Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds
by D. Caroline Coile Ph.D.
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Book Reviews of Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds
Book Review: a question of clarity, accuracy, and visual completeness
Summary: 3 Stars
We bought this book to help us decide which breed would be best suited to us, and it was very helpful in that regard. It provides a two-page spread on each dog, discussing history, temperament, exercise requirements, health concerns, two photos, and a diagram pointing out aspects of breed physique (conformation). Finally, there is a chart that awards points from 1 to 5 according to how much a dog demonstrates, or lacks, a particular quality. The structure of the book is thus very sound.
However, I do have criticisms of the book. First, the ratings chart, awarding points for sociability, cold tolerance, trainability, and so on, does not always seem to match the written description of temperament or exercise requirements. This sense of disjunction is reinforced for me by my own knowledge (gained since choosing a Boxer last year) of specific breeds, since I often find myself agreeing with the written statement but quibbling with the number rating: I just don't think, based on my experience and other reading, that those numbers are especially reliable. To name one instance that I'm very familiar with, I think that Boxers are actually friendlier to strangers and other dogs than the number rating would suggest: it gives a 3 rating, where I would make it a 4 (and I live in a neighbourhood bursting at the seams with dogs, including several Boxers).
Similarly, the Boxer rating for 'watchdog ability' is a 3, but I wonder why: my dog knows when a delivery has been put by the door, or when anyone approaches, or even when the local cats are across the street. If there is a degree of watchfulness greater than this, such that a 3 is merely average and 5 is extreme, how so? Being more of a barker doesn't seem to me sufficient to up a dog's score, and this could all be misleading to someone trying to make decisions on the basis of the ratings. Most people that want a watchful dog would be well pleased with a Boxer, but the rating suggests instead that they are just OK in that department. But again, whether you agree with the specific ratings or not, they themselves don't seem to agree completely with the text.
Another flaw is that, while each breed has two photos to represent it, some breeds are represented by only one individual. Going back to the Boxer again as my example, only a fawn Boxer is shown--apparently the same dog. It would have been more helpful to have a second photo of a brindle coat (dark streaks) and/or different white markings (flashing). Further, many dog owners these days prefer Boxers and other dogs with uncropped ears, but only cropped ears are shown, even in the diagram. That is just a refusal to show the dog as most non-show people see it! The problem is not just with Boxers; several other breeds I think are not represented with sufficient variety of photographs.
In sum, this is a good book but it is far from being the best, and leaves much scope for competitors in a popular subject.
Book Review: Good breed information, but lacking in presentation
Summary: 4 Stars
I have an older version of The Encyclopedia of the Dog by Bruce Fogle, and here's how they compare: Dr. Fogle's book has many more breeds, but one complaint I heard was that the information it provided on the breeds was not always accurate (I can't verify this, I'm not a vet). This book here by Dr. Coile is supposedly very accurate, but has fewer breeds (only the AKC it seems); however, I knew that before I bought it so I can't complain. Very few people own or can obtain non-AKC breeds, so reading about them would just be for pleasure for most people. That said, Dr. Coile provides more information for each breed, giving 5-scale ratings for 13 different characteristics (tempermant, grooming, heat/cold tolerance, exercise needs, etc), health concerns, breed history, etc. However, the pictures they provide aren't nearly as professional looking as the ones in Dr. Fogle's book, if that matters to you. Also, the binding is cheaper in this book. One important difference, though, is that this book contains no other information aside of about the breeds. Dr. Fogle's book, in contrast, provides the history and use of types of breeds (such as hounds, herding dogs, hunting dogs, etc, not just a particular breed), anatomy, evolution, care, training, etc. Dr. Coile provides none of that. So, if you just want a book to help you pick out an AKC breed and need accurate, more detailed breed information then this book is the better choice; but for general interest and pleasure, Dr. Fogle's book is better.Book Review: Very pleasing and very well done!
Summary: 4 Stars
I am so glad I have this book. I will admit to being an obessive personality, and one of my obessions is the subject of dogs. I really love them, and I love to learn about them. This book is great for anyone looking to purchase or just learn about easily obtainable purebred breeds in the USA. It has good pictures, a nice amount of information on temperment, phyisical characteristics, grooming and medical needs, and history of each of the 150+ dogs included. (And, just in case you've read the review that claims this book doesn't have Pit Bulls, you don't need to worry, it does. They are offically called Staffordshire Terriers and that is what they are called in this book.) I gave this book a four because I really enjoy it and find that the info is a great starting place. It kind of sets you off in the right direction for what dogs you may want to research more throughly. I didn't give it five because I felt it should have had pictures of puppies of the differing breeds and more pictures of the varieties. (For example, both pictures of the Collie are of the rough variety, though their are actually two: the Rough and the Smooth.) Other than that, it's a great book, wonderful for basic dog knowledge and captivating (though please remember this book isn't about rare breeds).Book Review: Best Dog Book
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the best dog breed books around with perhaps the best illustrations. This book not only contains the AKC breed information but does it more comprehensively. Instead of limiting itself to size descriptions of breeds by either height or by weight, so often done in AKC breed standards, this book gives an average height and weight range for each of the breeds. Great overall characteristic descriptions such as temperament, upkeep, genetic health problems, and form and function. Many highly illustrated dog books have great pictures of some breeds and unflattering ones of other breeds. The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds has consistently beautiful pictures throughout.
If you are more interested in adopting one of the lonely little All Americans out there in shelters, this is a fun way to gather information about the heritage and personality that make up that little guy's background.
Book Review: A Really Informative Book
Summary: 5 Stars
Even this book only lists about 150 breeds of dogs and it is based on just dog breeds, it is a pretty good book. I am trying to find the right dog for someone and have used the great overall section of each breed to find that the Havanese fits her best. The breed pages include history, AKC ranking, family, area of origin, date of origin, original function, today's function, other name, temperament, upkeep, health (including major concerns, minor concerns, occasionally seen, suggested tests, life span, and a note for some breeds), energy level, excersize requirements, playfulness, affection level, friendliness toward other dogs/other pets/strangers, training, watchdog, protection, grooming, cold/heat tolerance, weight, height, form and function, and fanally, an illustrated standard. It will help you a lot in picking the right breed of dogs.