3 comments about Budgerigars (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals).

1. Budgerigars (typically called parakeets in the US) are amazing, intelligent, playful creatures. They can be so much more than pretty things in a cage. With patience, persistance and love they can learn to mimic human words (and sometimes use them in context), perform tricks and can become a delightful part of any household.
   
   This book is geared specifically to the potential or new pet owner and advocates providing the best possible care for your budgie: a sizeable cage, a varied diet (including fresh produce, grains and legumes and plenty of fresh water) and exercise time outside of the cage.
   
   I've read a few books on budgies over the years but this book is quite possibly my favorite on this species. I highly recommend it.



2. I am building a parakeet library in preparation of buying a budgie for my 5 and 7 year olds. This book is visually appealing and easy to read. Nice, shiny pages with up-to-date, beautiful photographs with excellent information and details. Not just the usual chapter-by-chapter book. It has special pages with colored sections and various formating making this a fun book to read.



3. As far as I am concerned, when it comes to books on pet birds, Barron's is the best. BUDGERIGARS by Immanuel Birmelin (translated by Matthew Vriends) falls into this category, although it is somewhat condensed compared with other books on the market. Birmelin covers all the important issues, such as caging, food, and other aspects of care.
   
   My favorite section is about "playing" with your pet Budgie. Budgies are intelligent little parrots and you can have hours of fun if you choose to by providing them with sources of amusement. Birmelin lists `The 10 Most Popular Games' you can play with your Budgie and "How-To: Fun and Games." Did you know you could play card games with Budgies?
   
   Although we never want to think about the possibility, sometimes your Budgie gets sick. Birmelin includes a section "If Your Bird Gets Sick" that gives you some ideas of what you can do besides get upset. In this section he includes a `Checklist - Preventing Illness' which is helpful especially if this is your first bird. Keeping his cage clean is a good thing to do, and spending time with him every day will keep him happy. A happy Budgie is a healthy Budgie.

1 comments about The Guide to Owning a Scottish Terrier (Guide to Owning).

1. As a long-time breeder of Scottish Terriers, I first bought this book for myself, as well as several other same-type books. This book, however, I found to be very complete and thorough for new owners of Scottish Terriers. This breed of dog is not your everyday lab. and requires specific knowledge. I have a lot of confidence in this book that goes out the door with every pup I sell to a new Scottie owner. It offers all a new Scottie owner needs to know about the dog type, breed expectancy, feeding, grooming, and training, etc., as well as general dog ownership information. A strong five stars.

3 comments about Bearded Dragon (Success with a Reptile Pet).

1. This book is great for beginners just starting out with keeping beardies. Well-illustrated with many beautiful photographs. Easy to understand and covers the basics of each aspect of keeping dragons. Fantastic and detailed info on feeding. This book is a great companion for the other book I purchased called "The Bearded Dragon Manual" by Philippe De Vosjoli.



2. This book offers lots of info on the care, health, and maintenence of bearded dragons. Also, it is a very specific guide for feeding, tank setup, breeding, incubator setup, and raising hatchlings. This book also points out the behavioural characteristics of bearded dragons and what they are "saying" to you or another bearded dragon. I found the courtship section to be most helpful when my boyfriend and I wanted to see if our beardies would co-habitate in a friendly manner. This book has photographs of different color phases of bearded dragons, and would make a great coffee table book.



3. I have a bearded dragon named Mojove,she is very healthy and strong . I have decided to breed bearded dragons , I still have lots to learn but this book helped me alot. It explained the basics of breeding to the very complicated things like building an incubator.My favorite thing about this book was the photography, it showed everything about bearded dragons. Mothers burrowing eggs, different breeds of bearded dragons etc... . I love bearded dragons, mine is my pride and joy , this book helped me understand the habits and thinking of bearded dragons. It explained diet for bearded dragons and their mating behaviors, their housing and how to raise baby beardies. I highly recomend this book &, a bearded dragon.Thanks a lot! P.s- Leonardo Dicaprio owns a beardie named Blizz.

