5 comments about Howl: A Collection of the Best Contemporary Dog Wit.

1. This is supposed to be a collection of the best witty stories about dogs. It's not even close. I am a sucker for dogs and have lived with rescue dogs since the 70's so I am a prime consumer if this book was actually what it was supposed to be. I defy anyone to find a humorous passage in any story in the book. The tales are drab and sodden. Worse many of them are stories by people who don't know how to take care of dogs. One is about a house full of college students who of course eventually go their own ways and leave the dog with someone's mom. This is a great way to make sure shelters remain overcrowded. Many of the stories have the dogs running loose. Another receipe for disaster. So the stories are worse than simply lacking in wit, they are tales of what not to do with your dog. Pitiful.



2. The best collection of dog anecdotes I've read
   
   Lord Byron was right about dogs possessing all of the human virtues without their corollary vices: beauty without vanity, intelligence without conceit, courage without ferocity and strength without insolence. We as a species are lucky that our canine quadruped friends, clearly superior beings, have anything at all to do with us bumbling, high-strung, self-important two-leggers. And you can add to Lord Byron's litany, humor without sarcasm. Yes, doggies do indeed have a sense of humor, not too terribly different from our own.
   
   This is without doubt the best collection of dog anecdotes I've ever read, from the people who publish the wonderful "Bark" magazine (whose motto, by the way, is "Dog is my co-pilot").
   
   While all of the stories in this delightful anthology are captivating, my personal favorites are John Glaser's "Better Than You," Margaret Cho's "Dog Whores" and "Strange Bedfellows" by the irrepressible Kinky Friedman.
   
   No doubt, some 100 centuries ago when the first lupine proto-dogs got together and noted that - lacking opposable thumbs - they were most unlikely to evolve a technological civilization, a group decision was taken to hitch their wagon to the hominid star, thus ensuring a future of quality veterinary care, three squares a day and climate control. Not to mention, worshipful adoration!
   
   Smart, very smart, critters these loveable mutts. Perhaps, uncounted eons hence, when they become the dominant species on the planet, they'll be publishing anthologies of "funny human" stories. I wouldn't be a bit surprised.
   
   This is a wonderful book, howlingly funny, and I'd recommend it to any Dog person!
   
   As the immortal Groucho Marx once said, "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."



3. While I did not read "Bark", I very much enjoyed "Howl". It is a compilation of humorous animal stories from comedians, writers, actors, etc. Nice, easy (and very funny) reading!



4. The editors at the Bark sure do have an eye for the best dog writing out there. This collection was very very funny and would make a great christmas gifts for dog lovers who love a laugh. My favorite pieces were from Lee Harrington, Neal Pollack, and Kinky Friedman. The other anthology by The Bark, Dog is My Co-Pilot, was more soulful than this book. But this one is funnier! SO you need both. Let's hope they do more dog anthologies in the future!



5. Howl is a terrific ode to Man's best friend...and a reminder that in this cold, dark world, a true friend can be found...Writer's from all around the country share warm and witty musings on their relationships with that one creature that gives and gives a "howl"...terrific, well done and a good read on the beach or before bed...M. Grasso Santa Monica, CA

5 comments about Memoirs of a Papillon : The Canine Guide to Living with Humans without Going Mad.

1. I love this book! Genevieve writes beautifully. Her human's should be proud. Laughed and cried at the same time while reading.



2. This book had me on the floor laughing my butt off! I have a papillon and I can all too well relate! Telling the story from the dog's point of view of her humans and her life made for a hilarious read. Once you pick up this book you won't put it down until you reach the end. Definitely a book that you can read more than once!



3. GREAT BOOK. I'm a papillon owner and a friend gave me a copy of "Genevieve's" book. I laughed till my sides ached. I read it in one
   evening and then read it again. I've watched my papillons "zoom" around
   the house and act just like Genevieve. I've purchased several copies to give to friends as gifts.



4. I bought this book along with a book supposedly about the breed. However, this book had more information than the other book which I returned. Not only did it have information, but it was told in such a humorous way that many times I laughed outloud.



5. This book was given to me by my sister. As a working mom to three papillons and foster mom for rescues, my reading time is limited. However, this book was so humorous that I just couldn't put it down. I could see my oldest pap agreeing with Genevieve many times while I read the book. I would pick out passages in the book and read them to my husband, and he would say "that is just like them".
   
   Genevieve is a spunky little girl that doesn't take life for granted and sees humor in everything. Denny, her human translator, helps her put her thoughts into wording that anybody can understand.
   
   This book is great.

5 comments about Dog-Friendly Dog Training.

