5 comments about Clicker Training for Obedience: Shaping Top Performance-Positively.

1. This book is absolutely packed with information and is well written. This is not a bedtime read! There is so much information in each chapter than I found myself finishing a chapter in bed and thinking to myself "what did I just read?"
   
   If you want a simple book for clicker training, this is not it. This book explains WHY clicker training works and WHY your dog didn't do what you wanted to do, with logical and scientific methodology.
   
   Overall an excellent book that I would highly recommend to anybody with some degree of reading comprehension.



2. and then some. I've not made it all the way through yet, but I'm getting there. Some of it takes awhile to "digest" as it can be a little too wordy at times.



3. I have never seen a dog training book like this. My dog is a crazy, hyper maniac without any focus but since I've been following this book he is learning insanely fast and having a blast doing it. I trained him to follow the target stick and the first time I ever tried it he heeled BEAUTIFULLY with it. Left turn, right turn, about turn, he was staying with me without crowding me, lagging or anything. He had no leash on! He was just following the stick! When I took the target stick away HE WAS STILL DOING IT! He had VERY little heeling experience before this. All I could get out of him was to maybe follow me somewhere in the realm of heel position for about 10 feet. Turns were out of the question. Not anymore! It's like....the target stick finally clarified it in his mind.
   
   If I want to show him how to position himself for any behavior I just lead him with the target stick. Where the nose goes the body follows. He remembers the motion. Once he learns the que I can take the stick away. It's amazing.
   
   For every dog I've ever worked with...clicker training has been a way of great motivation and very clear communication...hence the fact dogs catch on fast...but no book I read compares to this one. It's the closest you can get to having a very wise trainer with you showing you. He's very detailed and tries so hard to save you from making any mistakes that you will regret later. He helps prepare you for the path ahead and keep from digging any pits you'll later fall into. Having never competed in anything other than Rally and Conformation I need this!
   
   You see...clicker training is a VERY POWERFUL, VERY EFFECTIVE, VERY FAST training method....but it's only as good as the trainer! You need knowledge! This gives you that knowledge!
   
   I will update this review after I start trialing. I am certain I will be very successful. I've been to trials and the biggest problem I see is the dog not having what's expected of him clear in his mind to start with.



4. From european point of view the drawback of the book is that it describes the tasks of american rules for obedience trial. As we in europe have different set of tasks in our obedience trial the book did not fill the need for specific instructions on those tasks. I was also looking for more structured and simplified clear instructions in the book things are more of discussed through. Still the book was worth the money paid for it. It has lots of grounds for why to do this way. The basics of the book is fluencies on what the obedience tasks are based on and those same fluencies are still usefull with european rules too.



5. This book is for those serious about:
   - obedience
   - agility
   - other sports, including herding
   - service dogs
   - or just an eager, happily-working and well-behaved pet.

   I'd suggest that people first have at least a basic understanding of operant conditioning (clicker training) but I say that only because Mr Spector provides a great deal of detail, explanation, trouble-shooting, and theory for each of the exercises, and his focus is on the serious trainer.

   Those are all advantageous aspects of this book, particularly for those of us who want the details and thought processes behind the actions. Working with totally positive principles, he guides us through the most basic of exercises right on through to utility exercises.

   Now, for someone not interested in competitive obedience you'd think this book is not the one for you -- not so! Many of the exercises and behaviours he details are transferrable to the agility ring (and elsewhere) and I've discovered some are also transferrable to herding.

   The style of writing is simple, straight-forward (not what you'd expect from a lawyer) and very easy to follow. He sometimes provides examples that relate to humans to help understand some of the principles - another plus. Filled with clear photographs, it is possible for any dog guardian to follow and understand his explanations.

   I also found that the logic he uses behind training certain exercises at certain stages, unlike many other trainers, made so much sense. One example: he recommends training a dog to heel off-leash before doing it on-leash. His explanation for why and how has worked flawlessly with my own dogs! I'll never go back to my old way again. He does this throughout his book.

   The index makes it easy to look up specific exercises, problems, or other related information.

