Understanding Your Dog

 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 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,…

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…