3 comments about The New Complete Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

1. There are a number of "breed" books out there on the Pembroke, but this is the official one. Mostly geared toward people who are interested in conformation showing and breeding, it is the only book with extensive photographs and discussions of bloodlines which have influenced the breed. Like all books by breed fanciers, it does not say anything critical about anything. If you want to find out about problems in the breed or in certain lines, you won't find it here (for example, temperament, genetic health, over-popularity). It does have short but informative sections on other topics besides showing and breeding. It is an excellent example of its kind. Certainly all Pembroke breeders should have a copy (but they probably do).



2. This is the most complete corgi book I've found. There's so much information I can't begin to do it justice - from history of the breed to prime examples of corgis, this book blows away every other dog book I've ever had my hands on (for any breed). Though this book might cost more, it is well worth it - I bought 5 or 6 Corgi books and this one makes the rest look like cheap info pamphlets.



3. The new complete pembroke welsh corgi offers quite a bit of information for fanciers of the breed. The history of the breed is well documented and includes rare photos of champion corgis. The text is written so as to interest both those who breed and show corgis, as well as those who are just interested in owning one as a pet. The health care information is informative and provides pet owners with important insight into corgi care. This is definitely one of the best references for the breed that I have seen.

5 comments about Dog Massage: A Whiskers-to-Tail Guide to Your Dog's Ultimate Petting Experience.

1. (I'd give it 2.5 if I could.)
   
   "Never give a dog any kind of massage if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs."
   "A dog's private parts are just that - private - to be left alone and not to be touched by you."
   If you feel that the preceding are not obvious statements, then this book may be for you!
   
   A good portion of the writing in this book is similar to the quoted advice above, or "stop if your dog doesn't like it" reiterated. (The book as it is, is thin.) The remaining is massage techniques that are well described with accompanying pictures.
   
   This book could be useful if you were really serious about learning more professional techniques and giving your dog(s) a thorough massage. For the average person however, I would say borrow it or skim through it in a store for the amusing cautions. A lot of the advice in this book is fairly obvious to anyone who makes an effort to understand their dog(s) and keep them happy, and the rest is over the top.
   
   Bottom line: If you've ever successfully massaged someone's back, and you know how your dog(s) likes to be touched, then you don't need this book.



2. I bought this book because my dog is ALWAYS wanting me to rub his belly. I wanted to shower him with some more affection, and I thought I would give this book a try.
   
   Although some of the tips are quite obvious (example: if your dog starts to nip, bite, or growl at a certain technique, you should stop that technique immediately) there is some good stuff in there.
   
   I think this book would be good for people who have older dogs, or ones with joint, hip, or arthiritis issues. Your pooches will thank you!



3. This is one of those books which should be on every dog owner's shelf. Dog Massage gives you a complete guide plus careful instructions for getting your dog used to massage and getting him to enjoy it. A real winner!



4. I gave this book to my friend, who adores her dog, and is in dog shows and competitions (Golden Retrievers)
   She loves it.
   She said it was fun to read, and she really is enjoying Maryjean Ballners techniques. They are well explained and easy to follow, with photos, showing the actual massages. I gave Maryjeans other book "Cat Massage" to another friend of mine, and he said all his neighbors are passing it around, and he hasn't even got a chance to read it yet!
   So for me, these books make a great gift for my pet loving friends.



5. The first 56 pages are repetitive lists of kitschy phrases like "no-mo" and "fast n'frisky," plus endless warnings to stop if your dog isn't interested or doesn't like it (especially fur ruffling!). Well, duh. It's really written for someone who doesn't know their canine "companion" very well at all (oh the irony), and it's completely goofy. Linda Tellington-Jones writes much better animal therapy books.

4 comments about The Home Spa Book for Dogs: Nose to Tail Treatments to Soothe the Soul and Age-Proof Your Canine Companion.

1. A Unique book to say the least. Got it for a gift and its pretty interesting. Funny too!



2. This book makes me want to open up my own pet spa. Good information and wonderful ways you can spoil your pooch.



3. Even though this book had "Search Inside" option and I checked it, I thought it would provide more info for our fur baby.



4. If you're a SERIOUS dog parent (and by that I mean you have no human children or you totally love your canine to death) this book is for YOU! I collect Dog books, Dog magazines and this had information I had never found in other Dog books. It was very informative and user friendly. You could easily read this book in less than a week. Doesn't your furbaby deserve the best?!? I think so!
   A MUST READ!

No comments about 101 Horsekeeping Tips: Simple Strategies for a Safer and More Efficient Stable (101 Tips).

2 comments about Cichlids (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. I purchased this book awhile back when I was first getting into Cichlids. It has alot of useful info, and it's easy to follow and refer back to. It gives good tips, and informative basic overveiw. If you're looking for more detailed and/or species/region specific info, this isn't the right book for you. If you are just getting into the hobby, this is a fabulous choice!



