5 comments about Companion Parrot Handbook.

1. My veterinarian recommended this book when I bought my baby lovebird. Six years later, I became a foster parent to two rescued cockatiels that had never been handled. I refer to this handbook frequently. My lovebird is a joy, and I was able to train both cockatiels to be adoptable in a couple months. Fantastic book!



2. If you have birds, getting a bird, thinking about getting a bird, would like to know about whats and whys of avian behaviour, this book is an absolute essential. It doesn't cover everything (nothing can), but it's one of the best bird books I've come across in my working in avian rescue organizations. If you can only afford one, you probably shouldn't have a parrot, but make this the first one.



3. Sally Blanchard is an authority on owning and enjoying companion birds. She is a conservation-minded individual who understands the fine line between owning companion birds and keeping wild birds in the wild. Her advice on companion birds is very thoughtful, informative, and inspiring, and I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to obtain a companion bird. In addition to being fun and enjoyable, people need to know that taking on a bird as a companion is a lot of work, and so these animals are not for everyone. The advice Sally offers in this handbook is absolutely essential to anyone wanting to own (or currently possessing) a companion bird.



4. I breed and sell parrots and this is one book that I strongly recommend for all of my buyers to purchase. After thumbing through my copy, many buyers can't wait to order theirs and offer to buy my copy. I agree and had sold my original copy, plus a few replacement copies, before buying a box of them to have on hand for immediate purchase.
   
   As a breeder who cares about the home where my birds are going, I feel much more confident when my babies are going to someone who has read this book.



5. Just got the book and read it half-way through but already it is clear: this book is fantastic! I've had an African Grey for 24 years (now at my parent's place), moved into a new house recently, and got a Blue Indian Ringneck to liven up the place (quite a different bugga from my Jaco). So, decided to read up on Ringnecks et al. (surprisingly the Internet contains little informative data). Anyhow, I acquired several books including a couple by M. Athan (see my review). Mostly they were disappointments, esp. the behavioral ones. A lot of half-baked psycho-babble and generic tautologies that leave you almost as clueless as before (and I've had a temperamental birdy for some while).
   
   Not so with S. Blanchard's book. It is insightful, to-the-point, well-organized, well-written (entertaining parrot humor is a bonus), and makes an immediate difference. Blanchard doesn't over-generalize, ramble on about a simple point, nor does she hide behind scientific parrot factoids (I have a couple of books on the factoids) or too many second-hand hearsay. Many of her observations strike a chord (and will be useful to complete novices and non-experts alike), such as her shower-shy African Grey who feared the water spray and how she got around it. My Jaco remains to this day shower-shy, the water spray being one of her arch enemies. I've ordered another book and sent it to my parents.
   
   Perhaps the most important lesson that one gains from S. Blanchard's book is a correct attitude towards these cute & devilish buggas. Blanchard states that whereas dogs project unconditional love, with the parrot the emphasis is on conditional. Like golf which can ruin a perfectly good walk (to paraphrase M. Twain), parrots can ruin a perfectly calm existence. But what fun amidst the up-and-downs! I'm a scientist and therefore a harsh critic on what I perceive as dressed-up nonsense. This book is an unqualified gem. And the book contains but a couple of sentences that allude to ringnecks, my original problem.

4 comments about Right on Target: Taking Dog Training to a New Level.

1. Great training ideas, Mandy's book is recommended reading for my classes. Not only do the dogs love this, the people love "playing" with their dogs.
   
   Check this book out if you really want to train a happy, reliable, thinking dog!



2. I made the mistake of thinking this book would contain some advanced training techniques. Boy was I wrong...
   I was very disappointed. It would be a good book for beginners just getting into training more than basic obedience. But for experienced dog trainers, its a snooze, and some of the techniques I actually disagree with. Not to mention the fact that their whole system depends upon a dog who is highly food motivated. Consider carefully before purchasing.



