cover image ADOPTABLE DOG: Teaching Your Adopted Pet to Obey, Trust, and Love You

ADOPTABLE DOG: Teaching Your Adopted Pet to Obey, Trust, and Love You

John Ross, . . Norton, $24.95 (353pp) ISBN 978-0-393-05079-0

Authors of three other books on pets, including Puppy Preschool, Ross and McKinney know that many people want to adopt homeless dogs, and here outline the advantages and disadvantages. Adopting, the authors say, is generally cheaper than going to a breeder, but important details such as the health of the animal, its background and its behavior may be hard to come by when the animal comes from a humane society, shelter or rescue group. A puppy from a breeder will often already be trained, while the person who is adopting needs to do some research into the dog's background. In considering which animal, if any, will be the right fit, the authors encourage readers to think about such issues as the size of the house, whether they can afford veterinary care, temperament of the family and whether neighbors would mind a dog's barking. The rest of the book is primarily devoted to training issues such as disciplining and handling dogs who have been abused. This is a useful book that should be read by people before they start looking at dogs and "falling in love" with a particular one. (Feb.)