The Interesting AND ludicrous world of dogs
Author's Review
Although I do not have a subscription to this magazine, I have bought, on occasion, an issue or two. Judging by the name, I had expected this to be more of a business type magazine dealing with managing and maintaining a boarding facility or kennel. More wrong, I could not have been.
This magazine is different form most canine publications in that it has a much lighter, less scientific side of portraying the dog world. While magazines like Dog World (my personal favorite) and Dog Fancy, focus on the purebred dog, breed standards, medical/genetic problems, and breed temperaments, Dog and Kennel takes a totally different picture. Dog and Kennel is mostly filled with biographies of specific, individual dogs (not breeds). For example - one issue that I had purchased has the story of Airman Jocko, a dog who had served in World War II; Yanta, a German Shepard who lost a leg to cancer, yet still participates in Canine Sports competitions; Maddy, a dog that was seized from a puppy mill after 5 years of neglect and over-breeding; and the wedding ceremony of 2 Lhasa Apsos named Samantha and Dustin (Yep, that's right, the wedding set the owners back 20,000 dollars).
Dog and Kennel does have a breed feature each month that covers common and uncommon breeds. The issue I have now has a feature on Airedale Terriers, and another on Saluki's. Other articles range from helpful information such as Tips for Flying First Class with Your Dog, to lighthearted, laughable articles such as Canine Horoscopes and Ask Buster (where your dog writes in - or you write for him if he can't use a pen - with problems or questions).
One of the best parts of the magazine are the pictures! I don't know who their photographer is buy he/she does an outstanding job! Never before have I considered owning and Airedale til I saw the pictures in this publication. Not that I've never seen a real-life Airedale before, but not even the live thing does these pictures justice.
While the magazine does have a column that features the latest dog books and videos, my pet peeve is this: every issue has a 16 page advertisement that features t.f.h. books. You've, no doubt, seen these books before. They publish breed books such as "Knowing your Irish Setter", "Scottish Terriers", "Samoyeds", etc. These books are just basically general dog care with a little blurb about the dog of choice and a few token pictures. While these books have possibly given a few new owners basic care tips, I don't want to see a 16 page ad detailing each book in every issue.
In general, I would recommend this publication. Dog and Kennel blends together the "Chicken Soup for the Soul"-type stories, along with factual articles and absurd columns to make a perfectly unique publication.
