3 comments about The Essential Chihuahua (Essential (Howell)).

1. Well, if you looking for a book on Chihuahua's, this is certainly NOT the book for you. Like a previous reviewer states, the book doesn't contain any useful information at all. It is all fluff. Anyone that knows how to search the Internet will find the same info. I would not waste your money on this useless book.



2. This book is nothing more than the published glorification of the Chihuahua breed. Not in-depth at all and has absolutely no value to someone who wants to take SERIOUS care of the animal. Might as well title it "The Essential Dog". Very general look at caring for dogs - as a whole! "Essentially" an unnecessary purchase.



3. The book looks like a great book im defanitly ordering it right away i love chihuahua's and this looks like a extremly good book on them.

No comments about What Invertebrates?: A Buyer's Guide for Marine Aquariums (What Pet? Books).

5 comments about Ferrets (Animal Planet Pet Care Library).

1. This was a wonderful book. It was well organized and very informative. Any person who is serious about owning and caring for a ferret will be well versed in the responsibilities associated with that duty after reading it.



2. This book was extremely helpful in my decision-making for my ferret. This is pretty much what sealed the deal for me. I had always thought about it, then I bought this book and knew a ferret was the right pet for me! Lots of great starter information here, plus some facts that will be helpful for me! I still recommend other books, but I think this is a helpful book as well!



3. One of the very best all around ferret books available. Detailed, up-to-date information on housing, feeding, ferret-specific ailments and training. This book gets into the nuts and bolts of day-to-day living with and caring for ferrets, its a must have book for both novice and experienced ferret owners. If you can only afford one ferret book, this is the one to get!



4. This book has everything I needed to know and more. The advice on feeding, types of food extended their life span, and safed me major medical expenses down the road. Oh and my Ferrets don't bite any more. I can't say enough about this book. "BIG Bravo Zulu"



5. Very well written, an up front and honest account of owning ferrets. A must have for new ferret owners as well as a great addition to the library of seasoned ferret owners.

5 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Labrador Retrievers, 2nd Edition (The Complete Idiot's Guide).

1. Before we actually started looking into a puppy, I wanted to know as much as possible about training them and how to deal with them. Even though some of the information in the book could easily be counted as applicable for most breeds, I loved the somewhat "different" and let me call it alternative approach of the book. It made me aware of some dangers and difficulties that are not mentioned in other books, eg food for puppies. Overall, a good book for the beginner!



2. This book is a waste of money unless you know nothing about dogs. If you want pertinant information specific to the Lab, then look elsewhere. The words "Laborador Retriever" could be deleted and the name of any dog breed inserted.



3. What can I say about this book? Except that it was very informative and that it was very fun to read. I learned ALOT from this book. I would definately recommend it to all my friends and would-be dog owners. I've read 3 books about Labrador Retrievers and if I had to choose only one...I would choose this book over all of them. Very pleased and worth what I paid for.



4. Regardless of the title to the contrary, this is not a book for idiots, but rather a no nonsense nuts and bolts primer for the new caretaker of a the best dog breed yet devised by the Heavens; the Labrador Retriever. As someone who shares his house and life with four of God's single most nearly perfect craeature, I can testify as to the accuracy and relevance of all the information in this wonderful compendium. It is a literal treasure trive of data about how to raise and care for your new best friend, and it covers everything from potty training to kennel care.

   As a personal note, it is improtant to remember how sensitive Labs are, that one never ever strikes one, and that gently scolding them will get you the reaction you want much more efficiently than would any unjustified corporal punishment. Just remember, friends, there are really no bad dogs; only ignorant and incompetent people trying in vain to train the dogs. What you need to avoid such pitfalls is all here! Enjoy!




5. So you want to know about Labs? Well, they're certainly the most popular purebreds, but what makes them so special? Inside this book, you'll learn about Labrador Retrievers, their history and personality as well as hereditary diseases and activities.
   
   Unlike many Lab books out there, this is a pet guide, aimed at the first time Lab owner. It's not intended to be a guide to show dogs or pedigrees (why would you consider picking up an Idiot's Guide if you want that?) This book deals with all facets of Labrador pet ownership and contrary to the title, I don't think you're an idiot if you check out this book.
   
   Be my guest to peruse through the book online here and enjoy. This book is the winner of the DWAA Maxwell Award for 2003 as the best pet breed book.

5 comments about Dreaming in Libro: How a Good Dog Tamed a Bad Woman.

1. I'm a sucker for books that recount the stories of lives shared with dogs..like Marley and Me, Red Fern, etc, so I bought this book in high hopes.
   
   The author's self-centeredness made the book sound like it had mostly to do with her, and yeah, there's a dog somewhere in the story, too. It read like Louise was trying too hard to appear intelligent for her reader. I've read a few people's personal encounters with the author that seem to verify how lost in her own little world she is.
   
