5 comments about Angel By My Side.

1. The author rescues a beautiful golden retriever on advice from his doctor to get a dog. The dog however has the ability to alert the author to impending cardiac episodes and in doing so, gives the author the freedom to work and go about his daily life. This book touches the readers soul and lets us know that maybe there is more to the human-animal bond than we know. The book also dicusses the "Americans with Disabilities Act" as it relates to service dogs. Anybody who has loved a dog will love this book.



2. I could not put this book down. Mike and Dakota's story as a team was inspiring and transcended this world. Their devotion to each other was amazing. You do not have to be an animal lover to learn from this book. My hope would be that after you read this book you will see how special animals are in our lives.



3. I recently lost my Golden Angel too, and while I was looking for a book to help
   Me cope with my pain, I found this book. I am a very busy person and don't
   Have much time to read, but this book took me 2 days. It is full of feelings and even humor. No matter what the situation is, our Golden's will manage to put a smile on our face. When you start reading this book, make sure you have a box of Kleenex
   Near by. This book goes into my favorite book list, and I purchased a few more as
   Christmas presents.



4. I Absolutely LOVED this book! MY sister in law bought for my husband --animal lover...Anyway she bought it for him but I read it first because the cover called my attention. I like dogs but was reluctant to get one because I though of all the work there is involved with taking care of animals..besides with a little one, school, and work a dog would be more work for me....But after reading this book, I know I want a dog..The magic between Mike and Dakota is so overwhelming --that it made me think that that is what we need in our lives..Yea it will be work to potty train and take care of ..but then again things in life that are worth anything sometimes require alot of work--..God Bless you Mike and Dakota and thanks!!!!



5. I enjoyed the book so much. Felt like I was right there with them and every time the author had an attack could visualize how much his Angel/dog helped him through it. They had a bond that is so hard to explain unless you have had an animal and then know what it means, they are not dogs, they are your family and in this case especially he was not only family but his life support and friend. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone, have since bought additional copies to give to my animal lover friends for gifts.

2 comments about Whales With Fur: How to train any animal using dolphin training techniques.

1. Pete Davey has written, in my mind, the best animal training book there is. Davey, a professional animal trainer, shows how the common person can train ANY animal using the same techniques he uses when training dolphins. Even if all you want is to have your dog sit when asked you'll gain the knowledge how to effectively execute the behavior. You'll learn what terms like: bridge, positive reinforcement, stimulus, operant conditioning and many others mean. Bravo, Mr. Davey!



2. Whales with Fur
   
   As a dog lover, I am proud of what my beagle hound Shadow can do. He can do regular dog things like roll over, say hello, and stay. It was not easy teaching him these skills, and I have failed in a number of other efforts.
   
   For instance, if I throw a tennis ball, he will pursue it, but he will not yield it up, preferring instead to slurp it, chew it, and toss it in the air for himself. As a hound, he is a prisoner of his nose. So efforts to convince him to refrain from smelling our guests, with emphasis on certain sensitive areas of their bodies, have been equally unsuccessful. As a result, when visitors come, he must be leashed. Although he sits agreeably by me during visits, it is a little embarrassing that I can not let him loose. He sometimes barks when gullible people are eating, because he enjoys people food. He will steal it if we turn our backs on him.
   
   Had I been able to read Whales with Fur prior to teaching Shadow some manners, I would have had an easier time of it. This book is written by an expert on animals, but it is written in an easy-to-understand manner. For instance, on the matter of fetching, I immediately saw the error of my ways.
   
   Like many other owners, I always threw the ball and when my dog ran towards me, I would offer him a bit of doggie biscuit. Of course, as soon as Shadow saw the biscuit, he dropped the ball, ran to gobble the treat, almost choking himself with enthusiasm, and then ran back to pick up the ball and take off for parts unknown.
   
