My favorite dogs have been strays adopted from the local kennel. I was always surprised when people asked me which breeder I was getting my dogs from. Who would have guessed that these dogs, despised by AKC and the tall, powerful breeders before, could be considered the cream of the crop these past few years? Thus, after watching a television special about designer dogs, the recent publication of the book “Hot Dogs!” I was not surprised.
Crossbreeding has been around for millennia, ever since people and dogs come together, hunt, work, and bond. In the early days, dogs were crossed for their work. When the mutual relationship between dogs and men strengthened and community and urban life underwent changes, dogs had to get used to the restricted life inside their owners’ homes. As a result, custom-made dogs evolved.
In the introduction by Norma Bennett Woolf, the role of genetics in crossbreeding, the term designer dogs, and the mission of the book are explained. After the introduction, some of the terms in dog breeding are clarified and, most importantly, the reader is cautioned that crosses are not a breed and will not exactly match a true breed.
“Hot dogs!” is a beautiful book with wonderful photos to enchant any dog lover. Fourteen mixed breeds, such as Maltepoo (Maltese and Poodle), Beagalier (Beagle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) and Pekaboo (Poodle and Pekingese), receive their own chapters. In each chapter, history of the breed, recognition of the breed, characteristics of the parental breeds, characteristics of the first and multi-generation dogs of the breed, crossbreeding objectives, choice of breeder, detection tests, size, appearance, colors, temperament. , behavior with people and other dogs, general health and life expectancy, grooming, and activity levels are explained.
After the fourteen chapters on breeds, two more very informative chapters on selecting and caring for a dog have been added to the book. At the end of the section there is an appendix for diseases, checkups, and screenings.
The book is written in simple, direct language that is easy for anyone of any age to understand. For example, in the history of the Cockapoo, it is written: “The Cockapoo is one of the oldest designer dogs. Rather than being a new fad, the Cockapoo has been bred since at least the 1950s. has undercoat, the Cockapoo sheds less than a Cocker Spaniel, making the mongrel a potentially good choice for allergy sufferers … “
According to the introduction, Norma Bennett Woolf is a dog lover who has compiled numerous breed profiles and the book “Hot Dogs!” It is published in 2007 by Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. in 128 pages and with ISBN-10: 0764135120 and ISBN-13: 978-0764135125.
Anyone who wants information on that very special dog that fits the exact needs of their family and is expecting a hybrid dog will find this book to be a very reliable source of information.