Raising Puppies & Kids Together: A Guide for Parents Book

Solid information, at least in the beginning; the end devolved into basically your 'here's how to care for your new puppy' generalities. I could have done with a little less about the conformation requirements of a Ridgeback and more breed-specific information and recommendations about habits, training, general care, etc. I suppose, however, that in order to fill an entire book, the extra has to be added.

Some of the breed-specific tidbits were right on topic, though. I'm glad the author covered feeding (SO important not to free-feed this breed; our first vet recommended measured canned food and free-feeding dry food. Luckily I had read this first, and ignored his recommendation, or my puppy would literally have eaten herself to death. On the occasion when she chewed through a sealed 30-lb bag of food left on the floor while we were gone, she ate 14 pounds at one fell swoop.). It was also nice to see mentions of the importance of positive training, couch-surfing, and other Ridgie habits.

Here's what I have to add, to augment the book, if you are interested in a Ridgeback:
1. You will never have total dominion over your couch, ever again. Ridgebacks prefer soft places to lay (they don't have a lot of cushion) and will happily take over your couch if they are allowed up even ONCE.
2. The thing about Disney eyes is no joke: they always act like they're staaaaaaaaarving.
3. I don't know about Ridgebacks liking water... perhaps swimming. But baths? Fuhgeddaboudit. Neither one of mine likes baths and one actively hates them. (Baths are accomplished with LOTS of bribery.)
4. Some Ridgebacks are truly "velcro" dogs... and some are very catlike. My male is a velcro puppy. ALWAYS has to be involved, wherever the action is, hates to be left behind, and loves everybody. My female is like a cat-dog, does not enjoy being petted, likes to sit apart and be aloof, and dislikes most people, tolerates a few, and loves only one. Prior to having dogs I had cats (no cats anymore!) and honestly my female dog behaves more like a cat than some of my cats did.
5. Pay extra and get the good food. If their coats aren't shining, they're not getting good food.
6. Ridgebacks are NOT GOOD OFF LEASH. Even if they're well trained, if they see something small and furry, they are gone.
7. They are hard to train (the book does say this) but almost every skill can be learned with food. However, Ridgebacks are very clever (at least my two are) and try and figure out short cuts. Look out for that.
8. They are diabolically clever. My male figured out how to open lever-handle doors. My female figured out how to open the step-lid trashcan, how to thrown down her Kong to knock treats out without having to work hard, and how to get into her previous food box. If you don't keep an eye on these dogs you might be surprised what they get into!