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The Dog Encyclopedia: The Definitive Visual Guide
Covering the history, breeds, care, health, and positive training of dogs -- all in one easy reference -- "The Dog Encyclopedia" is a fully illustrated encyclopedia of all things canine.
With an extensive photographic catalog of more than 400 dog breeds, organized by to FCI groupings, each profile describes the breed's uses and character, lists compatible owner traits, and shares fascinating facts about the breed's origins.
Dog owners, breeders, and fans will also learn about canine anatomy and body systems; instinct and behavior; how dogs interact with humans; and the essentials of good care.
The book gives expert advice on equipment, handling, exercise, play, feeding, grooming, and breeding. Basic dog training is also covered, and an invaluable section on health will enable you to identify problems quickly and know exactly what to do in an emergency.
With an extensive photographic catalog of more than 400 dog breeds, organized by to FCI groupings, each profile describes the breed's uses and character, lists compatible owner traits, and shares fascinating facts about the breed's origins.
Dog owners, breeders, and fans will also learn about canine anatomy and body systems; instinct and behavior; how dogs interact with humans; and the essentials of good care.
The book gives expert advice on equipment, handling, exercise, play, feeding, grooming, and breeding. Basic dog training is also covered, and an invaluable section on health will enable you to identify problems quickly and know exactly what to do in an emergency.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 2013
30 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Publishing
9,122 books2,074 followersDorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 14, 2017
There were lots of dogs. It was very enjoyable.
October 17, 2025
really good for dog lovers I love dogs and I saw like 15 billies and 5 pixies and it was awesome the havanese dog needs an update and if I had to pick an ugliest dog I would say probably the bald ones with a little patch on hair on their head also the grooming was so terrible and I don't say this just because I was groomed I mean the dogs it was bad
July 9, 2020
I like that it has over 150 dog🐕 breeds. My favorite breed is the Canaan 🐕 .
February 11, 2022
4/5 Stars (%80/100)
It was really fun to learn about a variety of information about dogs. The book is split into three main parts; Introduction, Breeds, and Training. The breed part includes hundreds of different breeds of dogs and there is a lot of useful information. This part is also split into many smaller parts like working dogs, terriers, and so forth. I learned many things from the last part as someone who wants to adopt a dog in the future. People really underestimate caring and training a dog and hopefully, this book will help many people. There are, of course, lots of pretty pictures from the beginning till the end. Overall, it is educational and fun, and I would definitely recommend it.
It was really fun to learn about a variety of information about dogs. The book is split into three main parts; Introduction, Breeds, and Training. The breed part includes hundreds of different breeds of dogs and there is a lot of useful information. This part is also split into many smaller parts like working dogs, terriers, and so forth. I learned many things from the last part as someone who wants to adopt a dog in the future. People really underestimate caring and training a dog and hopefully, this book will help many people. There are, of course, lots of pretty pictures from the beginning till the end. Overall, it is educational and fun, and I would definitely recommend it.
February 20, 2020
[This is a great reference book for any dog lover! The reading level isn't too complicated or technical, so I would say high school age and even middle school age readers could really enjoy this. However, it is a quite big and heavy book, so I do not think an elementary age child would be able to handle this and read it comfortably. This is definitely meant to be a coffee table book rather than something that is carried around. There are a lot of great photos in this and descriptions of different breeds. I enjoyed the introductory chapters and later sections on care and training of dogs. This book definitely has a lot more breeds mentioned than the dog breed reference book I owned as a child 20 years ago.
However, there were parts of this book that did bother me, so while it looks really nice and is fun to flip through, I cannot give it 5 stars. There is a lot of information on buying puppies and breeding your own dogs for shows, etc. rather than rescuing and adopting dogs in need of forever homes. I am a big supporter of adopting dogs over shopping for dogs, and I think there should have been a chapter or two about the best rescues and resources in the United States for spreading awareness of and taking care of dogs in need. In addition, there should have been more information about doing due diligence as a responsible dog owner and getting your dog neutered or spayed instead of breeding dogs in a living room whelping box.
