The focus of Canine Form Follows Function: Separating Fact From Fiction is on functional anatomy for working and performance dogs. The type of physiology that enables difficult turns with sudden stops and starts for dogs at work and play. Canine Form Follows Function will allow the reader to see their dog or dogs in a slightly different light. The book dispels some long held beliefs about canine form and function.

As a dog breeder or owner, you should be aware that form always follows function. "Canines don't move when they're on their heads!" At ringside, we frequently hear things like this. You might sometimes hear this precise sentence... in various breed rings. Form does, in fact, follow function. Every breed was created with a specific purpose in mind. All were created to assist man in locating game, herding flocks, guarding flocks, guarding people, drafting, killing rats, and a variety of other tasks. Even toy breeds have a goal in mind: to please their owners. It was for survival that man created breeds. Their physical appearance was far less essential than their ability to perform a certain task. Did it matter how a dog appeared as long as it could hunt, herd, guard, or perform any other task? Most likely it didn't. They were seeking for tonight's dinner, or they were anxious about their herd, or they were worried about safety. Why don't today's judges award the dog's capacity to perform in the manner required for the original purpose if the function is the only criterion? Some of the rules you may know are simply altered, which is why we included a disclaimer. Breeders used the finest performing available dog and the best performing available bitch in the early development of working field dog breeds with the goal of developing superior working dogs. Hounds were first shown in 1860. As more breeds were allowed to compete and dog showing became a sport for everyone, dog shows grew in popularity. The shows were new, and there were a lot of challenges to work out. The judging criteria were the most significant of all. This argument arose during the inaugural dog show in Newcastle in 1859, when sports dogs were judged only on their appearance and shape, rather than their ability in the field. Throughout the Victorian era, there were criticisms that the quality of English sports dogs was deteriorating because breeders focused on "a good neck, bones, and feet," rather than "intelligence, a good nose, and stamina." It's all about the form!- this should ring a bell... more than 150 years later? True, but we added the unsaid proviso that "Form follows Function... as long as it appears the way the standard specifies." The phrase "form follows function" does not adequately describe how a breed appears. Form follows function simply indicates which anatomical elements are required to make it a sound moving animal with the appropriate temperament and any unique functional requirements, such as size or coat. And in this book guide, we will talk more about how to get the right size and also get you dog the best out of your irrespective of the breed function as you expect it to, just relax get a cup of coffee and read on.

Dogs partner with humans in a wide array of work-related disciplines. As detectors, guides, guardians, stock herders, assistants and professional canine athletes, there is demand for more scientific knowledge to enhance the performance and success of human and working dog partnerships. This topic encompasses a holistic approach to the science of working dog performance. The ability of a dog to complete tasks depends on their physical and behavioral traits; their ability to exert themselves at various demanding tasks requires both physical and behavioral stamina, agility, and resilience. The influence and interactions of genetics, health, environment and training are areas that can provide new insight to improve performance in current dogs and future generations. The human impact on the success of the working dog team encompasses the human's physical, psychological and analytic perspectives, and the intersection of human and canine interspecies communication.

Whether you are interested in working dogs for a hobby, on the ranch, or for serious trial competition, Stockdog Savvy will be an invaluable aid. Beginning with chapters on herding dog characteristics, instinct, and choosing a herding dog, the Taylors explain how to prepare your puppy and do basic foundation training. The book progresses to starting the dog on stock and developing a useful working dog and ends with advanced lessons and preparing for the various types of competition. If you want to learn about working stockdogs, this is the book for you! Learn how to: • Select, care for and train a working stock dog. • Teach your dog to work cattle, sheep, goats, foul or exotic livestock. • Choose the right type or breed of livestock, care for and handle them correctly. • Train a dog for work on a ranch, the open range, or in the trial pen. • Recognize more than 60 different herding breeds and much, much more.

The Australian Shepherd Judging Compendium, An Illustrated Workbook for judges and non-judges alike by the award-winning author, of All About Aussies: The Australian Shepherd From A to Z. "The Australian Shepherd, Judging Compendium" by Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor is an illustrated workbook that reviews not only the breed standard and how it is interpreted but illustrates the breed standard with text and carefully selected pictures that help the reader see the importance of each trait as it is discussed. The Compendium begins with a review of breed history as a herding breed to modern day usage. This workbook also provides the reader with good insight and understanding of why structure and gait are important to its function. Each chapter explains a section of the breed standard followed by a quiz that is used to make the reader think.The text is easy to read and carefully written with a good analysis of unique traits that are described in the breed standard. The illustrations of each trait give the reader good insight into why the breed standard requires certain body proportions and what is considered correct breed type, movement and character. The Compendium makes clear that herding sheep, cattle and other animals requires strong herding and guardian instincts coupled with versatile skills which are required of a dog that must be easy to train. All of these traits are carefully described.I would recommend this judging compendium to anyone who is seriously interested in a better understanding of the Australian Shepherd breed. - Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia, a highly respected AKC Judge, author, lecturer and world-renowned canine expert.

The most successful dog book ever published, with over two million copies sold, The New Complete Dog Book is the American Kennel Club’s bible of dogs, the one book that every purebred dog aficionado and expert cannot live without. The Complete Dog Book first appeared 85 years ago and now for the first time has been reformatted and published in full color. A celebration of every breed of dog recognized by the American Kennel Club—over 200 breeds—this volume offers readers: Official standard for every AKC-recognized breed—over 50 more than previous edition—including seven variety Groups and the Miscellaneous Class Newly written breed histories, puppy-buying tips, and pet attributes, each breed written by one of the 200 AKC national parent clubs Over 800 exceptional color photographs of adults and puppies illustrate each four-page breed entry Spotlight on finding well-bred puppies, sports and activities for dogs and owners, AKC programs, and canine anatomy Illustrated glossary of canine terminology I-5 Press is proud to take the helm as the publisher of the longest, continually published dog book in history, following in the footsteps of G.H. Watt Publishers, Halcyon House, Garden City Publishing, Doubleday NY, Howell Book House (Wiley) and Ballantine Books (Random House). This 21st edition of The American Kennel Club’s New Complete Dog Book belongs in every dog lover’s home, the library of every town and institution, and dog club reference section in America.