Love Dog

In This Chapter Locating a mixed-breed dog Knowing which questions to ask Testing a dog’s temperament before you bring her home With the exception of designer dogs, mixed-breed dogs are far easier to find than purebred dogs, because there are more of them available. In this chapter, I fill you in on where to look….

 In This Chapter Discovering whether you’re ready for a dog Looking at the different breeds Considering age and gender Bringing a dog into your home is a big deal. Sure, they’re all adorable and hard to resist. But before you fall for those puppy-dog eyes, you need to ask yourself some serious questions: Am I…

 In This Chapter Hearing the hype about hybrids Identifying the pros and cons of hybrid dogs Looking at the most popular designer dogs What do James Gandolfini, Julianne Moore, Uma Thurman, and Jake Gyllenhaal have in common? No, they haven’t all won Oscars. They all have Puggles — the designer-dog hybrid of a Pug and…

 In This Chapter Understanding what makes a dog a mixed breed Recognizing that size doesn’t matter — a dog is a dog Remembering that your dog — no matter his mix — wants to be your best friend The offspring of purebred dogs all look alike on the outside, and have similar personalities and temperaments….

In This Chapter Getting to know the Terriers Choosing a Terrier that isn’t a terror Understanding the Terrier’s needs In name and in spirit, the dogs of the Terrier Group are down to earth. The name terrier is derived from terra, Latin for “earth.” Farmers relied on Terriers to control pests — mice, rats, foxes — in fields…

In This Chapter Deciphering the mixed breeds Looking at the history of mixes and crossbreeds Taking on designer dogs Getting to know some popular crosses What is a mixed breed? A mutt? A devoted companion? A Cockapoo? How about a Chiweenie? The answer to all these questions is yes. Although mixed breeds sometimes get an…

In This Chapter Defining a diverse group Championing some consummate companions Finding a breed to suit everyone’s needs Okay, so what’s the deal with the Non-Sporting Group? Is it truly a group made up of non-sporting types, or is it a catchall category of groupless pooches? In truth, the answer may be a bit of…

In This Chapter Getting to know the modern hunters Understanding the finer points of the breeds Choosing a breed that suits your lifestyle Learning to live with an energetic dog The “sporting” in Sporting Dogs is less about soccer and baseball than it is about hunting. The dogs of the Sporting Group — the Pointers,…