This is fine as a gift to extreme dog lovers, but there isn't really any information in here that isn't already online somewhere. This has value by bringing general information together in one production. Just keep in mind that it is a large coffee table book, so it might be too large to travel with or put on some bookshelves comfortably.]
However, there were parts of this book that did bother me, so while it looks really nice and is fun to flip through, I cannot give it 5 stars. There is a lot of information on buying puppies and breeding your own dogs for shows, etc. rather than rescuing and adopting dogs in need of forever homes. I am a big supporter of adopting dogs over shopping for dogs, and I think there should have been a chapter or two about the best rescues and resources in the United States for spreading awareness of and taking care of dogs in need. In addition, there should have been more information about doing due diligence as a responsible dog owner and getting your dog neutered or spayed instead of breeding dogs in a living room whelping box.
This is fine as a gift to extreme dog lovers, but there isn't really any information in here that isn't already online somewhere. This has value by bringing general information together in one production. Just keep in mind that it is a large coffee table book, so it might be too large to travel with or put on some bookshelves comfortably.]
January 16, 2016
This is the best book on dogs I have seen. There are so many breeds, there was even new-to-me breeds. Being a dog-person my whole life it was surprising how many dogs I hadn't heard of.
This book is very informative too. It discusses each breed and breaks it down as to what the dog is really like and what that breed needs most. It is a great resource for people trying to discover what dog breed might be best for them, should they be considering getting a dog.
Even though I have two dogs, this will be a great reference in the future if I wanted more. It also is a great conversation piece, so on the table top it will go.
Dog lovers should have a copy. The illustrations alone are enough to keep you busy for some time. Browsing each page gives another full-color experience, it will keep you turning the page.
This book is very informative too. It discusses each breed and breaks it down as to what the dog is really like and what that breed needs most. It is a great resource for people trying to discover what dog breed might be best for them, should they be considering getting a dog.
Even though I have two dogs, this will be a great reference in the future if I wanted more. It also is a great conversation piece, so on the table top it will go.
Dog lovers should have a copy. The illustrations alone are enough to keep you busy for some time. Browsing each page gives another full-color experience, it will keep you turning the page.
January 30, 2022
This is the best book for dog lovers and will make an amazing gift for anyone who falls into that category. It covers all the registered breeds (with images and stats such as average weight and height) and has valuable information for dog owners.
September 18, 2017
The Dog Encyclopedia is an incredible and informative book for every dog lover in your life. Ages 7 and up because of vocabulary.
April 16, 2020
I read a page of this book ever night, I was just really interested in all the types of dogs! Great educational read.
June 12, 2020
CRAZY awesome!!!!!!!!
January 19, 2024
I read this book because I wanted to learn about the different types of dogs.
In the section on the history of dogs, I learned that dogs were improved to serve human uses.
They are not only pets, but also therapy dogs, home helpers, sheepdogs, etc.
Important Line: Evolution of the Dog
There are an estimated 500 million domestic dogs worldwide, and all of them are related.
At the base of their evolutionary tree stands the gray wolf, from which every type and breed of dog has descended.
As geneticists have discovered, in terms of DNA, the difference between wolf and dog is infinitesimal.
While natural selection has produced some of the changes that make one type of dog different from another, the effect of human influence has been far greater.
It could be said that of the hundreds of modern dogs known today, all of them are man-made.
Once domesticated, humans created different dogs for different tasks and in doing so altered their skeletons, too.
Although some changes, such as dwarfism, result naturally from mutations, deliberate selection has created most of the variety seen in modern breeds today.
In the section on the history of dogs, I learned that dogs were improved to serve human uses.
They are not only pets, but also therapy dogs, home helpers, sheepdogs, etc.
Important Line: Evolution of the Dog
There are an estimated 500 million domestic dogs worldwide, and all of them are related.
