3 comments about Book of the German Shepherd Dog.

1. I got this book when it was brand new, when I hadn't even bought an AKC dog yet. (Apparently they never updated it, though.) TFH put out just a few "Book of the..." series, and for the sake of other breeds, I wish they had done all! The GSD version is an excellent photo-gallery, giving a nice synopsis of the breed history, and numerous references to contemporary dogs via photos and also numerous pedigree pages. This was a superb reference if you wanted to get boned up on top American show dogs and lines in 1985. No other breed book ever did that. Thus, I learned alot about pedigrees which helped when checking out prospects. In fact, knowing the top dogs and top pedigrees is really the only major difference between breed discussions. Minor differences may be work/sport focus, and diseases/conditions typical for the subject breed. At best, other breed books cover the minor differences. My disappointment, on reflection, is that Nicholas is AKC-oriented, and unfortunately AKC GSDs leave a bit to be desired. (The dog I got was half German and American.) I would love to have a book like this based on "German" dogs so I could get a foothold in the contemporary German side; what are the top bloodlines, who are top dogs, what do they look like, etc. Also, the date on amazon still says 1985; TFH should update it after 15 years if it's still published and sold new!



2. if you're looking for a lot of pictures of champions both good and bad then this is the book for you. the section naming the different kennels in the USA was very informative.



3. Provides a comprehensive history of the breed in Germany, America, and throughout the world, while discussing such essentials as breeding, training, puppy selection and care, veterinary advice, grooming, showing, obedience and more.

1 comments about West Highland White Terriers.

1. a must book to grab for all westies lovers! makes me understand more on this breed and how i should handle my westie correctly.
   shall grab a few more copies when it's available and distribute to fellow westies owner friends!

2 comments about Beyond Wolves: The Politics of Wolf Recovery and Management.

1. This is an essential discussion of the politics of wolves and wolf recovery. Nie discusses the management of wild populations in Alaska and the upper Midwest as well as wolf reintroduction programs in Idaho and Yellowstone. He is primarily interested in wolf management policy. Though he is a professor, Nie avoids scholarly theory and jargon. He writes well and the book reads easily.
   
   Nie has a background in both resource management and political science, so he's well positioned to talk about the human side of wolves. As a result of being more attuned to the social sciences, he provides a more insightful account of the human side of the wolf-human relationship than your typical biologist - or even your atypical biologist. This is really the best book available on the political social side of wolf management. However, it's not quite as reader-friendly as Steinhardt's book.
   
   Nie considers a series of relevant issues: the symbolic issues of wolves and ranchers, the political economy of wolf regions, the politics of wildlife management organizations, and the successes and failures of stakeholder-based management such as the Fortymile caribou herd in Alaska and the Yukon. He emphasizes the conflicts in values between wolf supporters and opponents, and is sympathetic to solutions that bring interested parties into dialogue with one another.
   
   The result is a very measured and moderate book. I can imagine fanatic anti-wolf people hating this book, but if you are a wolf lover who can't accept the idea of shooting wolves under any circumstances, you'll probably dislike his approach as well.
   
   I would have liked to see him broaden his subject a bit. The book concentrates on the US, though Canada (and to a much lesser extent) Mexico are also discussed. It would be interesting to learn more about wolf management issues in Europe and Asia. For that, the best source is Mech and Boitani.



2. If you are reading this review chances are you are a "Wolf Lover" and like myself have an great and overwhelming interest in the wolf and its place on this planet. Sadly though, loving wolves and enjoying photographs, films and books of them will not save them from the persecution they endure by this planets most cruel predator-mankind. Author Martin A Nie points out that the Wolf stands as a symbol for Wilderness, and in the 19th Century that was a symbol of all things that mankind hated about the wild, a fear of the unknown, yet now in the 21st Century the Wolf stands for everything that we love about the wild, Freedom. So what has changed in the Wolf? That's right, nothing, the wolf is still the same animal, it is only our attitude that is different. BEYOND WOLVES looks at the Socio-politics of this change in human ideals and thoughts. Every single person who claims to support the Wolf should read this book to understand that it is a political problem that is retarding Wolf Recovery efforts throughout the world, and that these problems must be understood and acknowledged by everyone, Land holders, Farmers, Urban dwellers and Environmentalists. A personal observation about the continuing conflict between farmers (who use dogs for protection and herding) and wolf-lovers (who love dogs as well) is illustrated by wolf photographer Jim Brandenburg in his excellent book BROTHER WOLF when he writes, "Thousands of years ago we brought a powerfull intelligent predator into our caves, and today it sleeps at our feet.While we were learning to love the wolf that became the dog, we somehow learned to hate the wolf that stayed the Wolf"(J Brandenburg-Brother Wolf pg150)This is our dilema, and as an intelligent species we must attempt to make peace with the rest of the planet and its other inhabitants, because a war against nature, is ultimatly a war against ourselves. BEYOND WOLVES is divided into Four parts (one) Wolf Recovery and Managment as Value-Based Political Conflict (two) The wolf as Symbol,Surragate and Policy problem. (three) Wolves and the Politics of Place. (four) The Use of Stakeholders and Public Participation in Wolf Policymaking and Management. These parts and their sub-chapters may seem like a difficult thing to read but Author Martin A Nie is the Assistant Professor of Natural Policy in the School of Forestry at the University of Montana, and his fine fact based text is totally interesting (and backed up with copious notes) so that anyone with any interest in wolves will find it a facinating, and most of all a very important book if our friend, Canis Lupus, is to survive with us on this planet.

1 comments about Dog Stories.

1. The photographs make this book special, although there is quite a bit of information about human/dog interaction on its pages too. The information isn't just facts - feelings and emotions are represented too.

   From the 10,000 year old tomb of a woman who was buried with her arm around her dog to the young people in the detention centre in California who train assistance dogs this bond between humans and dogs has held firm. The writer mentions some working dogs - sheep herders, sled dogs, guide dogs and drug sniffers but he makes it clear that most dogs are companion dogs who spend most of their time eating and sleeping.

   The writer did a good job of exploring the bonding and the emotional contact between people and their dogs without too much mawkish sentiment. There was even a brief mention of the darker side of the relationship - older dogs who are abandoned by their humans.

   But mostly this is a feel-good, happy book with wonderful photographs of people and their dogs. Read it to relax and enjoy.

1 comments about The Forsyth Guide to Successful Dog Showing.

1. The Forsyth's teach all the basics for beginners in this very comprehenhive book. Both have gone on to become very respected all breed and Best in Show judges. They were mentors to the incomparable handler, George Alston. Their book is very comprehensive, and a must for any beginner.

No comments about Magnificat.

No comments about Just Goldendoodles 2009 Calendar (Just).

No comments about The Ecology of Stray Dogs: A Study of Free-Ranging Urban Animals.

1 comments about Sealyham Terrier: Special Rare-breed Edition (Comprehensive Owners Guides).

1. I have a Sealyham Terier and this is a great book for this rare breed. It is more indepth than many other books that generalize breeds. It would be good for the first time owner as well. Great pictures and info.

1 comments about Dog Owner's Guide to Grooming Your Dog: A Practical Step by Step Program for Maintaining and Improving Your Dog's Appearance.

1. A tremendous guide and one which has worked wonders in re-establishing my dog's sense of self-worth after the reaming he recently took. I think the jazzy new look is definitely "him" and my heartfelt thanks go to Ruiz.