walks in the rain
The Symbols Alongside The Words
There are 22 different symbols that can appear alongside the writing for each breed. The symbols are described in the front of the book (on pages 6 & 7). Some examples are: a picture of a cityscape meaning "dog adapted to living in the city", fangs meaning "tendency to bite", a small child meaning "gentle dog", and a dog wearing a sweater meaning "dog must be protected from the cold". With these easy to understand symbols, you can tell at a glance the general characteristics of each breed.
But There Are Some Doggie-Related Words That I Don't Understand!
Don't worry - there's a 5 page glossary at the back of the book. Here, you can read the definitions of terms such as "dewlap" (a fold of hanging skin at the base of a dog's throat), plumb (the verticality of the front legs), roan (the coat of a dog in which light and black or red hairs are thickly mixed), and withers (the point on a dog's back corresponding to the first dorsal vertebra… The height of a dog is always measured from the withers to the ground).
Final Thoughts
This book is truly a "pocket book". It's only 7.5" by 4.5" and it contains 448 pages. The index in the very back lists every breed so it's easy to find the one you want. I've owned this book for years, and I truly enjoy flipping through it, mostly just to enjoy the beautiful pictures. If you're contemplating getting a new dog, and want to research breeds first, this would be a very good first step - for at least a brief synopsis of each breed. Once you narrow down your choices then you should investigate the more comprehensive guides written for each breed.
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 are more interested in a large, hardcover book that delves into a lot more detail about 150 dog breeds, you might be interested in Barron's Encyclopedia Of Dog Breeds
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
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