Whippet: A Complete and Reliable Handbook

Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: The information provided in this book is so basic as to be almost useless for anyone except perhaps those with absolutely no knowledge about the whippet or dogs. However, the quality of the writing is so poor that I really can't recommend it even to those looking for the most elementary guide. At times I was so distracted by the grammar, structure etc that I couldn't absorb the little information that was provided. It's certainly not what I would call a 'manual'. Gorgeous cover picture and lovely shiny paper but value for money, no.

Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: Unfortunately I can only suggest you buy this book if you are seeking to complete your whippet library with all possible titles. There is too much information of a generalized (and somewhat outdated) nature, and not enough breed specific info and much that IS breed specific is misleading or outright wrong. For example, under whippet racing he states that the American Whippet Club sponsors the Award of Racing Merit - a program that was discontinued almost 5 years before this book was published. Another error (in the grooming section) states that "Like the Greyhound, the Whippet's narrow chest cavity can make them vulnerable to illness or even death if the chemicals are too strong" It is true that whippets are chemically sensitive, but it has to do with body fat ratios and metabolism, NOT deepness of chest... The author, Dean Keppler, is an experienced whippet owner and should have done a better job. For an excellent all round whippet book I cannot recommend more highly "Whippets, A Complete Pet Owner's Manual" by Caroline Coile, which is everything the Keppler book should be and is not.

Rating:
Summary: Neither Complete Nor Reliable
Review: Unfortunately I can only suggest you buy this book if you are seeking to complete your whippet library with all possible titles. There is too much information of a generalized (and somewhat outdated) nature, and not enough breed specific info and much that IS breed specific is misleading or outright wrong. For example, under whippet racing he states that the American Whippet Club sponsors the Award of Racing Merit - a program that was discontinued almost 5 years before this book was published. Another error (in the grooming section) states that "Like the Greyhound, the Whippet's narrow chest cavity can make them vulnerable to illness or even death if the chemicals are too strong" It is true that whippets are chemically sensitive, but it has to do with body fat ratios and metabolism, NOT deepness of chest... The author, Dean Keppler, is an experienced whippet owner and should have done a better job. For an excellent all round whippet book I cannot recommend more highly "Whippets, A Complete Pet Owner's Manual" by Caroline Coile, which is everything the Keppler book should be and is not.