Rating: 
Summary: Great Reference for Pet Dog Families
Review: "Paws to Consider" is an invaluable reference for the average pet dog owner who's looking to expand the family. The breed descriptions are concise and direct, and for my money, right on point most of the time. As a professional dog trainer and canine rescue volunteer, I see far too many dogs selected for their looks, or perhaps what a similar dog appeared to be on television or the movies. In the past, most folks only had the "breed books" to use as a reference when trying to make a selection; unfortunately, most breed books are not going to be too forthcoming about a breed's drawbacks as a family pet (when most of those characteristics were specifically put there as the breed was developed, for a specific purpose!) Thanks to Brian and Sarah for putting the real deal out there and providing a road map for the average family pet owner when navigating the windy road of breed selection!
Barbara Davis
BADDogsInc
Corona, CA
Rating:
Summary: Great book, very comprehensive
Review: Brain Kilcommons's books on dogs are not only informative--they are entertaining to read. Paws to Consider is no exception. It is not dry and boring like many dog breed description books. I own several dogs and was not in the market for another and yet I still read Paws to Consider from cover to cover. His breed descriptions are very honest, comprehensive, and thorough. I always recommend this book to people who are considering a dog but don't know what breed to get. Making the right match is the first step in a long and enjoyable relationship between a dog and its family. This book makes the right match easier to ascertain.
Rating: 
Summary: A novel approach to a typical quandry
Review: I enjoyed the authors' interesting approach to the puzzle of choosing the right breed of dog as a pet, in accordance with one's daily work schedule, type of dwelling, yard size, lifestyle, etc. The text is very readable, and given the approach, it is quite helpful in developing one's focus before going more deeply into the subject. I would have loved to see the inclusion of greater detail on some of the breeds mentioned only in passing, as well as a bit more discussion in each chapter. The photographs, while only black and white, are most appealing and seem to capture the essence of each animal. I am happy to have purchased the text.
Rating: 
Summary: GET IT FROM THE LIBRARY INSTEAD!
Review: I sure am glad I did not waste my money on this book. The author had very few good things to say about any of the breeds. This book had so little information on my breed of choice, though it was seen on the cover, that it was a total waste of my time. It almost seemed as though the book was written to turn people off to getting any type of dog at all! Lots of negatives about the breeds, not alot of positives. Alot of generalizations.
Rating:
Summary: Fetch this book!
Review: If you're thinking about getting a dog, this book is NECESSARY. The literature out there that's breed-specific usually emphasizes only the good points of any particular dog. Also, a lot of those books use "code": "Protective" really means aggressive; "active" means "hyper." Unless you have a lot of experience with dogs, you might underestimate what you're getting yourself into. But this book lists assets and drawbacks objectively, so the potential owner can make an informed decision. The authors have decades of experience with dogs, and their training approach is humane and effective. They know what they're talking about. With my limited experience, a lot of what they say rings true. (I've had an Irish setter, a lab/terrier mix, and currently a golden retriever and a longhaired dachs.) This book is also cross-referenced, so you can see if the family dog is also a good watchdog. The only problem with this book is that it doesn't list every breed. That may make a future edition as big as the Chicago yellow pages, but I did find that to be a little limiting. Some of the super-popular breeds are suffering because of irresponsible overbreeding (goldens, for example) and I know a lot of people who are attracted to the less-popular types for that reason. It would be good to have profiles of some of those dogs in here, too. Best of all, this book is FUN--I found myself chuckling at descriptions of dogs my friends and I have had ("If there is a God, there is surely a dachshund at His feet..."). It should be on the shelf of anyone who owns, works with, or just gets a kick out of dogs.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book!
Review: Paws To Consider by Kilcommons and Wilson of GreatPets (website) will tell you what to expect of many of the popular breeds of today. Find out if a breed is a good match for your home and life style or if maybe another breed would be a better choice. I highly recommend it!
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Summary: Can a breed book be elegant? This one is!
Review: The thing that sets this book apart from similar ones is that the authors are working dog trainers, not freelance writers who get all of their information from other books. Kilcommons and Wilson have decades of real experience with the dogs they're talking about, and have seen the way that different dogs blend in (or don't!) with all sorts of families. Their view of each breed comes from their encounters with real dogs, and they know that many dogs from the more popular breeds will not resemble the ideal dog described in the breed standard. My favorite aspects of "Paws to Consider" are the clear, concise list of common health problems each purebred has, and the way the dogs are broken down into categories. Instead of sticking to the AKC groupings, they divide breeds into city dogs, family dogs, "not for everyone" dogs, and so on. Important information is easy to find. I'm a dog trainer, and I constantly flip through this book to refresh my memory on the different breeds. If you're considering a new dog, please buy this book! It will make choosing your new companion, whether single-breed or mixed, a lot easier.
Rating: 
Summary: Written to please the public or inform?
Review: this book gives some good basic ideas on certain breeds, but many of the descriptions lead me to beleive it was written to please the public rather than truly educate. As a professional dog groomer and advid shower /agility /weigh pull fanantic turned trainer, I have encountered far more "good" breeds with bad temeperments and owners lead to beleive that because aKC or blank book said it was a good breed, so lets get it than breeds this booked labeled as bad. My favorite breed is the American Pit bull Terrier and this book, all though was correct that it is not a breed for everyone or novices, painted it as a aggressive, bad tempered mutt in which is is not. They are a very loyal,friendly people pleasing dog and with proper training, make excellent family pets (no other dogs, though) and further more, the authors should know that APBTs have a higher precentage of passing temeprment tests tahn most other breeds. most of the statements in this book take a media view to them..which is highly disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This is a great book, the best of its kind that I've seen. I would, however, take issue with the authors' advice not to pay for a crossbred dog. In my experience, a crossbreed (especially a poodle cross) is often smarter and better-tempered than some of the purebreds - and a good dog is always worth paying for.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: This is overall a great book. Kilcommins and Wilson break the dogs into several catergories, and define them from there. These people actually know what they are talking about, and list not only the positives of the breeds, but also the negatives, health problems, and other basics of character. This is not some basic dog care manual, this book is written by working dog trainers who have spent there lives with dogs. The only thing is on some breeds they lack some information. They could go in deeper into some of the breeds character. An overall good book, but don't base what dog breed you want to get just on this book.
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