A multi-media canine encyclopedia
Written & researched in conjunction with Dr. Graham Adams
Reviewed by Christine McLaughlin
 Description:
If you have a dog, if you are thinking about bringing another dog into your family, or if you
just want to know more about dogs, this CD-ROM contains information that can help you choose
the right breed for you. It shows you how to care and train your dog. You can also learn about
the histories of the different breeds and find out more about the world's wild dogs.
Features include:-
- More than 40 minutes of video
- Over 500 photographs
- Course annotation and numbering
- An A-Z list of more than 170 breeds of dog
- A multi-media project creator
- Search function allowing quick and easy access
to any part of the CD-ROM
- Settings function to allow you to change the
font, colour, size, sound and video settings
- Print function offering a range of print options
- Add you own notes and bookmarks
Best Features:
Excellent detailed and varied information, not just about different breeds of dogs but choice
and training of dogs, dog evolution, behaviour and anatomy. Ideal for experienced dog
enthusiasts as it is packed with information. The quiz section is not easy!
Also contains excellent information for first time or
prospective owners which includes a 'multi-media dog selector.' I ended up with a Catahoula
Leopard Dog - perhaps a first on the Agility scene!
The videos give a much clearer idea of the breeds than
any picture in a book and the characteristics etc. seemed extremely accurate. I was very
pleased to see the benefits of crossbreeds and mongrels highlighted too!
Instructions: The
CD-ROM is very easy to install and operate. My teenage son only had one call for help when I
got stuck!
Worst Features: I would
just criticise the Obedience section, specifically the use of choke chain for making the dog
walk at heel and downward pressure on the shoulders to teach the down. I would like to have
seen more enlightened training. Perhaps this is not common in the USA yet?
Comments:
I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in dogs. I
found it very interesting, informative and easy to use.
Value for Money:
Excellent. I expected it to be at least double the price of £14.99. Much cheaper than an
equivalent book on the subject.
Overall rating:
9/10
For more information contact the publisher direct or visit the
web site for details of distributors in the UK and Ireland:-
Ransom Publishing Ltd
Ransom House Unit 1, Brook Street Watlington Oxon OX9 5PP
E-mail: sales@ransompublishing.co.uk
Dogs of the World Information: www.ransom.co.uk/eStore/Products/DogsFrm.htm
 About
the author...
Chris McLaughlin started agility 14 years ago. She was expecting her daughter Helen at the
time so she pottered about with her five year old Labrador Rory who she had competed with
successfully in Obedience. Her husband, Bill, took over Rory and they started competing in
earnest.
Rory and Bill got many places and even won out of
Starters event. They were delighted but this put Chris in the unusual position of being out of
Starters having never entered an agility competition! When Helen was a year old, Chris decided
to get her own dog. Luckily he was that dog in a million! Dasher, another Labrador X, competed
for 11 years becoming a Senior, getting to a few finals and taking part in the BBCs Superdogs
programme. He is now 13.5 years old, still very active but stays at home with Liam their son
when the family is at the shows.
Somehow the McLaughlin family now has eight dogs. Bill
has Minty and Fizz, his mini dogs, and their old GSD Gussie, now 12 years old. Helen has Tobie
(but that's another story!) and her puppy Storm. Chris has Dasher, Whisky, a little rescue
Collie who is deaf and brain damaged, plus Jimmy, a Collie X who is the most frustrating
difficult creature she has ever dealt with. (Ed. note: Perhaps someday she will see if anyone
in cyberspace has a solution to his problems.) As well as taking part in Agility, Chris runs
the Beginner Courses at her where she Treasurer.
She works from home as a Childminder, currently looking
after two children with Special Needs. Liam, her son (18) is going to Warwick University in
October to do a Physics Degree. Helen (14) competes successfully in Agility and now has her own
pony, having ridden and looked after other peoples' ponies for several years.
If you would like to comment on this product or add your name
to the Agilitynet list of reviewers, email your name and details to
Ellen Rocco at Agilitynet today.
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