5 comments about ABC Practical Guide to Dog Training.

1. This book teaches owners how to train in a positive manner. The instructions and theories are easy to understand, and most importantly effective.
   Basic obedience, positive training theory, problem solving (jumping, digging etc.), off leash obedience and basic obedience are all covered in this book.
   I train service dogs and for basic obedience and leash training I use the methods and theories in this book. I can't say enough good things about it. :)



2. I really liked this book, especially the clear discussions about learning theory, using both positives and aversives correctly. How to teach most basic manners skills. I was, however, surprised by the omission of teaching a dog not to pull on leash! This is one of the most common complaints of dog owners, yet it is not covered in this book. Other than that, great stuff.



3. I am a new dog owner and have been looking for a book to help me train my new dog.
   
   After searching and reading reviews here on amazon I ordered a few books. It happened to be during the holidays so I still don't have them (that's another story). However, in the mean time, I found a used copy of this book at a local used book store. I have to say I am very pleased with it.
   
   If you read the reviews of the popular basic dog training books here on Amazon you can be really confused about what to do. Does pack theory work? Is there a dominance hierarchy? Are choke chains cruel? Can positive reinforcement alone work? What should I be expecting of my dog? Lots of questions and recommendations that seem at odds with one another.
   
   The author of this book cuts through a lot of that and really makes a lot of sense. Further, he gives practical, step by step advice on how to handle problems and do very basic dog training. Actual things you can use to make a difference to your dog. After reading about half of his book I was immediately able to make use of his recommendations and techniques and my dog responded. Obviously there is no magic, it will take work on my part, but I could see improvement right away.
   
   Further he lays out some things that seem pretty basic in hind site, but I as a new dog owner didn't realize. Important things, like don't let your dog play with cloth toys and then expect your dog not to think every cloth thing (like a sock) is a toy.
   
   He talks about different collars to use during training, on leash v. off leash training, good and bad toys, good and bad trainers. He spends a good deal of time teaching you how your dog learns and how any training is making use of those basic concepts. He also makes sure you understand that if you own a dog, all your interaction with it is "dog training" and that you may very well be teaching the dog things you had no idea you were teaching him good and bad (usually bad).
   
   His focus is always on praise and reward, but understands that actual correction is appropriate as well when done properly, however none of the specific instructions he offers that I have read so far ever include any kind of physical correction, it is always things like withdrawing attention, stern commands, a cross look.
   
   He offers practical steps for what he calls foundation training, come, sit, stay, which to a new dog owner like myself is really important.
   
   Anyway, after only reading half the book and only using its advice for about 3 days I have to say I am 100% happy with this book.



4. Well written, funtional, intelligent, effective, practical.
   
   This is one of the best I've read so far.
   
   You will not be dissapointed.



5. ABC Practical Guide To Dog Training: Proven Techniques By A Trainer Of Trainers is an expertly written instructional by Steven Appelbaum (the President and CEO of Animal Behavior and Training Associates Inc., the largest independent dog training company in North America), designed specifically to teach the owner of a canine companion diverse behaviors on command. From learning how to make "pack theory" work to one's advantage; to the simple basics of how a dog learns; to establishing obedience; to selecting the right professional trainer, ABC Practical Guide To Dog Training is a "must-read" for anyone responsible for the behavior and training of the family pet.

4 comments about Aquarium Care of Bettas (Animal Planet Pet Care Library).

1. I bought this book for my Mom, she has a new male Betta. We learned so much and the pictures are colorful. We were also happy it arrived so quickly.....thank you!!!!



2. I bought this book and have read it cover to cover. I thought I knew how to maintain a tank and feeding for a betta until I read this book. It uncovers all the myths that surround betta care even in the pet shops!!!
   Excellent for anyone thinking of buying a Betta! They need more than just a bowl to survive. Bettas also need a mini heater, mini filter, and at least a 1 gallon tank per Betta!!!



3. Ok, this was a kind of nice little book. But not really. The information inside of this book was VERY basic. It never went into details about betta housing (just kept on referring to betta bowls, tiny little bowls in which a betta WOULD NOT be happy in). So thats what took away some starts, was the lack of useful information.
   
   This book had a lot of pictures. Pictures are all well and good, but not in this book. Most of the pictures were of older, boring 'veil tail' finned bettas. Those are bettas of the past. Now we have half moons, and crowntails, so much better. But there was one image of a half moon, and one or two of delta tailed bettas. So the betta community was not represented in the least by this book. Just old veil tails.
   
   Overall, not a good book.



4. This book is extremely helpful; with honest advice and clear, concise explanations.

3 comments about Practical Scent Dog Training.

1. This book was poorly written and I WOULD NOT recomend this book to anyone who wants to seriously go into scent dog training. This book is very vague in detail. This book was not very well organized. I think that this author does not know what she is actually writing about. I think of her not qualified to write about scenting



2. This book covers all of the basics of tracking and air-scenting (search and rescue). It is very practical, readable and well laid out. You can use its exercises for teaching your toy poodle to find your lost keys, to prepare for the AKC Tracking Dog tests, or to begin SAR training.
   Even if you do not have a dog, Practical Scent Dog Training is fascinating reading. There are clear explanations of how scent is deposited (I always wondered) and diagrams showing how it is effected by environmental conditions. I had no idea that dogs were capable of doing some of the things that this book details!



