I would recommend this book to people that like GSDs, and perhaps are interested in showing them. It has superb photographs and is nice to own for those purposes. I personally think though that showing dogs is primarily what cripple the breed characteristics and temperament that predominantly are used for any form of working task. If one wants to show their dog, then they should at least qualify in certain events that protect the breed's instinct and it's designed abilities. Many people feel that this is very unnecessary, especially when it comes to training them to protect. My opinion to people who want a pet is to get just that. I don't feel GSDs or any other working canines should be bred for any other reason than their intended purpose whether that is conformation work or hunting wild game.

I also wish that books designed for specific breeds would discuss things about their behavior rather than basic dog maintenance and other common knowledge topics that are discussed in books on dogs in general.


Informative and Interesting   August 31, 2001
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Brit Sheila Rankin compiled this fascinating coffee table book which includes a wealth of information on the German Shepherd dog. The photographs are excellent and numerous. She includes information from a wealth of different resources and touches on everything from the History of the GSD to how to house train a new puppy.

I would suggest that this volume is a wonderful resource for those wanting an overall picture of what a German Shepherd is and should be, however, it is Not a training tool.

The chapters to do with training a GSD are abbreviated and simplistic in nature. The Ultimate German Shepherd Dog is however, a great resource for those contemplating owning a GSD or a a companion book for a more substantial training manual.


One of the best ones yet!   April 18, 2001
 3 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is an excellent book! I recommend it to any one who wants to learn more about the German Shepherd, or even if you do own it buy it! The history is very detailed and each time I read it I get more info. I have a Shepherd myself and this book helped me work with her. It's a great book!


Wonderful!   February 8, 2001
This book is a great coffee table book for both the novice Shepherd fancier and the experienced. It goes into detail about many subjects, from why the GSD is so much more than just a dog, through to health matters, with a particularly good illustrated breed standard and the views of various well known judges, with professional colour photos throughout. I like the sections on police, guide and service dogs written by people in those fields. This version has a far nicer cover than my copy, mine is beige and plain!


The Ultimate Book on the Ultimate Dog   August 7, 1999
 53 out of 54 found this review helpful

This is a great book with over 200 color pictures. Each chapter is written by a different expert on each subject. The book covers many different subjects, including the breed's origins, all about the GSD puppy, diet and nutrition, training, health care, show dogs, police dogs, schutzhund, and so much more. I would recommend this book to anybody who is about to buy a German Shepherd.