   Even if your dog will never enter an obedience competition, and you simply want a reliable, happily-working, obedient dog -- this book will get you that and more.

5 comments about Introduction to Dog Agility.

1. I like the way it is written and the pictures to show what the author is talking about.
   
   Is helping both my dog and I as we start down the Agility Road.



2. If you're interested in competing, this is a very good book to get started with and to use in conjunction with agility classes. If, like me, you just want to know more about the sport and maybe do a bit of backyard agility with your dog for fun and to give her an occupation other than chewing everything in sight, then it's really too advanced!



3. It gives good instruction for teaching a dog the begining of Dog agility. It makes anyone feel as though you can understand and perform any of the tasks written and described. It also teaches all of the basics of the sport. Very informative.



4. I bought this book a 1 1/2 years ago because it was recommended by a local trainer and handler. It sat through my first little class of agility at the local Humane society. But, my dog loved Agility so much, I found a need to look further. What a great book for someone with little time to spend reading and a great deal of learning to be done with an active dog. It has helpful tip boxes. So, if like me, you don't read it by the chapter, but by need you get to what you are looking for fast. Clear easy language. The Contents pages are listed under concise titles and appendixes are straight forward and helpful. The equipment list for simple backyard stuff... I can actually build. The useful info on various National club's focus and their differences; and where to get more info... great stuff. Why write a review now... well, I am buying another book for a friend who is getting into agility and buying the next book too for me. And it's on sale...a bargain especially if you think how little time the class instructor has to instruct you on handling your dog.



5. I read this book a few times, and liked it. It has lots of pictures and does a good job explaining the obstacles. My dog appreciated to book too. She enjoyed learning the tricks and the time we spent together while we were training.

5 comments about Everything Dachshund Book: A Complete Guide To Raising, Training, And Caring For Your Dachshund.

1. This book is a surprisingly excellent view of the Dachshund World. It is very highly recommended for anyone contemplating the purchase of a dachshund or who has a dachshund and wondered "Why DO they do that?" (or "Why DON'T they do that?")



2. This is a great book! It is the most comprehensive Dachshund book I've read. I've read it cover to cover and have referred back to it several times while training my new miniature dachshund puppy. It covers everything from selecting the right puppy/dog to showing your dog. It is filled with great housebreaking training tips, solutions to everyday problems, first aid tips, and even how to handle a hard to train dog. It is a fantastic source of information for any dog owner, but especially the dachshund owner.



3. This book covers every possible aspect of owing a doxy. It spells out everything that can go wrong so that people will not buy the dog and then months later give it to the pound.
   
   The first chapter describes the lifetime cost, $20,000, and the several hours per day of your time that is required to keep poochie healthy and happy.
   
   It then goes into great detail on finding the proper breeder. Then taking the dog home and holding hands with it hours per day until it is happy in your house.
   
   Socializing the dog with all sorts of people and other pets.
   
   Preventing bad behavior.
   
   Traveling. And on and on.



4. Wonderful book and very insightfull information for new owners of Dachshunds. Can't go wrong :)



5. I love this book on Dachshunds! It gives me the widest variety of information I could need. It has helped me learn so much about the new puppy I adopted & as I read it I continue to learn more everyday. I would highly recommend this book to anyone caring for & wanting to raise a responsible,loving dog. It covers everything...seriously. Buy it if you care for a loving dachshund & want to learn how to raise him to be a great dog.

5 comments about The Ultimate Pet Food Guide: Everything You Need to Know about Feeding Your Dog or Cat.

1. I have tried some of the meals and gotten a lot of great ideas . My girls were already eating cooked chicken, this gives them some variety.



2. I found the information in Ms. Palika's book has helped me a lot in looking at the labels of my cat's and my dog's foods. I appreciate the recipes for home made diets, both raw and cooked, but I don't cook that much for myself. But at least after reading this book I understand what to look for when buying a commercial food--and I even found a safe, easy to feed raw food brand for my pets. Thanks!



