5 comments about Animal Blessings: Prayers and Poems Celebrating Our Pets.

1. For anyone who has ever loved an animal, this is a heartwarming little book. No need to read it just once - pick it up anytime.



2. I was given a copy of this book after we lost our dog. I like it so much that I now get a copy for every friend who welcomes a new pet into their home or someone who loses a pet. Sometimes I cry and sometimes I laugh when I pick it up to read. I find myself going back to it every now and then and always find a page or two that brings a smile to my heart.



3. I have given this book a number of times. To friends who have lost their pets, to friends who have recently acquired new pets and have gotten the same reaction - Thank you so very much! I can't go through it without a dry eye or a smile.



4. AS A DEVOTED PET OWNER, MY BELOVED DOG "LEXIE" IS ONE OF THE FAMILY,BUT ALSO MY FAITHFUL, DEVOTED FRIEND AS WELL. I ENJOYED THIS BOOK VERY MUCH AND SO WILL ANYONE WHO READS IT. EVERY PET OWNER HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN THEIR HEART FOR THEIR OWN PET,AND THIS BOOK WILL CAPTURE YOURS AS WELL. IT'S GOOD READING FOR YOUR SOUL!



5. This is a great book for so many reasons! I bought this as a gift for someone and thought about keeping it for myself. It has wonderful little poems throughout. There is a whole section on the death of a pet as well containing poems, eulogies, and songs. A great book for anyone who has a special pet:)

3 comments about Horse Crazy: Women And the Horses They Love.

1. I love this book, the stories are very inspiring.



2. Horse Crazy is a marvelous collection of shorts that helps explain the special relationship women and horses enjoy. In the story Galloping Into Forty, author Kimberley Freeman describes riding on a beach at a full out, hell-bent-for-leather gallop. More than any other passage in the book, this one allowed me to understand the lure of horses--and want to go racing across the sand on a horse. Charlotte Mendel's Mucho Muchacho stands out as well, and if you want to understand why women are loco para caballos, I couldn't recommend this book more.
   
   Having little up close and personal experience with horses, I'd never really understood the power--or more accurately, sheer horsepower--they possess. But after reading this collection from dozens of authors and viewpoints, I've finally gotten a glimpse into the majesty and mystique of horses that attracts girls and women of all ages.



3. In the rush of Christmas shopping, I looked at a copy of "Horse Crazy". I was thinking of a last-minute gift for my school's generous and good-natured receptionist who adores her aging horse. Impulsively, I bought a second copy. Just in case someone showed up at my house with an unexpected gift, I could save face with this book. But instead I left it next to my sofa.
   
   Sometimes I am daunted by books. My intention of being absorbed by a 500 page book are often foiled by multiple preemptions. But this book allows me to disappear into well-written, funny and touching stories written by smart, simpatico women. I especially liked "It's Only a Paper Horse" by Stephanie Losee. My favorite image is when she describes her husband trying to please her horse-obsessed daughter's requests for drawings. She says, "Tom's sketching abilities were limited to the creation of a single cartoon fish, which he drew over and over in a vain attempt to be useful." That so resonated with me as a parent, and also made me chuckle.
   
   So I highly recommend this book as a fun, touching, well-written book of stories. Even if you don't adore horses.

5 comments about How to Train Your Labrador Retriever (Tr-103).

1. Great book. Perfect for training the active lab. I love that is comes with a DVD. This book covers everything you need to know about your lab from birth to old age. Wondering though, why is there a golden retriever on the cover???



2. The author gives clear and consice advice that really works. You will not be disappointed



3. This book was great. My 3.5 month old labrador retriever already does "sit", "down" and "shake" on command, thanks to this book. He is also fully crate-trained. I would recommend this book to anyone.