   Author Pete Davey sheds a great deal of light on this matter by explaining that instead of teaching the dog to run after the ball, an owner must first teach the dog to release the ball in a backward training approach. Davey uses terms like "bridge" for the stimulus that communicates to the dog what you want him to do so that he will get the "reinforcer" or reward. Davey explains that you actually begin the training with the goal. He writes, "Think of training the behavior backwards. The last thing in the sequence of events you want Laddie to do is hand you the Frisbee. Right? So put the Frisbee in Laddie's mouth. Then, at the same time your hand is holding the Frisbee and Laddie holds the Frisbee in his mouth, bridge (whistle) and reinforce (hot dog piece)."(pg. 49)
   
   That advice makes so much sense to me now, but until I read this book, it never occurred to me. Whales with Fur is full of such advice. It is more than a book, it's a complete system for teaching an animal good behavior. The foreword is by Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo, and also host of TV's "Animal Adventures." Author Pete Davey, Director of Training for Marineland of Florida, has been involved in advanced animal training and care for 16 years. He's worked with whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, tigers, birds, and many other species.
   
   If you want your horse to jump higher, or your dog to quit falling apart as soon as he sees the vet, this book's for you. Davey covers cats that scratch, dogs that dig, and teaching animals how to perceive that "good" means the behavior is what you want them to do.
   
   Davey's writing style is peppered with humor, and that's a nice touch that makes solid information more user-friendly. Consider this passage about taking your pooch to the vet: "Most people will claim Skipper KNOWS when he is going to the vet. In reality it is far more likely that he knows the car ride is going to end in something negative. It is very unlikely that Skipper's brain comes up with, "Wow, that lady is getting her purse, putting the children in the car, and now is coming towards me...my goodness, we must be embarking to the veterinary office, where I might be stuck upon the rump with a sharp needle. I know...I'll run away!"(pg. 127)
   
   The photographs and illustrations in the book enhance the reader's experience. There's one photo of a large marine animal with a human foot protruding from the animal's mouth. Apparently, the trainer hadn't read Whales with Fur.
   
   In our home, we'll be trying Davey's techniques on our beagle hound. Maybe one day, we?ll be able to leave a turkey sandwich unguarded. I'll definitely be buying some copies for my family and friends, with several unruly pets in mind. Hopefully, loved ones will learn to get the dog or cat to do what the humans want instead of being held hostage by their pets.

4 comments about The Essential Maltese (Howell Book House's Essential).

1. This is a nice little book for your Maltese library. Beginners with this breed will learn a lot. The grooming section was not quite as up-to-date as I had hoped for. Other than this I enjoyed reading it.



2. I am extreamley disapointed in this book. I can't even tell you how upset I was to find out that a large portion of this book is taken verbatim from another book I ordered from Amazon called "An Owners Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet:The Maltese." The reason I bought the 2 books is because they were offered as a package deal from Amazon, and I essentially ended up with 2 of the same book. There are actual parts of this book that are taken WORD FOR WORD from the fore-mentioned book. I had to check to see if the author gave credit to the other author because I thought it might be plagerized. Inside the third page it said, in small print, "This book is a revised edition of "An Owners Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet:The Maltese." Granted there is a bit more information added and a few cute pictures but I do feel badly ripped off. So be forewarned before you buy both books; that they are nearly the same book. Also most of the information is related to puppies and adult dogs as a whole and not overly specific to the breed. There is an interesting history of the breed that I enjoyed, as well as an informative section on Maltese prone health problems. I would recommend a good puppy book for anyone interested in raising a Maltese puppy instead and find the remaining information on the breed on the internet. These books really haven't taught me more than I already learned through the internet and puppy books. Proceed with caution on this purchase.



3. i was worrying because i was going to get a maltese but i didn't know how to train it. i got this book and when i got my maltese i tried the way it says in the book and it worked!! i really reccomend this book to maltese owners that don't know how to train and groom their maltese.



