Understanding Man's Best Friend

Children's Literature - Beverly Kobrin

Dr. Squire explains how dogs have been selectively bred from their wolf ancestors into their various shapes and sizes. She describes the characteristics that make each breed good at what it was "designed" to do (guard livestock, hunt prey, or provide companionship), comments on the problems of excessive breeding and ends with a plug for the good, all-around mutt.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9-- A look at the similarities and differences of several breeds, including the history and development of canines from their wolf ancestors to household pets. In an informative, conversational manner, Squire explains how dog breeds developed different behaviors, based on the qualities for which they were bred. She concludes that ``if you know a bit of its history, you'll understand and get along with your pet even better!'' An appendix of breeds and their original uses completes the presentation. This book expands on information presented in Patricia Lauber's The Story of Dogs (Random, 1966; o.p.). The organization of the material and the topic itself work well as presented and will function as a standard title in the realm of dog development and behavior. Unfortunately, the grainy, poorly reproduced black-and-white photographs and reproductions are disappointing. --Carol Kolb Phillips, The Library, East Brunswick, NJ