5 comments about Dogs Bite: But Balloons and Slippers Are More Dangerous.

1. This book is an essential read for those government authorities in positions of power, before making any breed specific legislation. they say they make educated descions yet they never listen to both sides of the debate. The only reason those decisions are made is so they can have their moment in history and have their name down as having made legislation!
   this book, although it can waffle on a bit in places, has been keenly researched and has been written in a fashion that is easy and a joy to read. The author has instilled humour as well as taking the extreme angry emotions out of the debate to make a clear and concise statement.



2. I think that this book is a must-read for dog trainers, home-owners' insurance salesmen, and anyone involved in dog legislation. It includes facinating graphs and statistics that put things in perspective.
   Still, the author recommends training and education for people and dogs.
   If you're involved in breed ban legislation you should consider reading this book.



3. Another pro-dog diatribe, attempting to justify dog ownership by trivialising the danger to children and the elderly from unconstrained dogs. There's something rather perverse and unnatural about 'owning' a mammal, whose utter dependence and williingness to endure anything strokes the fragile ego of the owner. Whether these types of books - of the polemical pro-dog type - spring from the PR department of the large petfood industry (very likely), or they are simply self-justifying therapy by dog owners, enough is enough. There are a few billion humans on this planet who could use the thousands that dog owners waste on dumb animals each year. And an environment that could benefit by ridding it of the massive damage that millions of dogs create annually.



4. It's true, as the author tells us, that more people die in wars. But with people like Saddam and Bush in the the world, whaddayagointodo?
   It's true that more people die by swallowing random objects and choking on them, but with stuff like marbles and Kentucky Fried Chicken in the world, whaddahagointodo?
   It's true that more people get killed and messed up in car wrecks, than get killed and messed up by dogs, but with all the cars and all those people commuting and driving to WalMart and Disneyworld and all the rest, whaddayagointodo?
   Hey, dogs are all right! They just kill people, maim people, just like their owners would like to do themselves, but can't do, because they'd go to prison for it, and then get messed up themselves, bad, so the dogs rip into neighbors and passers by, and it's all right, "oh I didn't know he was out" or "what did you do, stomp at him?" or "I think you were trying to get into my yard, don't you respect private property" or "he doesn't like people who look like you, there was a [guy of your ethnic group] who used to beat him, you know some people just don't like dogs", hey you know "every dog has one bite", or maybe two or ten ...
   You know, like "guns don't kill people, people kill people" just the same thing, we're just talking about dogs, this time ...
   "There are no bad dogs." Right? Right. Just bad people. Like just about everybody who owns dogs. When are you people going to do something about yourselves?



5. A couple of months ago I received a request to review for my EZine (www.behaviorlogic.com) a new book that was being published, and I'll reproduce it here. The book is called Dogs Bite But Balloons and Slippers are More Dangerous by Janis Bradley. It was published this year by James and Kenneth Publishers in Berkeley. (ISBN 1-888047-18-6).
   
   The book reveals the reality behind the terrifying headlines about dog attacks against innocent humans. The fact of the matter is that while dogs are more likely to kill children and the elderly than hale and hearty adults, they rarely commit fatal attacks on humans of any age. A far greater risk to children is their own parents.
   
   Bradley has produced a variety of statistics on the death and injury rates produced by various causes. More people die of fork lift accidents, balloons, and 5-gallon buckets than die of dog bites. And of the high number of reported dog bites (Some 800,000 each year in the US) remarkably few actually result in medical care.
   
   This book is important to dog lovers right now, especially those who have certain breeds such as the dreaded pit bull or look-alikes such as the Staffordshire Terrier. The media focus on pit bull attacks has made them into pariahs, when in fact, they can be gentle, loving pets. Even a cocker spaniel or a dachshund can kill someone. In fact both breeds have. But no one is threatening to ban those breeds.
   
   Bradley writes in an engaging and personable style about legislation, liability, breeds and appropriate strategies for managing the dogs in association with the people in our homes. If you want to get past the hype to the truth about dog attacks, this book is a wealth of information.