3. This book presents an easily understandable, yet comprehensive review of the options available to feed your pet. The book covers the complete range of pet foods, from kibble you can get at almost any store, through specialized dehydrated natural pet foods, and finally to raw or cooked foods you can prepare at home (too much effort for me!) Being a dedicated dog owner, I focused on that part of the book, although there is also lots of information on cat foods.
   
   Although the book provides a few examples of good and bad pet foods, its real value is that it taught me how to become an educated pet owner, so that I can provide my dogs with healthy meals that meet their nutritional needs. Understanding the nutritional needs of dogs is not obvious to the typical consumer - for example, it turns out that there is "good" kibble and "bad" kibble. Good kibble tries to mimic what dogs and wolves evolved to eat in the wild, while bad kibble mostly consists of grains and whatever meat byproducts that pet food conglomerates can put together at a cheap price. (You don't often see wolves, which are closely related to dogs, out cooking up a batch of rice or wheat for dinner....) I found this book to be a tremendous source of information on this subject. As another example, ground corn (the first ingredient in some dog foods) includes the entire ear of corn - not just the corn kernels, but also the corn cob, all ground up together. Yuck - but it's a lot cheaper than meat! Care to guess how much of that ingredient nourishes your best friend and how much passes straight through, for you to clean up later?
   
   In summary, this book really makes you think about what you are feeding your pet, and gives you the information to make better decisions. As Ms. Palika writes, the old adage that states "we are what we eat" also applies to our pets. Taking the time to understand that can pay benefits in healthier pets that are likely to live happier, longer lives. Highly recommended.



4. This is a great reference book on what to feed your dog or cat, with a balance of information on all types of food. There are so many choices in pet food out there and so much mis-leading information about commercial dog food - especially some of the so-called premium foods. This book really brings it all together from homemade food, to what to look for in commercial food, and advice on supplements. I really appreciated her candid commentary and help in sorting through the options. She doesn't present a bias towards any one method or brand, but it nice to not feel guilty about feeding "homemade" food.



5. I found this book to be a comprehensive guide for food choices for both dogs and cats. I have both. The book is written in language that takes a broad subject and distills it to its most important aspects. Considering my scientific knowledged is limited, Ms. Palika took complicated data and presented it in a completely understandable manner. I would recommend this book to anyone concerned for the health of thier pet.

5 comments about Best Way to Train Your Gun Dog: The Delmar Smith Method.

1. Being new to bird dog training I must say that this book is a MUST READ.
   If you follow Delmar's methods to the tee or not, it gives a great insight into a dogs mind. Delmar also gives a little insight into the human mind as well. If you want to train a bird dog, Buy this book!!!



2. The Delmar smith methed is a great way to train a hunting bird dog. One of the best things about this book is knowing what is important to your bird dog. Nine out of ten people now days will tell you to start training on birds before pups learn to run. Not Delmar. If you let them be a pup for the first year you will have twice the dog you would have had!! Very informational. Think like a dog to train a dog...



3. I used this book 20 years ago to train a Brittany and have now purchased it again for a new dog. The methods and advice are not only unique to Delmar but also highly effective. Not to mention a humorous read.



4. This is my first time owning and training a gun dog. I purchased and read this book before I bought my puppy. I was skeptical but Delmar's methods DO work. This book set the basis for what others would try to teach me later-- and I was able to share information with them as well. My dog performed at an early age as a result of Delmar's advice. You have to be able to go along with the writing style -- which I found quite humorous and much more fun to read than a text book. A great addition to any library!

   _little girl with big dog




5. The real strength of this book is that it gets you in the right mindset for gun dog training. The techniques are simple yet ingenious. I've used most of them and built my training foundation around Delmar Smith's principles.

   Buy this book and several others. See a professional trainer. There's no harm in educating yourself.

5 comments about Chihuahuas For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets)).

1. I brought this book for my friend, and she has found some very useful information in it regrading the raising and caring for of her Chihuahuas.