4. Here is an attractive entry by author Liz Palika, a book that takes a loving look at America's singular and by far most popular wonder dog, the Labrador Retriever. As she points out so well, there are few other animals who draw such love from humans as a dog, and surely the Lab is the most loveable of the breeds. Here she presents the Labrador Retriever in all its wonder and does a yeoman service to the rest of us by enumerating all of the superb qualities the dog has to offer potential human enthusiasts. They are by reputation excellent working dogs, both as field dogs and as guide dogs for the disabled. They are also incredibly loyal, and the news services are often filled with wonderful and heartwarming stories of Labs crawling out on the ice to save their masters, often at considerable danger to themselves. Nonetheless, they stand by our sides.
   
   Therefore, this book, "How To Train Your L:abrador Retriever" is a great tribute to the breed, and is chock-full with stories and photos that actively serve to substantiate what might otherwise seem as idle boasts and overethusiastic praise. In fact, for anyone who spends any time around Labs, like me, it is hard not to use superlatives when describing them. More than one of the stories herein will bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye, and the idea in your noggin perhaps it is time to consider getting one of these incredible creatures into you rlife, and that of your extended family. they boost the energy level in any room they enter, are incredible chick-magnets, and have been shown to reduce high blood pressure and dissipate depression through their mere presence. This is a wond
   ful book, and one I am sure you will enjoy!



5. A good useful book for anyone who needs some help training a Lab. Goes over a lot of general lab information as well as training tips.

1 comments about Quick & Easy Ball Python Care (Quick & Easy).

1. this book has a lot of info for new snaker owners. they only thing that was wrong with my book is that the box that it was in bent all of the pages but that is no biggy. but ill give the book 4 stars :)

3 comments about The New Complete Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

1. There are a number of "breed" books out there on the Pembroke, but this is the official one. Mostly geared toward people who are interested in conformation showing and breeding, it is the only book with extensive photographs and discussions of bloodlines which have influenced the breed. Like all books by breed fanciers, it does not say anything critical about anything. If you want to find out about problems in the breed or in certain lines, you won't find it here (for example, temperament, genetic health, over-popularity). It does have short but informative sections on other topics besides showing and breeding. It is an excellent example of its kind. Certainly all Pembroke breeders should have a copy (but they probably do).



2. This is the most complete corgi book I've found. There's so much information I can't begin to do it justice - from history of the breed to prime examples of corgis, this book blows away every other dog book I've ever had my hands on (for any breed). Though this book might cost more, it is well worth it - I bought 5 or 6 Corgi books and this one makes the rest look like cheap info pamphlets.



3. The new complete pembroke welsh corgi offers quite a bit of information for fanciers of the breed. The history of the breed is well documented and includes rare photos of champion corgis. The text is written so as to interest both those who breed and show corgis, as well as those who are just interested in owning one as a pet. The health care information is informative and provides pet owners with important insight into corgi care. This is definitely one of the best references for the breed that I have seen.

5 comments about Dog Talk: Training Your Dog Through A Canine Point Of View.

1. I've been reading book after book on dog behavior, trainging, etc. in preparation for my new puppy. Of all the books I've read this is my least favorite. I feel like the tone of the book is a over-simplified while other great books like "The Other End of the Leash" and "Good Owners, Great Dogs" respect the intelligence of their reader. I also think that using the book recommended "NHAA" over a simple "No" is silly. Anyway, this book is alright, but there are MUCH better out there. Try the two listed above as well as "Positive Perspectives; Love your dog, Train your dog" by Pat Miller and "The Art of Raising a Puppy" by the Monks of New Skete.



2. I've read a LOT of dog training books over the years, from the earliest Koehler (traditional trainer) to the latest "fad" titles like "Positive Puppy Training Works" by Joel Walton. John Ross's book really boils down the basics to brass tacks, and makes it easier for the layperson to understand. I don't use a text for my classes, but if I did, this would be it.

   The thing I like best about this book is John's balanced approach. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to learn that dogs, since they can't learn our language, need for us to communicate in ways that are meaningful to them. Balanced training is just better communication, period. Dogs understand it, so they learn faster. The "positive only" folks out there want you to think all corrections are going to ruin your relationship with your dog, but that is simply not so. Humane, effective corrections are a part of teaching dogs, and if you train the right way, you don't need them very often. Ross explains how to train the right way, with praise, rewards, and yes, corrections if needed. He's not afraid to tell it like it is. I find this refreshing, and I know--it works.

