Having a genuine interest in dogs and awareness and despair at the amount of abandoned and re-homed dogs we hear about, the author has put together a book which contains all the essential facts covering just short of 200 breeds of dog. All puppies are cute, but they grow up extremely quickly and can easily outgrow their environment and become unruly if not correctly catered for.

All dogs are what humans have made them, they have their roots in being bred to carry out specific tasks, be it as assistants to hunter gatherers, companions or guard dogs. Breeds we see today more often than reflect these traits so anyone contemplating getting a dog should be aware of this and understand and accept that adjustments in their lives may need to be made or conclude that certain breeds may not be suitable at all.

This book has been written with dog ownership for families in mind so includes the main characteristics you need to know about dogs from all over the world. Dog breeds have been therefore placed into specific categories which align with what they were designed to do with International Kennel Club breed standards from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and the International Kennel Club having also been identified.

The breakdown of this book therefore covers

- Gun Dogs and Retrievers
- Working, Herding and Guardian Breeds
- Hounds
- Companion and Toy Breeds
- Terriers.

Each dog breed includes a photo, description of typical characteristics and temperaments, details of origins, family suitability, average breed size and weight, known health issues (with an alphabetical index at the rear of the book of what scientific health terms mean), average life expectancy, grooming requirements, links to breed specific clubs and International Kennel club classifications for the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and the International Kennel Club – enough to make an informed choice as to whether a specific breed of dog is right for them.

Anyone contemplating getting a dog need not become another statistic. Do a little homework to understand the likely demands of different breed types before making the life changing commitment.