1. I have had this book for a few months but still haven't made it past the first few chapters. The author is overwhelming in her way of trying to convince the reader to use dog-friendly dog training. I bought the book because I already agree with this idea and I don't plan on physically abusing my dog, but she goes on and on about how terrible punishment is. I almost started to feel guilty and I don't even have a dog yet! Although this book is not bad at all, I would recommend Puppy Care and Training instead. It also recommends a dog friendly way of training and provides information on care as well. More bang for your buck. I haven't seen any other books that recommend punishment as a way to train a dog (I'm sure there are a few, but I haven't seen them), so the particular emphasis given to it in this book is probably not necessary.



2. Common sense and effective approach to dog training, written clearly and simply. I have shared this with many friends and given it to new dog owners. Highly recommended.



3. This book is very easy to read. It has detailed instructions on how to go about training your dog. Anyone could follow these instructions! I recommend this to anyone who wants to start off on the right foot w/ a new dog.



4. As a trainer, I am always on the lookout for books to recommend to my clients, and this book is one of them. It is an excellent resource for pet owners who want to teach their dogs the basics. The format and instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the photographs make it practically foolproof. Andrea encourages the use of positive, reward-based methods which are based on sound scientific principles. Following the training guidelines in this book will result in not only a better trained dog, but will enhance the bond between you and your dog as well.
   - Nicole Wilde, author Help for Your Fearful Dog: A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Your Dog Conquer His Fears and So You Want to be a Dog Trainer (2nd edition)



5. Very easy to read and has clear explanations and wording for puppy training.

1 comments about Best Hikes With Dogs: North Carolina (Best Hikes With Dogs).

1. This is a great book for hiking with your dog on trails in the western and eastern parts of North Carolina. This book is a part of a series by Mountaineer books and gives great details about elevation, water, trail difficulty, etc. I would recommend this book to anyone who walks their dog on trials and and in the outdoors. Plus all dogs love the trails anyway. Great pictures of dogs on the trails too!

5 comments about The Dog Lover's Companion to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore: The Inside Scoop on Where to Take Your Dog (Dog Lover's Companion Guides).

1. I had traveled to Reston, VA with my dogs to go to the Pet Fiesta while there I picked this book up and used it to travel all over the Washington D.C. area with my dogs. I am so glad that I did because I was not sure what I was going to do after the Pet Fiesta was over and this book opened up lots of options and lots of ideas for future trips.
   
   I advise taking a pen with you so you can write in additional things that you find that may not be listed in the book. While at Old Town Alexandria today we ate at an Irish restaurant that had a doggie menu that was not listed in the book but was a must go to if you travel there.
   
   I loved this book and only wish that there was one for my area.



2. I bought this based on the great reviews, so perhaps it was a let-down because I had high expectations. This is a guide book with a slight dog orientation, but honeselty, I didn't feel like this really gave me much valuable information about living and traveling in the DC area with a dog- other than telling me where parks are (info available on many web sites). The actual dog-friendliness of the parks, and rating system seemed totally off with how I would have rated parks. Seems like they are rated more for person-appeal than dog-appeal.
   
   But maybe I'm just biased as I have a hound and value FENCED off-leash parks above all :)



3. This is one of my favorite books ever. Really. I moved to the D.C. area with my lab three years ago, and while we were used to having dozens of places to go for various reasons or times, I didn't know where to begin to find good places to take her around our new home. This book was a godsend for finding fun places to go, especially because I found the reviews to give a me a very accurate idea of what sort of place we were going, including what sort of "feel" it might have for dog-friendliness. Some of the features of the book I have found extremely helpful are:

   * Birds-eye maps showing where the reviewed locations are in the counties covered (perfect for finding a park near odd places that I might run errands)
   * How strict the leash law is followed (this is a biggie for me -- while the authors point out excellent reasons to use the leash, they very helpfully suggest where we can get away without it)
   * Rough idea how crowded the area in question might be, and how easy or difficult to get to (varies of course by time of day and season)
   * Whether there's a place for doggie swimming

   In my area (Sterling/Ashburn, VA) I've found the book to be amazingly comprehensive for my local and outlying areas, and find that the park descriptions have always given me a pretty accurate idea what to expect. The book covers a wide enough range (including some pseudo-local vacation destinations) that I've used it on countless occasions to find nice stopover while on short trips outside my "home turf". Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys finding varied places to visit with their pups.




4. I bought this book when it first came out for a friend of mine who was moving to Baltimore with her dog. Two years later, I borrowed it from her when I discovered I was moving to D.C. I found it enormously usefull for choosing a dog-friendly neighborhood with good access to parks. The authors understand the basic qualities of a good dog park: safety, space, a group of 'regular' neighborhood go-ers, and access to a good espresso bar for weekend dog walking. Overall, the writers do an excelent job.