   I do agree that there is no substitute for a good training class, including this book. Use them together (you do have to do your homework) and you will end up with a really well-behaved dog. Since training never ends, the book will give you something to refer back to to keep Fido in excellent form long after the class is over.

   You owe it to your dog to communicate with him in a language he understands. "Dog Talk" will show you how.




3. I bought this book (amongst others) 8 years ago when I got my first dog. After reading all of the dog books I could lay my hands on, I decided to try this one. I followed it religiously and it worked like a dream. As a result, both my dogs are amazingly well trained and behaved. By the time they were six months old they both responded to spoken commands as well as hand signals. I can leave food out on the table without fear they will eat it when I'm not in the room, leave them in a down stay for as long as I need and take them for walks without being dragged. They even go pee on command! Neither one of them took or needed obedience training.

   Fair warning though, it does require time and effort. It isn't enough to try it once and give up if it doesn't work right away. If that is your approach then you should probably look for professional help.

   Also, while the book gives you excellent ideas and methods, it is not a cookbook. You can't simply follow the instructions exactly and expect it to work perfectly for every dog.

   Dogs all have their own personality and likes and dislikes. While one of my dogs will do rolls until the cows come home, the other hates doing even one. The book requires creativity and sensitivity on the part of the owner. If you don't have those qualities, it's probably best to find a pro who does.

   I've loaned this book to a dozen people since I got it. Just about every one of them loved it and used it to either train their dog or rid their dog of a bad habit. If you are the type of person who likes working with your dog and wants to teach him to do more than just 'sit', this is the book for you!




4. I purchased this book back in 1993 when I and my dog participated in a class with the author. The book has everything that was covered in class and more. By practicing with the methods outlined in the book, it transformed my dog from a pain-in-the-neck to an excellent companion. We recently got a new puppy, and we are going to be using "Dog Talk" again.



5. This book is full of great ideas and concepts. I purchased the title based on average customer review, and really grasped the concepts within. However, once I finally got my dog, I quickly learned that many of the things the book takes for granted lead to much frustration on your part. Dogs don't just sit in front of you, though that's one of the big points the book relies on. Dogs won't just stand next to you, no matter how hard you make them try. Pick up the book if you want a nice read, and want to have some great concepts, but take the time to follow-up the book with some hardcore, professional obedience training. Doing it yourself will result in hours of frustration, and an unruly pet.

No comments about Grooming (Threshold Picture Guides Series).

5 comments about In the Company of Animals: A Study of Human-Animal Relationships.

1. In the Company of Animals is the single best introduction to anthrozoology - the study of human-animal interactions. A woman once told me about her experience reading it. She said simply, "That book changed my life." Serpell is a both a powerful writer and a leading scholar in this field. The first half of In the Company of Animals is largely concerned with the who, what, and why of maintaining non-human animals as companions. In the breadth of his coverage, Serpell displays an impressive command of psychology, ethology, history, cultural anthropology, and behavioral medicine. A brief sampling of a few representative topics illustrates the span of Serpell's intellectual vision: the role of pets in sixteenth century witchcraft, the effects of watching aquarium fish on blood pressure, bestiality, social parasitism, and why dogs rather than pigs became companion animals. Serpell argues that individuals who keep pets have often been viewed with scorn, suspicion, and pity. At times, pet owners have been subjected to persecution and even death. Thus, this part of the book is essentially a defense of companion animals. Serpell reviews recent studies documenting the benefits of pets to human health, psychological well-being, and the amelioration of loneliness. He concludes that the company of animals serves to buffer their owners from the interpersonal isolation all too common in modern industrial societies.
   The second half of In the Company of Animals focuses on the darker side of human-animal interactions. Serpell is particularly adept at describing paradoxes inherent if our interactions with other species. Among my favorites are the dual roles of puppies in Southeast Asian households (pets and dinner), Adolf Hitler's commitment to animal welfare, and the love people have for dogs coupled with an equally passionate loathing for their immediate progenitor, the wolf. Serpell, however, goes further than listing the foibles that characterize human-animal relationships. He develops an explanation, suggesting that these paradoxes ultimately reflect the evolutionary processes which have shaped the human mind.
   Serpell believes that moral conflict that emerges in our relationships with animals stems from a tendency we inherited from our hunter-gatherer forbearers -- the penchant for meat. By nature we are exploiters of animals. But unlike tigers and wolves and boa constrictors, we are carnivores with a sense of guilt. As a result we have developed psychological mechanisms that allow us to maintain the "myth of human supremacy." He believes this is an illusion which developed as cultures shifted from hunter-gatherer economies to those based on the slaughter of domestic animals. This hypothesis provides a powerful perspective on the contradictions seen in human-animal relationships.
   While readers may not agree with all of Serpell's ideas, they will find that In the Company of Animals is a beautifully written book that is rich in both facts and provocative ideas. It will appeal to both animal lovers and the scholars who study them.