1 comments about Retriever Troubleshooting: Strategies & Solutions to Retriever Training Problems.

1. Most retrievers are eager to retrieve but there still can be problems training them to do so properly, even in advanced settings. Retriever Trouble-Shooting: Strategies & Solutions To Retriever Training Problems comes from the authors of highly acclaimed training manual, The 10-Minute Retriever and offers the authors' own experiences and expertise in handling typical problems and coaching owners on retrievals covering many a long distance. Chapters cover line manners, bird handling, force-fetching and more, making Retriever Trouble-Shooting a 'must' for any owner or handler engaged in training a superior retriever dog.

1 comments about The Dog: Its Behavior, Nutrition, and Health.

1. At last companion animal professionals, dog owners, and adoption counselors have a superb comprehensive reference source for canine development and physiology, learning theory, behavior, health and disease, and nutrition, all in a single volume. Previously it was necessary to have on hand several books, each covering one or at most two of these topics. While the primary audience for The Dog is undergraduate students in animal sciences programs and other students in professional programs, the book readily serves a broader audience of breeders, trainers, kennel operators, humane society personnel, and veterinarians, and it is entirely accessible to the general dog-owning public. Separate sections on the benefits and responsibilities of dog ownership and factors to consider in selecting a dog make the volume particularly valuable for shelter personnel, adoption counselors, and anyone considering acquiring a dog.

   Case combines academic credentials as a specialist in companion animal nutrition (her previous book is Canine and Feline Nutrition: A Resource for Companion Animal Professionals, 1995) with training and long experience as a behaviorist, dog trainer, and college educator. Not surprisingly, the chapters on nutrition are thorough yet concise, offering important information otherwise unavailable to the non-specialist interested in the nutritional needs of dogs and in industry practices of dog food formulation and production. The sections on behavior provide cogent explanations of developmental stages, communication signals, social interaction, the principles of learning, and training techniques, as well as an excellent overview of behavior problems. Case's balanced and incisive discussion of the dominance model of social interaction (and its misuses) is particularly welcome.

   At $34.95, the volume is priced between a college textbook (many of which now cost twice this price) and a trade book. In fact, we can be grateful to the Iowa State University Press for keeping the cost of this excellent volume within reach of the general public. Separate works on canine behavior, nutrition, and health would easily exceed the cost of this publication. The Dog is hardcover, beautifully illustrated with line drawings, and includes an extensive bibliography of recommended readings, a glossary, and an index. Volunteer adoption counselors at the Champaign County (IL) Humane Society are highly encouraged to read The Dog to expand their knowledge of topics frequently raised in the course of counseling adopters. A companion volume on cats is reportedly in the works, and we at CCHS eagerly await its publication. --Mary Stuart (Mary Stuart is a former member of the CCHS Board of Directors and has taught adoption counseling to shelter staff and volunteers for the past 10 years.)

4 comments about Without Regret: A Handbook for Owners of Canine Amputees.

1. I suppose some of the literary criticisms I've read in "professional" reviews elsewhere on the web may be valid (hence four stars, instead of five), but I'm inclined to cut the author plenty of slack. After all, there is very little competition among titles in the "canine amputee" section of the book store!
   
   This is obviously a labor of love, intended to help others learn the lessons learned by the author, with fewer hard knocks. I read it cover-to-cover just before our dog's operation, and picked up a number of tips that made things easier for us and our dog. For that I am grateful. It's definitely worth your time and money if you have (or might have) a canine amputee.
   
   If you're reading this, you might be interested to know that our 13-year-old English Shepherd is doing well after losing one of her front legs to bone cancer less than a month ago. The most surprising aspect was her apparent lack of pain. She actually slept on the side of the amputation right away. Apparently, there are few nerve endings there.
   
   As an old dog, she doesn't run around as if all was normal, as some young dogs might. Walking is slow and tiring for her. The best things we did were to buy carpet runners for the kitchen (slippery floors are very difficult for her), and a RuffWear "Webmaster" harness, with two belts under the belly. We use that to help her walk when she's tired, and to get into and out of the car, etc.
   
