5 comments about Work Wonders: Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones.

1. Don't read this book and it's text-like companion,"RAW MEATY BONES", unless you are ready to copletely revamp your feeding philosophy with your dog or cat. The guilt feelings sure to be part of your psyche after learning the facts, will, however, be tempered by your new found knowledge. and will lead to the wisdom to help others. Oh, those years of doing it wrong at the expense of those four footed friends who were powerless to voice their discomfort. Thank you, Tom Lonsde. Your parents did not waste your tuition money. It was my parents whow wasted my tuition, having produced an idiot who went along believing thqt pet foodcompanies gave a damn about our little guys.



2. If you want to show your pets how much you love them,then buy this book and put it into practise,otherwise just open another can and ignore their health.



3. The loss of two of my 'shadows' - a fox terrier and a border collie - from suspected kibble issues prompted buying this book. Having lost four dogs in a month, with nothing in common but the food, I find it amazing that mine are the only ones with problems. My remaining dogs were immediately taken off kibble. They vary from a small BC cross to a German Shepherd. All have taken to real food well. With due respect to the ones rating it low after having had problems...I'd take a $2500 vet bill over the loss of a beloved show prospect and the loss of the last daughter of my old girl (lost to cancer in '06). They cannot be replaced - there is no future with them.
   
   This book is a good overview of the basics, the good things and the not good things (where it's pointed out DO NOT give wings to large breeds due to possible choking when they gulp without chewing). My sheltie shadow has had the biggest adjustment as it takes him a little bit to navigate the food.
   
   However there's benefits that go beyond health. Meals are a bit of a feeding frenzy with multiple dogs anyway (even when separated). However, when all have had a chicken quarter they lay down content, sleep far more soundly than when they'd get kibble. I don't envision feeding kangaroo tails as that's not a reliable source; and it's a little more difficult to find reasonable priced rabbit etc. But the immediate difference in the attitudes of the dogs after eating is marked. There's a contentment that is hard to describe but easy to see. They also no longer eat then look pregnant (but there's nothing wrong with the kibble?) and/or vomit or simply go to sleep and not wake up.
   
   Good reading, some good ideas. I *much* prefer feeding liver every couple of weeks as recommended here rather than daily...although I might go in between and do once per week with mine. The stressing of different kinds of meat was interesting as well. Am not quite done with it - have read quite a bit on the subject online as well.
   I wish I could go back and start this a month ago - Hatter and Fly would still be here. But for other dogs...highly recommend this method of feeding and this book as a primer.



4. This book should be essential reading to anyone buying a new pup or kitten. I think many vets should read it too...
   
   A simple and easy to read guide for feeding your pets based around sound scientific principles rather than faulty reasonings. Lonsdale clearly puts forward his case for feeding a raw diet. I found the observation charts from zoos especially interesting as they clearly prove the claims of 'stomach content' eating are false.
   
   No special supplements, no pushing commercial products just common sense backed by years of research and observations.



5. This book is specifically targeted to beginners. People who have been feeding raw for a while aren't going to find it that great but there's a wealth of information for the newbie. Easy to follow and engaging, covers all the practicalities involved with raw feeding from what to feed, sources for meat as well as information about WHY to feed raw.

5 comments about Dogs are from Neptune.

1. The book is well written and easy to read. The book is set up in a Questions and Answer format. Someone, generally another trainer, submits a problem dog issue and then the author gives her recommendation. The answers sound and use positive dog training methods. However, the answers are brief and only give you a superficial beginning/understanding of the solution. It is a good book if you want an overview of handling several dog issues.
   
   My trainer suggested this book along with several others to help with my fearful dog. I found a few good ideas, but since the book only has a small section on this issue, I did not find it as helpful as other books I have read. If you have a fearful dog, I would highly recommend "Scaredy Dog! Understanding and Rehabilitating Your Reactive Dog" by Ali Brown.
   
   If you are looking for some quick suggestions on several dog issues, this would be a good book. If you want some in depth understanding and suggestions on a specific problem, I would suggest you skip this book.



