Book Club

The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds by TFH Editors

A Field Guide to More Than 230 Dog Breeds and Varieties!

This compact and easy-to-use guide covers more than 230 dog breeds and varieties recognized by the world’s most prestigious kennel clubs. Discover pertinent information on a breed’s history, temperament, and care requirements. Plus, each breed is illustrated with full-color photos for easy identification. Also included is a short history on the origin of dog breeds, which helps round out this essential reference.

Each breed profile in The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds features:
• Brief history of the breed’s origins
• Personality profile
• Trainability
• Grooming needs
• Exercise needs
• Life span and health issues

From the most popular breeds to some of the most rare, The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds is the perfect reference for anyone who is fascinated by dogs!

About the Author:

The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds was compiled by TFH Editors with extensive knowledge and experience with dog breeds.

Book Excerpt: CANAAN DOG

Country of Origin: Israel
Height: males 20–24 in (51–61 cm)/females 19–23 in (48–58.5 cm) [AKC]
Weight: males 45–55 lb (20.5–25 kg)/females 35–45 lb (16–29.5 kg) [AKC]
Coat: Double coat with straight, harsh, flat-lying outercoat of short to medium length and straight, soft, short, flat-lying undercoat; slight ruff
Colors: Sand to red-brown, white, black, or spotted, with or without mask|two color patterns—predominantly white with mask, with or without patches of color/solid, with color ranging from black through all shades of brown (sandy to red or liver) [AKC]|solid or spotted, colors including any shade between cream and red-brown; no liver [UKC]
Other Names: Kelev K’naani
Registries (With Group): AKC (Herding); ANKC (Non Sporting); ARBA (Spitz & Primitive); CKC (Working); FCI (Spitz and Primitive); KC (Utility); UKC (Sighthound & Pariah)

HISTORY AND PERSONALITY

Cave drawings from 2200 BCE show dogs who look remarkably like the Canaan. He was a guard dog and herding dog to the ancient Israelites, and when the Jewish people were dispersed from the land thousands of years ago, these dogs began living in the Negev Desert. When the Jews returned to the land in the 1930s, they discovered these pariah dogs, almost like living fossils, existing in a feral state. The breed’s modern history began in the late 1930s to produce a dog to guard the kibbutz. Today’s Canaan Dog is a highly intelligent and trainable dog whose versatility has been tapped for mine detection work, sentry and messenger work, guiding the blind, and much more.
With ancestors who survived for thousands of years on their own, he retains a strong flight instinct as well as an innate ability to care for itself, so keeping him on leash in all but securely enclosed areas is a must unless he is highly trained. He is a devoted companion who is intelligent, affectionate with his family, and loves to play. He should be socialized with children and other animals from an early age to help lessen his natural reticence with strange people and animals.

CARE AND HEALTH

• The smart, quick Canaan Dog needs daily activity that will challenge him mentally and physically. Several long walks a day are not enough for this alert and responsive dog. He needs a job or to be involved in a sport.
• Because he is highly trainable and is an eager worker, training him is a joyful experience.
• He sheds seasonally, but otherwise the Canaan Dog is an easy breed to keep clean and neat with regular brushing.
• Average life span is 12 to 15 years. There are no reported breed-specific health concerns.

Excerpted from The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. © 2009 T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Used by Permission.

Correcting Bad Habits in Dogs: Easy Solutions for Pulling, Jumping, Barking, Stealing, and Other Behaviors

Claire Arrowsmith

Dogs who misbehave by jumping up, barking excessively, or pulling on the leash usually make dog ownership a hardship. In this step-by-step guide, respected animal behaviorist Claire Arrowsmith explains proven training methods to overcome six of the most common problem behaviors. Using positive training methods, this book provides instant help for frustrated owners. You’ll learn how to deal with pulling on the leash, not coming when called, jumping up, chewing and destruction, stealing and scavenging, and excessive barking.

