2 comments about A Friend Like Henry.

1. What upsets me more than the boy Dale's autism is the way his mother mollycoddles him from the start, allowing his behaviour to rule the household. Gardner (who is a practicing nurse) never attempts any disciplinary action on him. She doesn't remove his toys, doesn't give him time-outs, watches while her son hurts other children in playgroup and just cringes when he throws a tantrum. She has the whole household walking on eggshells around him. So, she admits he turned into a monster child, but I think a lot of that developed because she let him run rampage. Sometimes she even rewards him with TV time. Instead of putting him in a cleared room to ride out his tantrums alone she straddles him to "protect" him staying with him throughout. But there are lots more over-protection and indulgences in the book, like when in the middle of family dinner Dale asks to go to the train museum (he's obssessed with trains) and they drive him there late in the night just so he'll understand it's closed.
   
   Then instead of teaching Dale the importance of human relationships (he has scant affection for his parents; this doesn't change in the 17 year chronicle of his life in this book) she coerces him into connecting with the family pet and they "talk to him" through the dog. He won't talk to his parents except thru the dog. What a spolied brat they made him! He says I love you to the dog but not his own parents. Forget about please and thank yous, she even teaches Dale how to use swear words with his peers on the playground! And he does...Worst of all Gardner allows Dale (and even their 2nd autistic child) to call them by their first name rather than mum) whenever he wants.
   
   In the end when Dale as a teen writes an account of his behaviour he often cites his parents as being irritating and making him fed up. He seems to have been trained to be a very self centered child who should be treated ultra specially because of his needs, and he too saw himself that way.
   
   Luckily for Gardner her husband stuck with her even though she seemingly wanted to punish her son for not loving her by breaking up their marriage. She's a total head case and attempts suicide and then is actually offended that the health visitor is quizzing her to see if she'd be a threat to the kid. Surely a suicide attempt is a sign you possibly might be mentally unstable.
   
   Gardner tries to help her son at the professional level and has some success but there is an "arms length" element to the whole approach. She herself didn't spend much floor-time with Dale as a baby, didn't try to read to him, or show him picture books. She used Disney Sing along CDs instead of singing to him. At times, I agreed with some of the health professionals who said she acted like she "wanted Dale to be autistic".



2. this book didn't start all that well for me, partly because I thought it was a novel, the writer's style is very matter of fact.
   
   But the writer keeps her wit throughout this immensely difficult journey and it grows on you. This story was moving and funny. It also allowed bright lights to be shone on the difficulty of autism from the sufferer's perspective, the care giver's perspective. More than anything it reminded me that we should never give up on people, everyone has great potential.
   
   The whole Gardner family and friends, you all are AMAZING.

1 comments about Bad Dog to Good Dog: A New Approach to Dog Psychology and Training.

1. If you have a problem with your dog and are looking to fix it, get this book. I have had several "Bad" dogs over the years that have caused me numerous headaches. This book is a great guide to helping to get your dog to behave. Even if you are new to the dog world, this book will give you, and your dog, the foundation needed for a well-trained, well-mannered animal.

5 comments about Angus: A Memoir.

1. What a great, fast read, which will leave you thinking about the dog Angus and his perspective on human/dog relationships, for a long time afterwards. The writing style is humorous, poetic, flowing. I went back to reread sections because I found parts worth repeating. (Unlike some books where I reread sections because I have no clue what the author was trying to say.) If you aren't a dog lover, this might not be for you. It gave me a lot to think about.



2. If you own a Jack Russell (I do!), or are just a dog lover, this book will resonate with your heart and soul.
   It was funny, insightful and terribly heart breaking!
   I loved it. Every detail of the dog's perspective came alive and I really liked that Angus was the actual protagonist.



3. This book was absolutely brilliant! On a simple level it is a wonderful story about a dog. This is so much more though...it is a story about all of us and our place in this world. I loosely quote one of the reviewers from the book jacket who said it was so touching and insightful that to read it again "would break my heart".



4. This book supports the old saying that you can't judge a book by its cover. It was boring and tedious. As a dog lover, I can certainly relate to head tilts, but that was about it. I wish I had spent my money on a donation to the local animal shelter.



5. ... Angus! How I'd love to write such a book "for" my dog (well, with a different purpose and ending)! Too bad I have neither talent nor imagination that Charles Siebert has. I'll bet many others feel the same way after reading Angus' memoir.

