5 comments about Dogs.

1. I'm an animation artist whose medium is pen and pencil, and for me, Rien Poortvliet is hands down the greatest artist of his kind of the last 50 years, easily. Famous(almost too much so-eclipsing these other, superior and more personal books)for the "Gnomes" series of books of the 1970s, he was a man of amazing talent, terrific humor and also great humanity and sensitivity. Any of his books are worth having; this title, "Dogs" was the first I discovered, and it's also one of the very few easily available at this writing(9/05). Here are studies of many, many breeds of canines rendered in luscious oils, stunningly--but even better is the rest of the book: Poortvliet's own, intimate life experiences with dogs, a kind of illustrated diary done in pen, pencil and watercolor washes--absolutely brilliant. You'll meet and love Rien's dogs as he did, and if you've any interest or care for dogs at all this will likely become your favorite. I'd recommend this over any other coffee table or "art" book for dog lovers(I can't conceive of anyone not savoring this)...and for artists--! Wow. An absolute treasure trove of quick gesture drawings, studies and attitudes of both dogs AND people--as well as any other animal Rien feels like writing about and sketching--and there are plenty of them. This will teach the interested artist more than dozens of "how to" books of painting and drawing techniques could hope to do. Don't hesitiate--order it now.



2. The art is astohishing (as always with Poortvliet) but the book itself is a warm and sincere approach to the meaning of dogs in our lives. It is not technical or scientific but is a powerful read to dog lovers around the world.



3. I am a crazy dog lady. I admit it. I can't pass a dachshound without stooping to say hi. My husband and I have even been known to park our car down the block so that we can casually stroll down the street and "accidentally" make the acquaintance of a sprightly-looking corgi or retreiver. Pathetic, we are, completely pathetic, but we absolutely don't care.
   
   Anyway-- this is The Pathetic Portland Pooch Lady's favorite dog book ever. You won't believe the illustrations until you see them. It's done like a sketchbook-- dozens of different images all crowding together with occasional splash pages or portraits. On a single page, you might see: a dachshund skeleton next to a wolf skeleton; a dachshund in a snowy landscape bravely facing down a boar; the same dachshund being carried off by the boar; and a light pencil sketch of the dachshund staring at a hedgehog-- "the only game I ever saw him corner," according to Poortvliet.
   
   The book's other great strength is its honesty. It's screamingly funny at times, and of course, some of the pictures are real heart-melters, but there's nothing posed or plastic about it. Poortvliet gets all his laughs, and all his tears, from dedicated and truthful observation, and from mastery the arts of storytelling and illustration.
   
   In other words, buy this book. It's a treasure.



4. This is a wonderful, heart warming story for all dog and animal lovers. The art work is beautiful, worthy of framing. The authors connection with dogs comes through loud and clear as you read the story of losing a fur covered child to finding another companion, not to replace but to continue lifes journey with. Great book for all the right reasons.



5. The drawings tells you that the author has many wonderful feelings for his models persons, animals and simple living in the countryside. Just great, it even sometimes makes you feel like crying.

2 comments about Competition Obedience: A Balancing Act.

1. This is such a comprehensive book! As someone new to competition obedience, I have been devouring any material on the subject I can find. This is one book I'll be referring to for years to come. It covers every detail of obedience training (from new puppies to advanced work) in very clear, easy-to-understand language with appropriate photos and illustrations. Because various methods of training certain exercises are shown, trainers can choose what works best with their particular dogs. This book will help anyone starting out in competition obedience to get off on the right foot, avoid training errors and have fun with their dog.



2. I have trained dogs and participated in obedience trials for 37 years. I am a seminar, video tape, obedience book "junkie" and have probably bought 90% of all the materials published on the subject of dog obedience. I have found this book the most complete on the market. It is not only very readable, but very tolerant of various methods of approaching a training exercise. At the same time both authors are quite honest and realistic about warning novice trainers of common errors in hasty and careless training. This is a very worthwhile book and would make
   a perfect Christmas, birthday, anniversary or any occasion gift for both the novice and experienced dog trainer interested in obedience competition.

3 comments about Search And Rescue Dogs: Training Methods.

1. If you're looking for more serious information and training for SAR dogs these is a GREAT book. It's clear, well written with serious information on what a SAR dog AND handler must be like. It takes you from step 1 (choosing a puppy) to having a full operational SAR dog (radio communication, handler's, training step by step, etc).

   So, why 4 stars and not 5? This book isn't very open to different techniques, methods, dogs or info from around the world. For wood search it's very good. If you want info on avalanche or disaster search it's not very complete.




2. I am quite involved in K-9 SAR and I really found this book helpful. I think on the training part of the dog it really zips through it faster than it should unlike Susan Bulanda's book "Ready, the training of the search and rescue dog". I still thin all parts are very well done. If you are getting into SAR or already involved you should consider this book as a part of your search dog library.



3. This book was very informative resource. It provide a starting point but should be used in conjunction with practical help from others already involved. The book is well written and easy to read. Worth money and time to read.

No comments about Pocket Companion to Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Pocket Companion).

3 comments about Sneeze-Free Dog Breeds: Allergy Management And Breed Selection for the Allergic Dog Lover.

1. Sneeze-Free Dog Breeds does an excellent job of describing how to keep your home as dander free as possible. The section describing each breed is thorough and easy to understand. The part on allergy medications is out of date; some drugs listed as prescription only are now available over the counter.



