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.

5 comments about Stylish Knits for Dogs: 36 Projects to Knit in a Weekend.

1. I love this book..Dori the "grandpuppy" of one of my friends has too many sweaters to count. All made from the patterns in this book. The "Hoodie" is my favorite and she looked so cute in it. I get bored doing the same thing over and over so I improvised pattern stitches and did different things with them. Dori loved having them on for her walks or just laying around. Fun book and I had no problems with the patterns and was happy with each result.



2. Some patterns are not accurate, looking at the picture. Page 48, the pattern is completely different than what is shown in the picture. I've been knitting for over 50 years, and this is the worst waste of $25.00 for a pattern book I have ever come across. I emailed the publisher, but have yet to hear back.



3. This book is great! I have never made a sweater before. And totally understood the patterns and had excellent results for my little grandpuppy. Highly recommend this book. It's great fun.



4. Thanks to this book I have the best dressed dogs in town. All four of them look great in thier fashionable sweaters. Easy to follow instruction, full color pictures, some mom and pup creations too. I leave it on my coffee table so others can look at it and admire the fun filled pages of "Stylish Knits for Dogs".



5. These instructions were clearly written and there is a pattern for every size doggy.

5 comments about Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution.

1. This is an excellent book, interesting, easy to read, and convincing. My interest in reading the book was in the "origin" of dogs and of dog breeds, and I am convinced by the explanations in this book. Lots of dog stories, lots of biology and ethology. Altogether superb.



2. I found this book loaded with inaccuracies, leaps to conclusions not scientifically supported, poor understanding of the science of evolution, unfair comparisons of natural selection with artificial selection, misinterpretaion, incorrect definition of the science of psychology, lack of positive peer review as evidenced by the source of recommendations on the back cover and generally frustrated reading for even a Master degree dog behaviorist. I'm sorry, but I found it difficult to believe these folks are biologists. It is clear they are not behaviorists although they freely infer that their opinions and statements are related to science based facts.
   
   I am upset that I spent my hard earned money on this book.
   
   I liked the "stories" and personal experience. The authors go against not only the current trends in well-researched theory but against the better judgment of thoughtful dog lovers. It's a wonder to me that people can make a small fortune printing this stuff.



3. After getting my first dog, I went through at least a dozen dog books in a short time, and this was the best of all of them. The author presents well-thought through arguments to present theories in dog evolution, and doesn't rely on common assumptions of dog behavior. If you are tired of dog books that lack a strong biological foundation, this is the book for you.



4. Heard Dr. Coppinger speak at the APDT conference and was fascinated by his theories, and the fact that he's able to change his opinions as insights, training and knowledge evolves. Not someone that's afraid to say he was wrong or has changed his opinion. Some VERY interesting arguments and absolute bolts of insight that should be obvious, but sometimes isn't, things like why infant, puppy, adolescent and adult dogs have different behaviors and why those behaviors aren't carried from one stage of life to the next, heat exchange principles in working dogs (primarily sled dogs, but applies to all dogs), cognitive vs. inherent behaviors, and the argument as to why we wouldn't be thinking of dogs with regard to their "wolf" ancestry, but that they've evolved so far past that the analogy is no longer applicable. A little "wonky" and research"y" in tone, but totally worth the effort for the insights! Scholar meets technician, clearly someone with real world dog experience.



5. Although this is a superb book written by a knowledgeable author I would not know how to rate it as I HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT!

5 comments about Pugs (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. I was disappointed by the lack of information offered in this book. I have other "pug" books that provide more thorough information and advice in raising this breed. This book did not cover certain symptoms my dog was having as to help diagnose him, so that was no help when needed. I would not purchase this book again, nor recommend to anyone else for purchase. The "Pugs for Dummies" book offers a lot more info in all different pug-related categories.



2. As a new house dog owner, I was very pleased that the authors made it well known they were pug owners-- quite the family I might add! What I liked best about the book was how they gave more specifics than another book I bought. For example they showed a diagram of a type of clippers to use or told exact amounts of food they fed their own pugs instead of making generalizations. Nothing was insulting about how they presented the information, all was very helpful, comforting, and resourceful.



3. First, a little background on my experience with pugs: My husband and I have owned (or rather, been owned) by pugs for more than 15 years now. We love them dearly: they make us laugh every day and accompany us everywhere, from our hikes in the woods to a weekend in Carmel. They are friendly, spunky, reliable dogs who we utterly trust with both elderly relatives and children of all ages. They are clever and all of ours have passed basic obedience with flying colors, although they can be stubborn! Pugs are gluttons and are mainly motivated by food, so you have to keep an eye on their weight. But for anyone who is considering purchasing a pug, there are things you should know in advance, especially about their possible health issues.
   
   All of our pugs have been from Pug Rescue, and so came to us with various physical problems and emotional baggage. The emotional issues are easily handled in pugs with affection, discipline and exercise (see:Cesar Milan). Plus, all pugs really want to do is love and be loved, so once you have met that need, they become much more emotionally stable no matter what they have been through.
   