2. This book is really handy. It's nice that it's specific to the chihuahua breed--lots of information to help this new puppy owner differentiate between the general advice for all puppies and approaches best suited to my pup.
   
   One of my favorite things about this book is the way it has really helpful information like diagrams of different tail positions and whether they indicate something is wrong. Great reference.



3. very good book, i just adopted a 2 year old chi & i love him dearly but he was not well socialized or well-temermented & this book gave me soo much information on how to correct that even though hes not a puppy and the advice works lol i take my pup to the park in the AM when dog off leash time is allowed and now he plays and doesnt hide or attack and thanks for all the chi adivce



4. I found this book to be very easy and fun to read, plus extremely informative. It's a great book to buy BEFORE you get your Chihuahua because it puts everything into perspective. After I got my two Chihuahua puppies I carefully followed this book's instructions and my puppies immediately learned to be very obedient and it wasn't long before they were potty trained inside and outside the house. I highly recommend it!



5. I liked this book very much. It had Info that I needed to know about Chihuahuas and how to raise them.

5 comments about Devil Dog Diary: A day by day account of US Marine Corps training.

1. This summer i leave for San Deigo, for boot camp. After reading this AMAZING book, i am now even more motivated and pumped to become a MARINE!! This book is great for anyone planning on joining, or anyone that knows somebody in the Marines.



2. The final challenge each Marine faces after bootcamp is the struggle to find words to describe the ordeal of the previous three months. Gunnery Sgt. Will Price has answered the impossible question, "What was it like?" If you are plannning on joining the Marine Corps or know someone who is this book is a must read. This book is also a valuable tool for friends and family members to understand what their Marine is going through, this is the only thing closer than to going to bootcamp itself.



3. Gunny Price has hit the nail on the head, with his account of Boot Camp at Parris Island, SC. The book is also well documented with photos. If you have been through P.I. or not, you will enjoy the read.



4. What an inspiration to read this Gunny's account. The transformation of a boy into a man via the USMC. I had to order my second copy as I was not quite finished with my original, when a Navy Captain spyed it sitting on my desk, and "borrowed" it. That was over three weeks ago and I'm tired of waiting for it to return. Any young man (or women) who is thinking of stepping forward to become part of the greatest fighting force in the history of the world, has to read this book!
   If a majority of civilians would just take a minute or two to investigate this diary, the conclusion could only be additional respect for the men and women who choose to wear the cloth of this nation. Highly recommend this to all. OORAHH!



5. Reading this book brought me back to my days in bootcamp. Having graduated only last year, I find the journal of Gunny Price to be extremely accurate. His description of the training not only describes the twisted world of the drill instructor, but it also reveals the emotions and the everyday worries of Marine recruits. I haven't heard of any other book written during basic training by the recruit who lived it. This book blazes a path where "Ears Open, Eyeballs Click" could not. It goes through a recruit's mind.

5 comments about Jack Russell Terriers for Dummies.

1. Guess it does say "for dummies" but I still thought this book as a little too elementary. Also, tired of hearing what bad qualities JRTs have -- a little too heavy on the negative side, I felt. Frankly, I didn't get a lot out of this book that was useful to me, a first-time JRT owner.



2. We have two Jack Russell Terrorizors, and this book helped with the basics. I read it cover to cover a few times, and it had some good hints. It would be best to get this book before you ever get a dog, but I am sure that if you buy this book it is because you are already getting a Jack, not because you went out and bought every book of every type of dog. That is the only downside to this book. It spends way too much time talking about the decision to get a Jack. I guess this is because a lot of people got Jack's thinking they were apartment dogs and realized they had bought a Rambo when they should have bought a Fifi. This book should have said that Jack's are way more resilient than any other dog you can probably get (read: way more stubborn, so you can't always be the Dog Whisperer, you sometimes have to be the Dog Shouter). You will have to be very consistent and strict (I am a softie, so some of the hints were not good for me, because it should say "Get ready to be a Drill Sargent"). Jacks are very smart, tough, territorial (especially if female and with puppies, or male and there is a female in heat nearby, or just in general), (they can be aggressive, my 14 lb jack attached a 150 lb Rottweiler and had kicked his butt before we could get them apart) and you have to be prepared to keep them busy. Also be prepared for them to take forever to be potty trained (up to a year). Mine are now happy, so loving, and I am glad I had this book. We live in a Townhouse, and our dogs are loving it. They do get walked every morning, get busy games to play with and have a two hour play group every day so they get lots of diversion, which they absolutely require.