3. Right On Target!: Taking Dog Training To A New Level is knowledgeably co-authored by dog experts Mandy Book and Cheryl Smith. This informed and informative introduction to properly and effectively training a dog methodically takes the reader through the intricate process of training a dog for a more sports oriented form of activity. Drawing from their many years of experience with dogs, Mandy Book and Cheryl Smith deftly explore the mapping of a proper training routine with an easy-to-follow and "user-friendly" format accessible and applicable by even the most novice dog owner. Right On Target! is very strongly recommended to all readers wishing for a more effective and thorough training manual for guidance of bringing their canine companion through all of the proper training procedures required for a great show and a lot of recreational activities.



4. I love training books, but I love them more if they tell me step-by-step how to train a behavior! Even better, how to then expand on a basic behavior to make it more complex.
   
   There's instructions on teaching behaviors that will help in canine sports - agility, flyball (paw touch on a contact similar to agility for learning a box turn) and freestyle.
   
   There's also fun stuff like teaching your dog to skateboard, hug, crawl, bow, kiss, etc. I'm also curious to try out the loose leash walking by targeting the leash - not for competition behavior, but nice for companion walking.
   
   We had an awesome visit at CSDogBookReview (YahooGroups) in April 2006 with Mandy and Cheryl - check out our archives!

5 comments about The Philosopher's Dog: Friendships with Animals.

1. While Raimond Gaita has an engaging enough style of writing, this book was a bit of a disappointment to me. I only got a C+ in Intro to Philosophy in college 40-some years ago, so a lot of his references to Descarte, Wittgenstein and Sorenson were just way over my head. I mean I could sorta follow his reasoning when he went off on these tangents, but I didn't really find it all that interesting, so I skimmed over those parts. And I'm glad I did, because when he did talk about his dogs and other pets, or about other books featuring dogs, I found his text very interesting. Was most pleased to see him cite J.M. Coetzee and his novel, Disgrace, which is a favorite of mine. And when he writes about his father, it gets even more interesting. Wish I could snag a copy of Gaita's memoir about his dad: Romulus, My Father. Unfortunately it seems to be out of print and only available used from Australia. I was made aware of The Philosopher's Dog by a brief reference to Gaita in Ted Kerasote's bestseller, Merle's Door. Although there's some rather tough slogging from the philosopher's end of things here, this is a book worth reading. - Tim Bazzett, author of the ReedCityBoy trilogy



2. I lament not loving this book, because the concept seemed wholly compelling and Mr. Gaita is a fine writer. However, I found the animal sequences slanted toward the sorrowful, and the philosophic essays rambling.
   
   The philosophy, to the book's detriment, dominates the text. I've read Wittgenstein, Buber and Heidegger -- so I'm not unfamiliar with the rigors associated with philosophy. I've read many of the books by the foremost ethologists. I've read many books detailing the tensions and joys of relationships between humans and their non-human companions. By and large, this book has none of the pleasures and illuminations present in almost all of those genre's.
   
   Mr. Gaita's prose is lush and clear during the more elegiac sequences in the book, which is why I'm giving it a 3 out of 5.
   
   The book cover is unfortunate because it gives an impression of tenderness or sentimentality, depending on your point of view, which is not reflected in the book. And perhaps it is literal to say so, but I did not find a single mention of a Terrier. We often buy books because of the tone that a cover implies, and this cover was indeed misleading.
   
   There seemed no fresh insights or even new questions raised in this book. Nor did I feel that it was a book about dogs or friendships with animals. But its worst moments are spent denigrating the work of other writers (and in full disclosure I have never had any association with the writers he mentions).
   
   It's not that the book is without a moment's pleasure, but there are few -- it is that there are so many uninteresting contradictions which cloud its intentions to the point that I couldn't put it down quickly enough, and dreaded picking it back up.



3. I found this book very moving and pleasant to read, but I am talking mostly of the first half. The second half gets really tough if you don't have a solid knowledge of philosophy...but it's certainly a very good and chalenging book. I recommend it!



