No comments about Helpful Hints For Horsemen: Dozens Of Handy Tips for the Ranch, Barn, and Tack Room.

5 comments about The Happy Little Book of Pugs: A Visual Appreciation.

1. This is a wonderful, beautifully designed book... I can only hope that Ms. Schuckhart creates a whole series of these perfect little dog books- may I suggest the rat terrier as your next subject? A highly recommended, lovely and entertaining book-



2. What an incredibly adorable gift book! I bought it because I love the vintage graphics--but I am sure pug lovers would be over the moon for it. The price is right for this well-designed goodie. Highly recommended for people of all ages.



3. For me, who likes all things Pug, this book was a delightful surprise! It was filled with images I've never seen anywhere else. Such a nice light, happy style. It brightened my day when I first opened it up. I consider myself a pug expert, so who would have thought that even I had learned a few things from this book. I'm giving these out as gifts to my 8th street pug park posse.



4. I love this book. It was given to me as a gift, and I will do the same for all of my pug loving friends. The pictures are beautiful and the content is well researched and well written. I highly recommend that everyone who knows someone who has a pug go out and get this book for them. They won't be disappointed. It's just a fun read!



5. I'm not a pug owner, but I've known a few and I think this book really captures the essence of Pug life and life with Pugs. If pugs could read I know they would appreciate the wit and insight this book provides. With amusing trivia and great art, this book is a must for Pug afficionados. I can't wait to see what Ms Schuckhart comes up with for other breeds (especially the ones I have). Any dog lover would love this series.

4 comments about John Lyons' Troubleshooting.

1. This is a great book with lots of pictures (very helpful for the more visually orientated) and in full color. Has been very helpful in training my mares :o)



2. This book is very helpful to me in traing myself and my horses. The method presented in this book is very easy to follow. I recomend it to thos looking for help or a method of training.



3. I recently purchased a new mare. We had 2 really good rides and the 3rd was a disaster! The mare began bucking violently, without warning, and I was thrown to the ground. I purchased this book because the cover listed "bucking" as a problem area addressed in the book. I receieved the book and cannot find one thing about bucking. To say the least, I was very disappointed!!!



4. A very good book and helpful, but the front is misleading, there is only one tiny mention of bucking help, which is not enough.

3 comments about The Horses We Love, The Lessons We Learn.

1. This book I could not put down, only took one break in reading the whole book. This author has much experience with life as well as horses, and like myself has used horses to bring joy into herself.



2. Wow! I am so disappointed. The stories are trite, the characters shallow. I was captive on an airplane and still could not finish the book. I only gave up 1 star for the horse portion of the book. She summarizes the moral of each chapter because the story does not contain enough depth of anything for the reader to surmize it themselves. While I believe her intent is very good, she does not follow through. It is stark and lacks emotional connection to any character or horse. Blah!



3. A nice read for a sunny hill or a lazy weekend. It will warm your harts and touch your soles with short loving story's. Makes a nice gift for any animal lover or horse lover.

2 comments about Why Does My Dog Act That Way?: A Complete Guide to Your Dog's Personality.

1. This book was a very interesting and informative read. Although it was not what I expected, I was pleasantly pleased with what I did get from the book. The book deals with how and why dogs came to be, over evolution, the great companions they are now. Along with a general guidelines of what personality to expect from a breed. However it does go into detail of how it is genetics more than breed that can play huge impact on a dogs personality. There is also a heartbreaking section about dogs used in illegal fighting, as well as inspiring tales of heroic dogs. I think this book is a good read for the anyone who just loves dogs and wants to understand more about them.



2. Interesting in parts, but it didn't live up to the title. I found it to be more of an exploration of how dogs became domesticated over thousands of years, and the ways in which they differ from their wild brethren. There were some good insights, but overall I felt it was too "clinical", for lack of a better word. I much preferred the author's How To Speak Dog.

5 comments about People We Know, Horses They Love.

1. I have seen this book before and decided to get it for myself, so I can ponder over the different chapters, and personages at leisure. Filled with one surprise after another, the book delivers photos masterfully done, interwoven with stories of people we know that share a common bond... horses. It is a great gift for the horse lover or the person that likes to read about people in the world of celebrities. Again, I must emphasize that the pictures are truly stunning and well composed. Having been a photographer for over 40 years, I always pay more attention to the details, composures, and art-full feel of pictures, and these photos are charming and "story telling" in their own light. One picture is worth a thousand words, is very true in this book. Buy it, enjoy it, keep it and give it.
   Vern



2. This book has some really well taken photography shots of people and their horses. It dosen't lie in its title...alas..the title is incredibly accurate...it shows a bunch of celebrity with their horses and a few with the dogs also.
   