4. This is an excellent book about the Maltese that is perfect for either someone who is bringing a new puppy home or a Maltese owner that just wants to learn more about the breed. It includes helpful advice on bringing a new puppy home and what to expect. There are chapters on food and nutrition, health care, excellent grooming instructions, breed standards, history of the breed and comprehensive behavior training. Included throughout the book are beautiful color photos. This is a must have book and definitely worthy of five stars!

5 comments about Paws and Reflect: A Special Bond Between Man and Dog.

1. Paws and Reflect: A Special Bond Between Man and Dog co-authored by Neil Plakcy and Sharon Sakson is an excellent anthology that will even appeal to cat lovers. Heck, even if you aren't owned by any pets, you'll still love this collection of short stories that honors that loyal, loving bond shared between these ostracized men and their four-footed bestest friends. The 25 humble tales range from heart-tickling to heartbreaking, entertaining and uplifting. As someone who's worked nearly 20 years in animal rescue, I tend to get a little bitter at times. I keep this book close to my bedside for those days when I need my faith in mankind restored.
   
   The collection of stories is told in first person narrative from several names I recognize from previous readings - like Steve Berman and Victor J. Banis. The stories are as diverse as the men who contributed them, and arranged under the chapters: Dogs of Our Childhood, Dogs Who Make Connections, What We Learn from Our Dogs, Making the World a Better Place for Dogs and Exasperating Dogs.
   
   There are so many special moments collected here: Charles Busch's poignant and nostalgic "The Guardian Shepherd," Steve Berman's mystical and meaningful "Shi Happens," Victor J. Banis' heartwarming and heartbreaking "The Girls," Jay Quinn's amusing and affecting "Travis" and Kevin Anderson's comical and candid "The Dog Who Outed Me."
   
   Contributing authors are: Charles Busch, Jonathon Caouette, Matthew Phillips, J. R. G. DeMarco, Donald Hardy, Steve Berman, Lev Raphael, Andy Zeffer, Jeffery Ricker, Michael T. Wallerstein, G. Russell Overton, Victor J. Banis, Jack Morton, Hal Campbell, Ron Nyswaner, Randall McCormick, Jay Quinn, Randy Allgaier, David Mizejewski, Justin Rudd, Kevin Anderson, Edward Albee, Alistair McCartney, Brian McCormick and Stephen Kwielchek.



2. I bought Paws and Reflect for my partner for Valentine's Day. He loved it and put it on my reading stack. And I'm so glad that he did. As the proud owner of a sweet one year old dachshund, we just recently decided to get his new baby half-sister, who is now five weeks old. We were a bit skittish about introducing a new dog into our household. Through stories both humorous and touching, Paws and Reflect has made me more aware of our bond with our current boy and made me excited about welcoming a new little girl into our family.
   
   The writing in this anthology is superb. The short vignettes by both well-known and (to me) unknown gay men touched on so many points of dog ownership. Both the positive and the negative bonds were addressed, without a sense of respect and veracity



3. You don't need to be anything more than a dog lover to love this book. Its not about gender its about the dogs and the people they let love them.



4. I was worried that this would be someone's doctoral dissertation, but it's not. It is immensely readable--I have trouble putting it down. I was reading it in a casual restaurant when I read a passage about a terrier attacking a St. Bernard that made me laugh out loud. When I was a teen, we had a chihuahua who would bark and growl menacingly at the St. Bernard from across the street. When the St. Bernard had had enough of this, she'd just bend down and give our Rusty a big wet sloppy kiss that would drench tiny Rusty which would very effectively shut him up.
   
   Beneath the main concept of gay men and their relationships with their dogs, there's also a subtle secondary story of gay men living happy, successful--and totally normal--lives. I'm recommending this book to all my friends.



5. A romantic series of short stores of love affairs between gay men and their dogs. Some are real tear jerkers, others quite funny, but all are endearing and a joy to read.