4. Our book club picked The Philosopher's Dog as our first non-fiction selection. We are all animal lovers, and we had expectations of this book that it just didn't deliver. First, is that the way all philosophers write? No wonder there aren't too many of them around. Gaita did have some gems in the rough - and we did appreciate his insights - but his writing was so scattered that it was very difficult to sift through all the verbosity to get at the core of his thoughts. There is also no reason for a book to have single sentences of 50+, almost 60 words. That also detracted from the good points he was trying to make. Again I say, where was the editor? In addition, we had a problem with his arrogance in assuming that his dog Gypsy, as she's lying on her mat, staring out to sea, simply cannot have "reflective" thought. How does he know? The earth was still round when we poor humans thought it was flat, right? He has to look at his relationships with animals through a human perspective, the only one he has, but it doesn't mean that the jury is in on the limitations of animal thought and behavior. It doesn't mean, necessarily, that the human species is at the top of the intelligence ladder, either. Even though he eschews the use of anecdotes, we would have liked more of them, because his true bond with his animals came through best in the narratives. I think the book topic would have been better served as a tightly written essay. In the end, we did agree with Gaita that the essence of our relationships with animals is unconditional love and respect, feelings that we don't need a philosopher to explain to us. Unfortunately, the best parts of the book (the paperback version) were the cover photo and the back cover summary.



5. I don't have the qualifications Mr Gaita has in the field of philosophy, but if this is scientific philosophy I sincereley doubt its value. Some of the material is interesting, but quite often he puts his own very subjective ideas forward and magnifies them to universal laws of philosophy. He states for example that he knows nobody who would pay as much money in medical bills for a sick dog as he would for a sick child (this makes me wonder if he has ever even tried to communicate to real animal lovers before he wrote this book, or merely draws conclusions based upon his own feelings). Based upon this statement solely he "philosophises" that it is impossible to love an animal the same way as a human and even goes a bit further by stating that there is something wrong with you if you do. I think his feelings for animals are very limited compared to mine and a lot of other people who are in my view psychologically "healthy". I however as a psychologist and would by no means try to draw any universal conclusions based on this subjective finding of mine.

1 comments about Excelling at Dog Agility - Book 2: Sequence Training (Updated Second Edition) (Excelling at Dog Agility).

1. 4-Paws up for book 2 in the Excelling at Dog Agility "series" by Jane Simmons-Moake!

   This extraordinary guide takes you from beginner to intermediate using easy-to-follow text loaded with pictures, diagrams, and tons of sample exercises. Get started with straight line and simple turn sequences then move at your own pace to distance control and "side-switches." Simmons-Moake is extremely thorough in her method and emphasizes not striving for "good" but for excellence! Her method makes it practically impossible to fail. Some of the important topics in this book are the introduction of distance and control commands, gaining distance with her "distance circles" technique, and how to give correct body cues for accurate performance every time. She also touches on the controversial concept of "correction-free training." To top off a wonderful "curriculum" of doggy schooling, she includes several pages of exercises you can do with just a few obstacles to drill key elements or your dog's weaknesses.

   A few other features I really enjoyed:
   · LOTS of diagrams!
   · Tips for solving problems like broken start-line stays
   · Proofing ideas and exercises
   · An entire chapter on every type of side-switch imaginable! (including rear-cross, front-cross, counter rotations, zig-zags, and more!)

   ...and for those who are agility instructors or thinking of teaching agility, there are sample lesson plans for a 6-week Beginners class, 8-week Intermediate class, and 6-week Intermediate II class.

   I cannot stop praising this book! It has certainly improved the performance of my own dogs and allowed me to progress more quickly with proven techniques. It is the perfect addition to any agility lover's bookshelf!

3 comments about A New Owner's Guide To Pembroke Welsh Corgis (New Owner's Guide To...).

1. This is a great book to find out all about the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. It gives good detail has how to take care of your Corgi, what kinds of activities they like; such as agility and where to go to find more information on it. For a first time Corgi I think it's a pretty good book.



2. This is probably a good book for someone who has never owned any kind of dog; however, I was looking for a book with breed-specific information. I found more information searching the Internet about the idiosyncrasies of the corgi breed than I did from this book.



3. Very informative and useful book! Author presents information in an easy to understand and enjoyable manner.

No comments about Paws & Smell the World: Extraordinary Moments with Man's Best Friend.

4 comments about Polar Bears.

1. This book is truly fabtastic, a recommended read to anyone. Just pick open the pages and read, nothing complicated with it as it is written extremely well.
   
   Enjoy.