   Did I say the photography was wonderful?...It is.
   
   The choice of the persons included in this book was well thought out..as she included several minority persons for which I give high marks for doing so..as minorities are very poorly represented in most equine books.
   
   The horse crazy among us..(like Myself) will devour this book in less than 30 minutes if you read it..and even faster than that (maybe) if you just look at the pictures. Teens..young adults...minority horse lovers should jump on it...because it contains people that you have seen ..that could be you or your kids in it..and for that reason..it is excellent for the younger crowd too !!!
   
   It isn't smart..or difficult..or magical...or knowledgable......its a good look at American Celebritys the horses they own..and how they got connected to them.



3. Where should I start? With the many blurry, grainy photos? Or the photos of celebrities and horses that are hugely under exposed so the "background" can come shining through? I thought I'd get to see celebrities with their horses - in focus. Disappointing photography.
   
   The interviews sound somewhat "canned" and "redundant". As though the celebrities were asked to fill in a form and then the interview was written from the form.
   
   Why two stars? Page 1, Richard Gere and his horse; Page 13 Robert Duvall and horse; Page 89 Kim Novak and her horse.



4. This oversize book with photographs by Linda Solomon is exactly as advertised by the title. We see photo-montages of stars like Robert Redford with his favorite horses. The text burbles on about his screen credits and career and the Sundance film festival. Robert Redford talks about his (horseless) childhood and why and how he learned to ride. The other stars that Rappaport and Wilkinson interview and photograph are Gisele Bundchen (super model from Brazil), Chevy Chase, Robert Duvall, Richard Gere (who raises Appaloosas), Melissa Gilbert and Bruce Boxleitner, Whoopi Goldberg (who currently doesn't own any horses, so was photographed with NYC's finest mounted police), Kelse and Camille Grammer, Joe and Billie Perry (Friesians), Katharine Ross and Cleo Elliott, Jane Seymour (who prefers driving to riding), Maria Shriver, Robert Wagner and Jill St. John, Jeff Bridges, Christie Brinkley, William Devane, Morgan Freeman, Kim Novak, Jack Palance, and Dennis Quaid.
   
   The book has two other, shorter sections titled "Pro and Show" and "Healing Hands, Healing Horses." My favorite interview was with ex-jockey Julie Krone. What a gutsy, determined athelete! There are also short articles on the U. S. Equestrian Team, Dressage, and horse healer Buck Brannaman.
   
   "People We Know, Horses They Love" is a pleasant hodge-podge. I would recommend it to star-struck teenagers who also happen to love horses.



5. I've been a horse lover since I got my first pony at the age of six. I am also a working entertainment reporter, so I am always on the lookout to talk to celebs who have horses -- but this book taught even me a few things! Who knew Chevy Chase has Icelandics? That's my favorite breed!
   
   People We Know, Horses They Love is not only very well-written and informative, but the pictures are beautiful too. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because that rating for horse/picture books is reserved for Robert Vavra :)
   
   Staci Layne Wilson

5 comments about The Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot Kit.

1. I've been working with these cards for a couple months now and I have to say I've fallen in love with these Cats!!! Both the major and minor arcanas are so well thought out and the companion book as well. It's just a really fun deck and find myself identifying with these beautifully and creatively dressed cats. Everything down to the nice size and stock of the cards makes this tarot kit a real joy. Even if you really arn't a cat lover, you'll find yourself falling in love with these cats, you can't help yourself...Enjoy.
   
   
   
   
   
   



2. This is my favorite tarot deck. It is just too cute. There are a wide array of cute cats wearing elegant clothing. It is by far one of the nicest decks that I have seen in my time. It is a fun deck to use. Sometimes I take it out just to look at the cards. If you love cats then you need this deck.



3. This is one of the nicest decks I've owned. Great for reading. The images are gorgeous in the detail and the baroque customes are exquisite. The book is well written with Karen Mahony's delightful style and with a small "cat's interpretation" that brings a smile and also other ideas that can actually enhance a reading. Regarding one of the other reviews, there is a small art gallery in the town where I live in Denmark and they have a very true phrase as slogan, "Art is Work". This deck is a patient and enjoyable work of love, not the work of people that have "too much time on their hands". I own most of the products from the Magic Realist Press and am always forward to see the new products of these very nice and extremely talented people.