About the Author:

Claire Arrowsmith is a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) and holds an Honours degree in Zoology and a Masters degree in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare. Claire currently focuses on behavior problems in pet dogs and cats and also offers training advice. She is a qualified Puppy School tutor and runs dog training classes, and is the behavior specialist for Houndstar Films DVDs. Claire also features on the expert panel of Your Dog magazine and presents regular advisory talks about problem dogs. She is the author of Sit, Down, Come, Heel, Stay and Stand Book (T.F.H. Publications 2008). She currently lives in the UK with her husband and rescue Rhodesian Ridgeback mixed dog, Sarnie.

Book Excerpt: Pulling on the Leash

Problem
• Dog surges ahead from Heel position when on the leash.
• Dog is more focused on outside distractions than on you.
• Dog displays fear reaction.

It’s often assumed that dogs should walk next to their owners. However, this is not a natural instinct for them and, without training, very few will do so of their own accord. Small puppies are often allowed to pull as they please but as they grow up their owners often regret this. Pulling dogs can cause themselves physical harm as well as posing an injury risk to their owners. Owners are frequently pulled over, or into traffic, so it’s important to remedy the problem or—even better—prevent it from developing. Having your dog under control should be of utmost importance to all owners.

SOLUTIONS

Suggested Tools
Strong Collar and Leash: Your dog should wear a well-fitted collar attached to a strong leash. Avoid very long or short leashes since these can make heelwork training difficult by giving your dog too much or too little freedom.

Head-collar: Particularly strong dogs can benefit from a head-collar. These popular training devices provide extra control similar to a bridle and come in a range of sizes and styles to suit most breeds. They allow large breeds to be walked more safely.

Training Harness: These specially designed harnesses can make it harder for your dog to pull forwards while giving you extra control.

Techniques
Exercise: Your dog needs to be exercised before you start your leash work training. Using up any excess energy will help him concentrate and he’ll be less over-exuberant or frustrated.

Location: Begin heel training in quiet areas and progress to busier places to prevent distraction.

Training: Reward your dog with praise and treats when he’s walking next to you.
He will begin to associate this position with the enjoyable experience. If your dog pulls ahead, stop walking immediately. Your dog must learn that pulling actually makes it harder to proceed with his walk. Resist the urge to pull your dog back or to jerk his leash.

Excerpt from Correcting Bad Habits in Dogs: Easy Solutions for Pulling, Jumping, Barking, Stealing, and Other Behaviors by Claire Arrowsmith © T.F.H. Publications. Used by permission.

Groom Your Dog Like a Professional: Step-by-Step Techniques & Tips for a Great Looking Dog by Peter Young

During tough economic times, do-it-yourself dog grooming is a great way to save money while providing excellent care for your canine companion. Groom Your Dog Like a Professional presents step-by-step instructions from an award-winning groomer
to teach you how to get your furry pal looking like a show dog. The breed-specific instructions are arranged by type of coat, making this an easy-to-use reference for anyone wishing to naturally enhance their dog’s features, create fun and striking looks, or just reduce shedding and dander around the house. Each grooming example is fully illustrated with easy-to-follow photos to ensure beautiful results every time. This expertly written guide also explains how grooming provides an opportunity to check your dog for health concerns (which can help spot any potential problems early in their development) and to strengthen the bond between dog and owner. A special tips section reveals professional secrets to grooming older dogs, common grooming challenges and how to overcome them, grooming missteps to avoid, and myth-busting information.

About the Author:

Peter Young is an internationally renowned poodle breeder, handler, and Crufts-accredited judge. Owner of Peter’s Posh Pets, a grooming parlor located in West London, he holds many grooming contest titles and has won three Cardinal Crystal Achievement Awards, the Oscars of the grooming industry. A celebrity in the grooming world, Peter conducts seminars internationally. He resides in the United Kingdom.

Book Excerpt: Groom Your Dog Like a Professional (2009 Interpet Publishing, Ltd)

Common Problems Associated With Grooming
Over the years that I have been practicing as a professional dog groomer, I have encountered various little problems that commonly arise when people are learning to groom their pets at home. I outline three of the most common here, and useful remedies to deal with them.

