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Dogs Are Great BUT

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Featuring funny illustrations and real-life situations, this guide introduces kids to the pros and cons of dog care via an enjoyable and engaging learning experience. This delightful primer immerses young readers in the ins and outs of dog ownership, introducing them to the joys and responsibilities that come with it. By exploring relatable situations and imparting valuable lessons by way of amusing illustrations, this book navigates potential challenges, highlighting how the sheer delight of having a pet dog can help children overcome obstacles.
Dogs are Great BUT is tailored for children ages 6–9, offering parents and educators an invaluable tool to instill responsibility and empathy in kids, all while ensuring that a lot of fun is had along the way. With charming illustrations and relatable situations, it's an educational resource and a heartwarming adventure all rolled into one, promising to leave a lasting impression on young hearts. This book is not just a purchase; it's an investment in a child's love for animals and their personal growth, encouraging them to embrace the world of dogs with open arms and compassionate hearts, all while having a blast.

40 pages, Hardcover

Published April 9, 2024

About the author

Štěpánka Sekaninová

73 books1 follower

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Ms. Yingling.
2,958 reviews540 followers
May 7, 2024
Copy provided by Edelweiss Plus

Children want to have dogs, but they don't know how much work they can be. This helpful book takes a realistic look at all of the different chores and problems that a pet can create, but offers constructive information.

A little boy wants a dog, so to prove to his parents that he can take care of one, he takes his imaginary dog for a walk every morning for half an hour! Once his parents agree to let him get a dog, it's not all smooth sailing. His dog is somewhat destructive, so he has to learn to keep his pet busy and engaged. Dogs have to be trained to go outside to relieve themselves, and there are helpful hints on how to train the dog to do this. Basic commands, dog hygiene and grooming, and even dog fashion are covered. Some basics about dog health are highlighted, and there is a nice two page spread about foods that dogs can and can't eat. I can see making a photocopy of the "can't" foods and posting it on the refrigerator right after a new dog arrives in the house! The other fun appendix addresses canine communication, so that children can learn to read dogs' body language.

The tone of this is very well measured. Yes, dogs are cute, and fun to have around, but they are also a lot of work. The book doesn't dissuade young readers, but rather prepares them for the reality of taking care of a dog. Somehow, the pages on wiping off muddy paws when a dog comes in from a walk in the rain seem particularly pertinent, and echo the sentiment in Judith Viorst's fantastic poem "Mother Doesn't Want a Dog", which is something to the effect that when you come home late at night and there is ice and snow, you have to go back out because the dumb dog has to go. Not that I have memorized that work of literature or anything!

The illustrations bring home many of the points very vividly; yes, your dog might get VERY muddy when it does outside, and may, in fact, chew up your sister's doll. The pictures are amusing but also realistic, and are particularly helpful when showing games that you can play with your pet (like encouraging the idea of object permanence by hiding an object under a blanket), and demonstrating how to walk with your dog on a leash.

This is a fantastic book to have for elementary readers who really want to adopt a dog, and is a great companion to Sekaninova and Wolf's Cats Are Great BUT. Another picture book that is helpful is What to Know Before You Get Your Dog by Strohmaier and Gadotti, and for somewhat older readers, Miles' Guide to Puppies has great information on dog care, including information about dealing with the death of a pet.
Profile Image for Barbara.
14.1k reviews301 followers
February 19, 2024
As the clever title indicates and another reviewer acknowledges, this introduction to dog-ownership focuses on some of the less pleasant parts of adding a canine companion to one's household. Most animal/pet manuals extoll all the delights of adopting a dog. And while there is much joy to be found in doing so, dogs are a lot of responsibility, something that needs to be considering before bringing one home. Not only will they need to be housebroken and potty trained, but they require exercise, stimulation, training, grooming, health care, proper food, and some consideration about what to about family vacations. The book doesn't offer any tips for dealing with barking, something I wish had been covered, for my own sanity. With a helpful glossary and depiction of how they communicate with their body language, readers will be much better companions to their dogs. The humorous, situation-specific artwork complements the easy-to-read text, offering helpful tidbits that may help readers decide whether they can handle all the needs that dogs require. This one is entertaining to read alongside its companion title about felines.
Profile Image for Alicia.
7,380 reviews145 followers
August 14, 2024
The kind of book that libraries should own. It shows the reality of dog ownership- they're great companions but they have variable temperaments depending on the type of dog. They're the best to take on walks and have fun with but also you have to care for them including potty training and regular vet visits. They're entertainment but you also have to make sure they're safe from dangerous foods and you wipe them down if they're wet.

All of the items are useful tips and would be a book that a parent could read to their kid who starts asking "can we have a dog?"

The illustration quality is sparing and lovely alongside the information itself.
Profile Image for Jan.
5,872 reviews89 followers
February 3, 2024
All the questions about sharing your life with a dog are pretty much answered here! We usually know the fun stuff, but this delightful book acquaints us with all the other parts of being owned by a dog. Needed by kidz and grown-ups alike!
The illustrations by Adam Wolf are delightful, imaginative, clear, and colorful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, and even to a school or teacher or your public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Albatros Media via NetGalley. Thank you!
199 reviews16 followers
April 30, 2024
For a young child envisioning dog ownership for the first time, this upbeat how-to guide for the primary-school set gives a realistic look at what day-to-day life with a pet canine can be like, and some tips on how to become Doggie’s best friend. The cartoon-style illustrations are expressive and appealing, including in emphasizing points in the “appendices” of foods dogs can and cannot eat, and in the book’s pictorial “glossary” of doggie body language. A straightforward first introduction to the rewards and demands of pet ownership.
Profile Image for Rebecca Hill.
136 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2023
Are you wanting to own a dog? For kids, its a great way to learn responsibility, but it often comes with a time commitment that many are not willing to put in. Here, in this book, you can get a look at the ups and downs of dog ownership and what to expect. Different breeds have various needs, so depending on what you are looking for, you might want to research what type of breed best fits your lifestyle.

Fun read, and full of great information.

7,722 reviews108 followers
October 21, 2023
A comic strip form of a pet guide, where questions about key aspects of dog ownership – their health, their training, their impact on your chances of holidays – are answered. I don’t see this as having anything many other books couldn’t deliver, but it certainly proves able to present decent information to a young audience. It also makes sure to tell the prospective dog owner that canines can be a bag of issues. To that end, then, four stars.
Profile Image for Reading Fool.
1,039 reviews
March 9, 2024
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Written for young readers, this book is a primer on the joys of having a dog, but also teaches about the not-so-fun aspects of dog ownership (e.g., having to wake up early to take the dog for a walk, then having to clean the dog's paws if it was muddy outside). I think this book is meant to be read to the child - these are teachable moments iluustrated well in the book. This would be a wonderful book for any young pet owner.
Profile Image for Lisa Gisèle.
735 reviews12 followers
January 17, 2024
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

A wonderful introduction to dog ownership that is written in a way children will understand. Dogs are wonderful faaaamily member that like humans have their own personalities.

Wonderful teaching too to read as a family.
Profile Image for Dawn.
1,135 reviews51 followers
September 28, 2024
I really like the idea of preparing kids for some of the hard parts of pet ownership, but this book completely skips the hardest part of all: death.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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