4 comments about Bull Terriers (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. A MUST read for anyone considering this breed. A wonderful and very informative book. Very helpful to me in understanding many behaviors of this particular breed, although too much emphasis on AKC opinions, functions etc. Not everyone is interested in the almighty AKC opinions and standards for showing. Sometimes a pet is just that, a beloved pet, not a show dog!



2. For the price, this book gives a fair amount of info on the breed and some great pictures, good beginning book when first learning on the breed, definately recomend.



3. my husband and I had been thinking of getting a Bull Terrier. From the beginning of this book, we kept learning more and more about this wonderful, spunky breed. Well detailed information to include pictures of the different colors of breed, health issues, needs, wants, even showed a picture of the best toy for this dog: a kong. Recommend for anyone who is interested in this breed whether they're buying one soon or just want more knowledge on this "clown dog" :)



4. What a wonderful and beautifully put together book! I know the author is very knowledgable, but this was even more then I expected.
   The organization seemed to flow very well and the pictures were beautiful. This is a must have for all Bull Terrier owners, perspective owners and dog lovers.
   Thank you Mrs. Alexander for all of your hard work to give us this great book!

1 comments about Best Hikes With Dogs: Texas Hill Country And Coast (Best Hikes With Dogs).

1. This is becoming my primary resouce on planning excursions with our dog. I can now be sure that the site will welcome our dog, and we can plan ahead encough to know we are prepared, know where to go, and that we have no surprises.
   
   It includes great planning guides for location, hike distance and duration, elevation change charts, who to call for questions, and unique features in the park.
   
   There is also a good section covering topics which help insure your dog is prepared, and will not experience any ill health effects from the hike.

5 comments about I Just Got a Puppy, What Do I Do?: How to Buy, Train, Understand, and Enjoy Your Puppy.

1. This book has good guidelines and some good ideas. A little behind in some of the "new age" training. But worth buying.



2. This book might be under the level of someone who has spent a lot of time around dogs, but for the first time owner, it is great.
   
   The author covers a lot of topics needed for a new puppy mom or dad. I especially recommend the sections on housebreaking vs. paper training. It also works because it doesn't make assumptions about your puppy. Some dogs are dominant and some dogs are meek, and the book is stronger because not only does it take this into account, it has a guide on determining what type of personality your puppy has.
   
   I grew up around dogs, but never trained a new puppy myself, so this was my bible for the first few months with my shih-tzu. In fact, it was out so much that it has chew marks in the corner. So, while helpful as a guide, be prepared to work with your new family member as well.



3. This book is extremly helpful in assisting the reader in choosing, training and living happily with your puppy.



4. This book has a lot of useful information about puppy development and personality - but it recommends the choke-chain leash-correction training approach, which has been abandoned by many dog trainers. Setting up situations so the puppy gets it right and is then rewarded is much more humane than jerking the poor little one around.



5. Really loved this book. Covered just about everything you need to know.

5 comments about The Bernese Mountain Dog: A Dog of Destiny.

1. Beautiful book with wonderful, accurate information regarding the breed. The photos depict the breed with great accuracy.



2. If you enjoy the BMD breed, this book is a must have. The photos capture the beauty and personality of the Berner much beter than other books that I have seen about the breed.



