As someone who has written a pet column for seven years, I felt pretty confident that I knew all the basics about dogs. For a layperson, that is. But "Dog Lover's Daily Companion," by Wendy Nan Rees and Kristen Hampshire, has a host of doggy details and trivia that had never even crossed my radar. Subtitled "365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life With Your Dog," this 315-page book, with playful pet portraits by "dogumentarian" Kendra Luck of Albany, will entertain and inform even the most savvy dog owner…With the approaching holidays, the "Dog Lover's Daily Companion" will make a welcome gift for those who already share their life with a dog as well as those who are considering the joys of canine companionship. --Eileen Mitchell, San Francisco Chronicle