2. After struggling through The Culture Clash, I found Dogs are from Neptune to be a much easier, more outlined reading experience. The book is organized around problem areas and while much of the training recommendations are repeated, it still gives the reader clear cut, easy to follow training suggestions. I have used the book as a resource guide many times when working with my cattle dog foster dogs and coaching other foster families. Dog owners looking for a quick fix may be dismayed at the amount of training she recommends to solve dog behavior issues. However, I have found her suggestions to work well. I still recommend The Culture Clash as a necessary read along with Dogs are from Neptune, however expect this book to be much easier to follow.



3. Easy to read, clear and sensible advice given in response to 'real life' scarios and dog problems.



4. Jean Donaldson is one of the world's foremost experts on how dogs learn and how to teach them. Her methods are humane, based on the well-studied science of behaviorism, not stressful or harmful to dogs, and very, very effective.
   
   The gems in this book are practical solutions to the everyday problems dog owners face, with just enough information thrown in so that dog owners can understand why their old methods didn't work, why these methods do work, and how to apply the principles to other situations.
   
   Ms. Donaldson's most famous book, Culture Clash, goes into much more detail about the learning theory, how dogs think, and why we so often use the worst possible methods to train them. It is less a "how to" book than a "why" book. For people whose dogs are giving them fits, Dogs are from Neptune is the book to start with. Then, follow up with Culture Clash for a deeper understanding.
   
   As a dog trainer specializing in behavior problems, I often recommend Neptune to my clients and they love it!



5. And, like all advice columns, sometimes you get an answer to your question, and sometimes you don't. There is a lot of good information on behaviorism buried in the recommendations...but sometimes you have to read about a completely unrelated training issue to find out about things like desensitization and counter-conditioning. If you have the time, definitely read entries on more than just the issue that interests you.
   
   There is also a bit more jargon in here than I thought was strictly necessary - if you don't have the concepts of behaviorism and learning theory down, you probably need to read another book before this one. Try such gems as Sophia Yin's "How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves," which introduces the concepts *first,* then shows you how to apply them. Also check out anything by Patricia McConnell, who not only knows her stuff, but knows how to teach it.

5 comments about We Give Our Hearts to Dogs to Tear: Intimations of their Immortality.

1. Alston Chase has discovered a way of involving his readers both emotionally and pragmatically with this book about Jack Russell terriers. His insights into our love of dogs and our propensity to try to control nature and the environment in which we live are thought provoking. It is refreshing to read about a family that embraces not only their natural surroundings but their own human nature, without the need to purify or "improve" them. Lovers of the Jack Russells will appreciate Mr. Chases' insights into their nature, but there is much more to receive from this book than simply a treatise on this determined little breed.



2. This modern-day Pioneer family gave up a secure life as a tenured college Professor of Philosophy to venture West to the sparsely populated state of Montana, complete with primative living conditions and harsh winters. By doing so, they connected with the land, their many dogs and themselves. While reading the book, I obtained a new meaning of my love for our little companions, and why we are so willing to expose ourselves to the sorrow we know we will suffer when their short lives are over. I highly recommend the book!



3. On one level, this is a book about the Chases' retreat to Montana wilderness and their discovery of the treasures around them, including the Jack Russell Terriers they began to acquire. But it runs deeper than that, and explores what dogs are and need to be, and how breeders are ruining them by heeding human criteria, such as form and size, and ignoring the genetic traits that keep a breed viable and healthy.
   
   But this is also a love story, about how the Chases and their Jack Russells (and other pets) deal with each other, and how their differing personalities give and receive differing commitments and differing forms of love. There are passages of great tenderness here, but also passages of speculation: do animals have anything we might call a soul, anything that might transcend death? Might we ever be reunited with our pets beyond the grave?
   
   There is warning here as well: we stand on a precipice. If dogs continue to be bred for purely human criteria such as those imposed by the AKC, and not for those qualities that yield a healthy, athletic animal, the time is not far off when some breeds will be ruined. They will suffer more and more disorders such as deformity, and fewer live births.
   
   This is a love song, and we need to listen to Alston Chase's music.



4. For me this precious read is best served with tea, a cozy chair, and a ray of light pouring through a window. I waited each day for just the right moment to pick it up. It is a book to savor.
   
   I understand that Alston Chase is quite the intellectual - the author of several very heady reads. I have to say that in "We Give Our Hearts To Dogs To Tear" I can see the heart of the author, splayed for all the world to see.
   