   Physically, however, pugs are prone to all sorts of troubles, many not so easily remedied. Here is a brief list of what we have run into: luxating patellas, dry eye, stenotic nares, nosefold and ear infections, bladder infections, food and skin allergies, immune-mediated polyarthritis, abraded corneas, interdigital cysts; the list goes on.
   Even pug puppies from "good" breeders can have these issues. A couple of our rescue pugs have been from "backyard breeders," people who just breed pugs without really knowing what they are doing. But one of our pugs came from a stellar breeder in L.A. who charges $1200 per puppy (don't ask how this pug came into rescue -- it's a long story) and that pup had serious medical issues too.
   
   All this by way of saying, a pug is a major investment. You may get one that is super healthy, but you may not. Phil Maggitti's book is an extremely helpful "first-glance" book for both people who are considering getting a pug and those who already have one or more. That is, the book is a wonderful introduction to the many aspects of pug ownership. Maggitti does discuss the medical issues but he also does a fantastic job explaining the pug personality, which is not easy to capture! He is a very good writer, and there were times when I found myself laughing out loud at some of his stories, and nodding in agreement at other times. And all this in such a slim volume! This is a gem of a book that no pug person should be without.
   
   One more thing: if you are considering purchasing a pug, you should know that they SHED. They shed TONS, a fact that many breed books will not share with you. Not only do they shed, but their fur (especially the fawns) is barbed, so it sticks onto clothing and upholstery with remarkable tenacity. We have worn out many a vacuum in our quest to subdue the pug hair, but it continues to overwhelm us on a regular basis. I mention this only because a good number of pugs are turned in to rescue because the owner claims "I didn't know they shed so much. I thought shorthaired dogs didn't shed!" Not so. Trust me! If you can get past the tumbleweeds of fuzz, though, pugs really are the best, sweetest, funniest, most loveable dogs you could ever hope to share your life with. We adore them, and so does Phil Maggitti!



4. the book is great and I really feel it has alot of information on how to train pugs... I will be a first time dog owner when I finally get a pug and I feel I have learned alot about dogs and how to handle the situations that pugs can get themselves into without hurting the dogs progress in training or their feelings!!



5. Maybe I was hoping for too much? But I didn't find it particularly in depth. I still had lots of grooming, health and vaccination questions.
   
   On the other hand...this isn't a generic dog health/training book. And the author has several pugs and knows the breed's quirks.
   
   It's the most entertaining dog breed book I've ever read, but not the most informative.

5 comments about It's Not the Dogs, It's the People! A Dog Trainer's Guide to Training Humans.

1. This is an awesome book! If you have watched the Dog Whisperer at all, this book parallels Cesar's style and helps with the interview and talking to people one on one when figuring out what is really going on with the dog and human. If you truly want to help people and their dogs this a good book to get your confidence up and in their door.



2. Although I not a "clicker trainer" (I use those "mean methods"), I enjoyed this book. It has helped me to become a better group training instructor. The author and I might disagree on dog training methodology but we do agree on the people training methods. I have been able to manage the training groups better, with people and their dogs having better learning success. This is a good book for anyone who instructs the public in dog training no matter what method they use.



3. I have been working with dogs for over 30 years and a service dog trainer for the last nine. I have just started my own private training business and this book was a refreshing read. Having worked with many people and their dogs, I could relate to many of the personalities described in the book. Reading this book was positive reinforcement for me and helped me realize that I have many of the tools to get my business up and running. It gives lots of helpful suggestions on how to work "with" people, encouraging them to understand and hopefully agree with you even if your suggestion differs from what they originally thought; making them think it was their idea. Expect the unexpected when working with people and their dogs. Relax and get ready to smile and learn.



4. This is a good book to help teach those at the "other end of the leash." Information can be direct but most communication is by perception.



5. I've been a professional animal trainer for 20 years and I still found this book very helpful. I was a psychology major in college and knew much of the stuff in the book, but I was fascinated by the way Nicole applies many of the principles for dealing with people, to dog training. Everybody can learn something new from this book, and the tips on dealing with the individual personality types was described in detail and applied to a dog training setting. Even the concepts I already knew about were enforced in this book and it helped me to refresh my memory and once again work on my people training skills...because as they say...it really IS not the dogs, it's the people.

1 comments about Boarding Kennel Management, 2nd Edition.

1. If there ever was a expert on this subject, Mr. Kohl is it. He explains the ins and outs of this business in a very human fashion. The book goes into details that anyone interested in managing a boarding kennel must have. This is indeed a detailed guide for the previously un-enlightened.

5 comments about The French Bulldog: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet.

1. This is a great book for Frenchie owners looking to get an idea about the breed and a good resource to keep on hand.



2. I only gave this book one star as this book seems geared strictly towards new dog owners. The Frenchie photos are cute, but not much info that I could use.



3. This is a great book for any Frenchie owner. Unlike some books which claim to be breed specific but aren't this book contains lots of information on French Bulldogs. It covers housebreaking, Feeding, Grooming, Health and so much more. There are lots of great photos as well. I got this book shortly before getting my Frenchie, and it was so helpful. It's written in a way that someone new to the breed like me, or someone that is intreseted in a pet rather then a showdog can understand. This is a book written by a true Frenchie lover, for Frenchie lovers and newbies.



