4 comments about Hal Higdon's Smart Running: Expert Advice On Training, Motivation, Injury Prevention, Nutrition And Good Health.

1. Nice going Hal you've put out another great book for runners to follow as they progress through their sport.
   
   It seems that my biggest challenge these days is motivation and nutrition where my athletes are concerned. There are just too darn many fads out there and the real "easiest" way is when you put in the study and the work.
   
   Hal Higdon has taken the problem out of researching your needs and put it right in front of you in this book. Read what he's giving and then incorporate it into your program.



2. Written by "Runner's World" magazine's senior writer, this book takes the form of question and answer over a wide range of topics. Simply put, it's a FAQ manual for runners.

   One small problem with this format is, there is only one question and answer addressed per topic, so the information imparted is very specialised. To counter this, the book covers a wide range of topics from beginning running to marathon training, to injuries, to advice for young and older runners.

   I would recommend this book to the beginner / inexperienced runner. Those who have been running for some time would very likely have come across most of this information before. If you're looking for a repository that contains a great deal of accumulated knowledge that can be accessed easily, here it is.




3. Hal Higdon is my grandfather, and I'd love this book even if it wasn't written by him. :-)



4. Although I considered myself to be a seasoned runner, I knew there was much that I had yet to discover before taking on my first marathon. This book helped incredibly - with everything from nutrition to preventing potentially painful or debilitating injuries. Though training to run a marathon is most certainly an arduous and daunting task, Higdon's book helps to put running into perspective and removes it from the realm of "only the talented can do it." He gives running back to those who don't know everything about the sport and are willing to learn.

   I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is considering a marathon or even a 5K for the motivation, the advice, and the knowledge.

5 comments about How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong: A Road Map for Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs.

1. This book was very well written and had a lot of information about re-training aggressive dogs. I purchased the book because I have a leash reactive dog and wanted to try something different than what I know, and this book sounded promising. This is where the disapointment comes in. Well it does tell the reader a lot about aggression and how to re-condition your dog to realize other dogs equal good things not bad things, it says nothing about how to stop your dog from reacting in the first place. All it says is not to let your dog practice the behavior, basically by avoiding what sets them off which is very hard to do when you live in an apartment and can't AVOID the stimuli, i.e.: other dogs, as the author says to do. If it had more information on how to stop your dogs reaction, aside from turning and walking away, walking the other direction, which is not practical when you have a 100 pound German Shepherd mix on the leash, it would have been more help to me, but overall it wasn't much help. For readers who's dogs just get aggressive if a dog gets too close, this would be a good book, but if your dog is lungeing and barking at just the sight of another dog, it's just a waste of money and your money would be better spent on a trainer.



2. It took the author 4 YEARS to rehabilitate her dog using her method, and its easy to understand why. Nowhere in this book are you taught how to nurture trust and respect from your dog. The advice on training specific commands is worth reading, but probably not what most people that buy this book are looking for. The books I bought after reading this one were so much better. I would highly recommend the books by Patricia McConnell instead. Her 'How to be a Pack Leader' booklet is awesome and sets the stage for success with her other books, Feisty Fido and the Cautious Canine.



3. This is a no nonsense concise guide for training and rehabilitating an agressive dog and also their owner. Pam Dennison gives precise step by step positive training techniques that will create a lasting bond between human and dog. It is a must read for the agressive dog owner, but is also common sense training for any dog owner. Her use of positive reinforcement of good behavior rather than punishment for bad will make many dogs' lives happier. Her suggestion to keep a daily log of training is a great tool and she supplies a template. I've already seen great results using her techniques with both my dogs. This is a must read for all dog lovers, easy to read, and full of valuable information and insight.



4. A useful book with straight forward explanations about "aggressive" emotions in dogs. A humane approach to management of these dogs and also helpful ideas to prevent people from making the situation worse and aggravating the anxious animal. A good book for new pet owners who find
   dog handling to be more hazardous than anticipated.



5. I liked this book and feel it will help. Some other resources for some specific types of aggression not mentioned in the other reviews are "Fight!" by Jean Donaldson, for dogs that aggress toward other dogs, "Mine!" by Jean Donaldson, for dogs that guard their food bowl or other items of value (to the dog), and "Feisty Fido! Help for the Leash Aggressive Dog" by Patricia B. McConnell and Karen B. London. The techniques in these practical, reasonably-priced pamphlets would mesh well with the other resources mentioned.

5 comments about Dogs.

