Illustrated Guide to 140 Dog Breeds

by Katharina Von Der Leyen

Every dog lover who picks up this handsome and informative book will want to take it home. It's an attractively laid-out illustrated encyclopedia that covers 140 canine breeds. They are presented... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764113402
• ISBN13: 9780764113406
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: B.E.S. Publishing
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.7" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Great specific information

This is the best dog breed book I have ever read in that it gives specific information about each breed. Most breed books on Weimaraners say they need a lot of exercise. What does this mean? This book is very specific and says that a Weimaraner needs a 2 1/2 hr walk per day. This is so true. Also, even though Weimaraners are wonderful, wonderful dogs, I have had to pay a trainer to help me tone down my dog's aggression. This book says that hiring a trainer may be necessary. I have never seen this information in any other sourcebook, even though I have searched for it raising my Weimey dog. If you've got an acre of land, and want a brilliant, beautiful, elegant, athletic, nonshedding, protective dog, you can't beat a Weimaraner. Or if you get up at dawn in the city and run for an hour, you couldn't find a better dog. Otherwise, think twice.

Excellent Dog Book, Though Incomplete for U.S. Readers

Very useful book for learning about the personality traits of different dogs. Includes easy to use tables showing grooming needs, exercise requirements, and suitability for apartment life. Also notes whether the breed is suitable for first time owners or is better for experienced owners.Prospective buyers should be aware that the book is a translation of a text originally published in Germany. Many of the breeds profiled are German breeds, presumably popular in their country of origin, but little known in the U.S. (And because so many German breeds are covered, many AKC breeds are omitted.)

Delightful, informative, useful

Miss Von Der Leyen makes the personalities of dogs as clear as Dicken's characters. Half-psychologist, half-stubborn observer, she sees dogs in a clear-eyed, no-nonsense manner, that never loses its loving appreciation of each breeds peculiarities. Her charts about ease of care are a very useful antidote to impulsive ownership, giving clear eyed and objective data about how suitable each dog is for the owner's life-style. Her writing is breezy and humorous. I loved the book.

Illustrated Guide to 140 Dog Breeds by K. von der Leyen

Dear Nanette Gray, yes, indeed, it is a major typing-mistake: This book is the translation of my book which came out in German first, where I claim that the Greyhound needs 20 km exercise per day - which is roughly about 13 miles per day, and I firmly believe in that. They love running, it's what they were bred for, and the beauty of these beasts in motion is breathtaking. I myself have not seen the American translation of my book as of yet, but I hope someone at BARRON's makes a note of this mistake. Pretty much the same occurs in Kathy Fords criticism: The Pomeranian is a miniature Spitz, and that's what he is called in Germany. Again, not having seen the American translation, I would think you'd find the Pomeranian under German Spitz. Kind regards, Katharina von der Leyen

Wonderfully written & great basic knowledge

In 140 accurate portraits the writer describes history, character-traits, trainability and adaptability of the different breeds., as well as wether that particular dog is city-compatible, how much trimming or clipping it needs, and how much excercise it requires. What's best about this book, though, apart from the great photographs, are the many little things the writer tells us: Wether the breed sheds, barks, digs, drools, snores or is extremely hard-headed or even has a sometimes unbearable sense of humor (for humans) - all those tiny, important things that people so often overlook when looking for the perfect dog, and which in the end are often the reason so many dogs end up in shelters. Even if you're not looking for the "dog of your life", this book is a great read and was obviously written by someone with a very big heart for these wonderful creatures.