2. In the Company of Animals is the single best introduction to anthrozoology - the study of human-animal interactions. A woman once told me about her experience on reading it. She said simply, "That book changed my life." Serpell is a both a powerful writer and a leading scholar in this field. The first half of In the Company of Animals is largely concerned with the who, what, and why of maintaining non-human animals as companions. In the breadth of his coverage, Serpell displays an impressive command of psychology, ethology, history, cultural anthropology, and behavioral medicine. A brief sampling of a few representative topics illustrates the span of Serpell's intellectual vision: the role of pets in sixteenth century witchcraft, the effects of watching aquarium fish on blood pressure, bestiality, social parasitism, and why dogs rather than pigs became companion animals. Serpell argues that individuals who keep pets have often been viewed with scorn, suspicion, and pity. At times, pet owners have been subjected to persecution and even death. Thus, this part of the book is essentially a defense of companion animals. Serpell reviews recent studies documenting the benefits of pets to human health, psychological well-being, and the amelioration of loneliness. He concludes that the company of animals serves to buffer their owners from the interpersonal isolation all too common in modern industrial societies.
   The second half of In the Company of Animals focuses on the darker side of human-animal interactions. Serpell is particularly adept at describing paradoxes inherent if our interactions with other species. Among my favorites are the dual roles of puppies in Southeast Asian households (pets and dinner), Adolf Hitler's commitment to animal welfare, and the love people have for dogs coupled with an equally passionate loathing for their immediate progenitor, the wolf. Serpell, however, goes further than listing the foibles that characterize human-animal relationships. He develops an explanation, suggesting that these paradoxes ultimately reflect the evolutionary processes which have shaped the human mind.
   Serpell believes that moral conflict that emerges in our relationships with animals stems from a tendency we inherited from our hunter-gatherer forbearers -- the penchant for meat. By nature we are exploiters of animals. But unlike tigers and wolves and boa constrictors, we are carnivores with a sense of guilt. As a result we have developed psychological mechanisms that allow us to maintain the "myth of human supremacy." He believes this is an illusion which developed as cultures shifted from hunter-gatherer economies to those based on the slaughter of domestic animals. This hypothesis provides a powerful perspective on the contradictions seen in human-animal relationships.
   While readers may not agree with all of Serpell's ideas, they will find that In the Company of Animals is a beautifully written book that is rich in both facts and provocative ideas. It will appeal to both animal lovers and the scholars who study them.



3. As a professor of anthropology who teaches a course on Anthrozoology at Western Illinois University, I highly recommend In the Company of Animals. Anthrozoology (the scientific study of human-animal interaction) is a dynamic new area of study and Dr Serpell is one of the founders. This book is required reading for my course, and students love it! Serpell's work explores the phenomena of domestication and pet keeping, or companion animals (as we prefer to call them now), from a cross-cultural and evolutionary perspective that is highly anthropological. Shame on us! An Anthropologist should have written this book! I highly recommend this work.