   We continue to see steady improvement. Most importantly, she wags her tail.
   
   Best wishes to you and your dog.



2. This book was very helpful when I found out that my dog had cancer. My vet recommended that we amputate a limb. This book was a great help in understanding everything I could expect from the surgery. It also had wonderful referrals for vet schools and I found a trial of free chemo from it. This book is a must for anyone considering amputating a dog's limb.



3. This book is a must if you have a pet that will go, or has gone through this. It was helpful for our entire family.



4. How many people would look for a book like this? Yet for those of us faced with a very difficult decision, it is a godsend. My dog Kerby was diagnosed with bone cancer in his right front leg, and because he was not a candidate for palliative radiation, we were faced with two choices: euthanasia or amputation. He was in horrible pain, but he was not ready to die; we had to do something. This book convinced me that amputation was not a hideous choice. Kerby is a big shepherd mix, 12 years old, and I had many doubts; but 2 days after surgery he was ready to jump up into the car (no, we didn't allow it), and a week later jumped up on the couch. Yes, his days of 2 mile walks are over, but he has done so well, and our time together is something so important and special that I find it hard to describe. I urge owners of dogs facing amputation to read this book to gain confidence in your decision. Susan Neal has done a fine job describing what to expect and actions to take.

5 comments about The Atlas of Dog Breeds of the World.

1. For one thing, this book is all aboyt dog breeds.(Plus a little history) It has EVERY SINGLE DOG BREED IN THE WORLD. No exagerations. It has a few stats before each detail about the dog, such as class, height, weight, and such.
   For seconds, this book is BIG. That's even underestimating. This book is HUGE, GIGANTIC, HUMONGOUS! It has over 800 pages! And I thought the DOG BIBLE was big...
   Trust me. I've been studying dogs for 4 years now and haven't found a dog book so impressive with ABSOLUTLY ALL the dog breeds. So, if you want to find out if SAINT BERNARDS are good watchdogs, what dog comes from NEW GUINEA, what breed of dog isn't capable of barking or just want to find an exctinct type of dog to put in your mystery novel to make it all the more mysterious, this book HAS IT ALL.
   P.S.-This book even containes the exctinct breeds!



2. This book is so good. I have a couple of breed books and they can't hold a candle up this book. It is the best book I have ever read. I think that if you want a good research book this is the one. It tells the origins and charecter features. This book is so good I would even recomend it to my worst enemy. You NEED to buy it.



3. You can't do without this book in your library! I currently own two copies and would not sell them for almost anything! It has great information about dog breeds and beautiful pictures, a hefty book, but if you want to realy know what some dog breeds realy look like, this is the book for you!



4. This is an excellent book for the experienced dog enthusiast of for someone whe is just wanting to know more about specific canine breeds. It is a throrough and complete text. I highly recommend it to my friends because it covers a lot of information not covered in other text.



5. SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE, AS A GROUP, BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR OUR EMPLOYER, A VETERINARIAN. THE BOOK MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED. THIS YEAR I BOUGHT THIS UPDATED BOOK AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR THE VETERINARIAN. HE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE AND EXCITED WHEN I GAVE HIM THIS BOOK. HE HAS TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THIS BOOK HAS THE BEST PICTURES FOR ANY BREED HE LOOKS UP AND USES IT AS A REFERENCE TOOL WITH OUR CLIENTS. IT ALSO GIVES A WONDERFUL HISTORY FOR EACH BREED.

1 comments about Best Hikes With Dogs New Jersey (Best Hikes With Dogs).

1. 
   Mary Jasch describes 52 of her favorite hikes located all over New Jersey, although the majority are north of Princeton. She writes: "Abundant opportunities to enjoy nature and escape a hectic world await people and their canine pals in New Jersey's national, state, county and township parks and forests. Some private organizations also open their lands for people and dogs to experience."
   
   A map shows the closest walks and driving distances to major cities. Each trail description begins with information on distance, elevations, difficulty for human and dog, approximate hiking time, and best seasons. She gives directions to the hikes, local regulations, best detailed maps to use, and park contact information.
   
