2 comments about French Cats Don't Get Fat: The Secrets of La Cuisine Feline.

1. When I saw this chic little volume in the bookstore, I admit to being attracted to the R. Nichols type illustration done in pastels on the front cover---so reminiscent of the high-strutting Parisian walking her (yikes) dog on the cover of popular diet book "French Women Don't Get Fat". At first, I thought this was yet another dieting treatise, yet another way to capitalize on America's love/hate relationship with our cheese-loving, wine-scarfing, chocolate-chomping buddies from across the ocean who somehow after all this eating manage to fit into those tight little couture pencil skirts and red and white apache tops. And then I saw the cat featured in the drawing---mais oui, it was a cat. Bien sur, I said, ce livre, ce n'est pas serieux; c'est une blague.
   
   And then I got passed those cute little illustrations and actually read it.
   
   Okay, I'm being a little obnoxious, but believe it or not, Henri de la Barb, in the guise of a parody, has written an even more entertaining and informative book than Mireille Guiliano. Guiliano's book, a sucre-filled memoir containing a French arsenal of vague tips detailing how she was defeated by the battle of the bulge America-style and had to retreat back to France and the methods of a certain Dr. Miracle to re-attain her Gitane-slim physique, contains anecdotes and recipes spread over 200+ pages. De La Barb, offers equally compelling information that can be utilized to actually lose weight with less than half the verbage, Veuve Clicquot-free advertising and ooh-la-las.
   
   Okay, some of the recipes are a bit on the 'cat'astrophic side---our feline amis/amies certainly recommend mice and not mousse---but the idea of eating real food (in this case, for humans) prepared well and partaking of only a small portion seems to eptomize the best of common sense / highly nutritional dieting. Les Chats de la Barb actually eat seasonally, recommend purchasing only enough food for a day, and sum up all their tips in a shameless abbreviated mimicry of Guiliano rather arrogant much ado about nothing.
   
   But his cats are practical too, knowing that they will not be able to run off on a whim to the local Dean & DeLuca's just to buy the best triple cream and Valrona truffle, he makes allowances for those situations where convenience is key.
   
   Consequently, De La Barb's book is much more fun and speaks la verite; we laugh out loud at his prissy little pussies and their over-the-top antics, but we are not quite sure whether or not to laugh at Guiliano's pandering of her nationality and the odd mystique it has over many Americans.
   
   C'est une blague, n'est-ce pas? Mais pas de blagues, buy this book instead, its funny, doesn't take itself seriously and its much faster to read, delivering the same message without the hype. Of course, its a humorous treat for cat-lovers, too.



2. If you are familiar with French For Cats, Advanced French for Exceptional Cats, and Poetry for Cats (as all of my feline friends have been) you know what to expect. And Beard delivers. This man truly loves his cats and French language and culture, and remains the master at spoofing recent trends. His target this time is French Women Don't Get Fat, and you will laugh out loud at the clever way in which Beard transfers this dietary wisdom to cats. As always, the cats are laughing at humans...

2 comments about Hope For Healing Liver Disease In Your Dog: The Complete Story.

1. The recipe found in this book "Basic Homemade Meal for Liver Disease" is really working for our dog! Although, I did minor changes to the recipe...
   
   The recipe called for tofu, cottage cheese and macaroni. I used the substitution of 1/2 cup of Chicken Liver and Organic Potatoes since both are found in nature.
   
   The recipe also called for the vegetables to be boiled or steamed. I varied the recipe by very lightly pan frying my Organic Vegetables (chopped to tiny morsels with a hand chopper) with a very low flame I served the vegetables almost raw to keep the nutritional value.
   
   The recipe also called for preparation of the Chicken Liver to be boiled which leaves most of it's nutritional value in the water. I varied the recipe by baking the Chicken Liver in my toaster/oven for 15 minutes at 250 degrees then placing the Chicken Liver in the same pan as my pan fried Organic Vegetables and then frying them together in a very low (almost off) flame for a few minutes.
   
   It would have been helpful if there were instructions on how to prepare a Fresh Artichoke. I grew up in a household of vegetarian parents. I've never eaten an Artichoke!!!
   
   So, I went to my local grocery store and examined what Canned Artichoke Hearts looked like so I knew which part of the Fresh Artichoke I needed to give my doggy.
   
   Combined with my Veterinarian prescribed "Denamarin" and feeding my dog with the recipe "Basic Homemade Meal for Liver Disease" found in this book, in less than two weeks the levels in my dog's liver went significantly down almost a thousand points!!!
   
