We’re having a Secret Santa post, and your task is to give a book to a fellow dog lover who can have only one book to better understand or appreciate purebred dogs. It might be the book that taught you the most. It might be the book that made you fall in love with purebred dogs. What book are you giving them?

To get the ball rolling, we’re giving “The Art and Science of Judging Dogs,” by Curtis and Thelma Brown. By now, NPDD readers know that we think knowledge is power, and power doesn’t belong just to people who compete with their dogs, it belongs to everyone who loves their dog and want to better understand how he or she works. The book we’re “giving” is written simply and helps the reader understand how dogs work, mechanically speaking. The Browns make their points vividly, often by using other species to help us better understand structure (a photograph of Nelson’s Bighorn Sheep shows how its steep croup is a characteristic of canine speedsters like the Afghan Hound which help both animals excel at running uphill). As far as we know, the book is out of print and hard to find, and when it is found, it’s pricey. We think the book is worth it.

If you haven’t already guessed,  recommended books may give you some ideas for gift giving (and gift asking!)