THE GOOD DOG BOOK: Loving Care
By
A rare breed: a dog book that entertains as it instructs. Siegal, who wrote Good Dog, Bad Dog (1973) and Underdog (1974), prizes dogs as pets and his recommendations will please pet owners interested in an affectionate, responsive pooch rather than a polished performer or a behaviorist's exhibit. Praise is the master's ""most valuable tool."" and consistency his ally. Besides sound advice on selecting a dog (no breeds specified) and handling the first hour, the first week, the first year, Siegal offers suggestions on often-neglected subjects: children and pets, games (one ""goes faster than potato chips""), even some recipes--Mutt Nuts, Mongruel, and Pooch Pudding. Collar this one--it's frisky and unpretentious.