Dogs (by Amanda O'Neill)

This book is an excellent resource for children and adults -- highly recommended for purchase before you get a dog. It is entertaining and informative, even for families that already have a canine pet. In a friendly, informal format, it emphasizes that many factors are important in selecting a dog -- male or female, mongrel or purebred, adult dog or puppy -- as is whether to obtain your new pet from a store, a pound or shelter, or a private party.

The author emphasizes selecting a breed compatible with your lifestyle, and covers important points about feeding, caring for, and playing with a dog, and how to recognize its needs and its attempts to communicate with you. Inquisitive kids will also get a kick out of reading about the origins of Canis familiaris, studying the anatomical features and differences among breeds, and reading about the fascinating ways in which dogs have been used: hunting, herding, rescue, assistance for the disabled, and even as living weapons of war.