2 comments about Bulldog (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

1. Bulldog (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series)
   This is an excellent buy. Definitely to be HIGHLY recommended



2. The cover picture alone would be reason enough to buy this book. The book itself, though, is a very good manual for bulldog owners and has lots of other pictures scattered throughout. A very good purchase.

4 comments about Unleashing the Velcro Dog - Training Your Agility Dog to Love Working at a Distance.

1. I run agility with my dog, Katy, and she is a l00 times faster than I am. I am really holding her back by trying to run with her. This book is an easy read with great directions and with a little practice, I am sure Katy will happily be running much faster "at a distance" from her pokey handler.



2. The book delivers as promises, brilliant graphics and easy to understand course design drawings. The explanations also make good sense and is easy to understand, but I'd rate this book for someone at the intermediate level. It isn't too difficult, and I am assuming that the author intended it as a guide for someone who has started agility training.



3. Jane Simmons-Moake does it again! This great training guide is a must for serious competitors and weekend warriors alike. Easy to follow, easy to read with extremely detailed instructions, this book guides even the relatively unexperienced trainer from the basics of distances work right through the upper levels of competition.
   
   The illustrations are extremely detailed and provide excellent visual additions to the written explanations. Jane not only takes you through the basics, but explains how to troubleshoot each section should things go wrong and always gives suggestions for adding difficulty once your dog has mastered the basics.
   
   Most of the exercises Jane has devised are simple enough to fit in a moderately sized back yard and require a minimum number of obstacles. The book makes a wonderful training partner for those who train alone with a limited amount of equipment and space. The amazing number of variations of each sequence allows you to set up one exercise at the begining of the week and work for several days before having to reposition obstacles.
   
   It's just simply a "got to have" for agility trainers every where!
   



4. I really love this book!
   This excellent-quality, sizable work takes you from the all-important foundation skills for distance training all the way through to mastering huge distance challenges. The explanations are clear and logical throughout. I especially like that the author includes valuable advice about what to do if you encounter problems along the way. So many dog training books leave out this important information.
   I also really like the format of this book. The relatively large 7-1/2" x 10" format allows for easy-to-read illustrations to be near the supporting text. Though it is a hardcover (which I greatly prefer over spiral-bound books because of their permanence), the book remains flat when opened to a page during my training sessions.
   Jane Simmons-Moake has another winner with this book! If you've ever seen her dogs and her students' dogs compete, you know how successful she is at getting dogs to work very quickly and enthusiastically at a distance. Every agility enthusiast needs this book in his or her training library!
   
   topdog;

5 comments about Manstopper!: Training a Canine Guardian.

1. After reading this book, I came away with a better understanding of the canine mind in general and the canine protector specifically. The book was written in an easy to read and understand yet compelling way. The author not only gives a good look into how to train your canine guardian but also the reasons why you shouldn't. I would recommend it to anyone remotely interested in this subject and I plan on purchasing his obedience training books shortly.



2. This book is a jumble of poorly thought out and untested idea's. The author uses bad examples to try and prove his points, but it isn't hard to see that he literally doesn't know what he's talking about.
   It only sells because idiot "sic'em" dog trainers buy it.



3. Although this book promises an engaging subject, the style of writing, less than exciting stories, and minute passages of actual training knowledge are enough to make one choose to read the tax codes over this waste of paper. The multiple interjected "stories" and comments about alledged events during training, detract from any useful information, which in and of itself is difficult to find. Very disappointing.



4. I highly recommend this book in tandem with "Dog Logic". Even if you have zero interest in protection training (and let's be honest--even Joel says it's not something you do from a book!) this book gives valuable insight into how to think "associatively" like a dog does. It's great information to help identify where current problems may have cropped up from, and to help you think ahead to prevent improper associations in your training routine.



5. "Manstopper!" is a must read if you are interested in protection work. Overall this book was a great read. Entertaining yet informative and what I enjoyed the most was the author's obvious love for dogs that surfaced in his work with them and in his writing. It was not a how to guide for training a killer, and anyone who claims they used it as such did not heed the advice given by the author.
   Not only did he warn potential manstopper owners of the financial and moral responsinility of owning protection trained dogs, he also warns about training the wrong dog for this work. This is terribly important because most owners assume any German Shepherd, Rottie, or Doberman can do protection work. If I had not bought this book I may have made a big mistake and trained my German Shepherd mix for protection. His temperment was just not right for it but I never knew until I read this.

