2 comments about Eco Dog: Healthy Living for Your Pet.

1. Lots of photographs,recipes and projects in Eco Dog.
   
   The book begins with the advice that, unlike wolves, dogs need to be groomed and washed regularily. Homemade recipes, like dog tonics and an herbal flea powder, are included. The pet owner is also advised to avoid commercial dog shampoos, as they may be harmful.
   
   The chapter on dog food advises to feed the dog high quality food or homemade food and a meatloaf recipe is included. I would have liked to have seen more recipes and more information on feeding good quality food.
   
   I really liked that natural cleaners for the house were advised, with good recommendations. The authors point out that dogs lick stuff--like the floor--and that safe cleaners are imperative to their health.
   
   Some cool projects include green toys to make for your dogs out of recycled objects like socks. Brilliant! Most toys for dogs are made out of synthetic materials derived from petrochemicals, so I really thought the idea of natural toys was great.
   
   Overall, a smart, green book for raising healthy dogs.
   
   From the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet



2. Great book for any pet-parent. The recipes are quick and easy and the pictures are adorable! Lots of great craft ideas and green-cleaning tips too.

2 comments about About Tracking Dog Training: Creating a Problem Solving Partnership.

1. This book is well written and fills a needed gap in canine tracking books.
   The writer uses a down-to-earth, sympathetic approach to the sport of tracking and I highly recommend it.
   Dot Parsons



2. I purchased this book to assist me with my quest to put a Versility title on my Cardigan. Tracking is a difficult trial to get into in my state so one wants to be prepared as possible. I found Ms. Mueller's book to be well written, easy to follow and inspirational. The author covers working both small and large dogs on the tracks which has not always been covered in other books I've read. My smaller dog has his own way of doing things and it's nice that this was acknowledged in her book. The author neither "talks down" to the reader or "over the head" of an inexperienced handler. She covers all aspects of tracking well and includes her own experiences to give credibility to the writing. Versitility Title. . . here we come! About Tracking Dog Training: Creating a Problem Solving Partnership

No comments about Best Hikes With Dogs: Georgia and South Carolina (Best Hikes with Dogs).

1 comments about 100 Dogs Who Changed Civilization: History's Most Influential Canines.

1. Good for any bookshelf. Dazzel friends and family with the facts on the Yale Mascot. Or how about the phrase "Mans Best Friend". A must for all those fact throwers out there.

5 comments about I Toto: The Autobiography of Terry, the Dog who was Toto.

1. I, Toto is a delightfully well written book by Willard Carroll about the life of Terry, a Cairn Terrier who became famous in movies. The book is based on a scrapbook Willard Carroll found that documented the life and movie career of this well trained dog; and the book is primarily set up to look just like a book typed on an old typewriter--written, of course, by the dog itself.
   
   The book starts with the story of how Terry was born, adopted and eventually given up by her owners because of her troubles with housetraining; and we learn how Carl Spitz professionally trained dogs to perform in movies. Spitz, an excellent trainer who worked with many dogs, wound up training Terry professionally. Spitz used both kindness and discipline to train his dogs, including Terry, very well; his talents are obvious when we consider that Terry (aka Toto) appeared in at least fourteen major motion pictures including The Wizard Of Oz.
   
   Carroll cleverly writes the memoirs of Terry, or Toto, in the first person as if the dog herself had written the book. This provides the reader with an extra slice of humor when Carroll writes about things that happened on the sets of pictures or in Carl Spitz's training camp for dogs. Carroll does an excellent job of getting readers to be charmed out of their trees by Terry who eventually becomes renamed Toto for the sake of her career. A movie star dog has to consider Hollywood politics, after all!
   
   The book is filled with wonderful reproductions of ads for the movies Terry was in; and we see numerous publicity shots from movies including Bright Eyes with Shirley Temple and Terry as Rags the dog. Of course, we get plenty of stills from The Wizard Of Oz and there are very nicely done "hand written" asides to the reader that also appear to be written by Terry. The result is a charming look back at the life of Terry, the dog who became Toto and enjoyed great movie fame--and treats along the way!
   
   Overall, classic movie buffs will enjoy this book; and people who love The Wizard Of Oz will appreciate this book very much since so little was known about Terry before Willard Carroll wrote this book. The book is well written and a real page turner; it grabs your attention and never lets it go.
   
   Great job, Willard Carroll!



2. 
   As a child, my favorite movie was THE WIZARD OF OZ. For Chirstmas ,I received this wonderful book that is all about the famous "pet-actress" named "Toto". (Yes, Toto was actually a little female dog named Terry,not a male , as most people would think).
   
   Anyhow, this book is all about the tiny Cairn Terrier "Toto" (Terry) and how she came about becoming one of the principal characters in the movie.
   
   The photos are just amazing also. My favorite photos are the behind-the-scene photos showing Toto "acting" in the actual movie, just as the trainer was in the background giving Toto her directions. Sooo cute!
   
   If you are a dog fan, or a Cairn Terrier fan, or a Wizard of Oz fan, you'll love this book.



