4 comments about OTCH Dreams: The Agony and the Ecstasy of Life with Competition Obedience Dogs.

1. This is a follow-up to his previous book "Remembering to Breath" and it was an amazing read. Laughs, tears, and a lot of entertainment!



2. The 2 previous reviewers,who were beginning obedience competitors, really were quite eloquent in their comments about Willard Bailey's two dog books.Since I judged Willard and Honeybear at their very first practice fun match at Debbie Boehm's training ring(seems like 100 years ago),I have a slightly different perspective as we have shown against each other,hi-fived each other and commiserated together over the years.His books make me laugh and make me cry and make me stop and think about similar situations that I have encountered in the world of competition obedience. Most people get a dog,especially a first dog, and have no clue what to look for in a puppy or what questions to ask of a breeder or first trainer.They just like the breed and decide to get a puppy. Most don't even know about competitive dog obedience until they discover it for one reason or another. The second book describes what can happen when a stud dog owner doesn't impart correct knowledge about the bloodlines and genetic deficiencies in ther lines and the breeder doesn't take the time to do the research necessary in being a responsible breeder. You bring a puppy home and almost immediately fall in love with your new warm fuzzy bundle so by the time physical disabilities show up the owner does everything in his power,financially and otherwise, to help the dog and save him from pain. Willard speaks from the heart about his joys and accomplishments, heartaches and sorrows,jealousies and friendships in the world of competition obedience but he shows us by example how we should treat our canine friends if they are injured or aging. He lets us know that dogs deserve our best efforts whether they are competitors or family pet members. He has great respect and affection for his canine family members and all dogs in general. These books are great reading for all dog lovers whether they compete with their dogs or just love their dogs. I anxiously await Willard Bailey's next book.



3. As with many other beginning dog handlers, I couldn't put Bailey's first book down. Although I am actively showing my dog in Rally Obedience, his story of Honeybear and his beginnings in obedience competition were just what I needed to read as I was just getting started and in despair half the time. Oddly enough, I recently learned that my dog is part Border Collie and a week before I read the second book, my dog had two seizures. OTCH Dreams about BeBop (a Border Collie who has seizures)amazed me with how relevant again Bailey's book was to my own concerns. I don't know of any other dog stories like Bailey's that deal with a relationship between dog and handler in competition. This book is just fabulous. I am somewhat taken aback at times by Bailey's candidness in talking about people that tick him off. This makes the book very enjoyable to read. Like the previous reviewer, Bailey gave me the motivation to keep going and my dog has done very well since.



4. Willard Bailey's first book, Remembering to Breathe, saved me from what would have been one of the worst mistakes of my life--abandoning obedience training with my dog, Katie, after our initial unfortunate training with a force trainer. Katie shut down after those training sessions and with her attitude the way it was, I didn't want to impose further harsh training protocols upon her. Willard's book gave me the courage I needed to get back out there and find a trainer and training protocol that did work with both me and my dog. We did, and thanks to Willard, Katie and I are doing great in competitive obedience! It has been an incredibly rewarding, albeit life-changing experience.
   Remembering to Breathe and Willard Bailey will always have a very special place in my heart. Being the sequel to Remembering to Breathe, I was unsure that OTCH Dreams would be able to compare in impact and relevance to me on such a personal level. I need not have been concerned, OTCH Dreams is every bit as relevant and in ways, has had an even bigger impact. As in Remembering to Breathe, Willard again blends a joyous style of writing with wonderful touches of humor, as well as imbedding sound training advice that I call "pearls of wisdom." This book is a joy to read even as the first portion of the book sadly deals with the decline and subsequent death of his beloved first obedience dog, Honeybear. It brings to light some very important ethical questions that each of us must answer in caring for our own dogs. Willard brilliantly outlines the innate responsibility each of us has in providing a respectful life AND DEATH for our canine companions. The second portion of the book deals with his second competition obedience dog, Bebop. Bebop started his career as an exceptionally talented Border Collie when complex psychological problems began to intervene. As these problems worsened and manifested themselves in very physical ways, once again Willard had some very tough decisions to make. He very clearly delineates where personal selfishness must stop and respectful responsibility as caretaker for our animals must begin.
   I would highly recommend both of these books to everyone, but they will be especially held dear by the competitive obedience community. Both books should be mandatory reading for all beginning serious competitive obedience students. Written in such an entertaining and engrossing style, Remembering to Breathe and OTCH Dreams bridge all the areas that may be a little gray for the Novice competitor, as well as providing expert training tips. OTCH Dreams takes it all a step further and also clearly illuminates the unpleasant subjects of illness, death, and dying and how that correlates with the accountability we have as caretakers to our beloved canine companions. It is so fulfilling to have the honor to own and train a dog, but as their trusted guardians, it is also a tremendous responsibility.
   Thank you Willard, for another wonderful, wonderful book and for all your help and support. Katie and I are very appreciative and will be forever grateful.
   Karen Thompson, Eau Claire, WI --still...an "apprentice dog trainer!"