1 comments about Bandit: The Heart-Warming True Story of One Dog's Rescue from Death Row.

1. Just like her other book, Animal Happiness, Vicki Hearne really makes you care for Bandit another animal outcast that she rescues. Hearne goes to court and fights for this dog. This is a great, heart-warming tale that any animal lover will fall in love with.

5 comments about Building Blocks for Performance.

1. Whether you are a new dog owner, just got a new puppy, are training an adult dog or are not new to dog training, this book is filled with lots of valuable training techniques, just like the title. Many techniques you teach and use to build upon later. Lots of diagrams, pictures, illustrtations, and lists. Would be great for a 4-H member training a dog or for the casual pet owner just wanting to learn some basic training stuff up through the professional obedience trainer. I refer back to it throughout the year in all my training. Everyone who has a dog should get this book and use it!!



2. When I first ordered the book I never received it from the first company I ordered it from. I finally found the phone # for amazon.com and talk to a respresentive who was very helpful and the book arrived 2 days later from amazon.I never did hear from the original company.



3. The content of this book was great. The author gives a lot of examples of games you can play with your puppy to make training fun. I found several training errors I have been making with my own dogs in this book and, once I saw it in print, could see how that might affect motivation.
   
   Contrary to what another reviewer previously mentioned, this book is NOT full of harsh corrections. In fact, there is not one instance where the author advocates harsh corrections or hard-handed training methods. When she does discuss corrections, it is with a very fair, gentle approach that seeks to get the dog immediately back to a position of earning praise while not letting a situation get to the point where the dog feels like commands are optional. This ENTIRE book is about FUN with your dog and learning how to make training, learning, and being with you something your dog can't wait to do. It is one of the most positive training books I have ever read.
   
   She has great information about the use of food and toys and tells you how to use them appropriately while still making time with you be your dogs ultimate reward. She also talks about how to structure your puppy's life to make the most of your time together.
   
   The author uses many real examples from working with her own dog or from her students. She also has a very nice chapter or two at the end about how to set goals to help yourself be successful with your dog. There are a lot of pictures and boxes highlighting the main ideas or offering in quick bites some additional ideas of how to utilize the information.
   
   The ONLY complaint I have with this book is in its organization. She mentions having your puppy do a sit or a down all throughout the book but doesn't talk about teaching the sit or down until the 3rd to last chapter. She also gives TONS of examples of how to train your dog through play throughout the book but it can leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed feeling like you should train your dog 5 hours a day! It isn't until one of the very last chapters that she gives some ideas of how much set aside training time should be done each day and also talks about incorporating 30 seconds here or there as you are doing something else with the puppy anyway.
   
   I would definitely consider this book a must-have. I plan to try to read it at least one more time before my next performance puppy arrives.



4. This is a fabulous guide for starting a puppy to be any kind of competition dog. It shows you how to train your puppy, through day-to-day interaction, for a playful, confident attitude (you can teach precision later). The authors explain how to gradually move your puppy away from treats training and how to use praise effectively. The book describes how to get your puppy's attention and focus, primarily with games, so your puppy will LOVE to train and work with you. Sidebars describe how to work with some special dog personality types. Read this book before you bring your next puppy home!



5. Although I eagerly hoped for a good book about introducing agility to puppies with positive reinforcement, this book gravely disappointed me. In fact, this book was so filled with punishments ("corrections") of the puppy that I could barely believe that the book had been recently written; it read like dog training books written 20 years ago. It appeared to me that the author had been left behind in the revolution in positive reinforcement dog training. The author's ideas are particularly disturbing because they are applied to puppies.

1 comments about The Dachshund Handbook (Barron's Pet Handbooks).

1. As a recent owner of Dachshunds (a male and two females)with the intent to breed each female at least once, this was one of the most informant books I have read. There are lots of good books available, but I found this to have most of the information under one cover.

5 comments about A New Owner's Guide to Australian Cattle Dogs (New Owner's Guide To...).

1. Most of this book contains some information that a first time owner would find useful. I would have like to see some more information in the behavior section and on the breed characteristics. I did find it appalling that they said some owner considered euthanasia an option for some overly agressive dogs (What kind of dog person writes that in their book).



