. The Puppy Bible, by Claire Arrowsmith and Alison Smith, Firefly Books, 304 pages, $19.95.
THE decision to have a dog become a part of your family is a significant one.
There will be adjustments to your lifestyle to now include this pet who is depending on you for its food, shelter and exercise.
If your decision is to get a puppy then understanding its growth and development will help you, especially with that very important first year. The authors provide a detailed look at steps to take in preparing for your new arrival and follow up with a week-by-week description of the first six months growth. They look at both the physical changes and needs of the puppy as well as its early socialization and training. After 26 weeks they discuss at the next three months and then the last months of its first year.
The majority of the book, which follows the first year description, is a more thorough discussion of the various aspects of raising your puppy, covering such topics as socialization, play, behaviour, training, health and more.
The book features colour photographs throughout as well as many separate examples to illustrate the specific subjects.
