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Zusatztext "Whether you're an experienced pet parent! trying to decide on the type of dog you want! or you simply love animals! this book is a must-have. It is packed with practical information and a wonderful resource." -- Joanne Yohannan! Senior Vice President! Operations! North Shore Animal League America Informationen zum Autor Beth Ostrosky Stern is a spokesperson for the North Shore Animal League of America, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. She is also involved with The Wildlife Rescue in The Hamptons and English Bulldog Rescue on Long Island. Ostrosky Stern has graced the pages of many magazines and was named one of FHM's "Top 100 Sexiest Women of the Year" in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007. She also appears regularly on network morning and daytime talk shows and has been a guest co-host on The View . Beth is also known for her work as a television personality for Spike TV and G4 and as a special correspondent for EXTRA . Kristina Grish covers women’s lifestyle topics, including health, relationship, celebrity, fashion, fitness, and pop-culture trends for various national magazines. She’s contributed features, essays, and profiles to Cosmopolitan , Marie Claire, Real Simple , Martha Stewart Living , Martha Stewart Weddings , Women’s Health , Self , Shape , Health , Fitness , Men’s Health , Vibe , and Teen Vogue . Klappentext How to choose, tain groom, nuture, feed and care for your dog, by television personality, model and animal rights activist Beth Ostrosky Stern. 1 So You Want a Dog? I’m really excited for you! According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are 74.8 million dogs owned in the U.S.—and you may be about to boost that number. Dogs can be affectionate, loyal, spunky, and respectful companions. Some make great exercise buddies, while others offer an endless source of affection. Come to think of it, dogs can be any jumble of qualities based on their background and breed, so the trick to finding one that’s right for you is being able to combine research with instinct and a whole lot of love. When deciding on what kind of dog is best for your home, you’ll need to think hard about what makes you tick and the canine qualities that are the right fit for your lifestyle. And remember: This is a commitment that you’ll be making for approximately fifteen years. Then again, the oldest dog on record lived to be twenty-nine, so you may want to plan for a bit longer … Before you even get a dog, it’s important to know exactly what you want from the pet and what you hope to get from your relationship with him. So in this chapter, I’ll help you figure out your best canine match by suggesting specific ways to emotionally and mentally prepare for the new relationship. I’ll take you through questions like: What are the benefits of full-grown dogs versus puppies? How active would you like your dog to be? Is anyone in your home allergic to dogs, and if so, what breeds lend themselves to hypoallergenic traits? I’ll also go into the best and worst places for you to get a dog. Never forget that owning a pet requires an open mind and a welcoming heart. So let’s get to it. You have some reading to do! Where Do Dogs Come From? According to Mary Burch, PhD, CAAB, an animal behaviorist with the American Kennel Club (AKC), the dogs that we know and love today are called Canis lupus familiaris to the researchers who study them. In fact, “lupus” is the word that indicates that dogs are connected to the ancestral wolf (though some dogs, like Shih Tzus, look more like descendents of the Muppet). Science tells us that dogs evolved from a group of domesticated wolves in East Asia about fifteen thousand years ago, with earlier ancestors documented as far back as forty thousand years. Thro...
