encyclopedias

This book is a good reference for breeders and enthusiasts. It has the breed standards for all the AKC recognized breeds as of the publication date. It also goes into basic dog care. I would definitely recommend it to families still struggling with what breed to pick out. Check out the book, talk with your veterinarian then go to a dog show and talk with breeders and trainers.

Excellent book. You can find most of this information on their web site, but it's great to take to a dog show when you have questions about other breeds. Wonderful book. I always reference it.

In my opinion this is a nice book. I am very active in show dogs and the AKC, so this book suits me fine. However, some people may not be completely happy with it. For instance, if you want to know what breed of dog you should get, this is not the book to help you. Although it glosses over the history and care of each breed, you will need a lot more information if you want to decide which breed to get. Also, if you are not into purebred dogs or their standards, you probably wouldn't be interested in the book, maybe only the last section with dog care in it. Which brings me to this point: if you are looking for a book which teaches you how to care for your dog, this book only contains only the absolute basics, and you will need a much more detailed book to teach you thorough care. Another thing is, there are more than 400 breeds of dogs, and since the AKC recognizes around 150 of them, this book only gives you a small taste of all the breeds that are out there.

With that said, I truly enjoyed this book, and if you are none of the above, then I recommend this book to you!