5 comments about If Only They Could Talk: The Miracles of Spring Farm.

1. I am giving my opinion on this book, which is a complete waist of time. I admire animal lovers and care providers, and it seems they do a great job on that farm caring for abandoned horses and other animals. But the book, seems a very bad copy of James Herriot books, even the title is copied from his first book.Even If you beleive in telepathic communication with animals (dead or alive), animal reencarnation, UFOs, Human & animal ghosts, Horses writing poems through telepathy, I am pretty sure that you will find this book boring & badly written. Maybe it is their way to make publicity for their farm which depends partly on donations... As I said their Farm for animal care seems admirable, but the book... not worth your time.



2. This was excellent, but I already knew the story because I've taken several classes at Spring Farm. Dawn, Bonnie, and everyone else are great and the animals are by far the most loving and interesting bunch I've ever encountered. Spring Farm has incredible energy, and being with all of those animals was a life altering experience. This book just gives a small inkling of what goes on there. I hope Dawn and Bonnie will write another book.



3. I absolutely loved this book and I recommend it for any one who loves animals, and especially those interested in the fascinating subject of animal communication. A truely wonderful read.



4. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, and I do believe Bonnie and Dawn hear the idiosyncratic ramblings from their host of animals .Interspecies communication is an interest of mine but I much prefer the intelligences of flowers, trees and rocks and their overlords the devas.I state that up front because I would have probably given five stars if I was a true animal lover
   If you have any interest in animals and their care- and their viewpoints- you will love this memoir!



5. i LOVED this book. given that i have been to this farm and witnessed alot of these things for myself, i can attest to the truth and honesty at spring farm cares. i have met bonnie, dawn and lots of the animals mentioned in this book. its great to read a book in which you know everyone!! these 2 woman and all the people, animals and spirits there are doing something that is AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL. while living on another farm (the o'connor farm in litchfield, ny) where i rented my apartment, my landlord & landlady (jim & roberta o'connor) gave as much hay as they had to spring farm after their fire. i have also donated with glee and will continue to do so. it is a hard & extremely costly, but loving 'job' to take care of a farm this size, but to them it is NOT like work at all. it is like a natural way of life for them. the strength, love and mystery that grows there is truly a miracle. i have sent friends to dawn for readings to find lost animals. at first i did it just to see what would happen because i knew dawn knew absolutely NOTHING about the pet or owner before contacting dawn. each time, she directly them to the lost pet - not always living since telepathy can be read in the living as well as the dead - but in all cases, dawn provided closure to these pets and pet owners. if not for bonnie & dawn, this beautiful place would not exist. i have seen it grow from the beginning. although i have moved out of that area now, i am always following their newsletters and website. they have a gorgeous sanctuary. countless miracles occur and continue to occur there all the time. if i could give it 10 stars, i would gladly do so :))

1 comments about Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrates Cats and the people who love them (Canfield, Jack).

1. Great stories, the only complaint is that the book is too short.

3 comments about Be the Dog: Secrets of the Natural Dog Owner.

1. I am a dog lover so I do a lot of reading on everything related to dogs, just for my own enjoyment and to learn different viewpoints. And I have learned that they are merely "viewpoints" and that's all.
   
   This book had some interesting nuggets of information but unfortunately they were delivered with a lot of derisiveness and a frustrating judgemental attitude.
   
   Right away, dog owners are separated into good owners ("natural dog owners" that follow all his advice) and bad dog owners (which he labels "coddlers"). The author feels that dogs of coddlers supposedly are not living the lifestyle they really desire and deep down are very unhappy, which is manifested with rude manners and destructive behavior.
   
