Book excerpt: The findings of a decade of further investigation into the genetics of dog breeding have been incorporated into this new edition of a classic source of information for breeders. Early chapters outline the basic principles of heredity, illustrated by examples from the dog. Modern methods of animal improvement which can be called upon to further the aims of dog breeding are also discussed. The chapters on colour and coat variation, genetics of breeds, and abnormalities heve been extensively rewritten in the light of new findings. Many outstanding problems of breed genotypes have been resolved, but at the same time numerous genetic anomalies have been identified through greater genetic awareness and attempts to secure breeding data. The descriptive summaries of these abnormalities, substantially documented, make this book a useful reference source for the identification of known genetic anomalies.