3. This is an excellent book. It's a step by step practical training guide for air scent, evidence search, disaster search, and tracking tests. You can start with very young puppies. Not only that, but many of the training methods outlined can be used just for fun, even if you're not in search and rescue. I recommend this book to everyone interested in seeing their dogs use their noses, whether they are interested in actually doing search and rescue, just want to know a little more about SAR, or want to play around with the concepts.

3 comments about Training Dogs for Protection Work.

1. very good, lots of illustrations
   a little advance for the beginner but it will help also



2. We wrote this brief and to the point book for one reason: to quickly provide information for both the inexperienced and wrongfully taught handler of the working dog. There are three additional sub-themes. The working dog is a family member; however, it is not a "sport" dog. Defense of a family, or handler, must never be considered sport, even in training. Secondly, the working dog is a full-time two-year-old child in the sense of time commitment. The handler must not only care for physical needs, but must maintain training routines, (obedience, tracking and grip work). The goal is not robotic responses, but team interaction that incorporates work, fun and mutual respect. To repeat, this is also a goal of protection work. The work shows how to incorporate positive training aspects, and points out abusive "techniques" and their results: a dog that can't be depended upon in the multiple settings of family life. The work is an easy read and useful for owners of non-protection breeds as well.



3. When reading this book's title, one believes they are buying a book solely on protection. Negative. This book also covers tracking and obedience training. This is fine, however, much of the techniques of the training are just an overview and are not really detailed. Many questions that may arise during training are left unanswered in this very brief book. It basically is a book on the Schutzhund sport, without it coming out and saying it outright. Overall, the book is a worthy addition for Schutzhund enthusiasts though would probably not provide any new information to the experienced Schutzhund trainer or those people well read on any of the three phases of Schutzhund.

5 comments about All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets.

1. Almost 20 years ago, as my journey and quest into the wonders of natural medicine began, the universe sent me two very special people - Greg and Mary Wulff-Tilford.
   
   We fast became friends and, fortunately for our animals, they happily offered their talents, love and services to BrightHaven (a sanctuary for elderly and disabled animals) to help us heal our animals. We used their fast developing line of products, and also benefited from their amazing expertise in the preparation and use of herbs.
   
   I soon realized the potential of their combination herbal remedies; knew they would be essential to our work, and was consequently thrilled to receive a copy of their amazing book "Herbs for Pets", when it first came into print.
   
   Herbs for Pets has become a BrightHaven bible over the years, and I recommend it over and over again to pet lovers, who wish to enhance and maintain the health of their animals, naturally.
   
   Gail Pope
   President and Founder BrightHaven
   www.brighthaven.org



2. An excellent source of easy to read information for a beginning herbalist.



3. Very thorough description of the different herbs and their uses, but the book is organized by herb. It would be much more helpful if it were organized by malady, and then listed which herbs would help.



4. This is one of the most comprehensive books on this subject that I think I've ever seen. I had been looking for specific information for about a year, and this book had the answer for me. Great read, well organized, and extremely interesting. Worth every penny I paid for it!! I'll use it for my pets generations for years.



5. Wonderful photos, super information, and a great reference. This is my standard herbal reference for pets that I use in my practice and in the articles and books I write!
   
   
   Shawn Messonnier DVM
   Author, 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog, The Allergy Solution for Dogs, and the award-winning The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats.
   
   (...)

2 comments about Living With a Bichon Frisé: Book with Bonus DVD (Living with a Pet).

1. I bought this book to learn more about the Bichon breed. I have a five year old rescued Bichon male. The book describes his characteristics perfectly. It offers some training methods and things to know before you make a very long committment to these little dogs. They are very long lived.
   
   Pro: Easy to read, good pictures, on target in describing the breed
   Con: None



2. If you are a totally smitten Bichon Frise owner, as I am, you will have to add this book to your collection. I own many many volumes but this portrays the breed in all its glory. The cover is your first clue to the beauty of the publication. I particularly like the personal short tales that are set in pastel color insets. And I find the photo section on grooming exceptionally helpful--you will definitely need these close-ups if you dare to try your hand at this art. Chapter 2 reminds you that this loving breed in NOT FOR EVERYONE; they should not be left alone for long periods of time.
   
   Eight chapters and 128 pages of great information, super binding, heavy shiny paper, with sharp color photos; this book succinctly covers all you need to know.

2 comments about Hamsterlopaedia: A Complete Guide to Hamster Care.

1. This book is very detailed and up to date regarding hamster care ranging from basic care and health concerns to breeding and showing hamsters. Because the book is detailed it may not be reader friendly for younger children who own hamsters than other hamster starter care books on the market featuring simpler formats. It has some very nice color illustration sections outlining different varieties of hamsters. I think it should definitely be in a hamster owners library for reference.