3. This book sets the standard of "compleatness" on the Bernese Mountain Dog. It is way beyond that of just a typical guidebook. Bernd Guenther has left, proverbially, no stone unturned here. The author's breadth of research, resources, insights, and details are on a level of the highest competence as to be priceless; this kind of preliminary (for the new and even seasoned owner) information cannot be overestimated.
   But it's more than just an information book for breeders and owners; you are made to completely inhabit the world of this legendary, mythological breed. Guenther takes you on a delightful life-guide of several Berners, noting distinct personality traits, whimsical anecdotes, and a good deal of sharp-viewed observations. Without ever being heavy-handed, Guenther takes the reader onto a serious study of the breed. As he makes clear, this is an extraordinary dog, one that needs like considerations. No prospective Berner owner should be without this book, as the author has the kind of sagacity and knowledge that was gleaned as a true lover and connoisseur of not just his own dogs, but for the breed in general. Indeed, some of the information is not to be taken lightly, especially genetic problems, and some tough sacrifices one must potentially make. And - this is a good thing - the book will either make you say a firm "yes" or "no" when considering bringing a Berner into your life. On the one hand, this beautiful, loyal, human-like dog may have you on the phone tomorrow looking for one; on the other, the responsibilities can be made to seem overwhelming - be prepared to GIVE UP your life BB (Before Berner) as you have known it! You cannot get any dog as if you would a piece of furniture, but with Berners, there are absolutely no options: the dog has to be a total part of your family, your life. Guenther makes clear as to what adoption of a Berner entails. Freedom will be limited. Berners are not for jet travelers or workaholics. After reading Guenther's precise requirements, a prospective owner will be made to realize the exacting responsibilities involved. Berners are frighteningly intuitive creatures, and to compromise the existence of them would be sheer misery for them.
   
   Crowning this achievement are the astonishing photos; they will literally make you gasp. Some will bring tears to your eyes. You will see why this breed is the King of Dogs: their physical magnificence is almost unreal. Perhaps the most fascinating set are of one dog, captured from the time of near birth, from every few months, and then to yearly intervals, to near the end of its life.
   
   This is more than just a book: it is an incredible generosity of spirit. Don't even THINK of bringing a Bernese Mountain Dog into your home without it.



4. The Bernese Mountain Dog: A Dog Of Destiny by Bernd Guenter (a member of the Dog Writers Association of America and the World Dog Press Association) is so much more than just a simple coffeetable book of wonderful photographs showcasing a specialized canine breed. The superbly presented and "user friendly" text commences with an introduction and history of the breed, then addresses the "Bernese Mountain Dog Standard". Then their are entire chapters devoted to puppyhood, the adolescent Berner, the adult Berner, showing the Berne (European Style), breeding the Berner, and health issues (including veterinarian selection, vaccinations, deworming, experternal parasites, and specific health problems affecting the breed). Enhanced with appendices for Breed Standards; Useful Addresses; Bibliography; and List of Abbreviations, The Bernese Mountain Dog is comprehensive, exceptionally well written, superbly illustrated throughout, and a "must" addition for the reading list and reference shelf for anyone who's canine companion is the Bernese mountain dog.



5. Every photograph in Bernd's book is literally a work of art. The detail in the photographs and the background scenery just takes your breath away. I especially love the photographs in "The Berner Circle of Life" on pages 134 through 141. Bernd chronicles the life of a newborn berner through his senior years. He has posed the Berner in the same stance from ages 5 weeks through 9 years. It is fascinating to see the progression from a young puppy, to a gangly teenager, to a full grown adult male who is absolutely gorgeous!!

   It is not just the photographs that make this book a "must have" for every Berner person and for those who are seeking information about Berners; the text is also excellent. Bernd Guenter is from Germany and his command of the English language is absolutely amazing!! This fantastic book is full of great
   information about the breed - you can tell that Bernd has lived with Berners and has been around Berners and their people for many years and from many countries. He is able to take his knowledge of Berners and turn it into a most informative and delightful book that is easy to read.

   You will find yourself shaking your head in agreement, laughing at the antics of the Berners, gaining a lot of knowledge about Berners and staying up late at night to finish just one more chapter. It a book that you will treasure forever.

   THANK YOU, BERND, for writing and photographing such a lovely coffee table book about our Berners!!!!!!

5 comments about And Baby Makes Four: A Trimester-by-Trimester Guide to a Baby-Friendly Dog.

1. As a small animal veterinarian who has a passionate interest in companion animal behavior, I didn't want to assume that I already knew everything I needed to know about preparing my dogs for the arrival of my first baby, but after reading this book, I guess I feel like I'm doing everything the way I should. The information is practical, common-sense, and easy to apply. Also very important!! I think the author covers all the main points well. Might be nice if it included a CD of baby sounds, but I already bought one from Dogwise:
   Sounds Good CD - Babies by Terry Ryan.