   This book takes the reader aside from the hustle and bustle of life and drops into the true essence of living. Maybe that shift is seen through a canine friend's field of vision or maybe because of these canine friends Alston Chase has made that shift himself.
   
   "We Give Our Hearts To Dogs To Tear" is reflective of days gone by, of pioneers, and grit, and lasting love.
   
   Thank you for such an endearing read.



5. Alston Chase has gone against the popular grain with his fascinating account of life on the edge of the wild in Montana with several generations of real, sometimes difficult Jack Russell terriers. They may be "cute" but they are first and foremost working dogs, with bold hearts and ambitions bigger than their bodies. While he may make you cry, Chase is never cheaply sentimental. In a time when too many people reduce dogs to surrogate children or toys, he reminds us what remarkable creatures real dogs are, and how strong a bond they will make with their human partners.

5 comments about Goldendoodle (Designer Dog).

1. This book might be what you are looking for IF you are planning to get a Goldendoodle. The first 2 chapters are spent telling you stories about how Goldendoodles came to be and what great dogs they are. If you already know how great these dogs are, it's nice to read from someone that loves doodles so much, but it wasn't really informative. I was really hoping to get more specific insight for training tips, different stages in their lives, maybe more pictures of how they keep changing during their first year of life, how often to bathe, more practical tips. It has useful information on how to find a breeder and what to look for. As an owner of a Goldendoodle puppy, it was enjoyable to read but didn't get my questions answered :)



2. 
   perfect companion piece to the 'puppies for dummies' book, if Goldendoodles are your thing.



3. Interesting content on the development of this "non-breed" but not particulary helpful for what I was looking for. I would've liked to see the puppy coat types as they change develop into dogs...important for picking out a pup from a litter. The chapter titled "Breeding" shoud be changed to "genetics" or something, I was frightened it would be a "How-to" chapter...thankfully it was NOT.
   
   Also, I think it has some of the most disappointing Goldendoodle photography out there! I have been surfing the web and have found much better looking pictures and more variations of Goldendoodles (coat types, colors, sizes, natural/clipped coats) than this book offers. So if you are looking for pictures, I would just do an image search...it turns up much more satifying results.
   
   The "Puppy Aquisitions" assumes the only way to geta Goldendoodle is through a breeder. Some tips and info on finding one through a rescue or shelter wouldve been nice.
   
   Overall it was an interesting study of the recent history of this mixed breed.



4. I loved all the photographs and informative tips about goldendoodles that were in this book. We got our new puppy from the author and she did a wonderful job raising our pup for us until we took her home.



5. As the soon to be owner of a goldendoodle pup I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of this book. I couldn't find any other books on these marvelous dogs. I sat down to read a few pages and found myself reading it cover to cover. It is an easy read- packed full of useful information for someone considering a goldendoodle, as well as the new owner and some fun facts as well. I especially love the enthusiasm that comes through by the author. You can tell Kathryn loves these dogs and knows her stuff. The pictures are great too! Now I really can't wait to get my pup!

5 comments about Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook.

1. I am disabled, wanting to train my own dog before the disability gets worse. This is so well-written and yet concise. The photos are helpful, as well as personal examples of things which might happen. Thanks!!



2. This book is a useful "owner's manual" for handicapped people who have worked with one of the established training and placement agencies to acquire a trained service dog. It is full of information about the training received by the handicapped person at the training facility, on how to use and care for the the new dog, commands the dog may have been trained to obey, and even how to deal with the loss of the companion and helper of possibly many years.
   This book will not be of as much use to those handicapped persons who are training their own service dogs.



3. I was truly disappointed with this book
   The authors address and dismiss owner-trained dogs in one sentence.
   With over half the assistance dogs in America owner trained, I think it deserves at the very least a chapter.
   It would behoove them to include the TEAMWORK books by Stewart Nordensson and Lydia Kelly as a reference.
   There are so many people who can use a service dog and so few programs available that any book on the subject ought to include the possibility of independently training such a dog.
   However this book would be a good gift for anyone with an aging service dog. It handles the loss of a dog with compassion.



4. I think this book was interesting but it was not really what I was looking for. I was looking for more indepth training info.



