5 comments about The Puppy Baby Book.

1. This book is a hardcover book, a little pricier than some of my 4 human kids baby books, but it has pointers about safety issues, purchasing items for a dog, etc. There are pages to fill out about the parents of the dog and about the humans in the family that's adopting the puppy, a page for paw prints, place for filling out litter information, feeding information, personality of the litter, adoption dates and info, human playmates like kids, training info if you get a trainer, or a training class, doctor info, immunizations, weight and height, and many pages for photos of both Jewish and Christian holidays as well as neutral non-religious holidays. It's 72 pages long, and has animal organization info like websites and address and phone numbers. This is a great book to get before you even get the dog because you will be prompted to ask for more information than you got from the owners. I can still call, but I don't want to be a pain asking for more. I already had them email me photos of the parents, and they also sent me photos of the puppies at birth and one week and more. There is plenty of room for all of this. Book is 11" by 9".



2. When my son suggested that i make a "baby book" for our puppy like the ones i had made for my children, i thought he was crazy. So i started looking for a book that in actuality, i didnt think existed. in my search, i came accross THE PUPPY BABY BOOK so i ordered it - when it arrived i was so excited, its a very user friendly book (even child friendly - my 8 year old fills out the info) and is styled exactly like a human baby book and all the information pertains only to dogs. this book is wonderful! If I adopted another dog i would definately purchase this book again. And I do think this book is a must if you truely love your pet like a baby to document all pertinent information.



3. I am a new puppy owner, and like most, I am ABSOLUTE gelatin in her paws. When I caught myself getting inordinately excited that my "baby" went up the three steps to the deck by herself at only seven weeks, I decided (to my infinite embarrassment) that I needed a puppy journal. After searching diligently for about a week, and rejecting all of the silly, cartoonish and cheaply-made wire-bound variety journals, I stumbled across this utter gem. The first thing that makes "The Puppy Baby Book" stand apart is the fact that it is an actual hard bound book. This really IS something that will withstand the test of time. The artwork is clean and understated so as not to take away from your photos or entries. It is done in subtle hues with a definite art deco sensibility. There are also several handy pockets inside for things like adoption papers, medical records and even your puppy's first rabies tag. I couldn't be happier with the exceptional style and quality of this book. I would particularly recommend it for pet owners with a sense of history and an appreciation of those classic breeds that were at the height of their popularity in the 20's and 30's (Boston Terriers, Greyhounds, Afghans, etc). Finally, Three cheers for this and all those other struggling independent publishers out there.



4. This unique book is a must for that puppy lover in all of us. This chronicle of your puppy's life will become a treasured keepsake to cherish for years to come.



5. If you have a special dog in your life, this book is for you. Its friendly, upbeat tone and beautiful illustrations help you to chronicle your puppy's first year. You will be guided toward jotting down many of the important moments in your puppy's life, from those memorable "firsts," to charting your puppy's growth spurts. There are places for special photos, even pockets for storing papers and that initial rabies tag. But more than that, this book also offers basic information such as what ought to be in your puppy's first aid kit, and helpful tips for training your puppy. It is a book to treasure. It would be a very thoughtful gift for anyone who is excited about owning a new puppy.

No comments about English Springer Spaniel: A Comprehensive Guide to Owning and Caring for Your Dog (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

2 comments about Horses Talking: How to Share Healing Messages with the Horses in Your Life.

1. Chapter 4: "Who is in the mirror?" is one of the most powerful I have read in ANY horse book. She writes: "The more we understand that horses mirror our thoughts, fears and self-doubts, problems and behaviour, the easier it is to work at letting go of all these issues. The incentive is a better rapport with our horse. The horse also mirrors our healing actions and good intent." If you are ready to look at yourself in the mirror and change, then this book is for you. If you can not take responsibility for you own actions and tend to blame the horse, you are not ready to look in the mirror. In healing yourself, your horse is healed with you and it will show in your relationship with your horse. Personally, I use Reiki in the healing, but you can use anything you want, or call it anything you want.



2. If you believe horses are sentient creatures this book is a must read. If you don't - reading it may change your life forever.

5 comments about The Guide to Owning a Ball Python.