   I was in some ways disappointed with the picture of how unsentimental Angus' feelings were towards his humans, as I take such comfort in thinking how my dog worships me. I find myself thinking, "You don't feel that way, do you boy? After all, Angus is a JRT and you're a miniature poodle! You're not NEARLY so motivated by the scent and hunt, like Angus is, as you are motivated to please and be with us!" Oh, I suppose the author's take is much closer to accurate, so the exposure to it is good for me! (I wonder... if Charles Siebert had a poodle for a while, and then wrote the poodle's memoir, would it be so very different, and undisappointing to me?)

   I found that much of my love for this book seems to be related to the fact that my own dog is like Angus in that he is, for most of the story anyway, the only dog of a couple - not one of several dogs, and not owned by a family with small kids or of a single person. Angus is the author's "child" just as our small dog is our "child" - so I felt I related more than I might have if I had human kids or were a single person. And I find myself thinking about which of our couple-friends-with-dogs to recommend this book to.

   If you're not impassioned about your dog, you're doubtfully not reading this review, so take my word for it, you'll love this book!

1 comments about German Shepherd Dog (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. Has good info on history of breed and characteristics and sections on grooming and first aid were most valuable. Section on training is useless. Buy this book if you're new to breed or about to buy a GSD.
   
   If you are buying a GSD for the first time go to a one-on-one expert trainer. I did this and it cost about $2000 but I have a competition level obedience dog now (on and off leash, hand and verbal commands, without choke/spike/"gentle" leader collars) and he spent more time training me than he did the dog so now I can train any dog that I'll ever own by myself.

3 comments about Buster's Christmas Letter: Lessons from a Dog's Tale of Survival.

1. LOOKING FOR A BIRTHDAY GIFT, CONFIRMATION, GRADUATION, BAR MITZVAH, OR "JUST BECAUSE' GIFT?....."Buster's Christmas Letter" will fill the bill. WOW!
   
   It is a wonderful book. Not necessarily a Christmas book, although Buster's Christmas lettere is included.
   
   Humorous and poignant, it is the true tale of a dog and his family; a very functional family, as you will see. It should be a model and inspiration for anyone.
   
   The story is beautiful and "Buster's Christmas Letter" is also beautiful from its cover - to the color pictures - to the last page.
   
   BOW WOW B W.....Sanibel, Florida



2. Even if you aren't a "dog person," you are going to LOVE this book! Buster's Christmas Letter is the book you'll want to give to everyone you know. Wilson writes simply and clearly, with a thematic message that's timeless: feelings are more important than things. Buster's Christmas Letter reminds us what's really important in life: family, relationships, and telling the people we love how much they mean to us. My family loved reading it aloud. Buster's life, adventures, and impact on his wonderful family, the Wilsons, touched us deeply. I heartily recommend this book. Someone should be working on the movie!



3. I found this book at a time in my life when I was headed in a bad direction. Some have even suggested that if I didn't change my ways I might soon find myself in the "big kennel in the sky." After digging through this autobiographical account written by an Australian shepherd, I realized that maybe my problems weren't so bad. Buster's Christmas Letter is the perfect inspirational chew toy for this holiday season. Think: a canine Profiles in Courage. This furriffic book will will bring tears to your eyes and leave your howling from laughter. Take a bite out of this one if you're in need of a wake up call about facing life's troubles heard on. You won't believe all of the wisdom you can receive from this four-legged yoda.

2 comments about Vicious: Wolves and Men in America (The Lamar Series in Western History).

1. It doesn't take one long to realize the title, I believe, doesn't refer to the viciousness of the wolves, but to humans. In a number of instances he reveals the incredible senseless cruelty inflicted upon captured wolves, many times for sheer pleasure and other times to somehow to 'even the score'.
   
   Particularly interesting are the passages on the Mormons and their eradication of the wolves of Utah, which I think backfired in an interesting way, the very tall tales associated with wolves, the turning point toward environmentalism brought about Leopold, and the governmental eradication program in effect until 1950. It's quite interesting to see how the government "propaganda program" drove the eradication effort.
   
   The author makes an interesting remark that there is no record in North America that wolves have ever killed a human. It's probably true, but worth looking into. I've heard this remark before. Perhaps a little Google work, or maybe something is in his bibliography.
   