   Anyways, overall the book read shallow, self-centered, and it was hard to feel connected and immersed in the story. I hope her relationship with Libro wasn't as one-sided as the book was.
   
   As a side note, I was appalled to read that in her previous book she kicked Libro after it chewed up something of hers. If you are a dog lover, you shouldn't support this author by buying her book, which I regret now having unintentionally done.
   
   I recommend instead you read Marley & Me, or Merle's Door, time better spent.



2. After reading "Bark If You Love Me" - I was thrilled to see that Louise had expanded on her experiences with Libro. I myself have a little brown angel- he is my third boxer - and I couldn't wait to "read all about it"! This book - experience, call it what you like, is such a testament to the soul of humans and animals - especially our dogs, regardless of the breed. I love the boxer and Libro delivered all that I would expect from him, after all, he is a boxer! I laughed out loud, read excepts to my brown angel, "Chief", he laughed, (I swear) - I cried, he cocked his head and we both felt moved by this very special love story, because we know how true it is. What a blessing our pets are - look at all the people that came into her life and his, how awesome is that! When I put Chief's blue fleece coat on him and go for a walk, most people smile, laugh, nod, they give me something - always something good - if I see them in a store, they say "aren't you the boxer's mom, the one with the blue coat." I could totally relate to what my own brown angel does for me in my life and for what Libro did for Louise. This is a wonderful book, filled with great moments,if you are in the mood for a love story of any kind, this is a must read! Libro's love touched so many people far and wide and I want to thank Louise for sharing those very special moments with us all!



3. The cover of this book caught my eye as I wandered around my local library. I wanted to read about Libro, and see if he was as noble and nutty as my late boxer, Trevor. This story really warmed my heart, to use a cliche expression. Libro was more noble than nutty, but a boxer all the same, and his journey with the author was great to read. Their experiences made for a lovely book.



4. I think the other reviewer meant droll, not sarcastic. Bernikow is no Bombeck. As a pet lover, I couldn't relate to Ms. Bernikow. Maybe because the author herself said she grew up never thinking about, or missing pets. I found much more of an animal-human bond in the story, Tatti Wattles.



5. I have not read the first book Bernikow wrote about her relationship with Libro and suggest that the reader do that before reading this one, however, the second book can stand alone and is a splendid work by a woman about her dog. Bernikow perfectly captures the essence of Libro's canine personality and what a dog he is! Sadly he did not live long enough; I finished the book wondering if the writer would ever find another partner as well-suited to her as Libro, and I mean partner of any kind, not just the dog kind. I plan to read the first book now to see what I missed about the first year.

5 comments about The Essential Dachshund (Essential (Howell)).

1. Six months ago I received my little mini-dachshund Gabriella. She is a silver-cream, dapple coloured, long-haired, beautiful little girl. She has a sweet temperment, is very smart, and lovely in appearance.
   I bought this book to help myself along in the process of getting to know the Dachshund personality, health makeup and general guide to raise my new family member.
   This book has is all---owning a dachshund is a very rewarding experience and fun at the same time. You will get all you need to know from this book about feeding, training, and caring for your dog's health and welfare. There are many photos and expert tips on how to make your dog a wonderful addition to your family.



2. This book was a big disappointment. Its authors write about different types (colors and markings), but fail to provide pictures of what they actually look like. They also write about specific body parts that they fail to note on their "External Features Picture".

   Basic questions remain unanswered. Mainly, what does a wild boar color look like? And are any colors or types more rare than others are?

   After reading this book my questions where still unanswered. The same is for Ann Carey's "The Dachshund".

   Maybe I'll try "Dachshund for Dummies".




3. This book helped me learn more about Dachshunds. I would recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about getting a Dachshund. It tells you everything about what a Dachshund is,it says it's traits, how to properly groom it it's health problems and much more. It helped me alot.



4. This book helped me learn more about Dachshunds. I would recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about getting a Dachshund. It tells you everything about what a Dachshund is,it says it's traits, how to properly groom it it's health problems and much more. It helped me alot.



5. For those of you who own and love dachshunds, this book is one of the best books for them...

5 comments about Companion Parrot Handbook.

1. My veterinarian recommended this book when I bought my baby lovebird. Six years later, I became a foster parent to two rescued cockatiels that had never been handled. I refer to this handbook frequently. My lovebird is a joy, and I was able to train both cockatiels to be adoptable in a couple months. Fantastic book!



2. If you have birds, getting a bird, thinking about getting a bird, would like to know about whats and whys of avian behaviour, this book is an absolute essential. It doesn't cover everything (nothing can), but it's one of the best bird books I've come across in my working in avian rescue organizations. If you can only afford one, you probably shouldn't have a parrot, but make this the first one.



