2 comments about Bernese Mountain Dogs (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This is an affordable, readable book that has plenty of pictures to illustrate the author's points. Information is provided to help you decide whether a Bernese Mountain Dog is suitable for your lifestyle. If you already live with a Berner, the book provides helpful hints about diet, exercise, and health care. I give this a Thumbs Up and I know -- I have lived and loved Berners for twenty years.
   Henry J.



2. Had some useful information and tips on the Bernese Mountain Dog. Easy to read and some lovely photos

4 comments about The Guide to Owning Oscars.

1. I really expected more. I have more knowledge from just having a couple Oscars in a tank.



2. I have owned Oscars for three years, and bought this book for my brother who just bought his first Oscar. It provides a basic overview of fishkeeping and of the personality and problems specifically associated with Oscars. It fails to provide good information on identifying and treating common fish diseases and what fish make good tankmates for Oscars, however.



3. This book is not an excellent source of scientific information on Oscars, but I found it a rather nice and very easy to read. There are a large number of good quality photos and some nice and accurate discussion on Oscars. As a whole this book is a compact infopacket on Oscars with beautiful pictures.



4. There is a lot of information about wild Oscars, which is very cool, but the best part of the book is about keeping Oscars in an aquarium. The pictures are beautiful and plentiful. I especially enjoyed the section on Oscar Toys.

5 comments about Dogs.

1. I'm an animation artist whose medium is pen and pencil, and for me, Rien Poortvliet is hands down the greatest artist of his kind of the last 50 years, easily. Famous(almost too much so-eclipsing these other, superior and more personal books)for the "Gnomes" series of books of the 1970s, he was a man of amazing talent, terrific humor and also great humanity and sensitivity. Any of his books are worth having; this title, "Dogs" was the first I discovered, and it's also one of the very few easily available at this writing(9/05). Here are studies of many, many breeds of canines rendered in luscious oils, stunningly--but even better is the rest of the book: Poortvliet's own, intimate life experiences with dogs, a kind of illustrated diary done in pen, pencil and watercolor washes--absolutely brilliant. You'll meet and love Rien's dogs as he did, and if you've any interest or care for dogs at all this will likely become your favorite. I'd recommend this over any other coffee table or "art" book for dog lovers(I can't conceive of anyone not savoring this)...and for artists--! Wow. An absolute treasure trove of quick gesture drawings, studies and attitudes of both dogs AND people--as well as any other animal Rien feels like writing about and sketching--and there are plenty of them. This will teach the interested artist more than dozens of "how to" books of painting and drawing techniques could hope to do. Don't hesitiate--order it now.



2. The art is astohishing (as always with Poortvliet) but the book itself is a warm and sincere approach to the meaning of dogs in our lives. It is not technical or scientific but is a powerful read to dog lovers around the world.



3. I am a crazy dog lady. I admit it. I can't pass a dachshound without stooping to say hi. My husband and I have even been known to park our car down the block so that we can casually stroll down the street and "accidentally" make the acquaintance of a sprightly-looking corgi or retreiver. Pathetic, we are, completely pathetic, but we absolutely don't care.
   
   Anyway-- this is The Pathetic Portland Pooch Lady's favorite dog book ever. You won't believe the illustrations until you see them. It's done like a sketchbook-- dozens of different images all crowding together with occasional splash pages or portraits. On a single page, you might see: a dachshund skeleton next to a wolf skeleton; a dachshund in a snowy landscape bravely facing down a boar; the same dachshund being carried off by the boar; and a light pencil sketch of the dachshund staring at a hedgehog-- "the only game I ever saw him corner," according to Poortvliet.
   
   The book's other great strength is its honesty. It's screamingly funny at times, and of course, some of the pictures are real heart-melters, but there's nothing posed or plastic about it. Poortvliet gets all his laughs, and all his tears, from dedicated and truthful observation, and from mastery the arts of storytelling and illustration.
   
   In other words, buy this book. It's a treasure.



4. This is a wonderful, heart warming story for all dog and animal lovers. The art work is beautiful, worthy of framing. The authors connection with dogs comes through loud and clear as you read the story of losing a fur covered child to finding another companion, not to replace but to continue lifes journey with. Great book for all the right reasons.



5. The drawings tells you that the author has many wonderful feelings for his models persons, animals and simple living in the countryside. Just great, it even sometimes makes you feel like crying.

4 comments about Give a Horse a Second Chance: Adopting and Caring for Rescue Horses.

1. This book is a fantastic read for those interested in the practical side of rescuing horses. It describes the various conditions rescued horses may be suffering from and how to recognize them. I highly recommend this book to anyone who might even consider starting a horse rescue or rescuing a horse from a bad situation.



2. I learned of this book title and author mentioned on the ASAP horse rescue website, and I'm very glad I did. A lot of careful thought goes into the decision to take on the lifelong commitment of adopting a rescued horse. This book brought up many easy to understand details I may not have considered properly before making a decision. Nothing speaks more clearly than experience. With all of the helpful references, it's a very useful and enjoyable read.