1. I have owned snakes but just bought my first ball python. I picked up this book at the pet store and read it cover to cover--a couple of times over. While it offers some good information to start, it leaves out so much. It leaves out common sense info that the new ball python owner will search high and low for. Such as: what do those rotten little mites REALLY look like, what are some real ways to REALLY get rid of them, what humidity level to really strive for--in actual numbers, when the first shed will occur, the fact that they are supposed to have "wrinkled corneas" (he didn't fail to shed his eyeball), how to gauge when your baby ball is ready to move from fuzzies to hoppers to adults, etc. After doing a lot of day-to-day research to supplement this average book, we found a FABULOUS vet who has personally owned and cared for hundreds upon hundreds of ball pythons. (If you live in/near Murrieta, CA, email me for her contact info.) I am really looking for a new book that will give me more confidence and comfort that I am caring for my sweet snake much more properly. And thank goodness for my vet!!



2. I read both books. Whenever I encounter problems , I refer to the ball python manual. Many pictures posted are Boa constrictors. All the informations in this book can be found in web sites.



3. This is a good book to own but should not be the first in your collection. It has excellent photos and can be very good for a reference but I find some of the information in it is inaccurate compared to other sources of information, which is why I don't think it should be your first Ball Python book.



4. The Guide to Owning a Ball Python and The Ball Python Manual form the cornerstones for the Ball Python Owner's Library. Both are available here at a great price. The hi-res pictures and information found in this book, combined with the information in the Ball Python Manual are informative and everything you need to know about your Ball or Regal or Royal Python.



5. this book has great pictures that will fasinate you and it tells everything you need too know about the ball python

2 comments about The Collie: An Owner's Guide To A Happy Healthy Pet.

1. I am a new collie owner. I have had dogs before, but never a collie. This book aquainted me with the finer points of how a collie is "different" from other dogs...and they need to be trained and raised as such. Buy this book if you are new to collies.



2. This is a very informative book for any collie owner or prospective collie owner. It is very well-written and contains a lot of important topics concerning proper collie care and what to look for and expect when purchasing a collie. This book also has a lot of information regarding the collie temperment and how important it is to understand this facet of this breed. The pictures are wonderful! The information is very well organized and accurate. This book should be in Every Collie Lover's library.

5 comments about American Eskimo Dogs: Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Breeding, Behavior, and Training (A Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This Barron booklet is a comprehensive manual for all matters involving Eskies. It's a travel through the life of an Eskie, from choosing a breeder to having them bred. It covers the temperment, abilities, nature and behaviors of this breed. It answers questions and offers further resources for more specific info. It's the "bible" we use for our Eskie, Shasta. And yes, you're shown some cute pictures of adorable Eskie puppies!



2. This was my first Eskie book and it's a great introduction to the breed. I read it cover to cover several times. Read and heed. It's even got some funny "comments" as I call them and they will make you laugh when you realize that your eskies really are like that! Great reading.



3. A must reading for anyone who owns an American Eskimo. These are very special dogs! I also recommend the true story of Princess as told in "Good Morning, Miss Prin" - a heartwarming story of an American Eskimo who suffered longlasting damage from abuse, and found a loving and secure home with two special people.



4. In one of the previous reviews, it said this book doesn't cover teething and such. But it does! It covers teething, digging, housebreaking, training, breeding and much more! What you need before the purchase and how to pick a show dog! I highly suggest this book if you plan on, or already have, an American Eskimo Dog.



5. this book was ok. i was hoping for more information, such as stages the puppy will go through. i never had a dog before this one, so i needed more information on things like teething, and other stages of life. the book was helpful though concerning some things like digging.

5 comments about Some Horses: Essays.

1. Some books are hard to classify, in spite of their seemingly simple titles. Among them are "Rats, Lice, and History" by Hans Zinsser, most of John McPhee's natural history books, and "Some Horses" by Thomas McGuane. One could call them philosophy as focused through Nature--the very opposite of religion as focused through the tribal mind.
   
   I've been on enough horses to know that you don't tell them what to do. You ask them, and if the horse trusts you, he'll respond favorably if he knows what you want. The author discusses the equine-human relationship in depth, focusing on the art of cutting cattle from a herd. I suppose if McGuane had been more mellow Californian and less Wyoming rancher, he would have called this book, 'The Zen of Cutting Horses.'
   
   Writer, rancher, horseman, and conservationist Thomas McGuane is the author of nine novels, a collection of short stories, several collections of essays on sport and horse, and he also wrote the screen play for "Missouri Breaks."
   
   The latter just goes to show that an author can be an expert on his subject and still end up as a grease mark on the Hollywood Wall of Shame.
   
   My favorite essay in "Some Horses" concerns Chink's Benjibaby, a black cutting mare, who worked cattle with an intensity that verged on loco. She went through many owners, including the author, until she found her rider. The author asks, "How did you train the mare?"
   