3. Sally Blanchard is an authority on owning and enjoying companion birds. She is a conservation-minded individual who understands the fine line between owning companion birds and keeping wild birds in the wild. Her advice on companion birds is very thoughtful, informative, and inspiring, and I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to obtain a companion bird. In addition to being fun and enjoyable, people need to know that taking on a bird as a companion is a lot of work, and so these animals are not for everyone. The advice Sally offers in this handbook is absolutely essential to anyone wanting to own (or currently possessing) a companion bird.



4. I breed and sell parrots and this is one book that I strongly recommend for all of my buyers to purchase. After thumbing through my copy, many buyers can't wait to order theirs and offer to buy my copy. I agree and had sold my original copy, plus a few replacement copies, before buying a box of them to have on hand for immediate purchase.
   
   As a breeder who cares about the home where my birds are going, I feel much more confident when my babies are going to someone who has read this book.



5. Just got the book and read it half-way through but already it is clear: this book is fantastic! I've had an African Grey for 24 years (now at my parent's place), moved into a new house recently, and got a Blue Indian Ringneck to liven up the place (quite a different bugga from my Jaco). So, decided to read up on Ringnecks et al. (surprisingly the Internet contains little informative data). Anyhow, I acquired several books including a couple by M. Athan (see my review). Mostly they were disappointments, esp. the behavioral ones. A lot of half-baked psycho-babble and generic tautologies that leave you almost as clueless as before (and I've had a temperamental birdy for some while).
   
   Not so with S. Blanchard's book. It is insightful, to-the-point, well-organized, well-written (entertaining parrot humor is a bonus), and makes an immediate difference. Blanchard doesn't over-generalize, ramble on about a simple point, nor does she hide behind scientific parrot factoids (I have a couple of books on the factoids) or too many second-hand hearsay. Many of her observations strike a chord (and will be useful to complete novices and non-experts alike), such as her shower-shy African Grey who feared the water spray and how she got around it. My Jaco remains to this day shower-shy, the water spray being one of her arch enemies. I've ordered another book and sent it to my parents.
   
   Perhaps the most important lesson that one gains from S. Blanchard's book is a correct attitude towards these cute & devilish buggas. Blanchard states that whereas dogs project unconditional love, with the parrot the emphasis is on conditional. Like golf which can ruin a perfectly good walk (to paraphrase M. Twain), parrots can ruin a perfectly calm existence. But what fun amidst the up-and-downs! I'm a scientist and therefore a harsh critic on what I perceive as dressed-up nonsense. This book is an unqualified gem. And the book contains but a couple of sentences that allude to ringnecks, my original problem.

1 comments about Everything I Know About Life I Learned from My Cat.

1. Another beautiful book illustrated by the extraordinarily talented Lesley Anne Ivory. Everyone who loves cats, or simply appreciates the individual beauty and grace which makes every cat a masterpiece, will be enthralled with the paintings of these glorious creatures, posed to prefection against Lesley's exquisite backgrounds

1 comments about Walker's Bats of the World.

1. This book contains one of the most extensive catalogs of the bats of the world that I have ever read. Not for pleasure reading, but great for research.

2 comments about Love Your Dog Pictures: How to Photograph Your Pet with Any Camera.

1. As the previous review indicates, this book is aimed at the person who is not a photographer but rather the loving pet owner who wants better photos of their dog. The book is full of clear examples that will help get a better photo of your dog. The author has an easy writing style and her instructions are easy to incorporate into photographing. After reading this book, any dog lover should be able to get pictures that will be more individual and representative of their dog. Definitely for the beginning/snapshot photographer who wants pictures that will actually look like their dog without distortion, and add some creativity in their photos.



2. This book is not about becoming a professional dog photographer but it is intended for the family photographer who wants to know how to take the best pictures of their dog or their family's dog. Pictures they can hang on the wall later on or put in scrapbooks. It will help you create images of your dog that will catch the dog's true spirit.
   
   It does not matter if you have a cheap film camera or an expensive digital SLR camera, the tips and techniques in this book will work for any camera. Throughout the different chapters the text is accompanied by famous dog quotes every now and then and along with all the tips and techniques are 305 illustrations in total (only ten in b/w) that clearly show you before and after situations and different camera setups and their resulting photographs.
   
   In the first chapters you'll get familiar with all the technical stuff like equipment and exposure, then you'll move on to more practical techniques like lightning, composition and taking great action shots, posing and portraits. The last part explains in short chapters how to digitize your film photographs, how to enhance your digital pictures and how to
   turn them into scrapbook pages. In the appendix you'll get to meet all the dogs that were models for the illustrations throughout this book.
   
   With its 144 pages this book is a definite handbook for beginning photographers who want to know everything about taking beautiful photographs of their beloved dogs. If you are looking for more professional dog photography you might be better off with Creative Canine Photography. This book, Love Your Dog Pictures, though handles everything you ever needed to know about dog photography and with a creative mind I'm sure you can be just as well a professional dog photographer. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their photographing skills and who wants to catch their dog's real personality on image.
   
   - reviewed by Eveline for Euro-Reviews