3. I found this book extremely informative and an enjoyable read. The author obviously writes from experience and with a desire to encourage responsible horse ownership. She offers helpful advice for first horse owners and outlines the issues involved when taking on a horse in distress. For those of us with soft hearts and a lack of good sense, when it comes to an animal is trouble, this is a handy and humorous guide that will help us do the most good where it is desprately needed.



4. This book complies basic information and is layed out well and a good starter book.. One thing I was disappointed is that it didn't really outline how to start up a Horse rescue but then again it didn't state that it did- A overall nice book !

5 comments about Train Your Dog, Change Your Life: An Interactive Training Program for Individuals, Families, and Their Dogs.

1. Readers all over the world are better off because they can benefit from the Ross's great pet dog training advice.
   Pet dog owners in Southern New Hampshire have been benefiting from their classes for years.



2. This book was very informative, easy to read with associating pictures. I especially liked how chapters 6 through 11 were broken into lesson plans (e.g.) Chapter Six, Lesson Plan:Week #1. Chapter 3, Recognizing Canine Calming Signals was very interesting. Twelve calming signals were introduced by the author in a manner that was easy to understand. I can see how this chapter is essential for training and observing other canines. I highly recommend this book for training your dog. No canine owner should be without it.



3. I was given a 5month old German Shepard that had been abused verbally, and physically, no socializing, no housbreaking nothing.
   I purchased this book and started reading every part of it, I was determined to make this dog a good dog. It worked, everyone that knows my dog Ranger cannot believe the progress that was made with him.
   This book helps you think the way the dog thinks and is very helpful from that point of view. I would recommend this book for anyone who ownes a dog-----especially a puppy!!!!!!
   Thank you Moe & Gary Ross awesome job.



4. Everything about this book is positive amd if you love your dog that's the way it should be. How nice to teach our puppy that the world is a great place and learning is fun!



5. I found this book to be extremely helpful and easy to read with "down to earth" information and examples. To reinforce the information, there are also very helpful "homework" assignments that are easy to incorporate into a very hectic schedule. Results were obvious within the first two weeks - my puppy suddenly started listening and responding just the way I wanted him to! THANK YOU!!!

3 comments about 101 Eventing Tips: Essentials for Combined Training and Horse Trials (101 Tips).

1. This a good book for anyone who is trying to start up in the eventing. However, it offers only basic advice (101 tips) and it is definitely not for a professional rider, or for one who is familiar with the world of 3-day eventing showing. There is not much practical advice of solving actual problems that a competitor may encounter, nor are schooling exercises presented...



2. I absolutely loved this book. Exactly as titled it is the essential tips of dressage, showjumping and cross country from one of the most highly respected eventers of all time. A quick read that you can go back to over and over for a brush up prior to your competitions or whenever you have a problem and need to get back on track, it is written with Jim's trademark sense of humor. Riding is all about great basic skills and this book covers the bases perfectly.



3. It is a well known fact that James Wofford is one of the best instructors of our time and a superior rider. That being said, don't expect an advanced treatise on Eventing from "101 Eventing Tips". The majority of the tips are basic at best, often downright obvious (eg: "Follow the Rules"). That is not to say this book doesn't have its place or wouldn't be valuable to many riders, but with most tips only a couple paragraphs in length, there is little depth to the material.
   
   I have never read anything from the "101 Tips" series, and was hoping to find some technical advise on difficult Eventing "questions" (especially in Cross Country, the discipline unique to Eventing), or suggestions for improving my show-day performance which can only be learned after years of experience. While there were some very helpful tips, I would say by and large most of the information is fairly obvious to anyone who has Evented before, or perhaps even just shown before.
   
   I do believe that this book would be valuable to the right rider: a beginner to horses who is thinking about taking up Eventing might find these tips invaluable. However, for the experienced (even mildly so) rider, I would recommend you take your money elsewhere (for example, Mr. Wofford also has an EXCELLENT book on gymnastic exercises).
   
   I was also surprised to discover this book is undersized (I had envisioned a large book from the picture, but it is actually only about 4 or 5 inches long at the spine), and has no color pictures. I was able to read it in less than 2 hours (it may have been even quicker than that, as I was reading it while doing other things). To summarize, this book would be helpful for the beginner interested in Eventing, but don't expect anything truly life-altering. If you have been Eventing before, this book will probably not give you "that edge" that you're looking for. For the intermediate to advanced rider, you will get only paltry value from this book and may be better served looking elsewhere.

2 comments about Beagles: An Owner's Survival Guide (Benchmark Series Book).

1. excellent review of tips and techniques for training beagles and understanding what motivates and curbs beagle behavior



2. The Beagle: An Owner's Survival Guide by Diane Morgan is a detailed and comprehensive guide to just about everything anyone would want to know about the widely beloved breed of faithful dog known as the beagle. From picking a beagle for one's home, to house training, feeding, and grooming, to correcting misbehavior, to protecting your pet from sickness and parasites, and so much more, The Beagle: An Owner's Survival Guide is written expressly and specifically for pet owners everywhere who just want to enjoy having and caring for a beagle of their own. The Beagle is a superb canine companion reference for any family with a beagle.

4 comments about The Clicked Retriever.