2. I really enjoyed this book. I originally bought it for research on a project but i was soon reading it for my own enjoyment. Polar bears are my favorite animal and this book gave me some amazing information and beautiful pictures. I would definately recommend this book to anyone.



3. This is probably one of the best book available on these amazing, intelligent, beautiful creatures. Don't believe most of what you read or hear about bears because they are not the killers that people have made them out to be. The reviewer "Howard Tuttleman' is an idiot! How you coud claim to know anything about these amazing creatures and then make a comment about the weapons and tools that it would take to bag one is beyond me. Just read "Polar Bears: Living with the White Bear" to better understand how peaceful and safe these animals are. Howard I wish someone would 'bag' you and I get so tired of stupid people like you even opening their ignorant mouth. I've spent alot of time observing brown bears and researching them so I have to deal with all the hype and myth surrounding brown bears as well. I've stood feet away from numerous brown bears and have never had a problem. It's all about knowing how to talk "bear". It also helps if you're actually more intelligent than the bear and as people like Howard have proven that isn't very common these days. Howard go back in your cave and keep you uneducated opinions to yourself. Stop the agressive ignorance!



4. This is a truly outstanding book. It is extremely well written and the photography is world class. The reader will come away with a broad outline and understanding of this magnificent animal.

5 comments about Everyday Tarot Magic: Meditation & Spells.

1. I found this book to be an excellent addition to my (growing) collection of books. Morrison has the ability to find a common problem and create a simple spell/empowerment to help with the problem. She has been a sterling example to me about how to keep spells simple, and about how to add new magic into your life. Tarot magic is not something everyone knows much about, and this is a simple guide that can be an excellent jumping off point for delving farther into this type of magic. Some people find the card destruction offensive, but I make color copies of my cards and just use those. It doesn't offend my deck, and still allows me to access the powerful symbolism of the cards. A must read!



2. I own every single Dorothy Morrison book and I feel as if she has become my mentor. Her books are filled with everything one needs to learn and explore the magic of tarot,the moon and the sun. I have been a fan for a long time and my first book entitled :Everyday Magic" was so detailed with spells, tables and other appropiate information I had to purchase her other books. Anyone can follow her spells,they are accurate,detailed, and comprehensive. What I like most about Ms. Morrison is her positive energy that clearly shines though all of her books. I have referenced all of her books for several years now and I feel as if she has become a gentle mentor. Her books are warm and full of magical intent, easy to read,exciting and a must have for any witch's library! She recently was the guest of honor at the Pagan Pride festival in Lakeville,MA and I was not able to attend. I was very upset at not meeting Ms. Morrison and I hope she will make other visits to this area as well as others. It would be a honor to meet such a wonderful and positive writer.



3. I absolutely adore Ms Morrison's writing and books, so I was very excited when I finally ordered this and got it in the mail. I was never very familiar with the Tarot before I read this, and after reading this, I feel that I have a much greater grasp of it. Her writing style is to the point and friendly without being too aggressively-friendly, which makes it easy to follow and charming to read. Her meditations with each card are treasured, and the spells are varied and simple to use. She also gives personal stories about her experiences with the Tarot, which help the reader (especially the beginner) to relieve any fears or doubts that they might have. Although it isn't the "most definitive" text on the Tarot out there, it is certainly one not to be missed.



4. I cannot believe I read through most of this piece of Yule kindling, much less spent money on it! I feel that Ms Morrison is fulfilling a writing contract with Llewellyn. They have some very venerable writers in their midst. Just because a new book can be produced each year, doesnt make it good!
   
   On that note, this little tome contains very little useful and sane information regarding this beloved form of mysticism. I had nightmares after reading the first few chapters regarding spirits following your cards. And the nonsense about reading for oneself is absolute rubbish! How can one one learn the cards? Reading for drunks in a bar seems preferred.
   
   As for the magic, there are many other books out there that provide safe and sane methods for your cards! Janina Renee's Tarot Spells or Terry Donaldson's Tarot Spellcaster are great sources. If there is a spell for using the cards in picking a better author...



5. Dorothy Morrison truly is concise and presice with her teaching of the tarot!A book for all..from Novices to the more learned.
   Very easy to understand and apply.
   I highly recommend this book to all.Way to go Dorothy!