   There was an interesting section on communications between the Algonquin indians and Europeans settlers that hinged on interaction with wolves, dogs, and other animals. I recently had seen the movie "New World", 2005/6 release, which depicted this communication in a similar way. Perhaps the author had some influence.



2. As a young girl, I was warned that lecherous old men were "wolves on the prowl." After all, children read about Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf with big teeth. These are only imaginary wolves not the real 'vicious' wild animals.
   
   When the Europeans came to America, there was a goodly population of these creatures, hungry and ferocious as a tiger in a zoo. Wolf legends preceded them and they were forced to migrate to the West because of rampant eradication in the North East. Steeped in myth and symbols, they existed in folklore long before history connected them to humans.
   
   Wolves were territorial and their haunting howls were not as predators but communication 'songs' warning rival groups in search of food to look elsewhere. Wolves had their own reasons for 'singing' -- to prevent the forced eliminaton of each other.
   
   Like the Indians and buffalo, they were forced off their native lands to the wild West to the point of extinction. Exterminated in the rangelands and farming regions of the U. S., the species survived in the upper regions of Alaska and Canada, along the Great Lakes in the East.
   
   Humans are vicious at the core, generating pain and suffering on each other and cause extreme violence to feel "big." People transported their hatred in stories and traditions,not their souls. Humans tortured animals and showed all kinds of nasty behavior. Euro-Americans killed wild animals and transformed habitats. They espoused a climate of public opinion that mixes love, hate, and indifference with savage behavior. Like the buffalo, they became an endangered species, yet they have survived. Some of the Canadian wolves have been transplanted to Yellowstone National Park in Montana.
   
   In the Smoky Mountains, we have the vicious black bears, as dangerous as any wolf who will actually kill humans who find themselves on the wrong hiking trail. Will the uneducated hillfolk of this area decide to exterminate the bear population? People in this large town at the base of the Smokies will spend all day at Cades Cove just to see a real deer. In Middle Tennessee, we have Davy Crockett Park full of deer to enjoy.
   
   But, no one can trust a wolf unless, of course, he is a caged animal in the zoo. Humans are so insecure and must use guns not for protection but to feed their egoes. The painting on the cover shows a group of Puritans huddling together as the big, bad wolf growls, the old woman with a red cloak and the man not aiming his rifle (just pointing at the dangerous predator), reflects how uninformed our ancestors really were and how naive. He looks just like a wolf-hound.
   
   Jon T. Colemen traveled the country, from New England to Utah, stopping in Denver along the way, for his research; this well-researched book began as a doctoral thesis at Yale University. He teaches history at the University of Notre Dame, and helps take care of his children (along with the laundry) as does my son, the astronomer.

No comments about Avalanche/Hasty Search: The Care and Training of Avalanche Search and Rescue Dogs.

1 comments about Bernese Mountain Dog (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

1. I bought this book in hopes it would offer some good information about Bernese Mountain Dogs. Instead, I felt I could be reading about most any dog breed (generic) with a few breed specific notes included.
   
   There are better books on the market for Bernese lovers than this book. Try Bernd Gunters book, "Bernese Mountain Dog: A Dog Of Destiny" or the book called "The Beautiful Bernese" by Russ&Rogers. If you want a good Bernese puppy book, try Julia Crawford's "BMD: An Owners Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet".
   
   If you're a hardcore Berner lover, you could add this book to your collection. But if you're looking for really useful breed specific information, look elsewhere.

No comments about Do-it-yourself agility equipment: Constructing agility obstacles for training or competition.

5 comments about 8 State Hurricane Kate: The Journey and Legacy of a Katrina Cattle Dog.

1. I first heard about Kate's story through Jenny Pavlovic on ACD-L, the list-serv devoted to Australian Cattle Dogs (Queensland Heelers) and their devoted owners. Her descriptions of the horror wrought by Hurricane Katrina, and the hundreds of animals left to fend for themselves in the wake of the storm, brought much attention to the tremendous need for willing hands to help deal with the disaster. At the heart of this story was Kate, a tenacious cattle dog who Jenny immediately bonded with and went through significant effort to help save and rehabilitate.
   