3 comments about 1,001 Reasons to Love Dogs (1001 Reasons).

1. Very well done. A pleasure to read. Very interesting with many facts.
   Great Book



2. I just got this book from Amazon thanks to Amazon's speedy delivery which I much appreciate. The book is small but heavy. It is full of great photographs of all breeds. It even has the famous 9/11 Golden Retriever dog being scaffolded from one area of the wreckage to another. I can tell already that this is going to be one of my favorite dog books!



3. This is a delightful, entertaining, and hugely informative book - a perfect gift for dog lovers, including one's self! Every turn of the page brings a bright surprise - lots of smiles, out-loud laughs, and a few tears. Ms. Tiegreen is a truly brilliant designer, and Ms. Miele's research is a tour de force. This book is a tribute to them, and to the animals we love so well.

2 comments about Photographing and "Videoing" Horses Explained: Digital and Film: The Horse Owner's Manual for Improved Portraits, Schooling Tools, Sales and Promotions.

1. This book was a good overview of equine photography. I am an intermediate photographer with moderate horse knowledge. It was easy to understand and implement - even with my lower level skills. The pictures in the book were amazing! Most of the book covered photography, but the video part was very informative and simple to understand. I would definitely recommend this book if you are going to photograph or video horses even just for fun.



2. I am a fairly experienced photographer who has recently taken up horse show photography. I found this book very, very helpful--especially the sections on the particular phase of each gait which will result in the best photo. I purchased this and Lesli Groves' book, and found them to compliment each other--but if I could only buy one, it would be this one. Specifically, the 'troubleshooting' and 'planning the perfect shot' chapters are excellent; I am equally enthusiastic about the chapters he on computers, printers, and paper. The examples clearly explain the text. I learned a lot from this book, and my first photo practice session showed a significant improvement in my work.

2 comments about Brittany (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

1. I recently adopted a seven year old Brittany Spaniel from The American Brittany Spaniel Rescue. I found the book to be full of great information on Brittanys. It was very helpful to me.



2. As the cover states the book provides a comprehensive guide for Brittany owners. It cleared up misconceptions about the beginning of the breed that I acquired from other "authoritative" sources. For any one interested in a highly energenic affectionate companion dog this book and contact with good examples of the breed will bring pleasure to your life.

3 comments about Discus Health: Selection, Care, Diet, Diseases & Treatments for Discus, Angelfish and Other Cichlids.

1. I purchase this book on the basis of many good reviews I read concerning the detailed information it has on keeping and maintaining healthy Discus. It's lived up to those reviews and I keep it around for good reference material.



2. I have had this book since it was published and it is a complete guide to the health and well being of not only discus but other cichlids as well. If I have ever had a problem, a question or a need...this book has had the answer for me! It is, quite simply, the BEST there is...it is that simple.



3. this is a really great book with many ideas about the ways to treat discus fish and their diseases it is useful n case of any other soft water fish a famous japanese koi hatchery uses it for reference too. it saved many of my fish and saved me alot of money too.A MUST HAVE book it is now out of stock but i got a promise from the publisher to have it republished soon.

5 comments about Training Dogs, A Manual.

1. My adopted Malamute (very difficult dogs at times) only listened to my commands (sit, down, stay) when he was on a leash and when he felt like it. "Come here"? Forget it, leash or no leash, he didn't listen to that one at all. Oh, and he always jumped on counters, yes, even while I was in the room at times.
   
   6 months of problems I've had with this dog practically disappeared in the one week I've been putting this book in practice, and he's still learning.
   
   He was a spoiled princess who couldn't be trained with "positive" methods, but by following the stricter methods in this book, he actually took things more seriously. He's now more attentive than ever before, comes when called and responds to orders. A bit slow on responding to the orders sometimes, but the transformation alone is enough for me to want to put this book on some kind of alter though. Honestly. Hahaha.
   
   I did have difficulties understanding some parts in the book straight away, but I really do recommend this book.
   