5 comments about Gun-Dog Training: Spaniels and Retrievers (Gun Dog Training).

1. The only time of the year I read the hunting and fishing literature is for my brother and for the holidays. This is the first time I did my reading not in an aisle but online. Great to quickly access and compare books on hunting with Springer Spaniels. My brother is knowledgeable about these topics and seems pleased with this book and he is picky. So that is my review. If I hear otherwise I will update this.



2. This is one of the better training tools you'll ever buy. Roebuck take's you step by step from puppy through the second year. I refer to this book every time I start a new puppy. If you hunt upland birds this book is a must.



3. This is an excellent book by the late Ken Roebuck. I used Ken's advice to train my Springer and I am very pleased with the results. Ken writes the book with the beginner in mind.

   The only drawback is that he doesn't give much useful information on how to train for blind retrieves.




4. I have read many books on dog training, and never before has anyone offered a plan so detailed or as simple to follow as Kenneth Roebuck. His insight into how a dog thinks and how we can use that to our advantage in training is at once ordinary and astounding. Skip all the popular training methods of the moment and use this one. You will never raise a better gun dog.



5. This book takes you through the selection of and training of a gun dog using the late Kenneth Roebuck's methods. This book outlines the use of both positive and negative reinforcment to produce a quality hunting companion. This is a great resource for the man wanting to train his own dog, and if I could only have one training reference, this would be it.

5 comments about Let's Have a Dog Party!: 20 Tailwagging Celebrations to Share with Your Best Friend.

1. This book is so much fun. Dog parties are the best for getting dog lovers together and have some fun too. Great ideas for fun!



2. ......you'll read this book. It really taught me some things I'd never thought of even though I've been a hard core, vegan AR activist for years.
   It's not just about parties....but little everyday things we can do
   to make our friends lives fuller & more interesting. I'll tell you one thing,if my doggies could type, THEY would give this book 5 woofs...or stars or whatever. It's a fantastic book for kids too.



3. Let's Have a Dog Party! is a must-read for everyone and anyone who has ever come in contact with a dog. From amazing party ideas to recipes to special words dogs love to hear, this book has it all. There is even a children's section so that the littlest member of your family can join in on the dog party fun, too.
   
   I highly recommend this book as a gift for any dog-lover in your life.



4. A perfect canine companion to "250 Things You Can Do To Make Your Cat Adore You." Just as in her prior books "Making Kind Choices" and "50 Awesome Ways Kids Can Help Animals," Ingrid exemplifies compassion for all beings, and offers heart-opening ways to bring love and kindness more fully into our daily lives.



5. I'm sorry, but I can't just go by what PETA's website says -- what they say about themselves. Reading outside the box will get an informed reader to open their eyes and see the Ms. Newkirk does in fact want to eradicate certain breeds of dog --- and as the owner of a loved and loving American Pitbull Terrier, I find this to be the height of hypocracy. I was once a PETA member .. back in the early 90's. I haven't changed -- PETA is in no way the same group.
   
   Read yourself Ingrid Newkirk.

No comments about Dog Psalms: Prayers My Dogs Have Taught Me.

5 comments about Knitting With Dog Hair: Better A Sweater From A Dog You Know and Love Than From A Sheep You'll Never Meet.

1. In these times of impending environmental catastrophe, it behoves all of us to recycle to reduce our carbon footprint. Happily, this onerous task has just been made easier by this publication.
   
   With Kendall Crolius as my guide, I was able to produce a handsome pair of lederhosen and a saucy g-string from the excess hair produced by my pooch. I now intend to press on to the advanced section where there are designs for a fireman's uniform and a peek-a-boo bra.
   
   My friend, Phil, has always been ahead of the recycling game - his ABBA tank-top made from the scummy bits in the shower plughole is legendary - but now he faces some real competition.



2. Okay, the next time you see some poor schmuck sitting on a curb looking into his lap and doing nothing...and you find yourself tempted to think, "that poor guy really needs to get a life,"...I want you to remember some of the books you've been reading and what you're considering a valid hobby.
   
   Knitting with dog hair?
   
   What's next? Cooking with dust bunnies?
   
   There are a thousand (more like a million) sane and self-esteem building hobbies in the world.
   