   Although, I still give full credit to The ALMIGHTY LORD and HIS Healing Power WHO is healing my dog...I still recommend the recipe for the Basic Homemade Meal for Liver Disease found in this book. I will continue to feed my dog home cooked food and will never touch commercial dog foods again!!



2. This book is a must for any one battling liver disease in their dog. It offers hope and a wealth of knowledge and valuable information. I highly recommend this book. My dog benefitted greatly from this book and I am most appreciative and grateful to this author. It was clear that the author thoughtfully researched and wrote this book as a labor of love for her dog.I Would give this book 10 stars if that were possible.
   
   Diane Reilly
   Boston, Ma.

3 comments about The Everything Golden Retriever Book: A Complete Guide to Raising, Training, and Caring for Your Golden (Everything Series).

1. This book contains a lot of facts and the information is conveyed concisely. This fact-based format makes it ideal for short multi-minute reads rather than reading from cover to cover.
   I especially liked the information that educates you on what the Golden is thinking. This "get inside the dogs' head" approach helps emensely with understanding why they do/don't do what you expect and what to do about it...



2. The author clearly has a great deal of knowledge and experience with golden's, but the book is extremely poorly written. The topics explored are very relevant and useful, but discussion was cosmetic at best. Nothing was ever described with enough detail to be useful. It felt like the author wrote the book over a weekend without putting any serious thought into what they wanted to discuss or convey.



3. This book was much more thorough than the other books we looked at, especially the "Dummies" book. Maybe not as fun to read, but much more useful.

1 comments about BOTTLEKATZ: A Complete Care Guide for Orphan Kittens.

1. I have now raised four litters of kittens from a week old to adoption. I can say that in many ways it is harder than raising my twin boys. You don't have the resources for kittens as with kids and they need three times the feeding and stimulation care that kids do!!! Now with this book I have the life line I need to take on another litter. Fostering kittens can be the most heartbreaking and wonderful job at the same time and with this book I will hopefully eliminate the "scary" parts associated with it. Sharon's book is like having a veterinarian at home with me at all times. I am telling everyone I know about this book. It is a must for raising kittens for your home or to adopt out.
   Thank you Sharon for sharing your expertise and for making it so easy to read and understand. Please keep up the wonderful work. It is clear you have saved many lives in the past and your book is sure to save many more in the future. God Bless. (from a fellow kittie mom)

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

1. I bought the book to learn training techniques specific to a Basenji, and the book failed on that account. However, the book gets 2 stars because it gives a great description of the history of Basenji's, and their personalities. I found the book is better suited for you friends and family (that don't live with you), to explain why your Basenji acts so "weird"... but as for training ideas, don't waste your time/money.



2. Although it is an older book, the tips in it are still extremely useful today. Not only does it give a shortened yet vivid history of the breed but also has vital tips for training. I have begun training my basenji puppy from the steps outlined in this book and he was been doing wonderfully! The pictures are also a really great addition. If you own, are planning to own, or even thinking of owning a basenji be sure to get this book so you know what you're getting into with this unique breed & how to deal after you get one!



3. I was very anxious to receive my book on Bansenji's.
   We have a one year old Bansenji named Sadie....she is completely different than any dog we have ever had....very sweet....but also very stubborn.....the book was very helpful in learning more about this breed of dog....very useful in training her and myself. i would recommend this book to anyone who has a basenji or are thinking of getting one....lots of very helpful, useful suggestions and great photos as well.
   
   linda troxel



4. This book, although small is jam packed with the greatest information for basenji owners. It is a great way to introduce the basenji to prospective owners and makes an affordable gift to send home with puppies and their new owners.



5. This book is a keeper for my library. It explained a lot about the quirks, care, mating and whelping of the basenji (we are about to breed with our gorgeous girl). Recommended for those on trainer wheels in the breeding and owning of basenjis.

2 comments about Black & Decker 24 Weekend Projects for Pets: Dog Houses, Cat Trees, Rabbit Hutches & More (Black & Decker).

1. If I'd had this book when I built my first 2 cat trees they would've been MUCH improved!! For me, the beauty of this book isn't so much the projects themselves but the techniques, such as cutting a block to fit inside a length of PVC pipe so that legs can be securely mounted to the base, or building a miter box to cut said pipes squarely. I have to say, though, I can't wait to try the window sill cat bed!!
   
   If you have elderly or disabled critters you should note that one of the projects is a carpeted vehicle ramp, and instructions allow you to customize it to the height of your vehicle.