   '"I didn't," says [Chink's new owner]. "I never won a fight."'
   
   The black mare had a glint of what McGuane calls 'unlost wildness.' She knew she was special and demanded respect. When a new ranch hand fed other horses before Chink, "she was simply so offended at not being fed first that she hurled herself on the ground and held her breath until she was given her grain."
   
   This is not a book that rants and lectures about the plight of the ranchers, like, say the Peter Bowen mysteries. McGuane reminds me more of Mary O'Hara, author of "My Friend Flicka" and "Thunderhead"--lean, beautiful prose suffused with melancholy about a vanishing way of life.



2. I greatly enjoyed this well-written and amusing book of essays by novelist Thomas McGuane. Although I have ridden a horse and get out to the occasional rodeo, it's mostly my interest in Western literature that got me to read "Some Horses." And it turned out to be an entertaining journey into the complex relationship that can exist between human and equine intelligence.

   One essay is about rodeo calf-roping and another about mountain trail riding and camping in snow, but most of the essays are about McGuane's experience with cutting horses. Developed as a specialized skill of horse and rider on open rangeland, cutting is the exacting art (and now sport) of separating out a single cow or calf from a herd of cattle. Given the strong herd instinct of cows, this is no mean feat, and it takes a fine horse, superior training, and a competent rider to do it well and consistently. In these essays, each devoted to individual horses, McGuane invites the reader into this world of nonverbal communication between horse, rider, and cow.

   In the hands of another writer, this subject could easily be arcane, technical, vague, or dry as corral dust. But McGuane makes literature of it. The opening essay owes its rambling form and spirit to Montaigne, and all of them are rich with sharply observed details, nuances of emotion, and fascinating character sketches of both people and horses. The only thing dry is McGuane's wry sense of humor. In the essay about a winter road trip with his wife and four horses from Southern California to Montana, I was laughing out loud.

   You don't have to be a horse lover for this one. All that's required is a curiosity about animal psychology and the place where it comes in contact with the psychology of humans.




3. As a horseman - - McGuane knows and loves his horses, and conveys that well.

   As an author - - his work is a great pleasure to read... he does have fine a way with words.

   The best comment that I can make is that after reading Some Horses we're back on line to buy a bunch more of McGuane's books.




4. I had been encouraged to read some of McGuane's work and decided to start with Some Horses. This is a book about McGuane's experience with horses through his life. It gives an interesting and entertaining look into the life of an active horse owner. McGuane has been fortunate to have the life he describes in the book and calls for an appreciation the horse has played and continues to play in our lives. From ranch work to modern day cutting competitions, horses and their mark on the West live in both fantasy and reality for many people. McGuane's book brings depth and definition to dreams we have of using and working with horses. The horse is an interesting creature, often weighing 10 times the rider but still at the rider's command. If you have a horse or dream of having a horse, Some Horses will give you a respect and appreciation for why horses are important to us.



5. Some Horses is an honest work by someone with a mastery of saying just what they mean. The prose is spare enough to stay out of your way, but descriptive enough to carry you deep into the story. They key to how good I think the book is comes from my response, I am not a "horse person" yet nowhere feel snubbed by the fact that the horse world is really a pretty tight sphere of people, horses, situations, and landscapes. McGuane opens the window to the world he experiences with insight and humour and lets you know something of the fabric of traveling to cuttings, training intractable animals, and ending up pretty close to ground level. I put the book down feeling right at home with the author's western writing style(Abbey to Stegner I guess, an appreciation of his deep feeling for western life and horses, and I think I'll pick it up again when I feel the need for a dose of fine prairie dust and open space....maybe it will serve you the same way

4 comments about Good Cat!: A Proven Guide to Successful Litter Box Use and Problem Solving.

1. Very common sense, basic training info. My 15 year old cat is urinating all over the house, however, we have been taking him to a weekend home for 15 years and to date has never had an elimination misshap. My long time veterinarian is equally perplexed as to his different behavior in 2 different places. All the available urine analysis & blood tests were done.
   I've tried multiple unscented litters at home and different litter boxes to no avail. There has been no change in the location of his litter box or our behavior,that is noticeable to us!
   I was hoping that this book would have offered us some solution that we hadn't already tried. If you don't have extensive experience with cats, I'd recommend it to the lay cat owner!



2. I didn't find anything in this book that I couldn't find on the web, but the advantage of owning it is that it is all in one place and can be used for a quick reference.
   