2. We have two large dogs that live in the house and we're expecting our first child in a few months. I was a little concerned about how to help our dogs adjust to the new arrival. I bought this book with high hopes. It is not bad, but the suggestions are very basic and I didn't agree with all of the suggestions. The author says you should not let your dogs sleep in the bedroom with you and, if they are accustomed to sleeping there now, you should move them out before the baby arrives. It seems like this would just further upset a dog who has been used to sleeping nearby all its life. Our dogs sleep in their crates in our room at night and I see no need to change that arrangement once the baby arrives. The book also includes a large section on basic obedience commands. This is useful if you have never done obedience training, but we've taken our dogs through advanced obedience training and this part was completely unnecessary. I really wanted more tips on how to handle the inevitable baby-dog dilemmas (dogs taking baby's food, dogs licking baby's face, etc.) but I didn't really find the tips I was looking for.



3. And Baby Makes Four is a great book for expecting parents who have 4 legged children living at their house. It is an easy to follow book with practical recommendations for preparing your dog for baby's presence. Most training can be easily implemented into your daily routine with a few simple changes (changing when you feed your dog or changing expectations of your dog). It also include advice about cats. I feel more confident about the exciting day when my baby meets my dog and cat.



4. Great book to read. Provides very good techniques that anyone can use and are not violent/aggressive. Some tips are obvious, but good to read and refresh your mind on how to read and react to your animals behavior.



5. This book gives excellent, clear instruction on how to prepare your fur-kids for the new baby. I didn't get it until my 3rd trimester, but it's still working tremendously well. I highly recommend it!

No comments about Paws & Smell the World: Extraordinary Moments with Man's Best Friend.

5 comments about Pets at Risk: From Allergies to Cancer, Remedies for an Unsuspected Epidemic.

1. I loved this book. Vet (Dr. Churchill - Atlanta, GA) shared it with me. We took blood test of my dog only to find she was not in the normal range. We raised all her levels (cortizone and thyroid) and she is doing great. No more itching, allergies. She eats Royal Canine hypo-allergy and takes meds. Much better than going thru symptoms every 3 months and just getting a steroid shot !! Her coat is even coming in more and she looks healthly. Go get the book and share it with your vet !!! Good luck. Karen and Dominique



2. This Book is a God-Send! I was always at the vet, literally. I was there sometimes multiple times in a week at the bad times, and in the relative good times only a couple times in a month. You see I have 3 dogs and 3 cats, and between them I was literally spending thousands of dollars on vet bills for their various ailments and afflictions.
   
   I was wondering why on earth my animals were always sick. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats that were diagnosed with IBD (Inflamatory Bowel Disease), and all my dogs had allergies with various sorts of secondary skin and ear infections that go with. Not to mention the occasional surgery to remove and biopsy a suspicious looking cyst, or lump that appeared here and there.
   
   I was also spending hundreds of dollars a month on various medications for their chronic conditions. Yet, they just seemed to treat the symptoms and no the cause as my pets still seemed to get getting sicker.
   
   Well, This book gave me the answer! 4 of my 6 animals (My 3 dogs and 1 of my cats) has tested positive for Low Cortisol as described in this book. After putting my animals on the Plechner Protocol (and working with my holistic vet does the testing and follows the protocol) they are now the healthiest they have ever been. So many of seemingly unrelated health problems in aniamls are explained by Low Cortisol and this book.
   
   Buy It! Everyone Pet owner should have a copy. It not only saved me money from tons of vet visits, it most importantly helped me to improve my animals health by treating the root cause, instead of just the symptoms of their health problems.



