Derr, Mark. Dog's best friend; annals of the dog-human relationship.

DERR, Mark. Dog's best friend; annals of the dog-human relationship. Univ. of Chicago Press. 380p. bibliog. index. c1997. 0-226-14280-9. $16.00. SA

"The number of books on dogs alone can fill a large library," comments Mark Derr. "Paradoxically the amount of accurate information in those volumes might fill a shelf." (p.8) Although Derr's work covers some familiar territory in sections on the history of the wolf and dog, it is soon obvious that Dog's Best Friend is not just another title in that "large library." Most noteworthy are chapters dealing with professional dog breeders and the American Kennel Club. As described by Derr, the insider politics of judging at major dog shows, such as Westminster, the ethics of breeding dogs for arbitrary standards of fad and fancy, rather than health, and the sheer amount of money involved are enough to give anyone pause. "In essence breeders ... and dog owners have agreed that the AKC defines quality in a dog primarily on the basis of appearance, paying scant heed to health. Destructive forms of inbreeding have produced millions of dogs capable only of conformity to human standards of beauty."(p.195) These are fighting words and there are sure to be those who don't want to hear them. Dog's Best Friend is in many ways an alarm bell for animal welfare.

There is more to this book than the controversies of the AKC; stories of the Iditarod, of working dogs, angry dogs and noble dogs are told in an engaging fashion. What comes across in the end is a fully fleshed-out and loving view of the canine companion who has been by humankind's side for 150,000 years and counting. Recommended for all high school, academic and public libraries. Katherine Gillen, Libn., Luke AFB Lib., AZ

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.