Collins Complete Dog Manual. Collins Dictionaries

      (It’s Me Or the Dog © HarperCollins/ © Mark Read)

      (Ashley Western/www.phodographer.biz)

      (Ashley Western/www.phodographer.biz)

      No matter what sort of dog you choose, be it a pedigree or a mongrel, it can enrich your life and become part of your family. (Ashley Western/www.phodographer.biz)

      Giving a rescue dog – here an eager mongrel – a good home is a rewarding experience for both the dog and owner. (© Jean Michel Labat)

      Two Labradors at a rescue centre. You might want to take both ... but can only support one. (© Jean Michel Labat)

      Eight-week-old Parson Jack Russell Terrier puppies: pedigree puppies can set you back several hundred pounds. (© John Daniels)

      A litter of four Golden Retriever puppies suckling. (Ruta Zukauskaite)

      This six-month-old Dalmatian bitch glows with health: bright eyes, white teeth, with moist, light-pink tongue and dark, damp nose. (It’s Me Or the Dog © HarperCollins/ © Mark Read)

      When you get home, make sure your puppy has a warm, comfortable bed and some toys to play with. You don’t need a proper basket – a cardboard box will suffice. (Patryk Kosmider)

      Although puppies (here white West Highland Terriers) appear to have boundless energy and love playing, they spend a lot of time resting, too. (Anna Lurye)

      Young dogs may well damage your precious furnishings if you don’t provide them with safe things to chew, like a cardboard box or some chew toys – which have the added benefit of improving mouth health and teeth strength. (Erkki Alvenmod)

      (Milles Away)

      Siberian Husky (Nata Sdobnikova)

      Trips to the vet can be daunting experiences for dog and owner alike. (Byelikova Oksana)

      Let your puppy wander about with the lead on to get him used to it but watch him carefully in case the lead gets caught up on something. (Eldad Carin)

      To get your puppy used to traffic and road walking, carry him in your arms for a day or two before walking on the pavement. (Christian Mueller)

      Do not play tug of war with a soft toy but use a dedicated tug toy (as here) – or you will be training your puppy to be destructive and possessive. (Anna Hoychuk)

      Most young dogs enjoy playing ‘fetch’ with a ball or other toy. It allows them to run freely and have some fun. (Ksenia Raykova)

      This West Highland White Terrier puppy is meeting some older dogs. Most adult dogs will not be aggressive to young puppies. (Zuzule)

      (It’s Me Or the Dog © HarperCollins/ © Mark Read)

Dog Breed Guide

       Gundogs

       Hounds

       Working Dogs

       Terriers

       Toy Dogs

       Utility

       Pastoral

      Other Popular Breeds

      Useful Addresses

      In the following pages you will find detailed information on the thirty most popular dog breeds plus brief descriptions of some other well-loved breeds that make good family pets. The way in which dogs are classified varies, and different countries and their canine governing bodies still use different systems. However, they are usually classified according to the type of work they perform.

      Gundog Group

      These Gundogs were specifically bred to work at finding, flushing out and retrieving gamebirds.

      Hound Group

      These speedy dogs were developed to hunt, chase and kill prey. They are divided into scenthounds and sighthounds for locating prey.

      Working Group