   I have two adolescent cats that urinated repeatedly on a bed and in the corner of the dining room. In November I dropped them off at the Animal Protective League on a Friday afternoon and told the truth as to why I was leaving them. On Saturday I read the receipt they gave me and saw separate charges for each cat for 1) Euthanasia; and 2) Cremation. By Sunday evening I was sick and quite depressed. All I could see was one of them (named Jewel) looking right at me meowing with a scared look in her face as they were taking her away.
   
   On Monday I called and was able to get them back on Wednesday sans gonads. Using this book and other information from their vet and the web I devised a five week program of re-education for my friends consisting of:
   
   1) Changing litter brands; 2) Moving the litter boxes to a more convenient location; 3) Confining them to the basement with their food and litter when I wasn't at home; 4) Thoroughly treating the spots where they (both of them!) were urinating; 5) Playing with and feeding them both at these same spots; 6) Gradually allowing them more time to freely roam the house.
   
   I graduated them both the first week in January by giving them complete ownership of the house and here it is mid February and there have been NO violations. They sleep on the bed and pretty much ignore the area in the dining room where they used to urinate.
   
   I really could not have lived with myself had I not at least tried to work with them before opting for the the last resort - euthanasia. I now have two friends that share their house with me and provide me with good companionship and a lot of laughs.



3. This book is easy to read and full of useful advice that I haven't found anywhere else! The book tells you how to solve your cat's behavioral problems by getting to the root of the problem. I love my cat and I love this book!



4. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very helpful. There was a lot of good, practical advice. Book gave me insight to my cat's behavior - he's pretty good at this stage - but I understand him even better now!! Thanks, Shirlee!

5 comments about Everyday Cat Excuses: Why I Can't Do What You Want.

1. Molly Brandenburg is not only a gifted cartoonist and writer, but she is also a standup comedienne and it is this last means of communication that sets her fine little book apart. Though handsomely produced with high quality paper and clean design, the real beauty of this brief book of line drawings of cats with accompanying `cat excuses' is the amount of insight into cat behavior AND the noticeably oblique comparison to human behavior!
   
   In addition to the very funny and very true interpretation of feline thoughts and responses to their 'owners', Brandenburg offers short scenarios of cat behavior when humans are not around. For all cat lovers this is a collection of frequently observed 'looks' we receive from our cats and Brandenburg's interpretation of those attitudes. They are smart, clever, funny, and endearing. This is definitely a book to gift to friends who cohabitate with cats. Well Done! Grady Harp, June 08



2. When it comes to cats, have you ever wondered why? What I mean is, why they behave the way we observe cats to behave. What are they thinking with that look that appears so enigmatic to us? Molly Brandenburg attempts to answer this age-old question with some creativity and imagination, and pictures!
   
   I have experience with a small dog that reminds me of one of Molly's examples. The dog wants out. Then the dog wants in. Then the dog wants out again. Make up your mind!
   
   Humor with hairballs is alternatively gross, fascinating and humorous; except when you find them.
   
   The good: I know I smiled several times in the course of this book. The cost is low for a hardback book. Bye two and give one (or both) away.
   
   The bad: My goodness but this book is short. The price is low, but cats are so darn funny that you would think Molly could have eked out another 64 pages.
   
   Cat lovers everywhere will immediately recognize their cats in this book. Indeed, much of the humor comes from recognizing your own critter in these pictures. Then you might start thinking to yourself, what if that is what the cat is really thinking. Then you might start to worry. Then you might start to wonder whether a hamster might be less trouble.
   
   Enjoy!
   
   Note: The author provided me with a review copy of this book.



3. "Everyday Cat Excuses: Why I Can't Do What You Want" is a charmingly written and illustrated book. Author and illustrator Molly Brandenburg perfectly captures the world of cats. Anyone who is owned by a cat or ever was owned by one will laugh at some of the excuses: I have furballs, I am sleeping, I am eating, and many more. My favorite was the "I want to go outside/I want to go inside" routine favored by so many cats (mine included). The book is relatively short, but Brandenburg cleverly captures just about every cat reason for not coming when called, including a few that my cat, at least, has never thought of. Make sure you read until the very end of the book, because the book isn't over when it seems to be - even to the very end the cats can't make up their mind! As for the illustrations in the book, they are simple line drawings - not great art, but they are very humorous and deftly capture the nuances of various cat expressions.
   
   Cat lovers will enjoy "Everyday Cat Excuses: Why I Can't Do What You Want".