2. I've had a number of hamsters over the past several years, and have looked through a good many hamster books to find various information about caring for them. Unfortunately, a lot of the ones at the pet stores are often out of date and can even include misinformation. However, Hamsterlopaedia is neither of those things, and though it took a bit to find it, I'm glad I did. This is an amazingly detailed book that not only covers the basics, like how to house and feed your hamsters, but it even goes into hamster biology and the most common health problems to watch out for. It also provides information on breeding hamsters, including caring for a mother and her new babies, and not only includes information on Syrian hamsters but dwarf hamsters as well. Most of the book is text, but there are a good number of photo pages as well, especially to illustrate the various colors and types of hamsters. Whether you've just gotten your first hamster or you've been caring for them for years, this book has plenty to offer. I would highly recommend this book and I really appreciate the authors' work in writing it.

5 comments about Canine Epilepsy: An Owner's Guide to Living With and Without Seizures.

1. I was disappointed in the book as a whole. Coming from working at a vet clinic as a certified veterinary technician I was looking for a book to tell owners about who had epileptic dogs. I thought this book was not owner friendly and would only confuse pet owners. Having my own epileptic dog gives me insight to their concerns and fears. I think that overall this book will confuse owners and make them question their veterinarians, when they need to have complete faith that the vet is choosing the right combo for their pets.While the idea was good, I would not recommend this book.



2. This book was very easy to read and understand. If your dog has just been diagnosed with Epilepsy this book is a good source of information to help you better understand the disease and how to deal with it.



3. This is a very informative book, the only one on the subject I have been able to find. The initial section on diet seemed over long and complicated but the rest of the book I found very helpful. It is distressing to see your dog have a seizure but I found the content encouraging and felt comforted that the condition can be managed without resort to drugs. Some of the tips I have started to use.



4. My older dog began having seizures, other than this problem she is a healthy girl. I ordered this book when she was hospitalized for a cluster. I read the book as soon as it arrived and found it unbelievably helpful. There is life with seizures and this book helped me learn how to deal with and prevent them. Great book. Knowledge is power and I feel like I have a handle on this now.



5. In July of 2005, we rescued two dogs that were 9 years old. They were a brother and sister team and couldn't be separated. We fell in love with them immediately. Two weeks afer bringing them home, the male began having the most intense grand mal seizures that I have ever seen. We put him on medication and it slowed the number of seizures but had no effect on the intensity.
   I began looking on the internet to see what information I could find and there it was "An Owner's Guide to living with or without seizures". It took me several months to go through the book, as I found it difficult to understand the relationships between all the parts of the body, hormones, etc. However, it got me extremely interested in a natural food diet and alternative therapies.
   It took another month or so to do more research and then actually put the natural food diet into place. Now, after 6 weeks of feeding natural foods to both dogs, the male has seizures that sometimes aren't recognizeable. They are mild and the duration is less than a minute.
   The purpose of this narration is that if it weren't for Caroline Levin's book and love for animals, our dog would still be suffering with grand mal seizures, not to mention my husband and I and his sibling. Not only that, but their skin is so soft, whereas it was always rather brittle before.
   I would recommend this book to anyone who needs help with canine epilepsy and were as frustrated as we were. Thank you so much for the time that it took you to research this disease and offer your knowledge to us. It truly was a "godsend".

3 comments about The World of Schnauzers: Standard, Giant, Miniature.

1. Gallant combines experience, statistics, and photography to complete a book that gives a wealth of information on the three breeds of Schnauzers. Anyone who wants to truly know about the Schnauzer SHOULD read this book.



2. This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in Schnauzers. Mr. Gallant has been a breeder for over 25 years in the Netherlands and currently in South Africa. Excellent information regarding temperament, grooming, training and pedigrees. The section on the Giant Schnauzer is comprehensive and accurate. I recommend this book to all who purchase a Schnauzer.



3. This is the first book about schnauzers that I've ever read that combines European and American schnauzers in one book. There are lots of pictures of both US champions and European champions. Mr. Gallant also writes very well about temperment. I really recommend this book to every one who considers getting a schnauzer.

5 comments about kittenwar: may the cutest kitten win!.

1. If you like cats / Kittens this is for you. Book based upon web site comparing cutest kitten. Mostly a "picture" book :)



2. I purchased the book on Christmas Eve at my local B&N. My son had to be practically dragged bodily from the book table even though I assured him that I had bought a copy and it was in the bag.
   
   This book was the unexpected hit of Christmas Day. Everyone, regardless of age and whether or not they were "cat people," became engrossed in choosing which kitten was the cutest and booing if their choice was dissed on the next page. I hope they come out with a Kittenwar board game next, or maybe a Kittenwar for the X box crowd?



3. If you enjoy the "Kittenwar" site, you will love this book! I am giving it to my niece who has a new kitten and she will love it!



4. I love this little book. I participated in the contest and was pleasantly surprised to see the picture of my kitten in the book. Then I found my name in the credits for the photographs. How cool is that!



5. If you love kittens this is a wonderful book. My daughter brought it to school and those girls can not get enough of it.