4. "There seems to be some definite, if indefinable, link between cats and tarot...Could it be that people who are attracted to animals as enigmatic, untamable and yet at the same time as warmly emotional as cats also find some of these same qualities in the tarot?" - From the companion book
   
   Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov, the creative geniuses who run baba studio and Magic Realist Press in Prague, meld lavish costumes, posed cats, stunning Bohemian scenery, and quirky art and architecture in the Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot. While many "cat decks" are mostly art decks, this gorgeous Tarot is a bona fide reading deck based on the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition.
   
   Sumptuous fabrics and lovely detailing grace the costumes created by Finnish artist Anna Hakkarainen, while many of the "models" used in the Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot were from the Prague Cats Rescue Home. Russian Blues, Tabbies, Persians, Siamese, Orientals, British Shorthairs, mixed breeds--all manner of hue and personality infuse these cards.
   
   From the singing Abyssinian on the 3 of Pentacles to the wide-eyed kitten on the Sun card (which was coaxed to stand up on a horse with a teaspoon of cream!), the almost-human expressions surprise and delight. The fierceness of the Siberian on the Knight of Swords crackles with energy, and the sweet innocence of the 6 of Cups elicits an "awww!" for both its cuteness and the way it captures the essence of this card. The 9 of Cups is a hilarious card, with a British shorthair licking his lips in snarky Puss in Boots fashion. Ms. Mahony writes of this card:
   
   "A somewhat portly and obviously very satisfied cat sits on a barrel in the public room of an inn, licking his lips. Behind him, carved in wood, can be a seen a scene of grand merrymaking."
   
   Because some readers prefer Strength and Justice as either Trump 8 or 11, the deck designers have chosen to keep the Majors unnumbered. In addition to the standard RWS attributions and format, Ms. Mahony and Mr. Ukolov have also added a "good luck" card to the Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot: Hermes--which shows a golden statue of the god in a sunny courtyard while a lovely cat clothed in a sage green gown with white ruffles looks on. At first glance, it appears the card backings are fully reversible, but upon closer inspection, you can see the names Ukolov and Mahony on opposing sides. Because the script is so small, however, the backings still work wonderfully for reversals.
   
   This deck, like their Fairytale Tarot, arrives in a box set with a beautifully bound soft cover book. With 207 pages, the glossy pages depict black and white reproductions of the cards as well as photos of fountains, sculptures, paintings, and various architectural elements found therein. Ms.Mahony's prose, as always, is a sheer joy to read, and she offers a brief overview of what's going on in the card, a "cat's interpretation", keywords and phrases for both upright and reversed meanings, and a lucid, in-depth explanation of the card. She also notes source materials for each card.
   
   The Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot is an excellent reading deck, and especially good as a deck for children or cat lovers. Because this deck follows RWS, it can be used in conjunction with many Tarot books, making it a great beginner's deck, as well. I've had quite a few insights with these cards, which I've jotted down in my Tarot journal. While an artistically exquisite Tarot that belongs in every art deck collection, it's an excellent deck for both reading and meditation.
   
   (To see 10 images from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)
   
   Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)



5. I have a growing collection of tarot cards. As beautiful and interesting as I find many of the decks, I usually return to the classic Rider-Waite for meditation and divination. As a cat lover and tarot deck collector, I was intrigued by "The Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot" and ordered it from Amazon. I found this deck to be a visual delight, which I sort of expected, but was suprised to find the interpretations of the cards in the accompanying book to be equally well-done. Unique and insightful, the interpretations given from the cat's point-of-view are charming, accurate and a whole lot of fun. For the tarot afficianado or cat lover, this tarot is the cat's meow.

5 comments about Retriever Training: A Back to Basics Approach.

1. This book, Retriever training, is well laid out, direct, and down to earth for working retriever training. It is sponsored by Ducks Unlimited so you know that it is focused on hunting but a good portion of the book is on basic retriever obedience. The author follows a low pressure, high praise approach that does not rely on electronic collars but rather on handler-dog relationship and the dogs basic willingness to please.
   
   If you are looking to train your dog for hunting this would be a decent reference, though having an experienced hand to help is more important in my opinion. What this book offers is a good reference and framework for getting started for the novice and experienced owner alike.
   
   I find this useful for any owner, if they want their retriever to be a pet or a working dog, you could do worse then spending a few hours reading through this book.



2. I purchased this book thinking it would be similar to all the others. It definitely has a different approach. This book uses many of the tactics used by Richard Wolters in "Game Dog." I read the book entirely three times and believe this to be an excellent training system. I don't have my pup yet, but he will learn through this method and some portions taken from "Game Dog." I also purchased "The Windrose Way Retriever Training DVD" which after watching one time appears to be an excellent training video with many of the same principles from the above books. You won't be sorry reading this book.