1. The book is a collection of eclectic family dog images. Catherine is one of the largest collectors of these old snapshots. It looks as if the images are affixed to the pages. This book is really neat. These images are very special. This book impressed me in the quality of the printing far more than I can express.



2. I love everything about this book. The photographs are amazing, and the quotes are sweet and funny. Wonderfully done!



3. As a collector of dog photos and amateur photographer, I enjoyed this book.
   
   The range of breeds included is marvelous as is the volume of photographs included.
   
   The quality of the book (binding, paper) forced me to limit the book to four stars. However, given the price of the book one can still enjoy the content rather than pay through the nose for a huge, glossy, impeccably printed coffee table type book.
   
   If you love or a friend love not just your dog, but all dogs and what dogs mean to our society, this is a worthwhile book.



4. I collect dog photos myself so I love books of old dog photos. This book is fantastic. The pictures are great. Wonderful to look through and read the titles. If you're interested in old dog photos or looking at dog photos in general, you'll love this book!



5. My new book came today from Amazon.com and I love it! Anybody who loves old photography, especially of dogs, will love this book. Caroline Johnson collects amateur snapshots of dogs, this book is a collection of photos from the turn of the century up to the 50's. It also has a smattering of quotes and writings from William Wegman, the worlds best known dog photographer. Phaidon published the book; as an art student I quickly realized what great books they choose to publish, this is no exception. Some might review the faux cloth binding treatment as lesser quality but it is a great price for a 500+ page picture book.
   
   It is especially fun for me to see all the old bulldogs! I think every other page has one. Oh! And all the old boston bulls pictures... They must have been quiet popular during the early days. There is even one picture that has writing on it. It says, "Can you find Pat? He's a Dandy little Toy Boston Bull and a female! Patsy is her right name." Lake Erie Summer 1928. That old pat joke from Saturday Night Live must be much older or it's an inside joke. The image is of a man cradling a Bt marked bulldog.
   
   This will be a treasured addition to my growing collection of books on dogs.
   
   Enjoy! Naomi & Mugsy (Olde Boston Bulldogge)
   [...]

5 comments about The Hidden Life Of Dogs.

1. I first read this book probably 10 years ago (1997?) and I found it fascinating. I think humans have a tendency to see other animals as either pets or property, and the author approached her interactions as more of a curious observer.
   
   If you read it with an open mind you will probably find this book very worthwhile and interesting. If, on the other hand, you are incensed by the author allowing her dogs to breed and interact as self-directed beings you will most likely find the book too far outside of your narrow worldview, as many 1-star reviewers seem to have done.



2. I found this a challenging, though ultimately worthwhile, reading experience. Within its pages, this book explores many controversial and alarming practices, including allowing dogs to run free (even in the service of the author's rather remarkable observations following one of the dogs in its nightly wanderings) and not neutering or training dogs; and I cannot say I was always comfortable with the authors conclusions in any area of exploration. But in the end, I found that my thoughts were refreshed about the individual and wholly private lives of others, including my canine companions. If one is to embrace the idea of true equality among species -- and I want to do that -- one has to expose the unseen prejudices and knee-jerk attitudes that cloud our perceptions of ourselves and all others. I don't mean to imply that this is truly possible, but that it is an end itself, which opens how we see the world. I don't look at this book as conclusive or even ultimately important for its assertions, but a book that asks interesting questions, and opens the mind to new, unexplored ways of perceiving our fellows. I find that worth the effort to overcome my discomfort in some of its more provocative aspects.



3. This is a biography only of specific dogs instead of a person or persons and as such is first rate, insightful and would be interesting to anyone who likes dogs, from about 10 years old on.This is so well written, not scientific, but could add scientific data to the canine pool.



4. There are two ways to read this book... and depending upon how you do, I'd give it one star or a full five... (unfortunately Amazon does not allow for this...)
   
   The five star scenario:
   Taken as sort of a semi-autobiographical quasi non-fiction New England transcendentalist vibe New Agey Summerhill meets Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence type book about a lady who decides to give her dogs total freedom to be dogs with little human intervention allowing them to revert back to the lifestyle they once lead in the wilderness as wolves and experiences canines on their terms while learning many lessons in life as well.... Viewed as such, it makes a fascinating read... definitely more poetic than scientific... but still refreshing kibble and urine for the soul. Reads like an emotionally riveting novel in which the characters are dogs, yet with very rich story telling and character complexity... with occasional overboard description including a love scene that goes into a bit too much detail... (Note to audio book version users: Sound track includes music provided by WINDHAM HILL... that should be a clue!)
   
