Working Dogs

By Carrie Owens

Diligent, loyal, hardworking. Man's best friend. They sniff for bombs, guard against intruders, and act as eyes for the blind. They herd cattle, star in films, and brighten the faces of children. They've heroically saved countless lives and brought companionship to the lonely.Working Dogsis their story. In a series of fascinating profiles, you'll be introduced to 39 working dogs from across America. You'll meet Mango, the agriculture-detecting beagle who helps prevent unwanted pest and diseases from entering the country; Soccer, the Jack Russell terrier and star ofWishbone,the award winning PBS show about a dog who leaps into literature; and Breeze, the cancer-detecting Golden Retriever who has an accuracy rate of 100 percent. In this charming, beautiful collection of photographs and essays, you'll come to know about the lives of special dogs who have become an indispensable part of our world. While their work may be as varied as the careers you'd find in any small town, these dogs have more in common than you may think. What they share is the reason for doing the work. Dogs work for their supper. They work in order to play. But mostly, dogs work to keep the people they love happy. From herd dogs to earthquake-predicting poodles, from police K-9s to performance artist divas to the two basset hounds from Russia who work in a nonprofit circus-just to make kids happy-this captivating book is a delightful tribute to those canine professionals who make our lives a little better. About the Author Carrie Owen,whose best friend throughout childhood was a poodle, is a writer from Los Angeles, where she has also worked as an animator, pyrotechnician, and baby photographer. She's currently working on a novel. She lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband, daughter, and two unemployed dogs. Check out /www.workdogwork.com to learn more aboutWorking Dogs.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761519785
• ISBN13: 9780761519782
• Release Date: November 1999
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 161 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 10.9" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

an unique and delightful book

This book is excellent-not only are the portraits of our canine fellows top-notch, the writing is insightful, informative, and compassionate-providing a truly unique veiw on the lives of these "working dogs" and the profound impact their services have on all of our lives, whether we are aware of them or not (for example, the mine-detection dogs). And there are the dogs that entertain us as well (circus dogs, broadway stars and 'supermodels'). Dogs are an integral part of American culture, and this book is a wonderful look at them (and us). Packed with pictures, this book is more than your average coffee table book and makes an excellent gift for dog-owners and animal lovers alike. Also a great book to share with children-the facts of these dogs lives are every bit as interesting and compelling as fiction.

A Dog For All Seasons

This Book is GREAT! It is loaded with dogs. Chock full. I like to browse a book and this one takes hours just for the first pass. Not only are the pictures endearing, subtle, and insightful, but the text is a pure treat. I have literally laughed out loud (Sparky the guard dog) - been moved almost to tears (Nadia the seizure alert dog) - and have been simply awestruck (William Wegmen's Batty the super model). I have learned things about dogs that I absolutely did not know before. Dog lover or not - this book is a must!

Working Dogs

A heartfelt look at many of man's best friends and their life's work. Pictures are all black and white and give insight into these pooches lives. Stories are vivid and entertaining. Great for the coffee table or a gift for the dog lover in your family.