4. Although claiming to be a study of human-animal relationships, this book offers an endless recital of man's inhumanity to man, to support the book's theme that man's history with animals has been even worse. Very poorly thought out and extremely long-winded, this book reads like an overblown Usenet message--"those other people are all so horrible, but we animal lovers are OK, aren't we?" Oddly, Serpell seems so rooted in the very "human supremacist" philosophy that he rails against, that he ends up reinforcing that very philosophy. Not enlightening at all; I feel like a pall has been cast over my relationships with both people and animals. You would learn far more by taking the money and time you might waste on this book, and spending them on your own dog or cat or whatever animal you please.



5. An excellent book exploring every possible angle of the human-animal bond. Why we love and need animals, what we do to them, and everything in between! Very well written and understandable. After reading many books on this subject, this was my favorite! Everyone who reads this book will have a greater understanding and love of animals. Animals are good for our health, physically and mentally. Serpell also makes us realize what the human race is doing to animals, such as testing on them or eating them!! This is a must read for any animal lover who is truly bonded to their pet or pets like I am!

5 comments about Animal Miracles: Inspirational and Heroic True Stories.

1. I actually went to this site because I was looking to see if an Animal Miracles II was out. This book was one I read to my children, ages 10 and 7, as well as on my own. The cries of "one more, please Mom" warmed my heart. My 10 year old son, who reads on his own quite well, always wandered into the room when I read this book. I have recommended it to many of my adult friends to read to their kids and they have loved it too.



2. I really love this book - a really good buy for all animal lovers. I shall gladly read it again! I can fully recommend this book to everyone.



3. I really love this book - a really good buy for all animal lovers. I shall gladly read it again! I can fully recommend this book to everyone.



4. Can't miss on this one! Read it and enjoy each and every story!



5. This book will warm your heart and touch your soul. Each story showcases the incredible way in which animals love us unconditionally. You will truly believe in angels after reading these true stories.

5 comments about The Total Shiba.

1. I purchased this book expecting general information and training help. This book is largely made for show purposes. It has no useful information except if you want to breed and show the dog. I would not recommend the book for people wanting to know more about their Shiba Inu or wanting a training guide.



2. Of all of the breed-specific books I've read that discuss Shiba Inus, this book is my hands-down favorite. It gives a thorough history of the breed, a detailed explanation of the breed's standard, a good chapter of advice on choosing and raising a Shiba puppy, and one of the most helpful and informative chapters I've read on breeding anywhere.
   
   That said, I have to agree with those who wrote that it's not the book for everyone. The Total Shiba is geared more toward breeders than toward prospective buyers and enthusiasts. The content is breeding-focused and it lacks color photographs. Enthusiasts would enjoy the Complete Owner's Guide or the Kennel Club book more, as both are filled with beautiful pictures and content more geared toward their interests.



3. I own a shiba inu and I love this kind of dog.
   This wonderful book has all the info one should know about shibas together with fantastic BW pictures.
   It is complete, clear and totally focused on shibas, not on dog puppies but on shiba puppies!
   I also found the Japanese name selection very interesting.



4. This book was interesting, historically, and if you are thiking about showing a Shiba. But if you just bought a Shiba, it gives you little details. I would recommend it for a coffee table book, but not if you are looking for details on your puppy and training advice unique to Shibas.



5. This is my favorite Shiba book. I have been involved in the breed since 1987 and this book (to me) is a culmination of the years of knowledge and experience I had to glean by hanging out with the best. It has almost everything that a person would want to know about the Shiba Inu. The authors are highly knowlegeable and have been involved in the breed since before 1986. Fred Lanting, world renowned judge and Shiba Breeder, gives this book a glowing review...he calls it; concise, constructive,accurate, and comprehensive.In the back of the book are over 100 photos of the Shibas that were the foundation of the Shibas in America today. Many of the Shibas in Shibumi Shiba Inu's pedigrees are pictured there. I wish this book had been available in 1987.