Gorman - The Complete Idiots Guide to Puppies

Table of Contents

One surefire way to judge a culture is through its treatment of nature and of animals. By this measure we see humans at their best (or worst) and can get a pretty good feel for a society. The last twenty-five years in the United States have seen an astonishing change in public perception of animals. As we become more urban and more detached from nature, we see people reach out more than ever for contact with animals. Books on wildlife and domestic creatures, photographic essays featuring various species, and films examining the natural history and behavior of various animals sell like never before. A television channel dedicated solely to life-forms other than human has been very successful and acquired a huge audience. The number of animal species kept as companions has blossomed and not always for the better. Nontraditional animal species ranging from pot-bellied pigs, to hedgehogs, to sugar gliders have been kept in American homes. Often these acquisitions amount to nothing more than flavor of the month fads and impulse buys and the unfortunate creatures are neither really wanted nor ultimately cared for.

One animal that never goes out of fashion is the family dog. Since the time of prehistoric cave drawings, no other animal has been as celebrated and loved by humankind. All the varied cultures on the planet have their own dog fables and legends. Invariably, dogs are cherished worldwide for their virtues: courage, intelligence, faithfulness, and loyalty. Many civilizations value the dog and even consider it a member of the family. Nevertheless, as with human family members, the upbringing of dogs is complex and not something that can be left to chance. The success or failure in raising puppies largely depends upon the level of commitment of the people involved and what they are willing to do to make it work.

Ignorance is the greatest enemy we face every day. We are at our best when we learn and when we teach others what we know. That is where this book comes in. This volume offers a concrete, no-nonsense, nuts and bolts approach to rearing puppies. It is tremendously user-friendly and covers a host of topics that will be of interest to both seasoned dog people and novices. I found it concise and to the point, in addition to being up-to-date. Information is arranged logically and is easy to retrieve. The breadth of topics in this book reflects the degree of difficulty involved in raising healthy, happy, well-balanced puppies. Saying that, the book is still not intimidating either in its content or its tone and it never loses sight of the joy of puppyhood and in being around puppies.

Dogs are just a reflection of how much time we spend with them. This book helps people understand their puppy better, and in doing that ensures that they are enjoyed more. Having a puppy is definitely a commitment, but it is a contract of love, unconditional and devoted. This book is sound. Use it and soak up the tidbits inside like a sponge. Through usable, helpful books like this we can best safeguard the relationship between us and our faithful friends.

Kevin T. Fitzgerald, Ph.D., DVM, ABVD, staff veterinarian, Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, Denver, and featured veterinarian on Animal Planets Emergency Vets.

Joe Gores

Once youve experienced life with dogs, its very hard to go back to life without them. It can be done, of course, but dogs, especially puppies, have a way of changing your soul.

I think the reason that dogs are such an important part of our lives is best summed up in the words of Nobel Prize-winning play-wright Maurice Maeterlinck, who said, We are alone, absolutely alone on this chance planet: and, amid all the forms of life that surround us, not one, excepting the dog, has made an alliance with us. Truer words were never uttered or written.

I love dogs because they give so much and ask for so little in return. There is no better feeling in the world than the one you get when you walk in the door after a hard day to find your puppy wagging his tail in delight just because youre home. It doesnt matter if you didnt have time to walk him that morning. He doesnt care if you lost a big client, or if youre a little overweight, or if you forgot to give him a present for his birthday. Hes just glad youre you, and youre home, and youre his.

I can only imagine that youve picked up this book because you, too, recognize how wonderful having a dog in your life can be. And, of course, one way to get a dog is to get yourself a puppy. Its not the only wayyou can always adopt an older dog, or rescue a dog from a shelter, which is a wonderful thing to do and something I highly recommend. But the experience of choosing and raising a puppy is a very special one, and although it can be a lot of work, it has rewards that last a lifetime.

I have had the pleasure and privilege of breeding and raising many puppies, and I have to tell you, there is nothing I enjoy more than being able to find the right home for one of my pups. Every time a new owner comes to take her puppy home, I am always sad to see the puppy go, but I am also always thrilled to see the joy that this new friendship brings to both human and pup alike.

But with that new friendship comes a lot of responsibilityand often some confusion and concern. I spend a lot of time counseling new puppy owners about how to care for, train, and understand their canine companions. Raising a puppy is a lot more involved than putting some food on the floor, playing some fetch in the backyard, and making an occasional trip to the vet. Almost every puppy owner has questions, and nearly every puppy owner makes mistakes.

Thats the reason for this book. In it you will find the answers to many questions and concerns I have encountered over the years from puppy owners. No matter where you are in your puppy decision-making processwhether youre just thinking about it, or are in the selection phase, or have already found the right pup for youthis book will be a valuable tool as you raise your furry friend from his toddler stages through his adolescence and right into adulthood.

Ive also incorporated advice from some of the best people in the dog worldand Im talking serious dog professionals hereso youll be benefiting from their wisdom as well.

So if life with a puppy is in your futureor perhaps happening right nowthis book can help guide you through the first all-important months with your pup. Youll learn about bonding, techniques to ease housebreaking, and proper exercise for your pup. You name it, if its got to do with puppies, its probably in here.

So, read on, McDuff hey, thats a pretty good puppy name!

This book is designed to give you a comprehensive guide to raising your pup. Its divided into six parts, starting with information you need to find the right puppy and finishing with fun activities you can do with your pup. In between, we look at all sorts of interesting topics in chapters that cover a broad range of material.

You dont have to read this book cover to cover for it to be useful for you. You can find good information on lots of topics with just a quick check of the table of contents or the index. But, if you start at the beginning and finish at the end, youll probably discover theres a lot more to puppyhood than youve imagined.