5. As a SD user I did not find this book particularly helpful. I think it would have been helpful to read before I got my SD, but after 18 months together we are a solid working team. The part on the death of the SD was the only thing that really meant anything to me, as I am yet to confront this. I found much of it to be brief and not offering anything new to me. It is certainly the best overall book I have read on SD, but it is really only geared to those who are obtaining a dog for the first time from a program.

5 comments about American Pit Bull Terrier Handbook (Barron's Pet Handbooks).

1. This book is great reading for someone who is or will be a first-time APBT puppy owner. It explains the special needs of these great dogs and why they've developed a bad reputation. If you are looking for more extensive info on training and activities for you and your dog, i recommend another book.



2. The book is excellent and provides a usefull information for raise and American Pitbull Terrier



3. This book was helpful when I first got my APT a few years back. Besides teaching you the basics of taking care of him/her, it also goes into how the breed has been abused and misinterpreted. American Pitbull Terriers can be the most loyal and friendliest of dogs, if taken care of properly. (I can attest to that, being a former owner).



4. This book gives a truthful picture of APBT's. It also has exclent information on caring for this breed through it's life. I purchased it for my mother, who was nervous about the breed, before I adopted my dog. After reading the book she was looking forward to having the adition to the family come and was sharing her new found info with friends and family who had negitive reactions when hearing I was getting an APBT. An exclent book to have on hand and share with those intrested in the breed, who own the breed, and who don't know the breed.



5. Even though I knew that this dog wasn't as "mean and aggressive" as people made it seem, this book was extremely interesting and i learned many new facts. Besides being a great care-guide, it explains the breed's character and history.Everything that you would ever want to know about the American Pit Bull Terrier can be found in this book, accuratly portrayed.The book is clear on how to prevent accidental fights and that this great dog should only be owned by responsible people. Hopefully the APBT will one day gain the respect they deserve and people will know the truth about them.

4 comments about Siberian Huskies Complete Owner's Manual.

1. 
   
   
   book was excellant, came quickly, and was in great condition.



2. Although relatively small (75 pages), this paperback covers a little bit of everything pertaining to Sibes. From breed standards to training to breeding. For it's price it covers a lot of ground but might not go into the detail one might expect from a larger book. However, for it's size and price I feel it is an excellent book worthy of purchase for any owner of the Siberian Husky.



3. Exellent! Out of all the Siberian Husky books I have read, which is about 6, this one was the most helpful. I have a Husky of my own and if I could say something about this book is that it was so helpful! I recomend it for all want to be and all owners of Siberian Huskies!



4. This small book could not have hoped to cover "Everything..." as it claims, but I have found it to be useful on many occasions. It provides a general guide to almost every conceivable situation and concern, providing the quality of advice a new owner needs. An owner of a new sibe puppy will want to supplement this book, so they should consult their breeder-use an established husky kennel, not a backyard breeder-other texts, and their vet. Other topics, like medical/health and diet, will likewise be covered in more detail in other places. Don't stop with this book but do get it if you are with sibe. And hang on to that leash!

5 comments about The Black Dog Summer on the Vineyard Cookbook.

1. A nice collection of easy, low key recipes. Very nice addition to one's library of casual cooking.



2. As a regular buyer and user of cookbooks, this cookbook is one of the easiest to use and has loads of good recepies. Several of the recipes are now part of my daily menu plans. My family especially likes the Pork Cutlets with Madiera Sauce. Plus, finding a Stuffed Quahogs receipe that is so much like my grandmother-in-law's famous Quahogs is a rare find!



3. I like cookbooks with lots of beautiful pictures and this one rates five stars for its pictures and interesting stories. I like recipes that use ingredients most of us have in our kitchens although recipes with the more exotic ingredients are welcome, too. Recipes have to be easy to prepare and not too time-consuming. Black Dog scores points here, also. But, the bottom line is, are you happy with the end result of all your labors and would you make the recipe again. So far, Black Dog fulfills this requirement with the recipes I have tried. For instance, the clam chowder recipe is excellent. I highly recommend this cookbook. I think it would make a great gift for the novice as well as "seasoned" cook.



