Our Friend the Dalmatian

Title: Our Friend the Dalmatian

Author: Johns, Rowland

Publication: London: Methuen & Co., 1954.

Description: For Dalmatian lovers, a first edition, fourth printing of "Our Friend the Dalmatian" from the "Our Friend The Dog" series, edited by Rowland Johns. Printed in Great Britain at the Pitman Press. Frontispiece portrait of a dog named Bunty of Brow. Bound in full teal cloth with black lettering on the spine and a vignette of dogs contained in a semi-circle stamped in black on the front cover. Dust jacket printed in black and red with a photo of a Dalmatian within a border of dogs on the front panel. 6.75 x 4.25 inches; vi, [2], 86, [2] pages, [1] leaf of plates.

Near Fine in a Very Good dust jacket. Mildly bumped extremities and a ghost price marking on the front free endpaper, but the tightness of the binding suggests that the book has barely been opened. Dust jacket with very small chips at the corners and spine ends and small tears on the front and back panel not affecting the lettering or design.

This attractive pocket-sized reference book on Dalmatians covers the qualities of the breed, its history, appearance, and breed standards, in addition to advice for training, showing, and breeding these dogs. Ahead of its time in its advocacy for non-punitive training methods, "Roughness is a mistake...It is not necessary to use a whip, in fact it is folly to do so, because the Dalmatian is so sensitive that his spirit may be entirely ruined even by moderate chastisement...Shouting is unnecessary."