The New Encyclopedia Of The Dog by veterinarian Dr. Bruce Fogel is a must-have for any dog-lover. The first time I saw this book in the store, and started thumbing through it, I knew I had to have it. The first thing that strikes the reader is the beauty of the pictures, and the incredible number of pictures. In most reference books, you see one or maybe two pictures of each breed. In this book you get many more photos. For example, The Whippet has 5 pictures, the Golden Retriever has 6 pictures. The pictures tend to cover a variety of positions - standing, running, jumping, lying. The other thing that sets this book apart from the others is the number of breeds discussed: over 420. I can hear you now... "What?? There are NOT that many breeds of dogs!!" Well - the truth is that this book does include a few mixed breeds, such as the Labradoodle (Labrador/Poodle) and the Cockerpoo (Cocker Spaniel/Poodle). But mostly, it just includes a ton of breeds that most people have never heard of.

There are 6 chapters, but the first 4 are really just a general introduction. The 5th chapter has all the really good stuff - that's where each breed is profiled. The 6th chapter gives tips on selecting, and caring for your dog.


Chapter 1 - Development Of The Dog

This is a very brief discussion of the evolution of the dog, and its closest relatives.

Chapter 2 - Dogs And Humans

This chapter discusses how dogs and humans have interacted over the past 12,000 years. The dog's presence in folklore, religion, literature, and art are briefly examined. The dog's roles in film, sports, and helping services are also examined.

Chapter 3 - Canine Design

This chapter includes lots of diagrams as it explores the skeleton, the brain, the musculature, the skin and the coat. It also looks at the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive systems.

Chapter 4 - The Language Of Dogs

This section looks at the dog's pack behavior, and communication processes from birth to adulthood. This chapter has some great pictures of newborn puppies.

Chapter 5 - Domestic Dog Breeds

This is the main section of the book - it covers 310 pages. This section discusses over 420 breeds - with each breed covering anywhere from 1/2 page to 2 full (facing) pages. The breeds are grouped in an interesting way - different from how they are grouped in most other reference books that I've seen. The groupings are: primitive dogs, sighthounds, spitz-type dogs, scenthounds, gundogs, terriers, guarding dogs, companion dogs, and random-breed dogs. It's a very good thing there's an alphabetical index of the breeds in the back of the book, because grouped in this manner, finding a specific breed would be difficult.

At the beginning of each major grouping are a few pages describing the group in general terms, and some full-page photographs.


Each breed profile contains the following information:

* Coat colors - There are 39 different picture boxes used to demonstrate the various coat colors. At the start of the chapter is a legend detailing exactly what that picture box represents. For example, one of the boxes is called "dark brown", but the legend explains that this box includes "mahogany, mid-brown, gray-brown, and blackish brown". The profile for the Wire Fox Terrier, for example, shows 3 of the picture boxes - white, white/tan, and white/black. I like the way the picture boxes are used, rather than simply listing the color choices. It's helpful to actually see the various colors, rather than just reading them.

* Breed history - This is usually a very short paragraph briefly describing the breed's origin, and original uses.

The Norwegian Buhund was originally used to pull sleds and as a hunter's companion. It now serves as both a guard dog and a companion.

* Form, Function, History, and Behavior - This is the main paragraph on each breed profile. It very briefly describes the personality traits and the current uses of the dog. If you're trying to choose a breed, you will certainly want to pay attention to this section.

The description of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is interesting...

Here is a true split-personality dog, a genuine canine Jekyll-and-Hyde character. There is probably no breed that is more loving with its family, and often with strangers, even veterinarians, than this kinetic mass of solid bone and thick muscle... However, when it sees another dog - or any other animal - it can quite suddenly reveal a different side of its character. Sweetness and light become a force of darkness, as the dog's fighting instincts kick in.

* Key Facts - This is a small box showing country and date of origin, original uses, current uses, life expectancy, weight range (in pounds and kilograms), and height range (in inches and centimeters).

* Symbols - There are 19 different symbols that can appear underneath the key facts box. The symbols are described at the beginning of this chapter. Some examples are: a picture of a sun meaning "suitable for hot, sunny climates", and a picture of a dog running meaning "needs lots of exercise". With these easy to understand symbols, you can tell at a glance the general characteristics of each breed.

* Pictures - Anywhere from 2 to 10 pictures of the dog, with special features pointed out. Details show the shape of the eyes, the length of the ears, the shape of the tail, etc.

Chapter 6 - Caring For Your Dog

This chapter consists of two pages, each, of the following topics:

Choosing a dog - basic questions to ask yourself as you start your search for a dog.
Essential equipment - discusses leashes, crates, toys, etc.
Health and safety - how to puppy-proof your home, general hygiene, etc.
Feeding and nutrition - a discussion about feeding a "balanced diet".
Grooming - equipment you'll need to groom at home, including coat, teeth, nails, etc.
Traveling and boarding - safe ways to transport your dog and choosing a kennel.
Behavioral problems - preventing problems, changing bad habits, etc.



Anything Else?

There's a glossary of terms. You can learn terms such as "blenheim" (chestnut and white coloring), "culotte" (long hair on thighs), and "topknot" (the long, fluffy hair on the crown of the head).

If you knew all three of those terms prior to reading this review, I'll be impressed! And you might want to try out for Jeopardy!

Finally, there's an alphabetical index.

My Final Thoughts - The Good And The Bad

This book lives permanently on my coffee table. Over 400 high gloss pages, weighing 5 pounds, and nearly 10" by 12", the book makes quite an impression. The best parts of this book are the incredible pictures, and the unbelievable number of breeds that you can learn about. I would be very comfortable giving this book as a gift to any dog lover.

What's not there is a lot of detail. With over 420 breeds to cover, let's fact it, there's only so much detail that can be included for each breed. This book can be a terrific place to start a breed selection, but one should research breeds far more thoroughly before making a final decision. Moreover, I'd prefer to see a lot more attention given to health issues, which are barely touched upon.


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're interested in a hard-cover encyclopedia that delves into a lot of details (2 pages each) on 150 breeds, you might want to check out Barron's Encyclopedia Of Dog Breeds.

Recommended: Yes