   I have only a few complaints. One - due to the impossibility of visiting every park in this populous region more than once, I've found that the park's ratings can heavily reflect the day and time of the visit -- not necessarily what the park is like on a typical weekday at 6pm. Also, some park ratings reflect a nice place to go with a small dog on a leash, you won't necessarily have the same experience with your massive Great Dane tugging at every new smell. The writers also disapprove of dogs being off-leash, and rate more lowly some parks that are true jems for those of us with larger dogs that require more exercise.

   Overall, a great guide, and certainly unique. A must for all dog owners in this area, particularly if you moving to this region.




5. I highly recommend this book to dog owners who love to take their little four-legged friend(s) everywhere. It is well organized and the writing style used is perfect for dog lovers.

   It covers almost all the parks in the Washington D.C., Virginia and Baltimore. Have you ever looked up a park on a map and it looked huge and perfect for your dog, and when you got there, you and your dog were very disappointing with the park? Well, the review for each park is quite accurate. With this book on hand, you can look up a park and find out if it is suitable for your dog before driving there. It covers important information that a dog owner needs to know about the park/area - such as the poop scoop law and the leash law.

   It also contains information (ie. hotel, restaurant, pet stores, etc...) that is very useful for dog owners who like to take their pooches on vacation with them.

   Embedded into the book, you will find dog adoption information. The book encourages suggestions from readers. I've already written to the publisher suggesting to include information on various rescue organizations and local animal shelters - a way to help promote pet rescue/adoption.

5 comments about Your Border Collies Life : Your Complete Guide to Raising Your Pet from Puppy to Companion.

1. Really good book about raising a Border Collie. It goes beyond the basics and gives examples from real-life Border Collie owners. One reviewer gave this book 3 stars and mentions that it's not specific enough about Border Collies but I disagree. To many people who have owned dogs before, the subjects will be familiar, if not "common sense". However, this book does take notice of specific Border Collie traits that as a first time Border Collie owner, I found very helpful.



2. An essential book for every new border collie owner. This book covers all the basics: from puppy selection to rearing, from training to feeding. This IS your reference manual. Call it 'Border Collies for Dummies'. I am new to the breed, and these dogs truly are differernt. So glad to have found this book. Don't let other reviewers steer you away: this book is definitely about border collies. I recommend buying 2-3 books on border collies, since there will be differing perspectives and opinions on some matters. Also, different breeders/experts bring unique insights to raising and owning a border collie. Either The Ultimate Border Collie or The Working Border Collie is a good companion to this book.



3. This is a well written, easy to read, guide. The authors are knowledgeable and expressive. Subject coverage is complete and this book is an excellent addition to one's BC library.



4. This book is okay, but I was disappointed to see how much general dog information is included in the book. This information applies to all dogs, not just Border Collies. I've got many books to use as a resource for this type of general info. I am looking for Border Collie specific information and found only a small part of this book dedicated strictly to Border Collies. Very disappointing.



5. If you have any questions on Border Collies,this is the book to have!I was very impressed.It is filled with all kinds of doggie tips & fun facts.This covers all aspects of this wonderful dog.It includes chapters on why you might want a Border Collie,preparing to bring you dog home,grooming,training, and for those of you who already have a Border Collie, curbing the herding instinct & correcting problems such as barking or biting. A wonderful book to have, I loved it.

2 comments about Solving the Mysteries of Breed Type (Kennel Club Pro Series).

1. This book answers the age old question "What is breed type?" in a clear and easy to read format. It should be in every dog person's library.



2. Solving The Mysteries Of Breed Type by Richard Beauchamp (syndicated columnist, dog show judge, and former publisher of "Kennel Review" magazine) is a straightforward and detailed instructional guide for aspiring dog breeders, and novice dog show judges, and purebreed connoisseurs aspiring to acquire a degree of professionalism, about discerning the subtle distinctions of breed type. Individual chapters competently address what to look for in various physical characteristics, from coat and head shape to silhouette and movement. Black-and-white photographs enhance the meticulous text descriptions in this succinctly written resource which should be considered a core reference title for personal, professional, and community library collections.

5 comments about Canine Colorado: Where to Go and What to Do with Your Dog.

1. It not only tells you all the places you can take your pup, but it also tells you where you can NOT. Keeps you from having to wonder about places. List which 14ers dogs can handle, also info on having them on or off leash, does the hike have water or not. This book isn't just about taking your dog with you, its about having your dog be very happy and comfortable. Everything you need to know is here!



2. This is a really great book detailing all the various canine activities you and your dog can do while in Colorado. I really like it! thanks!



3. Sense of humor comes through and it is informative. Details of trails are mentioned in here that may not be mentioned anywhere else and are good to know so you are not surprised my them once you are out on the trail. I have not been able to hike any of the trails in the book yet but have a good idea where I am gonna start after reading.