2. This is the most poorly written project book I have ever seen. We had to make repeated trips to the hardware store for more parts because of the poor instructions and missing information. There is no accurate shopping list. Other building instructions and photos are unclear. We would have done better looking at a finshed photo and guessing on how to build the project. Pass this book by.

5 comments about Your Border Collies Life : Your Complete Guide to Raising Your Pet from Puppy to Companion.

1. An essential book for every new border collie owner. This book covers all the basics: from puppy selection to rearing, from training to feeding. This IS your reference manual. Call it 'Border Collies for Dummies'. I am new to the breed, and these dogs truly are differernt. So glad to have found this book. Don't let other reviewers steer you away: this book is definitely about border collies. I recommend buying 2-3 books on border collies, since there will be differing perspectives and opinions on some matters. Also, different breeders/experts bring unique insights to raising and owning a border collie. Either The Ultimate Border Collie or The Working Border Collie is a good companion to this book.



2. This is a well written, easy to read, guide. The authors are knowledgeable and expressive. Subject coverage is complete and this book is an excellent addition to one's BC library.



3. This book is okay, but I was disappointed to see how much general dog information is included in the book. This information applies to all dogs, not just Border Collies. I've got many books to use as a resource for this type of general info. I am looking for Border Collie specific information and found only a small part of this book dedicated strictly to Border Collies. Very disappointing.



4. If you have any questions on Border Collies,this is the book to have!I was very impressed.It is filled with all kinds of doggie tips & fun facts.This covers all aspects of this wonderful dog.It includes chapters on why you might want a Border Collie,preparing to bring you dog home,grooming,training, and for those of you who already have a Border Collie, curbing the herding instinct & correcting problems such as barking or biting. A wonderful book to have, I loved it.



5. This book is a wonderful book if you want to know all about border collies. It offers a detailed description of all aspects of dog care, breed-specific training tips, and all the facts about Border Collies. If you are thinking about getting a border collie puppy or adult this is a very informative resource. I highly recommend it.

3 comments about Cats On Quilts.

1. Having decided from the beginning that each quilt should have a cat on it somewhere, I ordered this book to see examples of how people in the past have represented cats on quilts. The liveliness of representation of cats is quite amazing, with many of the quilts managing to capture the way a cat looks and behaves - no mean feat, you only have to look at available cat fabrics to see how rare this is.
   This is a small book, with each page containing detail from one quilt and I'd recommend it strongly to anyone interested in seeing in close-up detail how cats have been pictured on old quilts. I think it's a wonderful book.



2. This is a FANTASTIC book. The quilts that the author chose to include are unique, one-of-a-kind pieces and often display a wonderful sense of humor. (Take, for instance, the quilt which features blocks with the head and front paws of a kitty, and the disappearing hind end of a mouse escaping from the kitty.) The excerpts from different writings about cats are understated and thoughtful, and the author provides a great mini-history of textiles in America. This book moved me into high gear in my own quilting and is an ongoing source of keen pleasure. If you don't quilt, if you just like cats, you'll love the book because of its folk-art depictions of cats; if you like cats AND quilting, this book will make you feel like someone let you loose in the catnip patch.



3. This sweet book would make a nice gift - it is full of whimsical and unusual examples of cat motifs on American country quilts. Many cat-related books are a bit saccharine for my taste but this is a refreshing and delightful change of pace

1 comments about The Bulldog (Terra Nova Series).

1. Well I dont have the puppy yet, but it seems the book give so much info about the dog. It gives u overall how to take care your little puppy.

5 comments about Illustrated Guide to Sheltie Grooming.

1. Whether you show your dog, or just want him/her to look like a show dog, this is the book for you. As a groomer, I found the book to be a very helpful resource, and I recommend it to anyone interested in Shelties.



2. This is a very informative book for the "newbie" in the world of Sheltie Show grooming. I don't see it really being for the typical pet owner however. Probably too much detail and more than they would want to know! It is really for the beginner show person, however I would recommend having someone already experienced teach you, do not just go by the book! :-))



3. Just about every aspect of sheltie grooming can be applied to collie grooming. It can be a challenge looking at an ungroomed collie and not knowing where to start. This book breaks down the whole process into manageable pieces...ear trimming, foot trimming, line brushing and more. A valuable reference book to keep near your grooming table!



4. For those of you who are interested in making your sheltie look his or her best this is the book to read. Barb, who is a breeder and handler, takes you step by step through the grooming process. It even works for those of us who do not think we have the nack for grooming. P.S. The art work is great too.



5. This book has lots of good information for someone interested in grooming the sheltie for the conformation ring, or just wants to learn how to make their pet look their best.