2. good book .. nothing to write home about .. a bit wordy .. a lot of history that I did not care about, I just wanted a good manual ..



3. I highly recommend this book. It provides everything that you need to know about your Cattle Dog. It has great detail/history, explanations, and it's easy to understand. I've followed the instructions and training tips that have been provided in this book to raise, and train my 12 week old Cattle Dog. The results have been outstanding. My puppy is responding just as the book stated that he would. Goodluck, it's worth your money!!



4. There he was. A cute little red and white puppy with big brown eyes. He melted my heart instantly. This was the first time in over twelve years that I had been completely bowled over by a dog. I had a dog, a beautiful spaniel/terrier mix that went by the name of Topper. She was my pride and joy and when I had to put her to sleep I really thought I was never going to be taken in by another dog until I saw him.
   
   I really didn't ask any questions about this dog. I didn't even know it was a male until I got him home. We named him "Bongo" because before he took off running, he beat the ground with his paws. Speaking of paws, all my friends' looked at them and told me he was going to be huge. I refused to believe it. Not my baby. Maybe he would weigh 35...40 lbs tops.
   
   Little did we know that our baby was part Mastadon. In less than aweek he grew three inches in all directions. The solid white parts were giving way to little red freckles, the angelic look he used to give me in the morning was becoming steadily more demonic and at the end of a month, we had something on our hands that was about as friendly as a Tazmanian Devil.
   
   What the hell kind of dog is this, anyway?
   
   We had a friend tell us that Bongo was an Australian Cattle Dog. Known for their inexhaustive energy stores. This dog was used to rounding up cattle and then after it rounded up a few hundred steers, it wanted to fetch a few dozen times and then maybe go on a brisk twenty mile hike. The dog was literally buzzing from morning to night.
   
   And tempermental...oh man, you don't know the half of it. He would flip his dog dish and grumble when he was disatisfied, he'd yell at the cats and push them over with his extra large head, he'd try and knock my feet out from under me all while getting bigger and bigger and bigger.
   
   We went to the bookstore one day and loaded up our arms with all kinds of reading materials. This book plainly says that the cattledog is a completely different kind of dog. No kidding. We even wanted Cesar Milan to pay a housecall. We were running out of patience, but it turned out, that's exactly what Bongo needed and to be honest, we did too. We took this little guy in not even knowing what to expect. It was kind of unfair to him. But I really was beginning to fall in love with him, even though a few times I wanted to strangle the thing.
   
   Two years later, and after making this book (along with a few others) our Bible, we have a beautiful dog. He's kind, he's gentle, he's loaded with personality and he is just a great addition to our world. This book and its advice works, but you must work with your dog on a regular and consistent basis. You must be willing to know that yes, he is part of the family, but he is still a dog. He's not a human. He's a dog and he wants to be treated like one. He wants boundaries, discipline, affection, and most of all he wants you to notice him. This is not the kind of dog that should be left alone to his own devices, that is unless you want your backyard to look like the moon's surface, your garden hoses to be perforated, and your trees gnawed down to little nubs. You must be willing to give your heart, your soul, and your mind to this breed and I promise you, you will get something incredible in return.
   
   I love my dog. In fact, when I take my dog out for a walk, I just cannot believe why other people would settle for such ugly stupid dogs when they could have something beautiful and wonderful like my beautiful Bongo-Boy.
   
   No, I'm not biased...why?
   
   Get the dog you deserve with the help of this book!
   
   Peace & Blessings...



5. We recently adopted a cattledog mix, going in blind, knowing nothing about the breed. This book was an excellent eye opener and helped overcome a lot of obstacles that may have otherwise caused us to reconsider our choice of puppy.

5 comments about Chicken Soup for the Cat & Dog Lover's Soul: Celebrating Pets as Family with Stories About Cats, Dogs and Other Critters.

1. Chicken soup for the cat and dog lovers soul is a wonderful book that warms my heart and gives me a happy feeling reading thru the stories and the love people feel for there pets. When I recently lost my beloved siamese cat it helped me to feel better about my "furry baby" passing over the rainbow bridge because I knew he had a wonderful life and he knew he was cherished. All the books in the chicken soup series are very uplifting and spirtual and make people smile, I highly recommend them.



2. I have bought many books from this series and found this one to be my favorite. This book is a must for the animal lover. I will read a few stories before bed every night. Some stories bring tears to my eyes and others make me simle from ear to ear. Great book that people of any age will love!!