   Jenny and I connected on ACD-L and we exchanged a number of emails, some of which are excerpted in her book. Jenny tells her and Kate's story in an unusual way. She not only recounts her journey from her home in MN to the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, LA, and how she eventually brings Kate home with her, but she incorporates the many messages she receives - earthly and spiritual - along the way and weaves them into the fabric of her testimony. This story is not just about her and Kate, or about one facet of the post-Katrina disaster, but it's about how one person helps influence a community to come together to provide support in response to a tragedy. It's also the testament to the love we have for our dogs and how we, as their human companions, have a responsibility to provide for their care. You cannot help but to root for Jenny as she navigates through one obstacle after another in an attempt to provide Kate with medical care and a stable, loving home. She also recounts the efforts of other Lamar-Dixon volunteers who did the same for other abandoned dogs, and you can imagine this effort multiplied by the hundreds of volunteers in the Katrina-stricken areas and beyond who also reached out to do the same.
   
   8 State Hurricane Kate is more than just a story, as it serves two distinct purposes. The first is to educate the public about the need for disaster-preparedness for pets and livestock. The second is to provide catharsis for those who lost animals during Katrina, as well as those who gave their time, energy and hearts to help save those who survived and had no place to go. Kate is the symbol for the power of Spirit in times of great adversity.



2. I read this book within 4 days of receiving it and find it to be one of the best books ever written. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves pets to realize what really happens in a disaster and hopefully prepare better. If anyone reading your book can still leave their pets behind they have no heart and shouldnt have pets to begin with. I have 3 ACDs and wouldnt trade them for the world. I think they are greatly misunderstood and are given away to shelters or rescue groups because people just dont know how to handle them. Anyone who truly knows ACDs will know they would never give up on their people, so please do not give up on them. ACDs love their people more than anything. I think that eludes a lot of people that want to give them away because they are so independent. This book is so well written that you can feel the experience as best one can without actually having gone through it. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves dogs and that has dogs so you may better prepare in the event of an unfortunate disaster. Thank you for all you've done for Kate and bringing great awareness to ACDs.
   Aloha, Debbie.



3. I joined the ACD-L and caught kates story at the end. Jenny did a great job at decribing what it was like to be on the lines during the hurricane and and the frustration rescuers went through. She also showed love and the courage it took to love one dog through all the trials and trubulations and not to give up no matter what. I read the book in 2 days and cried the whole time but couldn't put it down. This book really opens your eyes to how hard rescue works on saving lives.I reccomend everyone read it and if they can volunteer to help a animal in need in any way to go do it. It does make a difference in the animlas life.8 State Hurricane Kate: The Journey and Legacy of a Katrina Cattle Dog



4. I'll try to express how I felt when reading this book....I bought this book initially because through ACD-L and emails, I knew about Kate and what the author had gone through and because 1/2 of the proceeds were going to rescue. But from the first page, I was hooked. The emotion and passion that rose up from each page seemed to grab hold of me. I found myself horror-struck by the devastation, the sense of being overwhelmed by so many dogs needing help at Lamar-Dixon, her sheer joy at getting Kate out of there and then immeasurable grief over Rainbow, Pip and finally Kate. I found myself applauding out loud in places (when you told the admin police at Lamar-Dixon exactly what you were going to do) and I cried with you over your losses. The book brought out so many emotions in me I can't begin to name them all. Most of us want to be better people, but she actually became that person. When I think about this book, these words come to mind - Hope, strength, faith and love.
   I could go on for hours, I find myself thinking about Kate and the other Katrina dogs and animals. And I know that should the need ever arise, I will be there ready to help. This true story of one woman's courage, love, and faith is absolutley inspiring. I laughed, cried and cheered as I read. Through every difficulty and heartbreak she encountered in her quest to help Kate, she always found the strength to find a way. Her feelings come right off the page - you feel what she feels. Kate is a remarkable dog. Jenny is a remarkable woman - it's no wonder they found each other. Reading this touched my soul.



5. Something so devastating became a positive force in the life of one woman who discovered strength inside herself by rushing to the aid of hundreds of homeless animals. Jenny's journey to aid the animals of New Orleans became another important block in the foundation of a nationwide network of people who work together to help animals in need. The pages of this book are not just full of a story but an amazing collection of necessary information and resources for any pet owner in case of an emergency and a comprehensive list of rescue agencies. Following Jenny on her journey to New Orleans and back is an exploration of the ties between humans and animals, grief and recovery, and the spiritual side of lending a hand to those in need.