   The one star scenario:
   Ought to be retitled "Confessions of an Irresponsible Dog Owner" - - Basically she gives her dogs entire run of the neighborhood, seems to do little to train them, alludes to conflicts with neighbors over leash laws (yes, the crazy lady with the pack of unruly dogs) and in doing so endangers the safety of the dogs... yet takes her literary talent and writes a book turning her experience into a book - - when really she probably belongs as the culprit on an episode of animal police...
   
   All in all, engaging... but my suspicion is that the writer is as equally talent as... missing a few screws...
   Incidentally regarding the "rape" scene in which a cocker spaniel wanders onto the property and traumatizes one of her dogs by forcing himself upon her when she wasn't ready.... has anyone ever heard of leash laws? Aside from the fact that dogs sometimes get hit by cars (as did her pug early in the book) despite their well thought out innate gift for artful highway crossing that far surpasses humans (*her claim) - - wouldn't fences, leashes and not letting dogs come and go freely actually lead to a theoretical DECLINE on dog on dog rape and sexual assault - - even if they do have a natural gift for avoiding cars due to their "irreverant" respect of them?
   
   Dingos, incidentally aren't an obscure breed of dogs but a somewhat endangered highway crossing/tree climbing variety of dog that enjoy wondering people's back yards in search of small prey... also a riddle:
   What do you get when you allow a Coyote and Dog to breed... answer : A coyote that's less afraid of people, hence more likely to get itself into trouble when it decides to pay a friendly visit to the frustrated property owner with the shotgun... And by the way: Regarding the dog's "mysterious" yet wonderous reaction to death - - with all thse dogs in the room, isn't it just possible that one may have accidentally farted... only that day instead of letting them galivant around the neighborhood she decided to observe them (after having left the body of the dog who just died at the vet to dispose of how he wanted because of her "pragmatic" view of death?)



5. I found the reviews of this book hilarious! They provide more insight into the average dog owner than the book they read. The average dog owner is more anthropomorphising than this author could imagine. He or she wants his or her pet to behave like a small soldier, go to ridiculous dog shows based on some human ideal and breed only to produce some bizarre set of traits we think are valuable! Thank God for some alternative, even if it is imperfect. After all, it was not published as a scientific treatise.

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

1. I will keep this short. Having never been a rott owner this book has taught me alot. Very educational about rottweiler's. The book is detailed in most areas from breeding to late adulthood.
   
   Must buy for first time rott purchase.



2. I didn't learn anything more from this book than what I learned from my dog trainer. Don't buy this is if you are looking for something more advanced.



3. I BOUGHT THIS BOOK BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER HAD A DOG BEFORE AND RECENTLY PURCHASED A ROTTIE. THIS BOOK IS SO HELPFUL. THERE ARE ALOT OF THINGS I DID NOT KNOW BUT THIS BOOK EXPLAINS ALOT ABOUT THE BREED. THE ONE THING I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK IS IT ALL ABOUT ONE BREED AND NOT ABOUT THE DOG FAMILY.



4. I never realized prior to now the sheer importance of proper care and training of a Rottweiler until reading this book. This book should be required reading for anyone considering raising a Rottweiler or who currently owns one. I actually felt myself doubting whether I can provide the necessary attention and fortitude that this breed requires. I have always loved this breed and the book precisely specifies why it should be loved and why the task of raising one should not be taken lightly. Every consideration for the Rottweiler is mentioned in this book, from purchasing to care and nutrition, to behavior and training. I thoroughly recommend this book for anyone considering purchasing a Rottweiler or if you currently own one.



5. I was given a full-blooded bitch and did not really know alot about Rottweillers except for the preconceived notions of their viciousness. With smaller kids at home I was a little worried. But after reading this book and discovcering what a wonderful breed these dogs are, I am no longer worried and our puppy is doing awesome and I am learning alot every day. The book has great information about the Rottweiller breed and what to expect as well as great advice and techniques for training. Nicely written.

4 comments about If You Tame Me: Understanding Our Connection With Animals (Animals, Culture, and Society).

1. This book was a pleasure to read. It expresses many ideas I've had myself (and that you've probably had, too) but more deeply and eloquently than I would ever have dreamed possible. Irvine ties so many different observations, facts, and feelings into a comprehensive framework that makes perfect sense.
   
   I would caution the prospective buyer that this book would probably be too difficult a read for someone who hasn't received some college-level instruction in the social sciences and the philosophy of science.