Brush burn
This occurs when people are a little too enthusiastic or even aggressive with a slicker or pin brush and their desire to do a good job. The dog may end up with red lines on the skin as a result of the pins of the brush scraping it too vigorously. Needless to say, as soon as you are aware of this problem, you should stop work in that immediate area. If severe this scraping can lead to a skin irritation. Monitor the area for a while – an hour or two. If it still looks very red and angry after that time, seek veterinary attention. But it may settle down by itself if the irritation is not too severe.

Practice brushing on the underside of your arm to feel the correct amount of pressure and type of stroke that is most suitable for each brush that you use. It should apply a gentle pressure to the coat and then pull or slide easily away through the hair.

Mats and tangles
You may find yourself in a situation where you have tried unsuccessfully to brush away or detangle a mat but still have most of it in place. It is possible with care to split the offending area into smaller sections with a mat breaker or small pair of scissors and these smaller clumps can then be brushed out individually.

If using scissors, hold the skin firmly at the root of the mat and, working away from the body, split the mat lengthwise into small strands for further brushing out. Likewise, if using a mat breaker, hold the base of the mat without pulling on the dog’s skin, and use as directed on the product’s packaging.

Clipper rash or burn
This is caused when the blade used on the clipper is set too short with regard to the sensitivity of the individual dog’s skin. It does not actually cause a burn, but it does certainly cause an irritation or tickle which the dog will then worry at – either by scratching the area if it can reach it, rubbing the area along a carpet or sofa to relieve the itch, or by nibbling at it. All of these things usually end up making what was a small irritation into a much bigger wound which of course takes longer to heal. As long as the irritation is minor, applying calamine lotion may help to calm it down. Otherwise a little coating of Vaseline helps to seal the area but it is messier. If the irritation does not start to clear up after a day or so, seek veterinary attention.

Minor nicks or cuts
Should you have the misfortune to cut or nick a dog with either scissors or clippers, try not to panic as this will only aggravate both you and the dog. Assess the situation: where is the wound, how deep is it, etc? No matter where the wound is, try to apply pressure at the base of it to stop the flow of blood – e.g. if it’s located at an ear tip, press just below the wound and hold tight for ten minutes or so, then carefully relax the pressure and see whether the bleeding has stopped of its own accord. If the wound is more severe and to a leg, consider applying a tourniquet and wrapping the wound with a pressure bandage until you can reach a vet.

Nail trimming
If you intend clipping your dog’s nails it is advisable to have a small pot of styptic powder standing by next to the clippers to staunch the bleed if you should accidentally cut the quick when trimming the nail. If you don’t have any styptic powder, cornstarch or cornflower will often stem the bleeding. Put the powder on the affected nail and hold it in place with a clean pad while applying pressure for a few minutes. This should do the trick. Avoid walking the dog on hard ground for the next day or so as the impact on the nail could start it bleeding again.

Excerpt from Groom Your Dog Like a Professional: Step-by-Step Techniques & Tips for a Great Looking Dog by Peter Young © 2009 Interpet Publishing, Ltd. Used by permission.

The Goldsteins’ Wellness & Longevity Program: Natural Care for Dogs and Cats by Robert S. Goldstein, VMD, and Susan J. Goldstein

Searching for alternatives to conventional veterinary practices, thousands of animal guardians have turned to Robert Goldstein, V.M.D., and Susan Goldstein for help in finding a better, more natural way to companion animal health. Finally, the Goldsteins have put their three decades’ worth of experience into this definitive guide to integrative medicine for dogs and cats.

Written in an uncommonly personal yet authoritative style, The Goldsteins’ Wellness & Longevity Program covers the most current integrative health methods available today. Learn how to treat the most common ailments affecting dogs and cats, plus uncover in-depth analysis and treatment of the diseases that animal guardians fear the most.