3. I have previously owned a Collie, Golden Retriever, and a pound mutt - but no dog has been more fun than the Jack Russell we just got. He's 3 months old and this book explained his personality perfectly. It also went over all the neat little tricks required to get them to follow orders and act right! Well written book, easy to read & very useful.



4. This is a very good book. A lifeline in a troubled sea of dog woes.



5. This is a great book. The things I read about Jacks,I had no idea about. It fits them to a tee. This is my secound Jack Russel and my daughter has one that chases aliens on the ceiling(shadows).
   I would recommend for a new or old Jack Russel owner

5 comments about All About Aussies: The Australian Shepherd From A To Z.

1. This is the second book I've ordered for my father based on the reviews, and I have another winner! My Dad is tough to by for and I was again thrilled that he was so pleased. He has an Aussie and is delighted with the A-Z content on the breed. Thank you, reviewers, for all your honest imput. It's invaluable.



2. This is the second book I have had. The first one was completely wore out. I am a breeder of Australian Shepherds and there is lots of information about the breed along with activites, health, and breeding. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to expand your knowledge on Australian Shepherds. I recommend this book to many customers that want to learn more about the breed. I tell them that if you want to buy one book then this is the book to get.



3. I am very pleased with the book. The Hartnagle's have been active in the Australian Shepherd industry for generations. This book covers it all, from breeding to when to begin training.



4. This book really does't leave anything out! Very good information. From obedience to advance herding and any type of medical (emergency or day to day) information you might ever need. Just doesn't have the current informatin on organizations. I would suggest getting "Australian Shepherds" along with the All About Aussies. Its a magazine from the popular dogs series. It has all the current information on oragizations and trends.



5. This book was recommended highly, and I was not disappointed! The information coverage is all that I expected and more. So many dog books digress into information that applies to all dogs, but this one sticks to breed specifics.
   
   There is only one thing I would improve in future editions: more photos in color. However, knowing that many of the historical photos were originally in black & white, I would not edit them out... the idea is merely to add more full-color recent photos, especially showing the full range of Aussie activities, trials, games, etc. One can never see too many beautiful Aussies!

5 comments about Successful Dog Breeding: The Complete Handbook of Canine Midwifery (Howell Reference Books).

1. This is a great book for people who are just starting out to breed dogs of any type. This book is very informative and it has great pictures to show you how to: I would recommed this book for anyone thinking about breeding. There is so much to breeding dogs and this book tells you the pros and cons of dog breeding. Dog breeding is not for everyone and this book will certanily help you decide if this is something that you want to do.



2. There are some great points and some lacking points made in the book. I appreciated the section where it lists the breeds of dogs and then corresponds the numbers that relate to the diseases and problems of that particular breed. It helps in determining whether the breed's problems are ones that you feel comfortable handling or trying to correct. The book needs more photos, drawings, or sketches as it assumes a higher degree of knowledge on the readers part. I would recommend the book but not as a sole source but only as an additional source as it is not complete and doesn't answer or address many other questions or problems.



3. This book is recommended to individuals who have some knowledge of pet breeding and delivery. The chapter on setting up necessary supplies was extremely pleasant. However, professional breeders may find this book a bit flat with only a modicum of additional information they could add to their repetoire.



4. This book was written 1n 1993.... even though the basics remain the same, there are other books on the subjet like the ones written by Myra Savant-Harris that are 100% more updated.



5. This book gives step by step and detailed instructions on how to handle the many things that can go wrong in whelping a litter. I found it a comforting resource to have around so I know I am as well prepared as I can be for what may come. A must have for any breeder, hobby or professional.