2. This book is very thought provoking and efficiently reviews several perspectives regarding the connection between humans and animals. It is very well written and succintly conceptualizes the human-animal bond.



3. Leslie Irvine's voice provides those in animal science, animal welfare and just plan animal lovers with a new insight into the psychological relationship of the human-animal bond. A compelling theoretical read with real-life examples. A must have in any animal welfare/animal social policy or human-animal bond literature.
   Kate Nicoll, MSW Soul Friends, Inc.



4. Sociologist Dr Leslie Irvine's If You Tame Me is a very important and inspiring book. It will be of great interest to all who love animals and are concerned about their welfare. If you sense a kinship with nonhuman animals and the natural world, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. It is very well-written and well researched. It takes many of the assumptions that we commonly make about the animal "other" and skilfully dismantles them to reveal pernicious social constructs that should stimulate us all to be more cognizant of how we treat other species. I couldn't put it down!

No comments about Dogs: The Ultimate Dictionary of Over 1,000 Dog Breeds.

No comments about A New Owner's Guide to German Shorthaired Pointers (New Owner's Guide To...).

5 comments about The Magnificent Irish Wolfhound (A Ringpress Dog Book of Distinction).

1. Buy this book, and get ready for hours of in-depth, caring, humourous and above all, experienced reading, because this is the book you are looking for. I bought this book because I am new to the breed and I assure you there is absolutely no risk in purchasing a book of this merit. The Magnificent Irish Wolfhound is a very well balanced link between all the primers on the internet and the more serious 'hands on' kind of engagement, which is up to you. If you've already done some internet 'homework' like I did, and are looking for something to lift your knowledge and appreciation to the next level, I recommend this book.



2. The Magnificent Irish Wolfhound (A Ringpress Dog Book of Distinction)
   
   This book is the BEST...Everything is covered in easy to understand and quick language...I was able to find any answer to any question quick and easy...
   
   I highly recommend it..



3. This book should automatically be sold WITH every Irish Wolfhound puppy! It answers almost every question about this breed. The pictures are marvelous and I will always keep this book by my bedside!



4. I highly recommend this book. It has wonderful information for all Wolfhound owners and those thinking of getting a Wolfhound.
   Many beautiful pictures. It will be read over and over again.
   Lots of history on the Wolfound. Throughly enjoyed this book and will continue to enjoy it. It's a keeper!!



5. This book is a wealth of information. I'm sure that everything you need to know about a Wolfhound is in this book. However, to read the book from cover to cover can be a bit boring as much of the information is beyond the grasp of the average person and not really "need to know". It is not a good reference book as there is no index. So, for example, if you wanted read about bloat, you would not know which of the 336 pages contained this information. Instead, you would have to scan the listing of chapters in the front of the book and figure out which one may contain that data. I would recommend reading this book before purchasing any dog as much applies to most dogs and not just wolfhounds.

5 comments about Natural Dog Training.

1. Positive reinforcement trainers talk about how food is a primary reinforcer and always reference how clicker style food based training has trained everything from cats to orca whales. But how many of you require an orca whale to live with you and be naturally obedient in YOUR human world 24-7? And yes you might live with a cat, but do you really require your cat to be outside with you daily and still be mindful of you and responsive to cues? Marker training with treats is a wonderful way to teach a dog a specific behavior, but do clicker trainers really require me as a dog guardian to click and treat my dog forever? Kevin Behan's book taught me how to take my dog's natural prey instincts, in other words, the very instincts that make her a DOG, and channel them into being with me. So even in our day-to-day, she is allowed to fully and joyfully engage in her natural doggy instincts AS WELL AS be with me as a well-behaved member of society. In fact, the training teaches her that the ultimate fulfillment for her natural instincts comes when she is fully focused on me.
   
   Case in point: this morning while I was walking around our local park during the sanctioned off leash hours, my Belgian Malinois mix got a little bored with just walking around, so she wanted instead to be stimulated and energized by DOING OBEDIENCE WORK. I knew that was what she wanted because she kept naturally heeling on my left, looking up at me, asking me with her eyes, CAN WE WORK? CAN WE WORK? So I engaged her in some formal off leash heeling, some recalls, some down during recalls. The whole time she was powerfully driving into me and fully engaged. The obedience work, in other words, was like a play session for her.
   