With this guide, concerned readers can also:

• Focus on the most up-to-date methods for treating cancer.
• Discover the immune-strengthening properties of the easy-to-follow Goldsteins’ Food Plan.
• Prepare easy-to-make broths and elixirs to help boost overall health.
• Search the alphabetical listing of common illnesses for at-home treatments.
• Delve into successful therapeutic modalities like acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, music therapy, and flower essences.

About the Author:

Robert S. Goldstein, V.M.D., has been a holistic veterinarian for over 30 years and is Director of Veterinary Services of Animal Nutrition Technologies and the Healing Center for Animals veterinary telephone consultation practice. He specializes in treating canine and feline cancer and other immune-suppressive diseases and is the founder of modern cryosurgery. Dr. Goldstein has formulated over 100 nutritional products and foods for dogs and cats.

Susan J. Goldstein has been an expert for over 25 years on the holistic approach to the emotional, physical, and nutritional needs of dogs, cats, and birds. She is the founder and president of Earth Animal, a retail outlet in Westport, CT, and runs the Healing Center for Animals. She has extensive experience in alternative cancer therapies, diet, and emotional and grief therapy.

Book Excerpt: The Goldsteins’ Wellness & Longevity Program (©2005 TFH Publications)

Super Supplement I: Probiotics

Probiotics are composed of the friendly bacteria that normally live in the intestinal tract.  Friendly means that their function is to improve digestion and intestinal health, as compared to unfriendly bacteria that invade and cause sicknesses such as E. coli and salmonella. These friendly bacteria strains of Lactobacillus, such as L. acidophilus, L. thermophilus, Enterococcus faecium, and Bifidobacterium bifidum, will help to counteract the destructive side effects of antibiotics and will correct imbalances in the digestive tract itself. Unless there is a serious underlying disease, feeding probiotics (which can also be found in organic, live culture yogurt) should alleviate all the side effects of the drugs and improper diet, which can cause bad breath, diarrhea, excessive gas, and foul-smelling stool.

When healthy, your animal’s intestinal tract—which consists of the small and large intestines (the colon is part of the large intestines)—is usually filled with billions of beneficial bacterial flora. These “good guys,” as they are often called, are essential to the process of digestion and absorption. They also produce B vitamins and prevent the overgrowth of harmful, often pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, as well as opportunistic fungi, which can lead to a disease state.

The normal flora of the intestines is required for proper assimilation of food and nourishment of the cells of the body. The flora balance can be upset or diminished by the following conditions:

• Trauma or injury
• Chronic disease (weak immune system)
• Environmental and/or food toxins
• Artificial pet food ingredients—coloring agents, dyes, digests, chemical additives or preservatives
• Stresses—emotional and physical
• Antibiotics and other medication such as chemotherapeutics

Friendly bacteria, the desirable tenant of your animal’s intestines, will decrease in number as your animal ages. But they can also dwindle prematurely due to poor diet, stress, and medications, leaving your friend more vulnerable to disease. If your animal has been on antibiotics or is currently being treated, realize that these drugs will decimate all bacteria, including the beneficial type.

Probiotics, which contain ample amounts of Lactobacillus Acidophilus and other friendly bacilli, may be purchased at your local health food store or high quality pet store. For best results, we recommend that you keep these products refrigerated. (See Resources for recommendations.)

Probiotics/Acidophilus (dosed in millions or billions of bacteria) come in capsules, liquid, or in live culture yogurt. For daily use and to help prevent adverse intestinal effects of taking antibiotics, live culture organic yogurt will be fine. If your animal has an intestinal disease such as chronic diarrhea or inflammatory bowel disease (see Chapter 5: Feared Diseases) then probiotic capsules containing millions of friendly bacteria are recommended.

The addition of probiotics can re-establish the population of these beneficial organisms. Much research has demonstrated the beneficial impact that probiotics have on the immune system, the intestines, and in the treatment of cancer.

Excerpt from The Goldsteins’ Wellness & Longevity Program: Natural Care for Dogs and Cats © 2005 TFH Publications, Inc. Used by permission.