Parents' Guide to

Dogs

By Mark Nichol, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

All kids wanted to know about man's best friend.

Book Amanda O'Neill Animals 1999
Dogs Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

hatedogs
hatedogs Adult
September 22, 2018
age 18+

whats this? another horrible dog book!!

My god i wish i didn't read this! i swear..my little pony and pokemon are better than this!!! i hate this book! don't read!!!!!!

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

If your children aren't already crazy about dogs, they will be after this survey of all they ever wanted to know about man's best friend. The appealing format features illustrations and photos of hundreds of dogs, and many facts about them in easily digestible chunks of text.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the interesting things they learned from this book. Which breeds do you think would work well with your family? If you already have a dog, what did you learn here about your pet?

Book Details

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