4. we are planning a trip to CO with our dog this summer, this book was helpful in picking out trails to hike on.
   the location of the trails were hard to determine by this book alone but we managed to figure it out. all in all if you are going hiking with your dog in CO.- this book is helpful!



5. This book is a MUST when traveling with your dog in Colorado. It gives you a great list of places to stay with your dog, according to the area you are in. If you don't want to take your pet along on a day trip it gives you places to drop your dog off.
   If you are into hiking, then you will really love the trails she describes and points out in this book... if you're rather the kind of person who only goes on strolls, then that section won't help you a lot, though.

5 comments about Hound Health Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Keeping Your Dog Happy, Healthy & Active.

1. I love this book! It's easy to understand and offers ALOT of information. I found out about it through "Animal Wellness Magazine" and decided to look it up on Amazon... luckily they sell it!! The book is priced very reasonable for all the information it packs. I collect dog books and this is one that should be added to ANY dog owners collection. If you don't have a single dog book or one on dog health - then you should buy this one! The index makes it easy to find a topic quickly.
   Yappy Reading!



2. This is a must have for any dog owner. It covers it all. From puppyhood to senior dogs (and resources for when your dog is gone), it tackles all the tough questions. It's like the "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" series but for dogs or like WebMD for dogs.
   
   Every time my dogs sneezes too many times, I pick up the book. If he's panting too much, I pick up the book. It calms my fears and lets me know when I need to call the vet for things. We recently had to put our dog to sleep and it described the process step-by-step so we knew what to expect once we got to the vet office.
   
   I really can't say enough about this book other than I wish I had found it a few years earlier.



3. This is one of the best and aptly name guidebooks offering credible advise on health, nutrition, common problems and prevention for hounds. Written by a writer-turned-vet, the book did exactly what the author had set out to do: "To save people from making unnecessary trips to the vet, and yet rush them in when their dogs really needed to be there".
   
   Having three dogs of my own, I could recount ad nauseam first-hand horror encounters with vets who were either too commercial or inexperienced or mediocre or all of the above: there was this one vet who told me something as ridiculous as neutering my dog would give him testicular cancer (huh?!); another who misdiagnosed the onset of ringworm as a mere scratch on its paw (later developed into full-blown skin infection afflicting me in the process); another who wanted to jump into operating on my dog following a mere bout of vomiting (the book discussed at length many useful home remedies before resolving to show up at the vet's clinic!); and yet another who urged me to wait it out until my puppy had been through one or two heat cycles before getting her spayed for no apparent reason (the book brought to my attention this delay would increase the incidence of breast tumor by 28%, no different from a dog who was never spayed in her entire life!). More often than not, I have experienced vets who shoved me out of their consulting rooms in a little more than 5 minutes without first hearing out the history/symptoms in full or performed detailed enough physical examination before formalizing on some half-baked diagnosis. Call it a streak of bad luck but I have been through enough vets to know that the best thing you could do to your beloved pets is to equip yourself with as much knowledge as possible in both prevention - whipping up a wholesome diet, social and exercise program - and cure when the inevitable hits home - knowing how to tell the grass from the weed in your pursuit of a vet and the book does precisely that.
   
   In spite of my reservation over the author's advocacy over commercial pet food (fellow reviewers may wish to refer to Ann Martin's "Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food" and its sequel, "Protect Your Pet: More Shocking Facts" and learn why vets unanimously endorse pet food ad nauseam), as well as tune in on Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats for recipes and holistic/alternative medicine, this book is still highly recommended for its comprehensibility, readability and generosity of medical information from the viewpoint of a vet! A must-read!



4. Anything and everything you would want to know about the health of your pet. Use this book when going to the vet to educate yourself about the medications and issues the vet addresses. Determine if those tests are really necessary. Find out what medications are most often used for various ailments. This really is the definitive guide.



5. Excellent book, answers all problems and potential problems of all breeds, from puppies to senior dogs... Betsy Brevitz has all quality to be an excellent writer as well as a doctor, most informative dog health book I've ever read, but still light, fun and easy to read even for dummies (like me), who doesn't understand many hospital's vocabularies... a MUST BUY for a dog owner, dogs owner or even a breeder!

1 comments about Living with a German Shepherd: Book with Bonus DVD (Living With a Pet Series).

1. We are new owners of a German Shepherd dog and I have been shopping around for a good info book.
   I had three from the bookstore but picked this one.
   It covers everything from picking the right pup from the litter to euthanasia in old age.
   I thought it was excellent in discribing the temperment of the dog and why they do what they do (guard and herd).
   It also shows what shepherd's are capable of learning and how to get there.
   We haven't tried it yet....