4. Books about pets are always popular. We cat and dog owners are always on the lookout for books that either shed light on those adorable but alien beings we choose to share our lives with ... or ones that make undue fun of them. (After all, laughter can often be the only suitable response for a pet-related situation.) This cartoon creation obviously falls into the latter category.
   
   Following the style set by the classics "All I Need to Know I Learned From My Cat" (Suzy Becker), and "French for Cats" & "Advanced French for Exceptional Cats" (Henry Beard), "Everyday Cat Excuses" uses simple line drawings to portray the many moods and attitudes of the finicky feline. You'll recognize them all if you have a cat in your house. The featured kitty is not particularly fluffy or furry. In fact, at times it looks like a Matt Groening invention that could easily be a new addition to the Simpsons' household. Especially when it's "screeching around the house in a frenzy" or horking up a hairball. The perennial I-wanna-be-outside / inside conundrum is especially well portrayed and represents, in my opinion, the best eight pages of the book.
   
   Cat owners / lovers go big for this stuff. Slim tomes like this one might seem too trite and frivolous to purchase for oneself; but they turn out to make the perfect presents for friends or relatives. No doubt the giver will zip through the book first before passing it on. In this case, it'll take just a few minutes. You might even smile once or twice before you close the covers and get out the wrapping paper.



5. At the risk of sounding catty or being accused of drinking sour cream this morning, I must admit this book failed to touch my funny bone. Oh, I did laugh out loud once or twice, but none of the rolling-on-the-floor laughter that I expected to do.
   
   Leafing through the pages and seeing what excuses the cats came up with for ... well, for being true to their independent natures, took only about ten minutes. That's surely a short read for my buck. (I actually won this book in Judith Kaye's Book Blog, so I can't cry over spilled milk, now can I?)
   
   As the book jacket claims, the cartoon cat drawings depict reasons "Why cats can't do what their owners want" and the drawings depict those reasons, such as: "I'm kneading you"; "My ears are rotating"; and "I'm thinking deep thoughts." My favorite that I found to be mildly amusing is: "I'm having kittens."
   
   True, I'm not exactly purring over this book, but I liked it well enough and found the "fat cat" line drawings by the author to be cute and sassy. I broke a slight grin at some of their antics, while I found their square heads and verrry pointy ears to be charmingly quirky.
   
   The best part about this slim volume (64 pages) is that it's expertly produced: a lovely hard cover book with a very attractive cover and matching jacket in red, white and blue with background text of black. The interior feline cartoons by author/artist/comedian Molly Brandenburg could grow on me ... perhaps with a second reading. ... I wonder ... ?
   
   Don't get the idea that I don't love cats because I do ... especially the ones I have owned ... er ... who have "owned" me in the past. In fact, my second favorite all-time cartoon character is Felix the Cat; you know, the one who "loved those little mices to pieces." (In case you're interested, Goofy is first! One look at his "loopy" grin sends me into hysterics! And, no, it's not because he's a dog!)
   
   I'm reputed to have a "warped sense of humor," so that could be why I failed to respond to this book that some reviewers found "purrfect." I'm certain many cat-lovers will challenge my opinion, and I welcome that; it's your right. For objectivity, I loaned it to a neighbor who has six cats, and she found it hilarious. Perhaps you will too.
   
   Do you think I might need a dose of catnip to enhance this reading experience?
   
   Reviewed by Betty Dravis, 2008
   author of: The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley

2 comments about What Your Animals Tell Me: Through True Stories, An Animal Communicator Reveals the Fascinating and Heart-Warming Inner World of Our Pets.

1. What Your Animals Tell Me by teacher, speaker, and consultant Monica Diedrich is the personal testimony and selection of 50 case stories from a professional pet communicator, whose job it is to understand what the psychology and emotions of dogs and cats, what they are trying to say to their human companions, as well as their unconditional love for their caretakers. What Your Animals Tell Me also deals with the spiritual issue of what happens to beloved animals after they die. A heartwarming book, What Your Animals Tell Me is especially recommended reading for men and women wanting only the very best for their animal companions.



2. This wonderful book came into my hands just as I was going through the agony of deciding what to do for my darling little shih-tzu. He could not be healed, but the vet could keep him alive for awhile longer. I decided I would ask my dog and see what he wanted me to do. He wanted me to let him go. Such a difficult time for me
   was made so much easier by having Dr. Monica's book to help me with so many of the questions that came up. How wonderful it must be to have the gift of being able to commune with animals, and write a book so we can all share in her experience, and be helped in making our pets' lives more comfortable since they do so much for us. The book made me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time.