[.ca] Labrador Retrievers (ISBN 0764128515)

Terrific, Illustrative How-to Guide For Raising Labradors!:
One of the aspects of this book that drew me in was its premise that the Labrador Retriever is perhaps the single most agreeable and people-oriented of all the domesticated breeds, the author shows the reader how and why to care for God's most perfect earthly creature, the Labrador Retriever! By showing us the degree to which the breed represents a witch's brew of intelligence, honesty and loyalty to its human companions, the author illustrates why the Labrador has become the single most popular breed of dog in the world today. Labradors are sturdy creatures indeed, bred for sporting use along the quicksilver shores of Newfoundland, where the water temperatures and sea conditions require a healthy dollop of strength and endurance, and those are qualities these dogs have in spades. For any of us that have seen them at work or play in the fields and in the water, their unique combination of physical attributes and obvious intelligence makes them the ideal human companion. I should know; I live with four of them! The proof of their adaptability to almost any condition and their loyalty, intelligence, and unparalleled work ethic is demonstrated by the wide use of them as guide dogs and as adjunct partners for the physically handicapped. Stories of Labradors crawling out onto the ice to save their masters are legendary, as are the tales of them rescuing children from fires or from underneath rubble. Never has there been a dog superior to them. The author has recruited a wide variety of experts to testify as to the qualities and abilities of the dog, and one walks away from a reading of the book much better informed as to the all of the many qualities and capabilities of the breed, which seems to represent an astonishing list of useful and worthwhile attributes. We also get quite critical information as to what to look for when choosing a lab, and how to analyze the quality of the puppy you see before you. The author offers a compendium of information regarding genetics, feeding, health care, and inherited dispositions, as well as some sage advice as to how to ensure your puppy becomes the grown up Labrador companion you will come to view as another family member. This is a great book, and one I heartily recommend! Enjoy!

5 Stars all the way:
To the person who gave the 2 star review. C'mon, what are you thinking...this is a $10-$15 book, and you are expecting it to go into fine details about the breed. I'll tell everybody this...this is an excellent book, and it does go into details about the breed. I'm sure you can go buy a $50 book that goes into more detail, but you get the most bang for your buck with this book. It is highly informative, and I would recommend it to novice/experienced dog owners. I guarantee you'll love this book!!!

Great starter guide, but by no means comprehensive:
We are six months into life with our labrador, and there is no question that things were made much easier by having this book, if only to reassure you that you are doing the right thing. I would have liked it if the book had been a little more forthcoming on the drawbacks of owning a labrador. Not that I would have changed my mind about buying one, but it would have been nice to have been prepared for the problems of shedding, and the slow maturity, etc. On the other hand, the book is small and \oinexpensive\c, and never claims to be a comprehensive guide. If you are thinking about taking the plunge, this book covers 80% of the information that you need to know, but I would strongly recommend that you find the rest of the information through an internet search. This book calls itself a Complete Pet Owner's manual, but it isn't. But, given the low price, the book is good value.

Good general guide, but not for more experienced dog owners:
This book would be good for the new lab owner, or someone looking into the breed for the first time, but if you read several of these breed books, they are all almost exactly the same except for maybe a chapter on the breed. It's decent for general knowledge, but if you want in-depth information on dog traning, care, or the breed, look elsewhere.

COMPLETE GUIDE:
If you are: a)new LAB owner b)LAB lover c)somebody looking for a Pet d)LAB owner, but all that you know you have learned through your LAB by yourself. I recomend you this book, when I bought my LABS couple, I was intersted in to learn how to care them, I just tried to find a good book in amazon only by the Book Title, and read somes customer reviews and then I just choose 3 books between severals into diferents cost rank. My surpise was, that this one it's a very complete guide and its cost it's so much less that another hard copy books that its costs is tree or four times that this one.