Customer Reviews:
 Color photos of each breed, easy to read November 28, 2006
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is a great book with big pages and is very easy to read. There is at least one large color photo of each breed in the book. The price is very good considering all of the information contained in the book.
 Two paws up, way up! November 10, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is an excellent book which provides just enough insight and expertise for casual dog fans and owners without overdoing it. More intense, information-hungry dog aficionados might want more but that's not what the book delivers. The quality of the pictures is outstanding and give an accurate representation of the dogs appearance, although there aren't too many (if any, as I recall) of the depicted breeds as pups.
The rating system for strengths and weaknesses of each breed is an extremely effective way to quickly educate the readers, especially on types they may not be familiar with. I'd give the book a five star rating, but then Dr. Coile would have nothing to shoot for.
Colorful and informative July 8, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is a great overview of AKC breeds. There are 2 full color photos (not drawings) of the dogs. I refer to this book all the time. It covers the history of the breeds, statistics, temperment,personality, health isuues, and much more. I bought one for me and one for my sister. I highly recommend this book!
Good breed information, but lacking in presentation April 28, 2006
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.
A Really Informative Book April 27, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
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.
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