   First of all, I hate labels. People can't all be judged as one way or another. I really disagree with this. According to his analysis, I fall more into the category of a coddler. Why? Because I show my dog LOTS of affection, let her sleep on my lap or on my bed, comfort her during thunderstorms when she gets scared, buy her special toys, take her everywhere I go including vacations, put a sweater on her when it gets cold, etc. etc. He makes it seem that all of that is bad. And what does my dog do back for me? She helped ease my empty nest syndrome when my only child went off to college 5 hours away, she keeps me active, she gives me focus, she lavishes me with unconditional love, she makes me laugh, she keeps me happy. I cannot disagree more that she is deep down unhappy. She radiates happiness and joy. We went through obedience classes and also do agility classes together and I know she recognizes me as the leader.
   
   I do not believe in choke collars and other methods that cause pain, discomfort, and fear. For us, a good obedience class, lots of socialization as a young pup, lots of togetherness, and kind gentle methods of training have developed into an excellent human/canine relationship and mutual respect.
   
   Anothing thing that bothered me was that he recommends the crate as a punishment. If the dog does something wrong we're supposed to put them into their crate and ignore them for 15 minutes. Doesn't it seem that this technique would only make them dislike their crate? I feel that the crate is a secure cozy "den" for a dog - not something to be used as a punishment!!! And what happens when you have to have your dog in a crate during grooming, boarding, sickness, etc.? The dog will think he/she is being punished!
   
   One paragraph in the book is particularly disturbing - when he advises owners of geriatric dogs with incontinence issues that they should be moved to an outside pen with concrete floor. Although he says this may be hard on dogs in areas with cold winters. YA THINK??????
   Advice like this makes me bristle. What kind of heartless "expert" recommends putting an old dog outside to live in a concrete pen? Old dogs need lots of special care after giving us a lifetime of love, NOT be paid back by making them live out their days alone outside in a cold, hard, concrete pen.
   In fact, in several areas of the book he gives advice for owners of "penned" or "outside" dogs. Not a word is said about discouraging this sort of uncaring way to keep a dog. And it has been my observation that folks who keep their dogs penned outside are not usually buying books to improve their dogs' lives.



2. I basically like this book...basically. It's definitely a four star volume, but I have a problem with words like "never." For example, Duno says that to be the pack leader, never let your dogs sleep on your bed because height is associated with a dog's position in the pack. That's true...but...if everything you do places you at he head of the pack, then sleeping at the same height as your dog is perfectly ok. Same is true of feeding table scraps (which is a whole separate discussion involving nutrition). My dogs sleep on my bed and they have no doubts as to who is lead dog. On the other hand if your dog sleeps on your bed even if you don't want it to, then you have a problem. What all of this comes down to is whether or not you are in charge or your dog. My suggestion is to read the book with the intent of understanding why he is telling you what to do rather than following his rules without thinking about them. Sadly, the dogs that really need to be "put in their place" won't be because Muffy or Buffy or Cutsy won't be corrected for bad behavior, because "I love my dog and I could never do that." So the dogs growl at visitors, are out of control and are spoiled little brats.
   One of the best sections of the book is on people who gently caress their dogs or coo at them with quiet admonitions while the dog is growling at a visitor, another dog, a cat or whatever. Duno correctly points out that you are praising bad behavior. I see this all the time at the vet's waiting room. When he begins his discussion on obedience is where we differ,and, at the risk of being dismissed as a Neanderthal, I still feel that for obedience training the best book ever written is The Koehler Method of Dog Training. It may be out of print, but it should be readily available used.
   Some minor faults. With all the "call it what it is" that Duno writes about, he wooses out on choke chains. He calls them slip collars and tries to defend them as not hurting the dog, not cutting off their air supply and so on. They are choke chains and sometimes their use will hurt and they are the dog's hearing aid so that you can effectively communicate with the dog. I love dogs, I rescue dogs and I train dogs. Big dogs, abused dogs, dogs with big teeth. Often the choice is some "firm" clear direction or euthanasia. Then there is the mention of head collars. I don't like them and they are dangerous. Just google them and read the negative articles. Obviously, a dog that doesn't pull or doesn't pull hard will be ok with any form of collar, but a dog that makes strong, abrupt moves can hurt their necks. These dog "bridles" obviously are derived from horse bridles. Look at a horse's neck and then look at a dog's neck...Finally, the book doesn't stress that all techniques are not appropriate for all dogs. He does, to be fair, mention that tug-of-war toys should not be used for aggressive dogs, but are ok for submissive or fearful dogs. But more should be said about the other techniques - when to use them when not to. I would not train my daughter's toy poodle the way I would work with a 110-pound abused German Shepherd or a 30 pound Siberian Husky puppy. Of course, most books don't differentiate either so Duno's is no worse on this account. But all in all this gets four stars because it's clear Duno knows what he is talking about, he gets high marks for telling you why he is telling you to do what to do and he tells you what your probably doing wrong and he writes very well. Should be part of a dog lover's library.