3. Since my all-time favorite dog star is Toto, this book was easy for me to love. However, once I began to read, I found it to be something extra special. I, Toto is a mood lifter as well as an interesting piece of Hollywood history. Beautifully written in the first person, I, Toto will captivate the heart and mind of any dog lover.



4. A must read for any Oz fan as well as dog lovers of all kinds. I never knew how many movies Toto was in, and the Oz trivia was really fun, too. It was very cleverly written from Toto's point of view. I actually laughed out loud at some parts. Don't pass by picture captions and comments on the sides of the pages. It's all worth reading! Not bad for a dog no one wanted!



5. I was looking at silver-screen bio's in the library when I came across this clever little volume. Author Willard Carroll knows a lot about Oz, and he also understands a lot about animals and the people who love them. Whether you are a fan of the Wonderful Land of Oz, a dog-lover, or both, you are going to get such a kick out of this book. If you're like me, you're going to breeze through it, and then go back and read it again, preferably with someone nearby to whom you can read the funniest, most touching or trivia-friendly bits. Toto, who began as Terry, a little dog abandoned by her owners, has a very good friend indeed in Mr. Carroll.
   
   This is a story about Toto, but it is also the story of Carl Spitz, who had been training dogs since 1919. When he came to Hollywood in 1927, he opened a training school which combined kindness and discipline, an innovation which most at the time considered "nonsense." Mr. Spitz and his dogs broke into silent movies; he developed a series of silent commands when talkies came along. His dogs appeared with the stars: Prince the Great Dane and Lawrence Olivier in Wuthering Heights; Buck the Saint Bernard and Clarke Gable in The Call of the Wild. The English mastiff and the Scottish terrier were in major productions, too.
   
   Mr. Carroll captures Toto's "voice" so perfectly, even using a font that looks like my mother's old portable Underwood typewriter for the star's narrative. Toto also comments on the dozens of photos, movie stills and other memorabilia of a busy career with red pen.
   
   Toto hobnobs with the stars and has some once-in-a-lifetime moments, such as when Mr. Gable came to visit the kennel owned by Carl Spitz, the trainer who adopted and worked with Toto and many other canine performers. (Don't want to tell you what happened, but it made Mr. Gable smile. Eventually.) She works with Spencer Tracy in Fury and Shirley Temple in Bright Eyes. (Of the latter, Toto reports, "Shirley had her hair cut and recurred and had endless wardrobe fittings and makeup tests. I had a flea bath, a toenail trim, and an enema.")
   
   And then there was Oz. Toto is miffed when a studio official gushed, "She's the one! Looks just like the dog on the cover," for she considers said beast "a genetic mutation of terrifying proportions," but the role is hers and she revels in it, for she soon realizes that the story "IS ALL ABOUT ME!!! ... I'M IN ALMOST EVERY SCENE IN THE BLESSED PICTURE!!!" Toto includes a page from the shooting script with all six of her lines circled, as proof positive of her importance to the film.
   
   Of course, it isn't all green grass and marrow bones. There are those scary wind machines and the shock of seeing that nice Maggie dressed up in black, with her face painted green and the biggest nose since Durante, cackling away. Oh, and the Winkie guard that stepped on her paw by accident. Ouch! And the creepy flying monkeys. But Mr. Spitz' training paid off; Toto found herself able to rebound from such situations and perform like the trooper that she was.
   
   I, Toto is now one of my favourite movie books. Cute but never mawkish, sentimental but never saccharine, informative but never overwhelming, this little story of a little dog is a big winner.

1 comments about Pet Owner's Guide to the Bullmastiff (Pet Owner's Guide).

1. Does what it says on the cover! A great first book to read having just got a puppy mastiff, thank you.

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....

5 comments about Every Night, Josephine!.

1. Jacqueline Susann is known mostly for her "sex" books--"Valley of the Dolls", "The Love Machine" and "Once Is Not Enough". However before she wrote those she released this hilarious book about her poodle Josephine. It tells how she got a pet poodle and how her and her husband Irving grew to love it. It's a short book but very well-written (unlike most of her other novels) and very funny no matter how many times you read it. Susann missed her calling--judging by this book she could have written some great comedies. I've read it at least seven times over the years and laugh at it every time. Purportedly this was Susann's favorite book out of all the ones she wrote. It's easy to see why! Highly recommended.



2. My Dad let me buy this book in the 60's at a used book bin ouside the Playboy Club in Boston. I was 11. This was the first book I ever bought and I was thrilled. I got it home and Mom grabbed it out of my hand and gave Dad a "look"...Jacqueline Suzanne?? I will never forget this book. And I'm buying it again because I have no idea where it is now. I think I read it about 5 times in my life. Love it. A funny story that made me want a poodle so badly my parents went nuts. They got a German Shepherd instead and I never forgave them!



3. I read a story from Josephine to my babies, Kier Royale and Mimosa, everynight for their bedtime story. Their rapt attention never waivers as I unravel the tales of a penthouse poodles escapades in the big city. To two glamour gals from Hollywood, Josephine represents the sophisticated chic that is New York society. Sweet Dreams.