3. I read this book when my dog was so sick wth chronic ear infections (that were not responding to the typical prescription drugs) that she had to have 2 benadryl every 4 hours--and this is when she was already on a hypoallergenic diet. Three vets said she had food allergies (she did appear to react worse to some foods, and did somewhat better on duck and potato). Two vets said to try an elimination diet. We did, and could hardly add any thing back, as she NEVER seemed to get healthy enough after reacting to a new food to add another food. Well, I read this book in one sitting, and made an appointment immediately with the one vet in our state who is familiar with E&I dogs and Plechner. Our dog tested positive for the disorder--her cortisol levels were less than half than that of a healthy dog. She has only been on the medications for a few days, and she's stopped shaking her head and licking her paws. She's got her old playful attitude back--she hadn't wanted to play her favorite game for a couple of months. The best part is that she will very likely be able to eat well-rounded diet when she's better stabilized. What looked like food allergies was most likely food intolerances caused by her imbalance. Most E&I dogs can eat normal diet unless they have "true" food allergies.I'm in raptures because without this book, my dog would more than likely have struggled all her life with these problems, been treated symptomatically for what was a whole body glandular disorder, and continued to have a poor quality of life. This book is easy to read, compassionate and straightforward. Plechner pulls no punches- the test is expensive, and the medication regimen is usually for life. But he gives countless examples of diseases and symptoms that are often caused by E&I imbalance-- it's amazing and heartening to read that countless problems occur when the animal isn't making enough cortisol, and that these problems are fixable. He gives info technical enough to help any vet treat your animal--even if the vet has never diagnosed an E&I dog before. He sternly explains that E&I treatment won't fix true food allergies---but it will more than likely make symptoms caused by other kinds of allergies disappear. I am buying this book for friends who have chronically sick dogs, and lending my copy out to anyone who is curious. It's well worth the investment. My dog will be the first to agree!



4. Veteranrian Alfred J. Plechner (a practicing graduate from the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine with thirty-five years of clinical work experience), draws upon his years of experience and considerable expertise in Pets At Risk: From Allergies To Cancer, Remedies For An Unsuspected Epidemic spotlights just how endocrine-immune imbalances can cause or exacerbate multiple medical disorders in our beloved animal companions. Offering practical advice for helping imbalanced dogs and cats with supplements; natural remedies for a variety of possible ailments; diet replacement programs, and so much,more, Pets At Risk also stresses the responsibilities pet owners face, as well as exploring the implications these groundbreaking discoveries have for we humans. Pets At Risk is essential, accessible, "reader friendly", and very strongly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Pet Care reference collections and supplemental reading lists.



5. A friend sent me the Plechner book, "Pets At Risk". It went with me on vacation to Puerto Rico, where I read it cover to cover. There I was by the pool, reading avidly about canine endocrine disorders.

   This is an absolutely enthralling read for anyone who cares about their pets' health. Vets have significantly improved their abilities to diagnose diseases, but are still grappling with treating the result versus treating the underlying cause. As an owner who has dealt with issues ranging from cancer to skin allergies to Addison's disease, I found Dr. Plechner's observations and insights providing "Aha!" moments.

   I've already ordered books for each of my vets, in order to discuss whether this treatment could work with some long-term issues in some of our pets.

5 comments about Rottweilers for Dummies.

1. I recommend this book for all rottweiler (and or mix breed) dog owners. The history of the breed will give you a good understanding of the dogs nature. It is quite interesting. The training hints and tips are very helpful. I injoyed reading and following the tips in the margins of the pages. Training will only inhance the dogs loyalty and companionship.



2. This book is well written and contains more than enough information for beginners and most advanced dog owners. If you are considering getting a Rottweiler and want to know what to expect, get this book. If you already own a Rottweiler, this book has excellent tips and hints on the care and well-being of your dog. Thank you to Richard G. Beauchamp for an excellent book.



3. I have a small number of dog books, and this is the most fun one to read! Sure, I totally reccomend it to anyone who owns or is interested in getting a rottie. They are great dogs with wonderful personalities if given the proper environment to grow up in. This book helps you to do that for them, so it is a plus for you and your dog. Easy and fun, that is the best way to learn.