3. Steve Duno has always been my hero when it comes to dogs and dog training. His book with Nancy Baer, Choosing A Dog, is my bible on breeds, their postitives and their negatives. His second book, again with Nancy Baer, Leader of the Pack, is my bible for living with my six dogs. Now Be The Dog goes further and gives me even more important knowledge of how a dog thinks, reacts, and shares a home with humans. A must for any dog owner or someone contemplating getting their first dog.

3 comments about Dog Detectives: How To Train Your Dog to Find Lost Pets.

1. Do you own a cat-friendly dog? A dog who turns himself inside-out with enthusiasm every time he sees a cat? If you do, then you the foundation to begin working with Kat Albrect's book Dog Detectives.
   
   Just think about the concept for a minute. You and your dog, aided by Kat's book have an opportunity to replace tears and worries on the face of a cat owner, with smiles of gratitude when you deliver the lost cat into her arms.
   
   Dog Detectives take a simple, direct approach to a complex process. Kat applies her own years of knowledge and experience and gives you the basic and advanced techniques for this journey. If you don't have a cat-friendly dog, she covers that aspect as well. You can sign on to be a MAR (Missing Animal Recovery) technician and learn how to spot the signs of a cat friendly dog in shelters.
   
   Don't think that you can just read this once and be an "expert." This is a book that you will return to time and again to review tips and points and refresh your training.
   
   User-friendly, positive tone the ultimate goal is to give your high-energy dog a job and perhaps put a few dollars in your pocket along the way. But the biggest payoff is the satisfaction of knowing that because of this book, you and your dog were responsible to stop the heartache of a cat lover by retrieving her lost cat!



2. This book is well organized and well written. Before going into actual training techniques it lays a foundation of information about scent, tracking and search techniques. It was an interesting and easy read, and very informative and practical.



3. Want a practical application to the tracking you've taught your dog? Is your dog able to find cats or other dogs? Find out how to test your dog's suitability, and how to predict lost pet behavior with "Dog Detectives".
   
   Kat gives step by step proven methods to train your dog to find cats or other lost pets. You'll learn about area searches and trailing.
   
   "Dog Detectives" is loaded with diagrams and photos to help reinforce issues as well as case studies and tons of examples. Kat also lays out the pros and cons of becoming a volunteer or paid pet detective.

5 comments about From Birth to Backing: The Complete Handling of the Young Horse.

1. Coming from a person that has been riding and training horses for 21 years, I think this book was very well written. He explained exactly how to do things, the rationale for doing them, and then recapped key points at the end of each chapter. It keeps your attention and makes you want to continue reading. This is a great book for people who are raising and training their own horses. I highly recommend it.



2. I was searching for a book which would follow the same principles as Monty Roberts (author of "The Man Who Listens to Horses") and Cesar Millan (whose television show is the "Dog Whisperer"). I didn't expect to find another book on horse training so quickly which matches their psychological techniques as precisely as this book does!
   
