5 comments about Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul: Stories of Canine Companionship, Comedy and Courage (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

1. Haven't had time to read a book in quite some time. I made time for this one. If your a dog lover, you can't go without reading this book. LOVED IT.
   Purchaed 3 copies and gave two away.



2. This book is for you! Typical Chicken Soup fare but on the plus side, dogs are the lead characters. Lots of tearjerkers, heart warmers and amusing anecdotes. The format makes for perfect short reads (bathroom, waiting for appointments, lunch breaks). I recommend it highly.



3. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I love the stories and many of them bring me to tears. They're all great & really show the unconditional love of our dogs.



4. Bought this for my doggy-loving husband for Christmas. He travels a lot, so he says it will be perfect airplane reading material! He's already read a few of the stories and loved them.



5. I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my mom and step dad. They have a dog and I thought they would enjoy it. I have read other Chicken Soup book and they are good.

5 comments about Complete Book of Dog Breeding.

1. This book was of great help, particularly when our pups began to dehydrate after birth. There were only 2 things it did not prepare us for, having smaller than normal litters and the mother's nervous behavior affecting her care of such a small litter. According to the emergency vet on holiday call, there are breed specific behaviors which play into the mother's care and can interfere. My only wish was that I could have found a book more specific to my breed. As a general instruction manual, it was of great help. The two little pups are dear and are doing well now, 2 weeks later.



2. We just had a litter and everything went great. There are nine healthy pups. We had to do the slinging thing with one pup, and with the illustrations and directions it worked and the pup is healthy. We didn't loose one!!!



3. I bought this book to help me get through breeding my two Yorkies. It was comprehensive and easy for the non-vet to understand. If I had a question, it had the answer.



4. Excellent book. My dog just delivered 8 healthy puppies. I had read the book several weeks earlier and kept reffering to it as the whelping approached. It directed me all through the process and I learned many things that helped me avoid what would have been costly mistakes.



5. This is the best of the dog breeding books I bought when wanting to learn specifics about breeding my bitch. It gives time lines, what to expect when and also info on what to expect from the stud. I found this book to be very practical as it answered most of my breeding questions.

5 comments about The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training.

1. I quickly ordered this book assuming it was written by Cesar Millan. Pretty shameless for this author to use the title "The Dog Whisperer" and using a similar dustjacket to promote sales by associating himself with the well-known Cesar Millan. Alas, my mistake for ordering in a rush - like a fly caught in a Venus Fly Trap. I returned the book at my expense.



2. he goes too far in critizing other methods. He seems like a super nice guy. I would trust my dog with him, and would probably enjoy getting to know him and see him use his training methods.
   
   I've used a lot of his suggestions with my shepherd/rottweiler before reading his book, and saw great improvement in him over the years since getting him at 3 years old. However, having watched the other dog whisperer's show, which is like free college for dog owners, and applied his techniques, my husband and I have seen that next leap of growth that was missing.
   
   My dog is much calmer now with his noise phobias, with putting on his flea and tick medicine, going to the vet, and meeting other dogs. He has improved so quickly we are now looking for another dog to be his companion.
   
   So, this book is very good, but don't knock other methods until you investigate them yourself.



3. Paul Owens is the first, the original, the one true Dog Whisperer!! This book is incredibly helpful. All dog owners should have a copy and read it cover to cover.



4. Because of my volunteer work I have had the wonderful opportunity to handle thousands of rescue dogs. My job is to take pictures and post them on a website. I walk every dog to a place where I can minimize distractions and then attempt to get a natural shot of the animal sitting, or in some pose that seems relaxed or natural. I have photographed big dogs, scared dogs, injured dogs, dogs with post surgical trauma, dogs that pull hard, dogs that guard, dogs with food aggression, or borderline aggression or dogs that have suffered from just about every kind of imaginable neglect or abuse. Not one single time , ever , in the years I have been photographing have I thought I would be able to coax a better picture out of a dog by using a prong collar, a choke collar or any other absurd punitive action. Gaining trust and attention through positive reinforcement is the only method of training an animal that should be considered evolved. Training through positive re-enforcement compared to the archaic wisdom of pronging, choking, shocking or whipping an animal is like the difference between having a friend and having an employee. You have employees as long as you pay them, animal friends are forever. My favorite illustration to support this comes from a behaviorist friend who works closely with our shelter. When teaching positive re-enforcement he uses Marine Parks as an example. "Do you think the trainers at [the marine park] whip the 4 ton Killer Whale?"
   
   The teaching and mindset Paul Owens suggests in this book is perfect. This book is the standard by which all schools of Dog Training should measure themselves. Beware those schools that would teach you to "correct" or "flood". ( a concept that warrants research and often comes cleverly disguised ) Love your dog as a friend and never hurt them.
   The rewards are well worth the effort.