4. I must say that I stumbled upon this book ... about a month and a half ago. A thorough examination of the book provided me with an absolutely great read. Unfortunately, It does not cover every aspect of raising the breed in great detail. However, if you are just beginning research on Rottweilers, reading this book will give you a VERY SOLID FOUNDATION to support your future reading. Your understanding of breed characteristics, history, specific training methods, and even terminology will increase by leaps and bounds. For prospective Rottie owners, this book is a "must have!"

   Best wishes and happy reading,

   Will Marple




5. I just got a seven week old Rottweiler puppy and I needed a reference to help me learn about the breed and to learn basic information to teach the dog certain rituals. I found this book and it is a true gem. This book will teach you about the breed, whether or not the dog is right for you, and a plethora of other useful information about the dog. Rottweilers are actually one of the most loving breeds of dog that there is and one part of the book will help people to realize that these dog are great dogs that are good with children and people if they are treated and taught well from the first day that you bring your dog home.

   This superlative reference is broken up into is broken up into four parts with numerous chapters that fall under that specific topic. The main things that are discussed in this great book are getting to know Rottweilers, where you find out about the dog and whether or not the dog is right for you; the next part is called searching for a soulmate where you get information on knowing what you are looking for in the dog and how to choose what to get; part three of the book discusses how you can keep your Rottweiler in good health by learning about the dog's basic anatomy, feeding and exercise rituals, and health problems; the final part lists ten reasons to own or not to own a Rottweiler, and training and traveling tips. This is a handy reference because of the multitude of topics that are discussed in this book.

   I detracted one star from the book because I felt that the training information in the book was not specific and that I didn't get a great deal of information regarding my dog's habits for doing bathroom rituals. I didn't get a lot of information as to how many times a day I should take my dog out and how often my dog should be fed. Because of this I recommend another book in the "Dummies" series on training dogs.

   As with all "Dummies" books the information that is found here is concise and to the point, written in an easy-to-read manner. I recommend this great reference to anybody that is looking for information on the Rottweiler breed of dogs. These dogs are one of the most loving creatures to walk the planet but this book is very neccesary. If you do not read this book you may be letting your dog do things that may result in long term problems, behavioral or physical. I will be sure to use this book in the future to take care of my Rottweiler. This is a great reference that is worth buying.

   Happy Reading!

5 comments about Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Healthy Life.

1. I bought this book about 8 years ago, when my Boxer wasn't doing well on any commercial diet (I tried a few premium brand foods). He also had lots of other ailments and I was one of my vet's best clients.
   After starting him on Dr. Billinghurst's ORIGINAL diet of raw meaty bones along with vegetables, I haven't needed a vet, except for rabies shots when I wanted to take him with me to Germany, and when he needed stitches in his ear after a fight. I was so happy that he was so healthy!
   Of course, unfortunately there is no guarantee that your dog will not get ill when fed an exclusively raw diet.
   My beautiful boy was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma at the age of 8 years and 9 months. The cell-types were of a kind that couldn't be cured with chemotherapy. We did enjoy another 3 months of playfull and quality time together, until I had to take the final decision.
   My other dog (now 5 years old) has been fed a raw diet since he came to us at age 13 weeks, and has only been to the vet to be chipped and to have his puppy-shots and/or rabies shots. He has never been ill during these past 5 years.
   Since Dr. Billinghurst's book I read a lot of other books on this topic, but I did find his book helpful for the starter on the path to B.A.R.F., that I was then. I re-read it a couple of times throughout the years.
   The only thing that surprised me and I think is a pity, is the price...



2. I found a boon with Dr. Billinghurst's book "Give Your Dog a Bone." I've been an advocate of home made meals for some years now. I knew dogs needed the calcium from bones. I thought it was enough to provide ground bone in their meals. I never anticipated that pets might derive satisfaction from doing what God intended them to. Rip, tear and crunch. My dog, up to that point, had been happily living on pooch meat patties I bought from the market. In this book, Dr. Billinghurst condemned these. He said they robbed a dog of satisfaction.
   
