The Ideal Puppy (Barron's) by Gwen Bailey

If you'd love to have a dog, but are afraid of making a mistake in purchase, housebreaking methods, or everyday canine care, here's the book for you. In short, here's the perfect book for beginners! The author starts with advice on finding a good breeder or reputable pet store--avoiding unscrupulous puppy farms and disreputable dealers. Readers also learn how to cope with their puppy's important and sometimes difficult first night at home, a time when most little dogs cry for their mothers and littermates. Instruction that follows deals with house-breaking, coping with chewing, assimilating puppies and children in the same household, controlling barking, living with energetic dogs, and much more. A special chapter gives advice to experienced owners who choose "difficult" breeds, or find themselves having to deal with special behavior problems. The book has attractive color photos on most pages, plus a wealth of quick-reference tips in eye-catching sidebars.