5. I found the book to be very helpful and gave me great insight
   on dog training.

5 comments about Puppy Intensive Care: A Breeder's Guide to Care of Newborn Puppies.

1. Our anticipated (via x-ray) litter of 1 Boxer puppy was born healthy on 6/6. Although I did not need this book (this time) it was definitely a worthwhile read and has much information. The DVD is a bit slow and very repetitive but I'm sure if I had needed to care info it would have been helpful. I loved the warming bed box and will be incorporating that for next time. Thankfully we did not need this book, but perhaps a little advance knowledge made me simply excited and not worried made all the difference. It is a book I shall keep in our library.



2. Although this is a very good resource book for welping puppies, and the care of the mothers, I believe the author's suggestion of complete intervention by humans during the welping process is taking control away from the mother. Her suggestions on how to indentify puppies in distress after welping is invaluable for all breeders. It is an excellent resource and I highly recomment this book!



3. If there is any one book that any breeder, whether it is an occasional family pet or professional breeder, this would be the one to have. It goes into details and is easily understood. It contains information that may save a puppies life. I have had my book for sometime and recently ordered one for my grandson. He lost an entire litter which I believe could have been saved if he had read this book.



4. This is the second book by this author that I've purchased. She does a wonderful job with her whelping and puppy books. If you ever get a chance to read one of these, or go to one of her seminars, DO IT!!!



5. This book should be around for anyone who is expecting puppies. The book and DVD have great hands on information for tube feeding or hydrating a in needs puppy. The guide to setting up the puppy box and getting the supplies ready is very helpful.

5 comments about 150 Activities for Bored Dogs: Surefire Ways to Keep Your Dog Active and Happy.

1. I thought this would have some neat ideas to entertain my dog, however the ideas were more for bored owners than bored dogs. Some ideas were lame, like having a doggy sleepover party. The book was only mildly entertaining because of the author's witty, yet annoying attempts at humor.



2. Didnt really learn much. Maybe if your new to pet care. Not that interesting.



3. 95 of the 207 pages talk about dogs in general, just like any other dog book.
   The "activities" are mostly ridiculous like "go see a pup psychic".
   I would not recommend this book.



4. The book was not what I expected. Some interesting info, but little help with a bored dog!



5. I loved reading this book and Sue Owens Wright's sense of humor kept me turning the pages. She's got SO many great ideas! This book isn't just for 'bored dogs' it's for anyone who owns a dog or anyone who is thinking of getting a dog. This may be a non-fiction, how-to type-book but it read like a fiction book ... it really flowed and I didn't want to put it down. With most non-fiction books I go back and forth reading here and there in the book looking for specific things. With this book I wanted to read every page. It's not often you find a non-fiction book that's this fun to read. This book appeals to people who have had dogs all their lives as well as people who are new to the idea of getting a dog. The first half of the book gives information about dogs, why they do the things they do, information on dog ownership etc (as well as boredom-busting ideas). The second half of the book is filled to the brim with ideas on keeping your dog occupied (when alone, when your with them, and when other animals are around). While reading the book I had some "Duh!, why didn't I think of that?" moments, some "Hey!, I do that!" moments, and of course there was lots of "I've got to do that!" thoughts.
   
   You won't be bored reading the book and your dog will be thrilled you read it!

5 comments about Puppy Training for Kids.

1. As preparation for a puppy for our 10-year-old son, we had him commit to reading this book first. Each night he read alone, and then we read together. It was not only informative, easy to read and follow, but a great shared time as well! It was the perfect "first" book to introduce our son into the upcoming responsibilities of having a dog. I also realized how neglectful I was in raising our now adult Labrador, and how much I want to re-train her with our son's puppy, too!



2. If you have a puppy or young dog, this book is great for your kids who want to help train it. It has great pictures and some neat tricks for the dog to learn.



3. The illustrations in this book are beautiful and easy to understand. Children can follow and understand how to care for and train their new puppy. This is not a book for people who are looking to learn about dog behavior the history of a dog. You will need to find a more informative book like; Good Owners, Great Dogs by Brian Kilcommons for that kind of information. But for older children who want to learn to care for their dog this is a good book for them.
   
   JoAnn Dahan author of Kids Training Puppies in 5 Minutes and TV Show Host of Kids Training Puppies.



4. This is an excellent book for your children if you plan to make puppy a new member of your family. It guides the children through the various stages of training a puppy, has good photographs supporting the text and highlights certain important phrases. Whislt it, of course, does not cover all aspects of dog traing, it does not need to do that: the training will be the adults responsibility, and not the child's. The child however can and should support those efforts and by reading this book can add to the training and hence become a responsible dog owner her/ himself.