1. I love this book. It takes you step by step on how to teach even the most unretrieving dog to retrieve. It is slow going, but you can't possibly screw up if you follow all the steps. Our dog isn't quite there yet, but we have made wonderful progress
   
   Especially if you want a dog to do a full formal retrieve, you need this book. It can save you a lot of problems in the long run if you do things slowly and don't skip steps. And to the reviewer who said this doesn't cover that many topics: well duh! This is called the Clicked Retriever, and it is about retrieving, not just clicker training!



2. The book was nice as a review but I was looking for a little more from the book. There are plenty of other books out there that do just as well at explaining the Clicker Method but cover a wider range of topics.



3. This book is amazing and easy to follow! My lab goes nuts when I get out her dumbbell, she can't get it into her mouth fast enough! She does the retrieve happily and willing, and I didn't have to force any part of it. No ear pinch, no pain!



4. Written by professional dog trainer Lana Mitchell, who has helped pioneer clicker training since the 1990s and achieved High In Trial awards in both obedience and herding, The Clicked Retriever is a straightforward guide to using the clicker in retrieval training, one of the more complex types of training a dog can undergo because of its many steps. Chapters discuss how to build trust with one's dog without using force, training basics, retrieval basics, how to impress and strengthen the chain of retrieval steps, turning, holding and carrying, the directed retrieve, scent articles, and much more. Though written especially for dog show and dog obedience handlers, The Clicked Retriever is also ideal for anyone interested in teaching a hunting dog useful behaviors, or even ordinary pet owners who want to instruct their dog to play "fetch" rather than "tug of war". The Clicked Retriever even demonstrates how to apply retrieving skills to such activities as Flyball and service dog training. A superb, step-by-step pet trainer's manual.

5 comments about Shiba Inu (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

1. I knew nothing of the breed but this book covers allot and has some wonderful photos and info.



2. This is one of the best books on Shiba Inus out there. It tells you everything you need to know about this amazing breed of dog. It's got everyting from health care, training and showing. It even tells you the shibas best fit for the AKC and Nippo. It's one of the best shiba inu books and no shiba owner should be without it.



3. I got this book because we were adopting a Shiba Inu pup. We already have one Shiba & they are an interesting breed. I feel that the more knowledge about the breed that you can gain, the better the relationship will be for everyone. This book has a lot of in depth information that should help any potential Shiba Inu owner. It has lots of pictures to go with the topics.



4. I'm a first time dog owner (and ended up getting a Shiba...ha ha!)
   I thought this book was simple & an easy read. I've had my Shiba for 4 months now & still refer to the book for information!



5. If you're a Shiba Inu enthusiast, this book will be a welcome addition to your library. It's written by someone who owns and loves Shiba Inus, so unlike other breed-specific books that deal mostly in generalities, this book is specific and reasonably honest. The book is substantial and contains a lot of good, respectable information without being too heavy-handed or condescending. It also contains a lot of beautiful color photography.

5 comments about Doga: Yoga For Dogs.

1. If you've ever done yoga and you have a great appreciation for the zen of dogginess, you will enjoy this book. Even if you just like dogs, it should give you a laugh, but you'll probably appreciate it more if you're familiar with the ways of yoga.
   
   It is definitely for people with a sense of humor--if you are looking for the definitive book on yoga positions and expect to teach yourself how to get into the perfect positions, well, go take a class from a human who can make sure you are properly aligned.
   
   This book is fun, relaxing, and may inspire you to do yoga...but the most therapeutic thing about it is the laughter.



2. This is a silly book and not worth the paper it is printed on. Not funny enough to be a joke and not real enough to be a useful tool of any sort.



3. This was a relatively cute book, but please beware that it is not truly instructional and is not meant to teach one how to facilitate a Doggie Yoga class. This book would make a good gift for the yoga aficionado who also loves dogs and might be entertaining for a few minutes. I would have preferred to see a greater variety of dogs as well. However, I understand the author's vision in spotlighting only four in order to develop character. I would not pay full price for this book.



4. Quite witty book of photos of young dogs in poses which look like familar yoga poses. It has imaginary commentary from the dogs.
   
   Dog owners who do yoga will bark with delight.



5. Dogs actually do breath correctly, humans don't unless taught. Dogs stretch when they sense the need, humans don't unless taught. Dogs are amazing to watch, there are many things innate to dogs (and most animals), that humans don't do, but probably should.
   
   Breathing - Humans breath shallow inadequate, terse breaths. Why? Because we've forgotten how to breath correctly.
   
   How do we learn to breath correctly? Well, at birth. Once born the baby should be placed on the mother's chest, before the cord is severed and taught to breath. There, feeling the breath come in and out of the mother, feeling the heart beat, the baby learns to breath. Most mothers will have to ensure THEY are breathing correctly to pass this Vital Information onto the babe.
   
   Since dogs breath naturally, pups are brought close to the mother, umbilical chord usually intact and feel the breathing and the heartbeat and become one with the mother.
   
   Okay... think about it. And that's precisely what this book does, it gets one thinking about things, that perhaps we normally wouldn't take the time nor have the inclination to discover.
   
   I enjoyed the read, it was cute, informative and being a dog owner I could relate.