Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Foreword by Dr. Marc Bekoff ix
Introduction 1
CHAPTER ONE The English Vice 10
CHAPTER TWO Perfectionists Gone Wild 31
CHAPTER THREE Royal Precedents and Ruff Drafts 53
CHAPTER FOUR Eugenics, You, and Fido Too 74
CHAPTER FIVE A Frickin’ Menagerie 103
CHAPTER SIX The Midas Touch 125
CHAPTER SEVEN Aristocracy for Sale 151
CHAPTER EIGHT Some Hunting Dogs 173
CHAPTER NINE Coming Home 200
CONCLUSION Frankenstein’s Lab 214
Acknowledgments 236
Notes 237
Index 262

About the Author

With a background in journalism, dog care, and community activism, Michael Brandow is a sought-after commentator on dog-related issues and has written for publications including the New York Times, Town & Country, ARTNews, the BARk, and Animal Fair. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

“A must-read for all dog lovers.”
—Booklist, starred review

“A no-holds-barred defense of dogs that are the hapless victims of their clueless owners.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“If you’re considering welcoming a dog (or two) into your family, read Michael Brandow’s fascinating and eye-opening book before visiting a pet store or breeder. Brandow not only unearths the status-driven history of so-called ‘purebreds’ but exhorts us to love all dogs regardless of breed. A dog is a living, loving creature, not an accessory item, and Brandow makes his case persuasively and with wit.”
—Betsy Banks Saul, founder of Petfinder.com
 
“A Matter of Breeding addresses a critical but often ignored ethical issue: dog pedigrees… This book is not only incredibly important but is a delightful read with fascinating insights into the history and psychology of the purebred-dog world.”
—Alan M. Beck, ScD, professor and director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond, Purdue University
 
“Brandow’s A Matter of Breeding is at once a keenly observed memoir of his days as a New York City dog walker, a thoroughly researched history of purebred dogs, and an often biting social critique of people, their dogs, and the world they have made for each other.”
—Mark Derr, author of How the Dog Became the Dog