4. what can you say about this book? jackie escaped from her novels of sex, seconals, and scandal twice, and the results were in my opinion, her best efforts: YARGO and EVERY NIGHT JOSEPHINE! this book was funny, easy to read, and reread, and just plain entertainment. ms susann never aspired to be a shakespeare or hemingway, and her delightful books should be appreciated for what they are. personally, i think its sad that her life was cut short, i would love to have seen my collection of her books growing every year as my stephen king collection currently does.



5. Many years ago, I came across "Every Night Josephine" by adult novelist Jacqueline Susann. While I considered myself a "cat person" I couldn't help but get caught up in the lives of this adorable French poodle and her author-owner. The way the author laid out the story and related the experiences of this pampered pet as she hobnobbed with showbiz celebrities was rich in detail and description. I could actually picture the little dog chowing down on Hershey Kisses in a New York City penthouse or upstaging her mistress during a television appearance. THE END.

2 comments about Understanding Your Dog For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets)).

1. This book is a very useful tool for owners in terms of helping them understand a dog's mind. The book is incredibly detailed and extensively describes the stages in a dog's psychological development. It also has sections on handling problems as well as training. The best thing about this book is it gives concrete step by step instructions on training and commands that are easy to understand and follow. It also has an extensive section on interpreting body language and barks. I've read Cesar Milan's books and I find them useless because they're too abstract. They're more a testimonial to his skills than useful information for the average owner. This book is much more informative and helpful.



2. Having much appreciated other dog books by Stanley Coren, PhD--and having a new dog myself now--I had hopes this book would be worthwhile when I ordered it. I just finished reading it last night, and it is very, very good.
   
   One thing that impresses me in the book is that the reader isn't just told what to do to handle the dog, but is also told why that is what to do. Another thing I like is the authors recognized that all dog owners do not want the same details in lifestyle with their dogs, and presented various options on safe ways to handle things.
   
   The "for Dummies" series includes some duds and some amazing books that are full of extremely valuable details. This is one of the most valuable. Whether you are a new dog owner or an experienced one, you are sure to encounter something new to you and helpful in this book.
   
   The book also does a good job of telling owners when to get in-person, professional help with their dogs. This is vital. There are times when help simply cannot be communicated for the specific problem via the Internet or the telephone. And dogs are here and now beings. Sometimes the expert has to see the situation in person to diagnose the problem.
   
   My young Standard Poodle named Worthy will surely benefit from this book. And so will I.

5 comments about Airedale Terriers (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals).

1. My husband and I recently got an Airedale puppy (10 weeks old) and have now had him for 5 weeks. Right before we went to the breeder to get him we both did some research about helpful books etc. This book was on the top of the list on the Airedale websites that I looked at. It was a great resource and full of information that will be helpful from puppy to adult including care of the dog, grooming, feeding etc. It was easy to read and included many amusing pictures of Airedales.



2. I have owned Airedale Terriers since 1979 and have bred them since 1985. This book captures all the essential information about Airedales and organizes it in a very readable manner. I send the book home with every Airedale puppy that I sell. This book gets my highest recommendation.



3. "Take equal parts of intelligence, strength, heart, and loyalty. Add a generous portion of humor, sensitivity, and high energy. Throw in a pinch of stubborness and feistiness. Pack this inside a handsome 50- to 70-pound dog . . . and you have the Airedale Terrier."

   With this humorous introduction, dog trainer and author Dorothy Miner begins her book on Airedale Terriers, amusing those readers who have experience with this wonderful breed of dog and giving fair warning to those considering getting one. What follows this opening -- while it may maintain the same light-hearted tone -- is an interesting, readable book that is tightly packed with information. In the dozen-plus chapters that follow, Miner examines the breed in detail: the Airedale's history, considerations in puchasing an Airedale, basics and beyond in regard to raising and/or breeding Airedales, thoughts on owner responsibility, and more! With a well-thought-out table of contents and a concise index, the book is a breeze to use, whether reading from cover to cover or looking for an answer to a specific question.

   From Miner's coverage of the topic, it's apparent she knows her stuff about dogs -- and Airedales in particular. Her words, like her in-person work, exude a calm, logical attitude -- an approach that is inspiring to the new dog owner. AIREDALE TERRIERS by Dorothy Miner is the kind of training manual that readers will turn to for new-puppy guidance and one they'll return to again and again as their dogs grow.




4. I was pleasantly surprised by this book on Airedales. For an inexpensive book, it contained great "breed specific" information on raising and training an Airedale. It also had lots of great photographs. It is, however, written in a manner which scared off my wife from the breed -- sort of no-nonsense, this is a big decision, don't take it lightly, an Airedale is not for everyone -- kind of way.



5. Well written overview or the basics of Airedale terriers. If you are considering the breed or are new to the breed, it's a must own book. Having had airedales for 25 years, I found the book informative and the chapter on training to be excellent. The author knows her stuff too... hands on all airedale obedience training included. This has all the information in one place in a well written, easy to understand format.