5. Pretty good. Easy to understand unlike a lot of other dog books. I think it's just a little lacking in information, but it's a great book to start with, above average.

5 comments about My Dog Pulls. What Do I Do?.

1. Essentially, this book explains how to teach a dog to walk on a leash without excessive pulling. Though it implies that there is no pulling whatsoever, the methods used would not allow a dog to walk free of a leash all together--which is my idea of a well trained "Heel" command.
   
   To be fair, the author doesn't really suggest that a dog walk at "Heel." Although I can see her side of that argument, I had the (mistaken) impression that I would be able to better teach my dog(s) to "Heel" without any pulling on the lead and without any harsh devices. That is not the purpose of this book.
   
   This author contends that a dog should be free to walk anywhere it wants, so long as it isn't "pulling." However, if a dog isn't pulling ever so slightly while on a leash, why have the leash at all? In truth, I believe that this book teaches a dog how to be leash trained--meaning that when they have the leash off, they are free to go wild.
   
   At one point she brags about a time when her dog was agitated and jumping toward another dog but (supposedly) not pulling on the leash at all. My question would still be: Why have a leash if the dog knows that it can only get six feet away from you? The truth is, the dog obviously knew it had a leash on.
   
   My goal was to teach my dog(s) to heel better and ultimately remove the leash. I work with rescue Doberman Pinschers and many of them are quite strong yet have absolutely no training. There are people--such as this author--who contend that dogs do not need devices such as choke chains or pinch collars. Being the sucker that I was, I thought perhaps the author was right and that you could somehow use positive reinforcement in all cases in order to teach a dog--one who often weighs 80-90 pounds--to heel without pulling at all.
   
   That was not the case.
   
   Please don't misunderstand...I'm sure the author has lots of success teaching what she teaches--with the kind of dogs she trains. However, I do not believe that a dog--especially a large dog--should be able to walk wherever it desires. And I have found that some dogs respond very well to positive reinforcement (i.e., treats) while teaching them to walk on my left side. However, I have also found that some dogs don't care what you are offering them, they want to drag you down the road after that cat that they see as prey!
   
   Since I would rather, in those cases, use a little negative consequence (i.e., correction device such as a choke chain or even a pinch collar) to help them become adoptable, than have an uncontrollable (and unadoptable) dog, that's what I'll continue to use...because I prefer a dog that behaves even when the leash is off.
   
   In summary, if you want your dog to behave when it's on a leash, and be able to walk in front, behind, wherever it wants--only while on a leash--than this book is for you. However, if you want your dog to obey the Heel command without any pulling, there are better methods.
   
   All in all, it's a fair book; it's just not what I was looking for.



2. A third great book by Turid Rugaas. When I see a toy poodle or silky terrier pulling a 6 foot person down the street, it is a riot to behold. An easy read, plenty of photos which show the "How TO" in attaining a pleasant walking partner. The written portion explaining the photos is very easy to understand. I suggest every one contemplating buying a dog to purchase this book first. Information is a wonderful thing.



3. This short, readable, incredibly helpful book shows humans how to teach their dogs to walk nicely on the leash. Her method is scientifically proven to work, if you stick with the program.
   
   Turid Rugaas is humane, kind, and a real friend to dogs. Unlike so many other authors, Rugaas doesn't believe in "leash pops" or similar methods which hurt and frighten dogs. You will feel really good about this gentle, patient, and effective method for training your dog.
   
   Rugaas also has a WONDERFUL book and DVD called "Calming Signals", which teaches you to understand dog language. It really helped me understand my shy, traumatized rescue dog.



4. The author here lays out a simple, highly effective and *kind* method for teaching your dog to walk poilitely on a leash. No special collars, no beating up on your dog, no gimmicks.
   
   It's behaviorally sound and will have you enjoying loose lead walks with your dog in a short time.



5. Turid Rugaas' books should be issued with all puppy packets & adoption info. Her excellent insights into dog behavior bring fresh perspectives to owners/trainers of all levels. In this book, she reveals how so many handlers accidentally reinforce their dogs' tendencies to pull.
   If followed, her advice really works.

5 comments about Complete Holistic Dog Book: Home Health Care for Our Canine Companions.

1. I recently ordered several books about dogs and how to maintain their health. This book was the BEST one of the bunch. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants the best for their animal companion(s). After reading this book I ordered several more to give as christmas presents.
   
   I especially loved the chapter on the healthiest foods to feed your dog. It has changed the way I feed my own dogs and they absolutely LOVE their new way of eating. Who knew that the healthy foods that humans eat is exactly what is the healthiest foods for our own dogs. I know that I wasn't aware of that fact until I read this book.
   
   I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who shares their life with a dog.



2. Since buying this book it has become my best friend, it has helped me and especially my animal friends time and time again. Many of my dog loving friends also own this book now because of the info i have shared with them from this book . A definate must have if you are searching for alternative health care.



