Dogs: Understanding, Training & Loving Them

Animal behaviorist Peter Borchelt addresses dog selection and other canine concerns in this lengthy video which includes discussions with several breeders. Viewers will learn that a potential dog owner should consider an animal's age, gender, lineage, previous environment, size, and the owner's housing situation before selecting a pet. These extensive conversations are fine--although a chart or list of "desired characteristics" that a viewer could match to specific breeds would have strengthened the program--but Dr. Borchelt gets into a bit of trouble when he veers into the tape's other topics. At one point he is demonstrating various "inhibiting" devices, then the next moment he's talking about barking breeds, followed by dog posture, crating, separation anxiety, crating again, and finally coat-grooming. His tape cries out to be logically arranged and more strongly focused, rather than presenting the viewer with a hodge-podge of superficial sections on dog characteristics, grooming, family-introduction, behavior problems, and feeding schedules. For its inconsistent and scattershot approach, this video wins the Jack-of-All-Trades-and-Master-of-None award. Strictly optional. (K. Glaser)