   Knitting with dog hair is not one of them.



3. As an on again off again fiber artist I found this book to be very informative as a review as well as adding to the knowledge I already had. If you enjoy knitting and love dogs spinning their hair into yarn is a fun thing to do. Don't have a dog? Contact a local groomer and request long, clean hair. It's free for the asking and the color, texture, and staple length is varied which makes for very unique yarns.



4. I must say that I was initially excited about this book. Knitting with dog hair seems like one of those ideas that every pet-owning, recycling, energy-conscious responsible human being should subscribe to. However, one little thing you should be aware of before you get this book. You have to REMOVE the hair from the dog BEFORE you knit. I really wish I had been told this before I started. Sure Scout makes a great hat, but it's really embarrassing if you are walking down the street, wearing your admittedly very stylish chapeau, and the hat pees down the back of your neck. Believe me, after the sixth or seventh time that happened I realized there was something wrong.
   
   Fortunately Scout is getting old and struggles less and less each time I wear him and has learned to thrash his legs when he needs to be let down to "do his business" (although that causes problems, too, I'll have to get a book about how to knit bandages from mouse hair next). However, I've been thinking about a pair of socks and I'm pretty sure the knitting techniques will be similar, but my cats Snookums and Woogy seem to get very edgy whenever I pick up my razor.



5. I found the information presented in this book to be of inestimable value to the aspiring dog-hair knitter. Unfortunately, I feel that a somewhat negative personal experience diminished the book's usefulness. In the future, I do not recommend that you attempt to shave a half-starved, unneutered Presa Canario unless you are absolutely certain that you can get by without your right arm. I say this because I have found it very difficult to knit with an unwieldy steel claw.

1 comments about Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier a Complete (Complete and Reliable Handbook).

1. Cute pictures, informative details about the breed of SCWT, and many basics that we need to know about the care for SCWT. Even Dublin, my SCWT puppy, showed that he liked it by chewing the corner of the book!

No comments about Complete Dog Care Manual (Aspca).

2 comments about The Everything Boxer Book: A Complete Guide to Raising, Training, And Caring for Your Boxer (Everything: Pets).

1. I purchased this book after getting my first boxer. It is a very good book for the new boxer owner. I wish I would have had this book before getting my boxer- it would have been helpful when interviewing the breeder. It would also be very helpful for those who have not researched the boxer before. I did not give it 5 stars only because a lot of the information was basic dog information - education on training techniques and caring for a dog. But if you are new to owning a dog or haven't had a new puppy in a while, it would be very helpful. The information is all accurate and educational and is a good review for any dog owner.



2. If you are a new, or even a not-so-new family member of a boxer, you will learn a lot from this book. Karla Spitzer is experienced with this breed and does a great job explaining in clear terms how to make a good life for your boxer, whether you have acquired a pup or perhaps an older rescued boxer. How I wish I had this book when our first boxer, a rescued stray, came into our lives. Sadly there are many people who bring home a boxer but are not aware of some of the special medical issues to be on the alert for and some of the special needs of the boxer as a member of your pack. With a guide like this you will have a much better experience and your boxer will be happier and healthier.

No comments about Amazing Dog Trick Kit: For Overachieving Pooches and Their Proud Owners.

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

1. It would be a good book for people who know almost nothing about dogs, but its info is very general



2. The book wasn't too helpful. Just gave me information on things I already knew. I bought a better one for only $1.00 at a local dollar store. I advise you not to buy and just do a little web surfing online. You'll find better information.



3. As a "dog person", I have to say that I learned very little specifically about boxers from this book. There is some standard stuff about dogs in general "Fleas feed on a dog by biting and sucking its blood. Their bites often cause severe itching..." Who doesn't know this information? Even children can tell you this without reading this (price) book. The stuff which is specific to boxers (breed standards, health information) can easily be obtained by an internet search. The only reason I gave it two stars is that some of the photographs are nice. I don't reccomend buying this book.



4. This is a great book to prepare you for getting a boxer. It has great information on training and health for your new puppy. Also, it has many great pictures of boxers.



5. This book is an excellent, well rounded, consise educational book on boxers. Chapters include: -The Typical Boxer -Tips on Buying a Boxer -Getting the Puppy Settled -Understanding Boxers -Training: The Gentle Approach -Daily Grooming and Health Check and, -Proper Nutrition and Feeding -Preventive Health Care and Illnesses -Breeding Boxers

   As you can see this book is very complete. You will understand and appreciate boxers in a whole new way. The book also contains many wonderful color photographs,and a complete lists of additional sources for information and help in caring for your boxer.

   A must have!