   5+ stars, man.



2. The translation is a little rough because it is about fifty years old. But overall this book is hands down the best book for training a dog to listen every time. If you are tired of the positive pet programs that both you and your pet are sick of then this book will put you on the path to a happier dog owner and pet. But listen be careful because if you read this and then only put part of it into practice then the results are your fault.



3. Konrad Most is famous worldwide for his theory and principles of dog training which is still used widely today, even though many dog training methods has changed, the principles are still very much the same. This book is excellent for those that wish to learn more about their dogs and those that are studying the principles of how to train a dog. Col. Konrad Most is also known as the father of modern dog training and understanding his philosophy of dog training would be very beneficial for those that are keen in such discipline.



4. I have been a Police Dog Handler with the Australian Air Force for over 23 years and this book still remains my bible. Other training books tell you 'how', this book explains the 'how' AND the 'why'. The fact that it was written so long ago misleads a lot of people into thinking it may be out of date.... It's no more out of date than the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. Other new age training methods may come and go but the methodology described by Konrad Most has been taken up by many others like William Koehler and is still used in over 90% of Police & Service Dog agencies around the world.

   I highly recommend this book to any professional trainer or enthusiast who wishes to really understand the psychological principles behind how and why a dog works. By understanding these techniques you will be able to look at other less efficient methods and see why they fall short when it comes to speed, reliability of response and the ability of a dog to work at peak performance under duress situations.




5. this book is for the serious dog trainer and should be the bible of dog training. The translation from german to english is a little rough but worth the effort.

3 comments about The Simple Guide to Marine Aquariums (Simple Guide to...).

1. No doubt about it, if you need to buy one book to get aquainted with the hobby, this book is the one.
   
   Being a librarian and new to the hobby, I have purchased about 12 books on marine aquariums now, some very good, but this is definitely the one to start with.
   
   Information is current and presented effectively. It's filled with actual aquarium photos, unlike some great books that rely heavily on pictures from the ocean.
   
   One complaint, and this was probably an editing ploy to sell more books, Kurtz claims you do not need to be proficient in fresh water aquariums in order to try marine. I HIGHLY DISAGREE WITH THAT, because you can learn a lot of lessons MUCH cheaper with freshwater fish than having to learn to manage water changes, overfeeding, medicating, and algae blooms with your salt-water friends.
   
   Another complaint, my copy had poor binding and fell apart quickly.



2. I really have to give this book 5 stars - it is the first book I read on marine aquariums and it is the source that I bounce all new info off of. This book gives a great introduction to both fish-only and mini-reef aquariums. But that is also it's problem.

   It took me a long time to untangle exactly what information in this book pertained to which set-up. The emphasis of the book is on mini-reefs (and I have since started a simple 55-gallon mini-reef, as well as a 29-gallon fish-only tank), but the best set-up for a beginner would undoubtedly be a fish-only or fish with hardy invertebrates set-up. And this book does cover these issues, but it all seems to get mixed-up with the full-blown mini-reef (which requires higher, and more expensive - way more expensive - lighting, filtration, and livestock). The sections on fish selection are informative, but incomplete (like exactly what should you feed each fish?).

   All in all - no book is perfect, and this is a great place to start. For a briefer, but clearer, discussion of the types of set-ups, I would suggest that you consult The Conscientious Marine Aquarist. It covers the basic differences between each set-up in a much clearer fashion.

   All in all, a fish-only saltwater aquarium is nowhere near as difficult as most people believe, especially if you have experience with maintaining water quality in a freshwater aquarium, and if you carefully choose your fish. This book will help you do both - but keep on reading when you're done - the more you know about this subject, the better. Especially for your fishies!




3. I bought this book before making the big mistake of blindly plumetting into marine aquriums. It openes my eyes before hand to what ws in store. I truly got a head start of the game with this precise, simple great eexplaining fun to read book.