At the base of their evolutionary tree stands the gray wolf, from which every type and breed of dog has descended.
As geneticists have discovered, in terms of DNA, the difference between wolf and dog is infinitesimal.
While natural selection has produced some of the changes that make one type of dog different from another, the effect of human influence has been far greater.
It could be said that of the hundreds of modern dogs known today, all of them are man-made.
Once domesticated, humans created different dogs for different tasks and in doing so altered their skeletons, too.
Although some changes, such as dwarfism, result naturally from mutations, deliberate selection has created most of the variety seen in modern breeds today.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2023
Beautiful book. Lovely pictures and descriptions of probably every dog breed known to mankind! Also includes training tips, health problems, anatomy, coat types, colors, etc. Even a section on designer cross breeds, and beloved mutts. As a dog lover and rescue owner, I really enjoyed looking through this very heavy book!
May 27, 2017
i read the cat version of this book obsessively as an autistic fourth-grader, and the dog version is no less impressive!! gorgeous, full-color photos of pretty much every breed under the sun, and all kinds of historical information about dogs
January 16, 2020
This was a very useful and informative book about dogs. I learned about many breeds that I didn't know about. I really enjoyed reading so many facts about each breed. Also there was alot of information about adding a dog to the home which can be very helpful.
September 26, 2019
649 - 2019
March 22, 2023
Good stuff
August 26, 2024
Libro entretenido para aprender acerca de las diferentes razas de perros. La demás información es muy general.
November 5, 2024
Lots of gud boys and girls.
February 18, 2025
lots of dogs. very good
November 9, 2013
I normally do not add books like this to my reviews, but I had to after reading it with my 14 year old daughter. This book is an amazing resource of information for those that love dogs or are just wanting to learn a little bit more about these beloved animals. It is filled with gorgeous pictures of beautiful dogs and goes into great detail about each breed. I had a lot of fun looking up our dogs in the encyclopedia and highly recommend this book for all libraries and schools. If it were not for my daughter I would have never stumbled upon this book and I have to give credit to the author and publisher for producing such a lovely piece of art and literature. I am very impressed as an educator and as a parent! Great job!!!!!!
January 7, 2022
L is in first grade and she lugged this gigantic encyclopedia home from school on her class's library day this week. I asked her "Wow, what did the librarian say when you checked that out?" and she said, "She told me 'That's a big book, L!'" I love the librarian for letting her read what she wants, though, even though this was an incredibly ambitious pick for a 7-year-old who barely knows how to read.
She's most interested in the section that describes 100+ different dog breeds in detail, with pictures. We've been reading a handful of pages together every night. I edit the vocabulary for her a bit as I read it to her, but she understands it well and is enjoying it. Honestly, there is just no limit to the amount of dog facts she wants to know!
She's most interested in the section that describes 100+ different dog breeds in detail, with pictures. We've been reading a handful of pages together every night. I edit the vocabulary for her a bit as I read it to her, but she understands it well and is enjoying it. Honestly, there is just no limit to the amount of dog facts she wants to know!
August 23, 2013
This is a great book to flip through. The photos are beautiful (and adorable!) and the information is interesting. It includes many dog breeds that I had never heard of before!
August 21, 2013
Wonderful photos and some good information too.
August 5, 2014
Good for my purposes.
Dogs. Pictures of dogs.
Dogs. Pictures of dogs.
November 18, 2015
OK.
Already bought another, since this didn't have everything I was looking for in a dog book.
Already bought another, since this didn't have everything I was looking for in a dog book.
July 3, 2016
This book is really useful for learning everything about dogs and dog breeds!!!Definitely recommend it to every book lover
December 26, 2023
Love it
Fab book! Great pics with lots of amazing facts about these beautiful animals! A must for any dog lover! worth every penny
Fab book! Great pics with lots of amazing facts about these beautiful animals! A must for any dog lover! worth every penny
October 2, 2013
This is what my reading consists of nowadays! Lots of great pictures and good info.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews