Rating: 
Summary: The Only French Bulldog Book You Need
Review: As a prospective new owner of a French Bulldog, I was looking for information that would help me learn about this wonderful breed. I bought every book about Frenchies that I could find, and then Kathy's book was published. I got it two weeks before we picked up our puppy. As far as I am concerned, it is the only Frenchie book you will ever need. Every question I had was answered. Even the breed standard is explained. The chapters are well laid out, and every page is chock full of helpful information. The pictures are wonderful, and the training section is a big help. A first rate book, especially for newbies to the Frenchie world.
Rating:
Summary: The Only French Bulldog Book You Need
Review: As a prospective new owner of a French Bulldog, I was looking for information that would help me learn about this wonderful breed. I bought every book about Frenchies that I could find, and then Kathy's book was published. I got it two weeks before we picked up our puppy. As far as I am concerned, it is the only Frenchie book you will ever need. Every question I had was answered. Even the breed standard is explained. The chapters are well laid out, and every page is chock full of helpful information. The pictures are wonderful, and the training section is a big help. A first rate book, especially for newbies to the Frenchie world.
Rating: 
Summary: Cute But Not Clever
Review: First, let me qualify my review with basic statistics. I've owned Frenchies for almost twenty years and bred them nearly as long. I am also an AKC breed judge. Many of the Frenchies featured in this little book are out of my bloodlines, obviously, I enjoyed the photos more than the book. This book was given to me by an acquaintance about a year ago to add to my collection. I will not recommend this book other than to first time Frenchie buyers who do not have access to more in-depth information such as the better breed book written by Steve Eltinge AND to qualified breed mentors. This volume may qualify as an adequate beginners book for those who have purchased their Frenchies from pet stores and rescue organizations and have limited expert affiliations. This piece is very much on the same line as Anna Katherine Nicholas' generic TFH book entitled "French Bulldogs." Sadly, better quality volumes could be available for both public and professional, however, since the publishers are unwilling to take financial chances on resources addressing "lesser known breeds," they fall to the wayside allowing mediocre, gap-fillers such as this to abound.
I do not feel the author herself had sufficient background, expertise or tenure in this breed to write anything beyond this calibre. Most of the chapters are generic overwrites and the later chapters actually include photos of other breeds (confusing or merely superfluous?) Because this is one of the most difficult dog breeds to produce and rear successfully (nearly all are born by c-section) breeding and rearing should reflect very detailed chapters warning new buyers not to attempt it without expert guidance. Why? Are breeders worried about competition? No, longtime breeders are deeply concerned for the welfare of these dogs; many of whom are killed through the sheer ignorance of gung-ho novice owners attempting to feed, excercise, train and breed them in a totally canine-generic and inexperienced fashion. Generic or barely addressed chapters within such books regarding delicate and complicated areas we refer to as "breed specific issues" may result in the suffering and premature deaths of many French Bulldogs, unfortunately.
Those who desire to do more than acquire and neuter a dog should seek out highly qualified, longtime breed mentors who will offer expert guidance and wise counsel. Such individuals can be located at dog shows and possibly through multiple contacts with all-breed or national breed clubs designated specifically for this breed. Always seek more than one opinion when selecting a quality mentor and always check their qualifications. KEY: an experienced mentor will require and CHECK YOUR references. Don't wanna get this involved? Just wanna little frogdog you can play with at home? Great. You have your book(s) in hand. Go for it! You may be one of the 20% who never needs anything further for their Frenchie that that. Let's just hope you don't fall into the 80% that will.
Rating:
Summary: Cute But Not Clever
Review: First, let me qualify my review with basic statistics. I've owned Frenchies for almost twenty years and bred them nearly as long. I am also an AKC breed judge. Many of the Frenchies featured in this little book are out of my bloodlines, obviously, I enjoyed the photos more than the book. This book was given to me by an acquaintance about a year ago to add to my collection. I will not recommend this book other than to first time Frenchie buyers who do not have access to more in-depth information such as the better breed book written by Steve Eltinge AND to qualified breed mentors. This volume may qualify as an adequate beginners book for those who have purchased their Frenchies from pet stores and rescue organizations and have limited expert affiliations. This piece is very much on the same line as Anna Katherine Nicholas' generic TFH book entitled "French Bulldogs." Sadly, better quality volumes could be available for both public and professional, however, since the publishers are unwilling to take financial chances on resources addressing "lesser known breeds," they fall to the wayside allowing mediocre, gap-fillers such as this to abound.
I do not feel the author herself had sufficient background, expertise or tenure in this breed to write anything beyond this calibre. Most of the chapters are generic overwrites and the later chapters actually include photos of other breeds (confusing or merely superfluous?) Because this is one of the most difficult dog breeds to produce and rear successfully (nearly all are born by c-section) breeding and rearing should reflect very detailed chapters warning new buyers not to attempt it without expert guidance. Why? Are breeders worried about competition? No, longtime breeders are deeply concerned for the welfare of these dogs; many of whom are killed through the sheer ignorance of gung-ho novice owners attempting to feed, excercise, train and breed them in a totally canine-generic and inexperienced fashion. Generic or barely addressed chapters within such books regarding delicate and complicated areas we refer to as "breed specific issues" may result in the suffering and premature deaths of many French Bulldogs, unfortunately.
Those who desire to do more than acquire and neuter a dog should seek out highly qualified, longtime breed mentors who will offer expert guidance and wise counsel. Such individuals can be located at dog shows and possibly through multiple contacts with all-breed or national breed clubs designated specifically for this breed. Always seek more than one opinion when selecting a quality mentor and always check their qualifications. KEY: an experienced mentor will require and CHECK YOUR references. Don't wanna get this involved? Just wanna little frogdog you can play with at home? Great. You have your book(s) in hand. Go for it! You may be one of the 20% who never needs anything further for their Frenchie that that. Let's just hope you don't fall into the 80% that will.
Rating:
Summary: Well...it was not what I expected.
Review: It was a disappointement. That is what I have to say about this book. The information is too basic and I had the impression that the only thing in which it would differ from a book about, say, Dalmatians would be the pictures, since the text is more or less "one size fits all".
Rating:
Summary: Frenchies for Dummies!
Review: Kathy Dannel has a winner in An Owner's Guide to Frenchies! I wish this title had been available before getting our Frenchie. It explains the basics and what to expect once you've been aquired by this Breed. The pictures alone are worth getting this book for, gorgeous Frenchies romping through the snow, and enjoying some yummy puppy food. In short, this book captures the essence of these dogs, and what to expect from them and what they will expect from you.
Rating:
Summary: Frenchies for Dummies!
Review: Kathy Dannel has a winner in An Owner's Guide to Frenchies! I wish this title had been available before getting our Frenchie. It explains the basics and what to expect once you've been aquired by this Breed. The pictures alone are worth getting this book for, gorgeous Frenchies romping through the snow, and enjoying some yummy puppy food. In short, this book captures the essence of these dogs, and what to expect from them and what they will expect from you.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Have for all New Owners!
Review: Kathy's book is excellent for new and perspective owners of French Bulldogs. Her experience and love for the breed is evident in her writing. Readers will enjoy the great photos as well.
Rating:
Summary: a must-have for any new Frenchie owner.
Review: Simply stated, any newcomer to the world of French Bulldogs needs this book. Kathy Dannel provides a concise, thorough overview of the basics of owning and living with the breed. I do have two main quibbles with the book, neither one nearly strong enough to lose it a star. First, no index. That's OK; it's an overview, not so much a reference book. Second, the last third of the book is strictly generic information, mostly training-related. Although the book fails to address specific problems one might have in training a Frenchie, at the very least it introduces the reader to Dr. Ian Dunbar, whose choke-collar-less training program is an excellent place for most Frenchie owners to start. (Choke collars are particularly controversial for Frenchies, due to their sensitive trachea and closeness to the ground [bad angle for collar corrections].) But hey, if this is what lets Amazon sell it for under ten bucks with lots of color pictures and ninety-some pages of relevent, original material in a hardcover edition, then more power to them! There are other omissions (to name a couple: no mention of the training collar controversy I've mentioned above; in one of the two discussions of permanent identification, there is no mention of tattooing, and no mention whatsoever of the potentials for microchip failure -- migration, scanner incompatibility, etc.), but most owners will be exposed to these nuances as they proceed through life with their pet. This book serves as an excellent (and unique in print at this time, to the best of my knowledge) introduction to a very particular breed.
Rating:
Summary: a must-have for any new Frenchie owner.
Review: This is a good, solid gold-mine of information regarding this wonderful breed. It is geared for the new owner, rather than the breeder or the dog show enthusiast, and has the answers to lots of questions regarding everyday care. Well worth a spot on your bookshelf.
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