3. My 10 year-old son tried reading it,and thought the stories were too sad, but I adore this book. Very sweet, humbling stories about good people and good animals.



4. In this volume, Mr. Canfield and crew have compiled a smorgasboard selection of short stories about pets who fortify us and make life bearable. Especially poignant to me was "the medicine cat" as I, too, had one named Tosca. She gave up the ghost a few months ago at the age of eighteen years, as I had no way to get to her when she needed support of the kind she gave to me several years ago. They recognize the special love and devotion of animals to bless our hearts and homes.
   
   "Cat lovers will tell you that felines are 'poetry in motion,' living sculptures at rest, and that the warm weight of a purring cat...is a surefire cure for all that ails you."
   
   It is the physical acts of love to bring the gift of life as expressed in "The Healing Touch." I cried as I read "The Language of the Heart" about an unusual rabbit and his healing the hurt of a little girl who'd turned inward and no longer could talk. Something had died in that child which this loving rabbit cured. His innocence and trust had rekindled the same qualities in the child. The loving presence of an animal can heal where words have no effect. Alas, Roger Rabbit bit the tip off my little finger one day, which led me to the ER for a Saran-wrap bandage (to stop the bleeding -- a bandaid wouldn't work) and a tetanus shot. Needless to say, I found him another home.
   
   "A small gesture -- the insistent tap of a cat's paw" about Jack, an adopted stray kitten (like Dante in Troy, Alabama), who grew into Ellen's savior. He woke her from a daydream of tragedy; Star woke me up with that same gesture over and over so that I would not strangle from Acid Reflux. Pets do love and care for their owners. This volume is one I will treasure for years to come. It is full of memories about pet owners' animals, not just cats and dogs.



5. I really enjoyed this book. The main reason I liked it is because it is all about cats and dogs, and I am a hardcore animal lover. Another reason I liked it is because the stories are not made up in someone's mind. These stories are real stories that real people lived through. The last reason I liked this book so much is because you don't have to read it like an ordinary book. You can read it like I did and just jump around to stories that sound good to you, instead of reading the book cover to cover.

4 comments about Pugs for Dummies.

1. Pugs are a delightful ancient Chinese breed. This book is for all pug owners from the breeder to those who raise show dogs to the happy pet owner. A plethora of information about the breed as well as the specific care pugs require is included. Readers learn to clean the curly tailed dog's facial folds and to finger curl their tails when they are puppies.



2. This book has taught me alot about pugs, especially because I am going to be not only a first time pug owner but also a first time dog owner. I have learned how to be patient in the training process and can't wait to put the skills and training ideas to work!!



3. this is not good enough for the serious pug owner - it is too general regarding dogs but not nearly specific enough regarding pugs. the format is haphazard - one gets the impression that the author has 'read up' on pugs in order to write this book, but i doubt if she had owned or shown a pug. the index is all over the place; avoid this book and buy one by a professional pug expert.



4. This book covers everything you need to know about pugs. From care all the way to breeding and showing.

5 comments about The Pug Handbook (Barron's Pet Handbooks).

1. I have two pugs (11 and 2) This book is the BEST!



2. I found this book a good reference for taking care of pugs. With their little noses pugs use their paws a lot, much like cats to fell around. Their paws are sensitive. Generally pugs are good natured. Like all pure breeds they have their individual needs so this book is a good way to learn about them.



3. Our pug puppy was supposed to come 2 weeks later, then he showed up 24 hours later (long story). We bought this book on our 1st trip to the pet store with the dog in tow. Very helpful information about pug puppies, the history of the pug, grooming, etc etc. This book has helped me relax and feel confident that we are doing everything right for our puppy.



4. I can't say enough about this very informative Pug Handbook. It touches on everything you would ever want to know about pugs and more. This IS the book you want to get, most definitely, if you have a pug, or if you are thinking about getting a pug.
   Thank you Brenda Belmonte for taking the time, to care enough about our pugs, to write such an exceptional Pug Handbook.



5. Having been researching this breed for the past few months, I found this book to be the best. Just about every question you could have about this breed is covered in basic terms that are easy to understand.

   Of particular intrest was the chapter related to the health of the dog. I now feel I am more aware of the needs for pugs, and what type of problems to watch for.

   If you want to learn about pugs, this is a MUST.