   It appears that the reviews on this book are determined by what the reader is expecting from it. I personally will rate a book as being great when it instructs in a logical manner, contains good sense, and works when put to the test. Rare is the book that can tell you everything there is to know. This book seems to cover the basics to help one to understand the mindset of horses and that is very important, especially for younger horses since they're in their highly influential years.
   
   One word of caution: If someone appears to be copying another's ideas, don't forget how possible it is for more than one person to be capable of coming to the same conclusions on their own.



3. Young horses can be scary when you have only dealt with trained horses - even green ones and problem horses are easier to work with because you already have a common point of reference.
   Young untrained horses don't react the way you always think they should and they have different development stages just as young humans do - their behavior will change in each stage and you need to expect this. This book prepares you with telling you what is "normal" at what ages and how to deal with these everyday behavioral changes and problems that will crop up when raising your own horse. Books covering 6months - 3 years are hard to find and this was the best I found at covering the usual challenges you would face and showing you how to be a firm, kind and confident leader. This book is short and easy to read in one day, easy to use as a reference but I don't think its meant to be a one complete source - just a good starting point to get you on your way. Yes you can find bits of this information from other trainers, yes this book is not big or complete - but it is a good introduction and I still go back to it again and again.
   
   Young horses are a blank slate and as close as you will come to the wild horse mind without adopting a Mustang. Once you have reared a baby or two, you will never relate to any horse in the same way again - and it's a good thing.
   
   Combine with "Imprint Training", "Bringing up Baby" and "Right from the Start" for a complete reference collection on raising foals to young horses to be good and happy citizens.



4. While no longer a fan of Monty Roberts, I found this book very interesting. It is written for people who don't have access to a round pen. Richard did an experiment & made sure he was the only one that ever handled his 2 foals. He started them on a lunge line, and I think it was quite a few months later before he backed them & found that they were carrying themselves on a loose rein from the beginning of riding, which really impressed me. Lots of great photos. Sorry if this sounds infantile but it's late & I read this quite a while ago & couldn't believe there wasn't a review. I am definitely going to read this book again.



5. At first i was slightly put off by the review that was entitled "not worth a penny" as it was the most recent, however i carried on and read all other reviews and how glad i am. It was fantastic, a real bible, my horse and i have benefited hugely from the information given. I can only think that "Not worth a penny" was having a bad day.

   i can't wait to read richards new book, unlock your horses talents.

1 comments about The Big Book of Cats (Big Book of . . . (Welcome Books)).

1. I am a cat lover, but also love vintage photography. This book combines them both in a beautiful way. There are some newer photos too, and they are all in B/W. I keep this book on my coffee table, and I flip through it all the time- it is timeless. I think it would be a wonderful gift for any cat lover or a fan of photography.

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

1. I've had this book for several years, and find it to be roughly the same as almost any other small, paperback, guide to owning a pet. I have many books on snakes, a lot of them which are this same type of very general guide. It would be a good read for somebody considering getting a boa. However, I found it to have a lot of generalized information (as many other guide books do). If you are looking for an introduction to boas, this is a good book for you. I would hope that a new boa owner should have done their homework, and found out all of this information prior to getting their new snake. However, in the event that the new boa owner has jumped into an unplanned or impulse purchase, this is a good way to catch up and get the most basic of information. Experienced boa owners may find this to be too general.



2. I commend the author on his works. I have purchased many small books on Boids but so far this is the best. Most books overload their pages with pictures and unuseful information, but this author knew what he was doing. A great book for novice and intermediate boa lovers, and would recommend it over and over again. Thanks for a great book.



3. I have read some books about boas, and this one is very usefull when it comes to talk about diseases, even when the chapter about disease is short, it's clear and concise. It also talks about genetics, a little confusing for someone new in breeding but usefull too. I consider this book is for begginers and intermediate boa owners.



4. This has become one of my favorite snake books. It has really solid information for the size and price. The pictures are great, but it's the little details that make it unusual, things I never would have thought to do or not do.



5. the book hase alot of information in it alot of picture its a nice book fun to read!!!!