4. I have read and reread this book numerous times. I have owned Frenchies for nearly ten years and this is hands down the single best overall basics on the breed. The author presents important information in an engaging, straight forward manner and is a world renowned expert in Frenchies. If you are considering a frenchie or have recently added one to your family, this book will be an invaluable resource.



5. I bought this book when we were leaning towards getting a French Bulldog and wanted more in-depth information. The author is a well-respected breeder of Frenchies with many years of experience. She knows what she is talking about first-hand. This is a great book for anyone considering adding a Frenchie to their family. It is full of all the information you need without excessive information that would overwhelm someone trying to decide if this is the right breed for them. Read this book and you will be well prepared for your flat-faced family member on arrival!

5 comments about Good Dog 101: Easy Lessons to Train Your Dog the Happy, Healthy Way.

1. I never had a puppy before, just adult rescue dogs. When I got my 8 week-old puppy, I was unprepared for his crying and howling when left in his crate, or his needle sharp teeth when playing. I got this book just in time! It solved the problem of crying in his crate, and now he is a pleasure to play with (I found out all about bite inhibition training!). Many of these things are important to know about while the pup is young. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a dog of any age, but especially to anyone considering getting a puppy. The author presents a style of training that is logical and very kind, and promotes a great relationship between you and your dog!



2. My bookshelves are crammed with Dog Training books of all types and sizes. Most look unread without dog-eared pages or stressed bindings barely holding the pages in place. It's not that I haven't read them, it's that once read they become just silent clutter on my bookshelves, never to be picked up and pored over again.
   
   A few dog training books, however, are tattered and worn with little more then a rubber band keeping their pages together. Donaldson's The Culture Clash is one of these books, as will surely be my newest purchase, Cristine Dahl's Good Dog 101. I love the unique accessible style of Dahl's writing and the fact that it's a book you can pick up and read only as much as you need in order to fix a particular problem. But if you like you can read on into a depth of "why and how" far beyond the basic fix. History, humor, and practical solutions all combine with solid behavioral science in a consistently delivered elegant presentation that reveals a deep and sophisticated affection for the subject of canine behavior and training. These qualities will make this book a venerable resident of my shelves where it will certainly begin to show its age as I reference it again and again for years to come.



3. Every dog can be a good dog - just follow the fun & easy lessons in this wonderful, dog-owner friendly book! All training methods are humane & based on how dogs learn. The lessons are not only fun - THEY WORK! This book contains a wealth of information. It covers much more than teaching basic obedience commands - it addresses & explains - with insight and humor - the many things that dogs do which people consider undesirable. Most importantly, it gives the reader a wealth of tools to change behavior & make every dog a "good dog". Extremely readable, & arranged for easy reference, Good Dog 101 is a must for new dog owners & trainers alike.



4. I enjoyed the background information as well as the informative, scientific theories and recommendations. The book is readable and easily adaptable to real dog training issues.



5. The first part of this book gives a fascinating description of the history of dog training and a context to the current field that many of us dog owners try to navigate. This section is easy to read and entertaining! The second part of the book serves as an excellent reference manual for the varied challenges of each individual dog. We all know that our dogs are unique and of course nearly perfect in every way, except maybe those few little quirks! This book provides a detailed table of contents so that you can quickly get to the solution for each of those little quirks! The methods described are simple and based on principles of humane behavior training. And the best part is that they work!

1 comments about Shih Tzu: Your Happy Healthy Pet.

1. This is a great book for Shih Tzu owners. Very detailed in every area from the history of these dogs, through training, health and grooming. Jo Ann White provides all the information you need to enjoy your Shih Tzu puppy and she provides a detailed training schedule to follow. A nice compact book loaded with lots of information and excellent references to clubs and web sites. A great handbook for every day in the life of your Shih Tzu!

5 comments about Canine Reproduction: The Breeder's Guide.

1. This book is great for the first time breeder, as I was. Very helpful explanations of everything that is going on with your female and whelping



2. This is a very informative book for any breeder who needs to be prepared for their upcoming litter. As first time breeders we are anxious to be as prepared as possible to help insure the health of both mother and puppies. I believe this book addresses both concerns. This is a highly recommended resource for anyone, experienced or not, expecting a litter of puppies.



3. A good basic book for beginners, but could use an update to include indepth information on progesterone testing and it's application in the breeding process. It could also use an explanation of current and more advanced artificial insemination procedures including transcervical insemination, and intrauterine surgical implant.



4. I am eagerly waiting my first little of Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppies. This book was highly recommended to me and I wish to pass on the recommendation. Helpful to prepare and so much information gained on dogs generally.



5. This book was referred to me by friends that have been breeding dogs for many years. They both call it their doggie bible. I ordered it to late to help with the actual breeding and whelping of my dog but it has answered several other questions I have had since the birth on everything from puppy development to other topics such as dewclaw removal. I defintely recommend this book!!.