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

1. If you are looking for generic information that would pertain to any breed, this book serves the purpose. There is basic information presented pertaining to the Brittany but I found little substance. If you are familiar with breed books from Barrons you understand what I mean. The Brittany is a unique, fiesty little dog and I was looking for a book that would delve into the temperment, development and point me in the right direction as far as training needs for my special companion. The information provided in this book does not concentrate on the Brittany and except for the pictures and brief chapters touching on the breed as a dual purpose companion/upland game hunter you can basically find the exact information on any breed in a Barrons book. I have trained Collies and Golden Retrievers and being a first time Brittany owner was hoping for a lot more information. You can go to the akc.org page and get the breed standard information for free. The book touches on hunting and retrieving but again, more in depth information can be found on most of the reputable breeder sites online. If you are looking to really get inside the breed, save your money, this book is nothing more than basic health care information that would pertain to any dog. A "complete owner's manual" it is not. I don't need to buy a book to tell me that my dog needs fresh water every day. The brief section on training says nothing about the "soft" temperment of this dog and the need for gentle positive reward methods and the risk of raising a timid fearful dog with problems that may be hard for the inexperienced owner to correct. If you are looking for a book with basic care instructions such as nail clipping, grooming, basic daily care and information on various potential health problems such as parasitic infection, explanations of the common diseases that we vaccinate our pups to be protected from, you will find the information in this book.
   Bottom line- if you are new to dog ownership you may find the information useful and valuable. If you are an experienced dog owner, pass on this one.



2. When I put a down payment on a Brittany pup, I purchased this book in order to gain knowledge about the breed. My Brittany is now 3 years old and I continue to look at this book as a reference.



3. This book is OK, but contains a few errors. The first review is also wrong, tri-color is not common or acceptable in American Brittanys. That is a feature of a French Brittany, and the bloodlines are distinct. One thing the book fails to underscore sufficiently is how "hyper" a brittany is: if you have never been around a pointing dog, please take some time to do so before getting a brittany so it doesn't wind up being orphaned. They are sweet, biddable dogs, but need to run alot every day. This is particularly true of a well-bred britt, since it will come from lines that maintain field traits. Good luck.



4. Excellent book for the new Brittany owner. I've bought 4 other books since I got my pup, and this one is the best. Plenty of general purpose info for any dog owner, plus lots of specifics about Brittanys. Training information is also provided.



5. Any one planning on purchasing a well mannered, friendly, active, loving, inteligent family oriented dog, should investigate Dan Rice's book first. They may find through this in depth and easy to read book that the loveable Brittany is for them. Note: Since the publication of this book, the AKC has changed the Brittany Spaniel's name to just Brittany. You may also like to know that the Brittany comes in other colors than just orange and white. Liver and white, is also common and although considered a discualification from shows, black and white or tri-colored are also commonly seen.

3 comments about The Power of Positive Horse Training: Saying Yes to Your Horse (Howell Equestrian Library).

1. This book gives good incite to the person who is trying to partner with their horse. Trying to find your way when everyone has an opinion is hard. This approach is a balanced approach, good for you and the horse.



2. I did thoroughly enjoy this book. I have done and read a significant amount of natural training methods so some of the ground work stuff was fairly elementary and sometimes not as 'natural' as I would like - found it to be a little incongruent with the 'positive' and 'saying yes' part of the title.
   
   None-the-less the under saddle training suggestions - especially teaching the half halt and circle work - were invaluable and made this book a worthwhile purchase. Like any book I its important to take away what is useful to you and not be too critical of the remainder which may work very well for others.



3. What a great book! With so many books available on natural horsemanship, horse behavior and training it's easy to accummulate a whole equestrian library rather quickly. There are really only two books you can't go without though:
   Gincy Bucklin's What Your Horse Wants You to Know and Sarah Blanchard's The Power of Positive Horse Training.
   Not only are both books full of great suggestions but more importantly they help bridge the language barrier between horse and human. Wonderful books to own, easy and interesting to read and great reference tools and morale builders when you and your equine partner hit a road block.