2. I bought this book because my son is allergic to dogs. Some breeds give him the classic sneezing and itchy eyes. For that reaction, this book seems an interesting resource. Most breeds, however, cause my son to get hives. The hives generally appear where he has been licked by a dog. I had hoped that the subtitle of this book indicated that it might prove useful regarding that allergic reaction as well. Unfortunately, saliva is only mentioned twice in the book. One of the references (on page 44) is particularly ominous, but it does not clearly state whether any breeds cause less issues than others. Due to their coat type, some breeds do not clean themselves as much as others, and I wonder if that might make a difference? Also, some breeds just do not lick people as much as other breeds do. That might also be useful information. Overall, this book was a worthwhile purchase. It just did not cover one specific topic about which I had hoped to gather more information.



3. My daughter is an animal lover, but recently found out that she is allergic to cats and dogs. Fortunately, these are her only allergies, but our cat does cause her to have rhinitis. She would really love to have a dog in spite of this. The allergist told us there were no hypoallergenic dogs, but this author does offer a different point of view.
   
   This book is attractive, concise and gave me lots of ideas for how I can make owning animals a better experience for my animal loving (but allergic) daughter. My first step has been to remove the curtains from her room. This book makes the steps seem possible, not overwhelming.

4 comments about Have Dog Will Travel-Northwest Edition, Oregon-Washington-Idaho, Hassle-Free Guide to Traveling With Your Dog.

1. Mostly hotels not really camping which I was looking for. But it's great for hotels if you need something for that.



2. HAVE DOG WILL TRAVEL NORTHWEST EDITION includes Oregon, Washington and Idaho and has been newly updated to list over 2,100 dog-friendly accommodations throughout the Pacific Northwest. This isn't just a plain listing of dog- friendly hotels: it tells where in the building the pet is welcome, any restrictions, deposits, price ranges, and general room descriptions. From cabins to resorts, motels, and chain hotels, HAVE DOG WILL TRAVEL comes packed with plenty of specifics suitable for touring.



3. Many of my friends will not leave home without their dogs, so when I discovered this book I knew I had found the perfect pet lovers gift. The feedback has been excellent -- they report that the information is up-to-date, accurate, and easy to use. Dogs and their drivers are both well-served. Now all I need is my own dog...



4. Now in a newly updated edition, Have Dog Will Travel: Northwest Edition by Barbara Whitaker is the a practical guide for dog owners and dog lovers to hassle-free traveling. Have Dog Will Travel: Northwest Edition features over 2,100 canine-friendly accommodations in the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Addresses, phone numbers, rates, web sites, and brief summary of basic information concerning each lodging fill the majority of the pages; with an additional sections offering basic advice concerning everything from first aid for a dog to types of available ID tags and how to best go about cleaning up after one's pet. Have Dog Will Travel: Northwest Edition is especially recommended for dedicated dog owners in the Oregon, Washington, and Idaho area.

5 comments about The Mastiff: Aristocratic Guardian (The Pure Bred Series).

1. We've been researching breeders in the U.S. (California to Massachusetts), Canada and Australia for 2 years.

   Let me tell you ... this book is REQUIRED reading for many of the top breeders.

   Seemingly basic information such as "what type of food" is short-term information. DeeDee knows that the list of top quality dog foods changes every year. Food choice can also be a pedigree/line decision and is often in a puppy contract. Such basic information should be assessable from your quality breeder.




2. I found this book a complete waist of time, I found it had too much filler information. I had purchased this book after reading the above reviews, but I was extremely disappointed. I paid full price for this book and understand why the price has dropped. Very good book are: Mastiff by Kim Campbell Thornton and The Mastiff, An Owners guide to a happy healthy Pet by John M. Becknell. With the above two books you will not be disappointed in your selection of either one. Feeding a OEM puppy is very important, and Ms. Andersson "would never presume to tell an owner what to feed their puppy". Well guess what, I purchased this book to find out what to feed by puppy. Good luck



3. Knowledgable, well-written, fun, and useful. It's like chatting with a fellow Mastiff-maniac.
   If you don't have a Mastiff already, get this book and read the chapter about how they will take over your life. If you aren't up to rearranging your life for your dogs, don't get a Mastiff - but they are worth it!



4. If you only plan on buying one book about Mastiffs, this should be it. I own several mastiff books, but I go to this one when I need information. It is as great a refrence book for the first time owner as it is for the experienced breeder. Full of beautiful pictures, charming anecdotes and detailed history, this book is incredibly informative. Other than the dogs themselves this has been my best mastiff purchase. All mastiff owners and those thinking of becoming mastiff owners should own this book.



5. As a first-time Mastiff-owned person, I was very happy when I received this book as a gift. From the moment I opened it, I knew that this book would be my Mastiff bible. It is filled with historic facts (did you know that Mastiffs were declawed, by law, in the middle ages! ), amusing stories about Mastiffs (you'll see your own dog in these tales), medical information, top producing dogs and bitches, and tons of pictures... this book has it all. Breeders and owners alike will delight in reading this book over and over again. If you are even considering brining one of these gentle giants into your life, this book is a must-read. Mastiffs are not for everyone, but for those of us who are lucky enough to be owned by a Mastiff, I can assure you that this book will become your other best friend. dee dee Anderson knows her audience well; we all love Mastiffs as much as she does.

No comments about Small Animal Arthroscopy.

1 comments about American Staffordshire Terrier (Kennel Club Book).

1. As a person fond of dogs, not a professional, and first-time-owner of an American Staffordshire, I found this guide extremely useful, and well organised. The guide is what it should be: a book with tips, hints guides, and what to do and not to do. If you are not knowledgable on raising a pup or dog, this is certainly a good book to own!

No comments about Old Dogs: Are the Best Dogs.