cover image The Dog Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Troubleshooting Tips, and Advice on Lifetime Maintenance

The Dog Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Troubleshooting Tips, and Advice on Lifetime Maintenance

Sam Stall, David Brunner. Quirk Books, $15.95 (222pp) ISBN 978-1-931686-85-3

Veteran veterinarian Brunner points out that""while most...highly developed consumer products come with instruction manuals, dogs do not""; he remedies that situation with this cleverly arranged and eye-catching little volume. Organized like a standard set of operating instructions (but with much cuter illustrations, by Paul Kepple and Jude Buffum of Headcase Design), the book takes readers through a""parts list,"" an overview of makes and models, home""installation,"" programming (i.e., training), fuel requirements, maintenance and more. Brunner's advice is straightforward and easy to understand, and it covers--if sometimes only briefly--just about any situation a dog owner might face. The authors highlight cautionary tips, and provide diagrams to illustrate processes such as trimming a dog's nails and transporting an injured dog. With this guide, readers will find it easier to get a handle on their complicated canine.