   Jasch earned a BS in natural resources management, applied ecology, and she uses her training to add interesting environmental and horticultural facts. Her black and white photos add real interest to the hikes.
   
   As a long time hiker in the metropolitan region I know that many of the organized hiking leaders do not welcome dogs. Jasch's website (search on Google for nj dog hikes ) lists a few leaders that do so. With or without such a leader, Jasch's book is a splendid guide to hiking with dogs in New Jersey.
   
   
   Robert C. Ross

5 comments about The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog (Howell Dog Book of Distinction).

1. Have just bred my dog and had a lot of questions about how to take care of her during and after welping. This book answered all of my questions.



2. I burrowed this book from a public library and have loved the book, i actually had to purchase this book thru Amazon. Glad that it came back~
   Has a wealth of information and very easy to understand and follow up on it
   
   Excellent book to add to your bookshelf for breeding information. A must have for the reputable breeder or a newbie just starting out.
   
   I have no down fall opinions of this book at all. "Excellent" ratings~



3. This book is put in simpler terms than a text book & makes it easier to understand for the novice. Very informative.



4. This is an excellent book for basic canine genetics and picking a breeding partner as well as other aspects of Breeding for quality show puppies.



5. Excellent book a must have if you plan on breeding.Covers everything you need to know on breeding. I will always keep this book around.

5 comments about The Artful Dog: Canines from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

1. A great gift for the dog lover on your list. Great art, great quotes. An excellent coffee table book. Easy to pick up, dip into and put down. An appropriate gift for most occassions.



2. This book is a jewell. My husband and I keep in on our table and read from it every day. The quotes inspire us for the entire day. Each one is endowed with great wisdom and humor. The art is exquisite. Shari Thompson has accompished an amazing body of work. Her research and choices have produced a rich and beautiful little book.



3. I have just received the six new copies of The Artful Dog which I intend to give to all the dog-people on my list, (and some cat-lovers, too). Shari Thompson has discovered a splendid canine collection in the MM of A and matched them to an assortment of most appropriate quotations from a wide range of dog-lovers - St. Bernard (the human) to Ogden Nash. It is a visual and verbal delight.



4. This makes a delightful gift for every dog lover on your holiday list. It's also a much better host/hostess bring-along than a bottle of wine, for it lasts much longer, providing enjoyment each time the reader opens it. Dogs in art and clever quotes are superbly matched by the editors!



5. This beautiful little book, which I received as a gift, is pure joy with it's delightful reproductions of paintings and photographs of dogs of all types from New York's Metropolitan Museum. Each work of art is accompanied by an enchanting quote or short poem that miraculously reflects the art...how did the author ever find these? Dog lovers and art lovers alike will be totally charmed, as I am. It was a great gift.

2 comments about How to Train Your Bichon Frise (How To...(T.F.H. Publications)).

1. I got what I ordered in swift time. The product was in great condition and if there were more books I needed, i would order them from this person again. Thanks so much.



2. This is a excellent book on the total care of the Bichon Frise. It is the only book necessary to answer all your questions. I'd definitely rate this book a 5+ ! It is a wonderfully illustrated hardback that you will want to keep as a reference. It offers great advice from littering to the elderly adult dog.

2 comments about The Dog Lover's Companion to Los Angeles: Including Ventura, L.A., Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties (Dog Lover's Companion Guides).

1. Look, you got a dog or two? Living or traveling in southern California? Then you need this book! Seriously, to find out which beaches, parks, restaurants, hotels, etc. will accept your pooch in LA or OC, this is it. Lots of little-known dog-friendly places and tips on travel make this book worth its price.



2. Wow -- in planning a vacation to Big Bear Lake, I found a great dog-friendly lodge thanks to this lively written guidebook. What a resource: It lists so many parks that I didn't know allowed dogs, plus lots of hikes for great views of the Pacific. We're looking forward to going to the dog-friendly stores listed for Beverly Hills and taking the ferry to Catalina Island.
   Our dog adooooores this book! She's no longer cooped up at home.