   Made sense to me. My dog is a rescue. She has issues. She needed some satisfaction.
   
   It was so funny giving her her first chicken wing. She had NO idea what to do with it. This really surprised me! She knew she wanted it. She whined and danced around the bone. She licked it and whined some more. My Persian, on the other hand, took to it like Jabba the Hutt.
   
   In the past, she'd had taken only two or three minutes to wolf down her food. Sometimes she'd barf it right back up. Too much, too fast. But with the wings, she takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to eat. She really enjoys her food. Often she makes little noises like a nursing puppy.
   
   To top it off, she had an emotional break through as a result. As an abused dog, Honey had a lot of issues. Some manifested as her over eating. Some manifested as destructive behavior. After putting her on raw meaty bones (complimented with Orbee Tough toys during the day), these behaviors ended. Also, while she remains a very high energy pooch, she is no longer manic.
   
   The sad ending to this story is that, I just discovered Dr. Billinghurst has sold out. I liked his book so much I went looking for more. Sadly, his third book advocates exactly what he condemns in his first book. Prefab doggie meat patties. I guess he smelled the profit factor.
   
   While it's true that a dog can live a happy life on these patties, don't deny your dog the satisfaction of a raw meaty bone.
   
   Also, I have an issue with Brewer's Yeast. If you won't give your pet by-products of a meat plant, why give them by-products of a brewery? Brewer's yeast is bitter and can cause gas. The alternative is often cheaper as well. Because the focus is health. Not making profit off of trash. "Nutritional yeast" is grown specifically for its nutrient qualities. It has a mild cheddar taste that both my dog and my cats love. You can sprinkle it on food or mix it with a little water and flax seed oil to make a yummy and nutritious sauce. As a side note, it goes great on popcorn.



3. Dr. Billinghurst has done it again. This is a great book for Raw feeders, which I am. I use all the Billinghurst books as my "Bible" of raw feeding and information.
   A must have for every raw feeder IMO..



4. Suddenly you realize you are what you eat, and we are all designed to function best with the right diet, man or beast.



5. Good information but very repetitive. The book should include a sample schedule or meal plan for feeding your dog but it doesn't. The author just provides some very broad feeding guidelines. Other than that, the very idea of feeding your dogs the way nature designed them to eat makes perfectly good sense to me. I first experimented with my own dog by giving him a raw chicken wing and my dog devoured it with relish!!! No hesitation there, as there was when I gave him cooked chicken. And indeed, my dog's breath really is sweet after all!!! It's raw from now on for my dog.

5 comments about What the Dogs Have Taught Me: And Other Amazing Things I've Learned.

1. I bought TWO copies of this - - one for me - - I LOVE Merrill's work, and one for a friend who was home recuperating from knee surgery. We shared our thoughts on her funniest essays! A winner!



2. As a great fan of dog stories, I had enjoyed one of this author's tales excerpted in a dog story anthology, and thought that I might relish more of her work. Was I ever WRONG!!! Half or less of the book was related to canines, and then often remotely. Many of her works (this is a compendium of essays) are spoiled by her frequent use of the most vile, crude, and vulgar expletives, always unnecessary and adding nothing to the story. Although humorous on the rarest of occasions, this tome consists mainly of the mindless babblings of the typically self-loathing liberal. Unfit even as a chew toy for your pup!



3. Made me laugh out loud. You can read it in one sitting. Buy it.



4. This book is so freakin' funny I almost can't stand it. The back of my head aches from laughing. All her writing is perfect. She's the kind of girl you want to hang out with so you start sounding like her after a while.



5. i think this is probably the funniest book i've ever read ... people hearing you laugh while reading this will think you have gone insane and you will want to read it to them ... after reading this, i had hoped that merrill markoe had written dozens of other books, but alas, i only found one other (which was also very funny) ... maybe she'll read this and publish more. hope so.