A Matter of Breeding

A Biting History of Pedigree Dogs and How the Quest for Status Has Harmed Man's Best Friend

** A provocative look at the “cult of pedigree” and an entertaining social history of purebred dogs**
 
In this illuminating and entertaining social history, social critic Michael Brandow probes the “cult of pedigree” and traces the commercial rise of the purebred dog. Combining consumer studies with sharp commentary, A Matter of Breeding reveals the sordid history of the dog industry and shows how our brand-name pets—from Labs to French bulldogs and everything in between—pay the price with devastatingly poor health.