3. Excellent book Well Written. Great format, great philosophy well researched.
   All dog lovers should read and have this in their library. High marks !
   
   
   Soleng K. Tom MD
   Palo Alto, California



4. Fabulous book!! It is packed with information, but easy to understand and apply. I found the book to be very balanced and subjective in it's approach and advice. For example, it fairly presents the pros/cons of different diet approaches, without specifically recommending a "one size fits all" solution. All chapters of the book are valuable, but the section on diet and nutrition is particularly outstanding! Since reading the book, I have adopted a diet of home-cooked meals for my german-shepherd-mutt that is virtually 100% vegetarian! Seeing the way she responded to the new diet has converted many of my friends into believers who were total skeptics of a vegetarian diet. Although my dog was always healthy and happy, the changes are unbelievable in terms of her temperament, appearance and personality.
   
   Regardless of whether you're looking to change your dog's diet (as I did), this is a valuable book and must-have for every serious dog owner!



5. I have a variety of books on health for dogs, which I reference often. I noticed lately, however, that I've gone to this book first over and over and often I don't need to look at any of my other books. I usually cross reference material, but I've found valididated information from several other sources in this book so often that I save myself the trouble and just reference this book now.
   
   Rarely do I find a "the only book you'll need" in any book, but this one definitely has it all, and the information is not extreme. The authors recognize balance, recognize that there are a variety of methods to attack a problem, and they present each method thoroughly and non-judgmentally.
   
   For example, if a dog is vomiting and has nausea, they first differentiate between acute and chronic. If acute, they first give information on nutritional support, then homeopathy, then herbs, then accupressure and finally other methods including flower essences and considering addressing the dog's emotional state. If chronic, they are just as thorough but give other paths to follow in trying to treat the dog's vomiting.
   
   In addition to concrete suggestions for treating many health problems, very clear and professionally drawn illustrations abound throughout the book. In the section for vomiting, one drawing shows the dog's digestive tract and another the accupressure points for the digestive tract. When referring to the illustration in the text, the authors also reference corresponding charts and additional illustrations in another part of the book (and give page numbers!) that will further explain information regarding that particular illustration, such as finding the exact meridian point on the dog.
   
   The treatments the authors focus on in the book include diet, homeopathy, herbs, accupressure, acupuncture, TCM, bodywork, and energy medicine. The authors touch on a few other areas of therapy but they focus primarily on the topics just mentioned.
   
   I found the illustrations to be extremely valuable. They are peppered throughout the book showing parts of the dog that are relevant to the corresponding text. The illustrations aren't too detailed; they have just enough to explain. They're clear, concise, and easy to understand.
   
   Overall, this is the best comprehensive book on holistic dog care on my shelf. I'm gradually getting rid of the others because they don't compare at all to the accurately named, "The Complete Holistic Dog Book."

5 comments about The Ultimate Dog Treat Cookbook: Homemade Goodies for Man's Best Friend.

1. I own a dog treat business as a part time keep me busy type venture. While this book has a lot of recipes and ideas, some are complicated and require a lot of time to be spent purchasing items that aren't otherwise in the average kitchen. While the book itself isn't horrible, being a regular dog treat/food maker, it isn't the most user friendly or beginner type book either.



2. I've purchaed several recipe books for my pups and used more recipes out of this book than any other. There are also helpful tips and nutritional information throughout the book. The recipes are fairly easy and my three pups have enjoyed every one I have made so far.



3. Couldn't be more pleased with this book - it has great recipes, tips, and nutritional information on ingredients.



4. There are lots of easy, healthy, fun to make dog treats with things you already have in your cabinets. It was worth buying and I am very happy to have it on my bookshelf.



5. this book has a good selection of recipes but they are complicated and use ingredients like dried milk powder etc... the handy hints are good but some of the ingredients put me off making them.

5 comments about How to Raise a Jewish Dog.

1. Very dry humor, but right on point. I recommend it to psychologists to help understand jewish guilt.



2. Very cute point of view, if a little much at times. May I recommend, "Yiddishe Mamas: The Truth About the Jewish Mother" for an eye-popping, serious, yet entertaining, and absorbing look at this maligned stereotype.



3. This was a great book - very easy to read and extremely funny!
   I bought this for my kindle but am going to get a hardcopy for a co-worker- she is raising a Jewish dog and doesn't even know it!



4. Very few books make me laugh out loud as frequently as this one did. I especially loved the training lessons, and am impressed with what brilliant actors they found to portray the dogs in the evocative photos that illustrate each step of the program. I eagerly await the sequel, How to Raise a Jewish Cat.



5. I'm not Jewish but I loved this. Sent to a Jewish friend who said they really identified with the book