3. It is very difficult for some to "think outside the box" with regards to training their dogs. Sometimes one needs to explore the results of the most popular training methods and realize the room for significant improvement. We trained our first dog using these familiar methods. She would retreive anything, anytime, anywhere. She would bring anything she could find to anyone who would throw it to her. She was as far from a "steady" dog as you could find.
   Now, using Mr. Milners techniques (which are very different than the "popluar techniques") we have an incredibly obedient and steady young lab. The difference is amazing. Both dogs came from similar lines (field trial)and they couldn't be more different. It works, and works well. Very easy to read and implement. You must buy this book! You will not regret it.
   Six stars from us!!



4. I bought this book soon after bringing home my lab six months ago. I don't hunt. But I figure that if hunting is what this dog was bred to do, I would spend some time giving him something of the experience. We do walk the forest preserves and farmer's fields frequently.

   The methods are based on understanding trainer and pup's behaviors, simple obedience commands, creating a steady dog, and training in habits that you want your dog to have. The lessons are set out as self-paced exercises. They are described concisely and clearly. I have found them to be easy and fun. My pup seems to like them, too.

   This book is very enjoyable to read. I have read the chapters over and over again, getting some new insight nearly every time. We still have a ways to go before we have mastered all of the skills, but we have the confidence to keep trying because Milner's book has produced successes along the way we've passed.




5. Mr. Milner's training methods are fair to the dog, will not hurt him,and stresses the importance of the dog's self-control and steadiness. But, I feel that the book is a bit overpriced for the little info. that it includes. Many, many things were covered more than once in the book. I kept thinking to myself..."didn't I just read that somewhere"...flip back a few pages..."yep, sure did"...almost verbatim. Too much "white space" on each page and between paragraphs.

3 comments about Cat Talk: The Secrets of Communicating with Your Cat.

1. This is another great book from Sonya! It has helped me understand the animal world much better. Thanks to her book I am now able to better understand my cats and the animals around me. I help my family and friends with their animal problems now. I am very thankful to Sonya for helping me to better understand the world from an animal's point-of-view. I have no doubt that people can communicate with animals telepathically. If you are truly open to the idea, want to communicate with your pets, and have a true love for animals, then you can develop your ability to communicate with animals. Sonya tells in her book about the many animals she has encountered over the years; by telling people of these stories she has opened up the reader to what animals are like and how they perceive us. This book is truly a must for pet owners in order to better understand their animal companions. She tells ways to effectively get through problems that a person might be having with his/her pet and then gives helpful tips to help remedy the situation. The stories she tells apply to every pet owner. In the book, she has covered almost every animal you could possibly have. I recommend this book to anyone who has pets or works with animals. I give it five stars! Sonya truly is a gift from God!



2. I really enjoyed this book, it make you understand more how cats think. It a great book for all cats lover.



3. As a cat person who enjoyed Sonja's book "What the Animals Tell Me", I was looking forward to reading this book. I was not disappointed.
   In this book, Sonja gives more details about how to communicate with animals and a lot of practical cat care advice. She fills in the gaps left in her life story by the previous book. There are, of course, stories about the cats Sonja has worked with. My favorite is the story of Rosie, a hungry, frightened, pregnant kitty rescued by Sonja's husband, Fitz, who is evidently as much of an animal over as she is. This book would be most appreciated by cat lovers who are open to the possibilities of interspecies communication.

5 comments about Living with Pugs.

1. Absolute best photographs of Pugs I have ever seen. Highly recommend book to anyone who loves Pugs.



2. This book is presented in a lovely style, with wonderful pictures. It's easy to ready and understand; informative.



3. This book is a must have for all passionate pug lovers. Great photgraphs and well written and informative text, an absolute delight



4. I have owned pugs for 12 years now. They are wonderful little dogs, but they do have a personality that is not for every dog owner. This book does a great job of presenting the pros and cons of pug ownership (Pugs are loyal, fun, friendly, and great companions. They are non-aggressive and get along well with other pets and family members. However, pugs shed a lot, make really funny and sometimes loud noises, aren't a dog to take jogging, and are pretty useless as guard dogs.) The photos are stunning, the information is factual and helpful if someone is trying to decide if a pug is the dog for them.



5. I have many books on pugs and this is the best of them all....Very thorough info and covers just about every topic on pugs you would need. The pictures are beautiful also. It is as beautiful as a glossy coffee table book with just pictures and super informative on top of that. The best and highly recommended!!!