   There is NOTHING punitive about this training style. Perhaps the word "correction" is used poorly. I would liken it more to teaching a dog the natural danger boundaries, and that the most fulfilling, most joyful, most rewarding, most drive-flowing scenario is to be focused to her handler, whether the dog is plastered to your left side, or 50 yards away in a long sit, or even just meandering around off leash with you.
   
   To me, this is the ultimate reward for any dog - to fully feel like she is allowed to be a dog. And yet because her joy and drive flow is fullest when she is focused on you as the handler, she will always be a fantastic dog to live with. Courteous, friendly, happy, responsive, hardworking, playful and calm. We owe our magnificent dogs that much.



2. I must say that for those reviewers who complain about the use of corrections or prong collars etc, you've obviously missed the whole point of the book. This book is not based or focused on using correction techniques. If you use corrections simply to suppress a dog's behavior, then yes, you will cause behavior problems and possible aggression as well. But that is not what Kevin is recommending or teaching in his book. The entire premise and theory is based on building and controlling a dog's drive, not correcting a dog to suppress them in order to create a desired behavior. I've worked in the correction based methodology before, and believe me, it's an entirely different world than what is being taught in this book.
   
   I've used dominance based training, as well as positive reinforcement and clicker training. Neither of those methodologies got me the results I wanted. Sure, they both worked to a degree. Dominance training created dogs that were under control, but they sure weren't happy. And there was always that undertone of fear and tension between us. Positive reinforcement and clicker training worked great when we were working. But it would all fall apart in the real world when there were more interesting things to do. Not to say they didn't retain some of what they learned. But they just weren't reliable when using only positive reinforcement methods. I guess if I had continued doing it for the next 10 years, then maybe they would finally be reliable all the time. But once I began using Kevin's techniques, I started seeing an instant transformation in my dogs. They started going from confused and disinterested, to paying attention and being happy to work with me. And it really was almost immediate.
   
   I believe that all forms of training have something positive you can take away from them. Although I've learned that dominance training has little or nothing that I would want to continue using. But natural dog training has and continues to transform my relationship with my dogs. And I am convinced that it can do the same for most people.
   
   It is fair to say that every dog is different, and that there will be dogs that may require a different form of training, or creative elaborations on Kevin's techniques. But I would also say that I have yet to find any other philosophy that works as well for as many dogs as this one.
   
   Any training model will probably work if you dedicate yourself to it. But I think that Kevin's philosophy and techniques provide a way to get the results you want, while respecting and honoring the dog's true nature and spirit, instead of trying to suppress it. And that's why I recommend this book more so than anything else I've come across.



3. This training guide has an interesting theory about dog behaivour being based entirely on the hunting drive, but I don't agree with some of the methods.
   
   Ten years ago, I trained a dog using the "shock" method (corrections on the leash and an electrical shock collar) and will never use it again. I feel that is is abusive. I was training the dog with a trainer that charged close to $2,000.00 to teach me how to abuse my dog. Any time you jerk a leash against a dogs neck you are risking cervical injury. My dog, Bear, continued to have severe behavior problems that I now know were due to these antiquated training methods.
   
   I finally had a behavior specialist (doggie psycologist) come to my house to work with the dogs. She recommended the following books and helped me with some basic positive-reinforcement training methods. Bear's behaviour improved that afternoon. We recently lost hime to renal failure, and at the time of his death, he was the most gentle dog I've ever known.
   
   I would recommend "The Dog Whisperer" and "The Culture Clash" (Jean Donaldson) for training without punishment.



4. I have now been reading this book for about three weeks and can't get through it. It's content is of very high interest and surely some "AHA" exclamations from me when I am getting the point. It is a great book for people who are more interested in reading then getting a few picture hints. There are no illustrations in this book what so ever and I probably finding it a bit boring as it feels like I am reading a novel and not a dog training book. So if you are like me and likes a bit of illustrations don't go for this book, If you like reading only you will love this book.



5. How anyone let alone the supposed"dog trainer" author can call this book natural dog training I don't know!! I'm a dog trainer myself and there is no way ever that I would use any of his so called "natural" dog training methods!! How can prong collars and the use of electric collars in dog training be considered natural. I wonder without the use of these barbaric tools could Kevin Behan even train a dog. Has he ever heard of compassion! How can he happily write about "training" using these torturous tools? Come on America wake up quit looking for the quick fix, it's generally done by using harsh methods. If you love your dogs look at the up to date training methods using gentle, kind, motivational methods, not these methods where you have to strike fear mentally or physically into a dog before you can get him to do what you want.