The Guilt-Free Dog Owner's Guide: Caring for a Dog When You're Short on Time and Space

An otherwise excellent manual is seriously marred by one consistent failing--the author's inadequate appraisals of how much exercise a dog requires. Journalist Delmar, who seeks to free the conscience of the would-be canine custodian with little free time and constrained quarters, first asks her readers to consider the responsibilities of dog ownership--then minimizes these responsibilities by recommending that a dog be exercised only about half as much as most breeders and trainers suggest elsewhere. A Labrador retriever, for example, needs only five or six walks per week, from 20 to 90 minutes each, she says, adding that these should be ``supplemented'' with runs in an open fenced-in area ``whenever possible.'' Delmar's attention to other matters is, fortunately, more rigorous: she provides sound advice on housebreaking, houseproofing for safety, grooming and more; even-handedly examines controversial subjects (such as the use of pet crates); and discusses difficult issues (puppy mills, what to do if you cannot keep a new dog after all, euthanasia) with a skillful blend of compassion and pragmatism. (Mar.)