4. This is one of my favorite cookbooks, both to cook from and to simply read and look at. The recipes are easily presented and simple to follow. That comes in handy, since its versatility covers breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts while combining a true sense of the summer lifestyle on Martha's Vineyard. It's a funny cookbook, beautifully photographed and -- no other word fits -- lovingly presented.
   
   Among my favorite recipes: The simple pasta putanesca and the fish chowder are ones you'll rely upon time and again. The recipes are true restaurant combinations, meaning they're a little more forgiving than recipes developed mostly out of test kitchens or home economics departments. Flavors adapt easily to home cooks' preferences for more or less spice, more or less fuss.
   
   A good thing about this book is that the dishes coordinate well with each other. It's easy to come up with a full dinner menu out of this book. A brunch could easily be built around the breakfast-lunch chapters and impress the most discriminating palates. Same with dinner; present what you see, and you'll wow your family, your guests or simply give yourself a treat.



5. As a self-professed foodie, I am opposed to destination restaurants at any level. However, I happened to glance at this cookbook (mostly to reaffirm my beliefs) and was so surprised I bought it. I have to say, everything I've tried has been a 'do-over' at my house (which is high praise coming from my now spoiled family!) Easy, yet very tasty, makes me (almost) want to stand in line for an hour for breakfast this summer!

5 comments about Dog Train CD: And 16 Other Improbable Songs.

1. My kids, ages 2 to 10 all love this cd! Great to sing, dance, act along with! You can just imagine those penquins singing! Such Fun!!!



2. My kids and I LOVE this CD. This is more of a rock cd compared to the other Boynton CDs (Phila Chickens, Rhino Tap) that are kids music. Blue Moo is more on this level - but 50's & 60's style music. My favorite song is DOg Train - but I guess that is because I love the Blues Travelers. There are other great artists on there - Hootie & the Blowfish, the Spin Doctors, the Bacon Brothers, etc. This is a CD that I can listen to and enjoy. Some of the music that my kids listen to is very child-like which is fine - but sometimes I just can't listen to that kind of music in the car. I need something that won't drive me crazy when I am singing it in my head for the rest of the day.



3. My now 8mo daughter received this for Christmas. At first, I wasn't as crazy about it as the Philadelphia Chickens CD. However, it's made its way into the vehicle's music rotation and has grown on me. There are very few CDs that my daughter will tolerate, and this is one of them. It took some time for me to warm up to the CD, but most of the songs are amusing. I do find the Cow Planet songs irritating, and consequently they are skipped, hence the 4-star rating.



4. I have other CDs from Sandra Boyton and group. This CD just is not as good. The songs are not charming, witty or catchy, unlike the other CDs Sandra Boyton has been involved with. I probably would purchase other CDs from this group, with the hope they would be as good as the others I have.



5. My 6 yr old and 4 yr old girls LOVE this CD/book combination. The music is fun, the book is colorful. As an adult, this is the best kids music I've heard. Often times I find myself singing the songs without the kids around.

5 comments about ABC.

1. We originally found this book at the library. We wore it out in the two weeks we had it. The only problem was when the book was put together it was not in order. My kids wanted to check it out again but I was afraid they would think that was the order of the alphabet so I ordered them their own copy. The pictures are great and they will use the phrases from each letter over and over again. It's helped my three year old recognize letters everywhere. We bought a few more Wegman books because we enjoyed this one sooo much!



2. This was one of my son's first favorite books. He would listen to me read it as many times as I was willing, and because of Wegman's non-cutesy approach, that was many times indeed. Although the dog-formed letters aren't as clear as text, they don't need to be - there are many other instances of the letters on each page, and hearing them is as important as seeing them. Overall, a great experience in enjoying reading for parent and child alike.



3. This book made me wish learning the a-b-c's were this much fun back in my own childhood. The photos are amazingly original and your kids will truly enjoy coming back to their letter lessons with Wegman's adorable dogs. A very fresh approach to teaching! NOTE: check out Wegman's fairy tales featuring his prize dogs too.



4. My 5 year old son has this book memorized. He laughs everytime he reads it. It has also been very helpful in teaching him the alphabet. It is an especially fun book for us since our pet is a Weimeraner.



5. Funny with a different sense of humor. Characters become quickly familiar. My two-year old's favorite (and I don't even like dogs!).