I loved this book! I had absolutely no idea what kind of dog I wanted to get before reading this book. This book separates the breeds into very logical chapters and also cross-references other chapters that the dogs would fit in. I love dogs so much that I was only able to reduce the number that I'd love to 19, but it made me consider breeds that I never would have before. Once I reviewed my 19 with my family, we were able to bring it down to 6 and I'm now doing research on those 6 in order to determine which one we'll buy. This is a great read if you're toggling between a few breeds and want to make sure you consider the good and the bad in the breeds.

I wish I could afford to give a copy of this book to every library in the country. I have been a volunteer for different animal shelters and rescue groups for many years. Most animals are turned in to shelters because of a mismatch between the owner and their dog, or because people are unaware of what's involved in pet ownership. The authors give a very realistic appraisal of different breeds. I love "Dog Fancy" magazine, but so many times when they profile a breed they will describe "good with children if they are raised with them." "Paws to Consider" will be straightforward in telling you that a particular breed is not good with children. This book also helps you decide when is the right time to add a dog to your household. Too many dogs are given up because the owners have decided to have a baby and don't want to have a dog around the baby. Or an owner makes an impulsive holiday purchase and comes to regret the decision. It is frequently devastating for a family, especially the children, to give up a dog. It is also traumatic for the dog to lose its home and most of these dogs will be euthanized. "Paws to Consider" goes a long way to promoting happy endings for people and the dogs who join their families.