2. This books gives someone wanting to learn about Cichlids a good starting point. It covers several varieties, explaining their origins, behavior, breeding habbits and so on. It also gives some pointers on what varieties can coexist and some that shouldn't be mixed. Not all-ecompassiing by any means, but gives a person a good beginning overview to to Cichlids and to help you decide if this is the type of fish you want to put in your aquarium. I've read it to completion, am still interested and now am looking for more detailed information.

No comments about The Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb: Life Four (Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb) (Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb) (Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb).

5 comments about Hemingway's Cats: An Illustrated Biography.

1. When one thinks of Ernest Hemingway, one usually thinks of a macho adventurer, going on safari, running with the bulls or deep sea fishing, just like the heroes of his novels. One does not often picture him at home caring for stray cats and dogs - yet that's exactly the Hemingway we meet in "Hemingway's Cats." We also meet his four wives and his children, but the stars are the many cats and dogs Hemingway cared for over the course of his life. He often brought home strays, and they became part of his extended family. At one point, he had over 35 cats at his estate in Cuba, and according to this book, he knew the names and family trees of every one. He even let some of his favorite cats eat from the table. This was one dedicated cat aficionado! The most interesting anecdote in the book, I thought, came after Hemingway's suicide, when Fidel Castro came to pay his condolences to the widow. The cats came up to investigate who he was, and Castro paid them not one bit of attention - he didn't pet them or acknowledge them at all. I think anyone who loves cats, Hemingway, Cuba, Florida, or any combination of the above would enjoy this book.



2. Though the illustrations of this book should have been sharpened digitally, they but slightly take away from this warm account of Hemingway's love for his pets.
   
   I seldom mention this, but it was a 6-toed "Hemingway Cat" that spurred me into action one Spring day in 1997. I met Hemingway at his 1959 Pamplona Fiesta. He invited me to join his group. I was a young American freelance writer/photographer from Madrid and he generously let me photograph him. I had just returned from backpacking through the mountains of Tunisia to find a WW2 battle site called Hill 609 at a fortified mountain. Hemingway knew the outfit; he liked what I had done. Despite our difference in years, we spoke the same language.
   
   Long after his death, many years later, a large black tomcat brought a trailing gray and white kitten into my Florida backyard and left it. My wife and I had no kids. I tried not to allow the kitten to adopt us. But that was impossible. She did anyway. I nicknamed her SuperPaws though she won our hearts as simply, Pooky. As she grew into a quietly beautiful young lady and our love for her grew deep, I wondered if Hemingway was trying to tell me something with this strikingly singular big-pawed cat. Her sudden appearance touched me. The big black tom cat that brought her to me, then disappeared from our neighborhood. It made me think of Hemingway and his cats. It made me in the back of my mind wonder if there was any connection at all. I am definitely not superstitious. Still, was there a meaning to this? I had always intended writing a Hemingway book, but never did. Now, I wondered if something -- Hem maybe -- was urging me to go ahead and do it.
   
   Pooky's presence seemed more than happenstance. That spring of 1997 I kissed my wife, JuliaAnn, goodbye and returned to Europe to backtrack Hem through his Paris haunts, back to Pamplona before the fiesta, and then backpacked into Spain's high Pyrenees where I found such strange things as where he and his buddy had hidden bottles of wine to chill in a spring near where they trout fished, and an old piano in a hostel where he stayed, with his name, incorrectly spelled, scratched on it along with a wrong date.
   
   After his death other books filled in unknown details for me. I put them all together, our chance meeting, his interest in me, what I saw at Pamplona, and then what others reported later. Things fitted like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. My memoir, "Hemingway's Paris and Pamplona, Then and Now" was published in 2000. In late 2003, Pooky, our beautiful long-furred gray and white neutered female cat disappeared after a full moonlit night outdoors. We believe she was visiting three new kittens that lived across the street. I was off on a trip but my wife searched fruitlessly, driving around the deep woods behind the houses across the street. No Pooky. The city said they had recovered no dead cats during that period. I figured she might have been catnapped. But losing her was as sad as losing a family member. Worse, the following spring, 2004, my wife of 48 years suddenly developed a fast-growing strain of lung cancer and died. The coincidence of these strange events still haunt me.
   
   Hemingay's fondness for cats always had a subtle but very profound affect on his inner self. All cat lovers know and have felt this but none of us seem to understand why. Yet, there is nothing quite like a cat to make you appreciate the profound pleasure of their company. No wonder the Ancient Egyptians had such reverence for them. Cats were working their wily ways with mankind even back then. As for the peculiar circumstances surrounding the sudden addition, then loss, of a Hemingway cat to our family, I have no answers. But I still love and respect them all, mysterious as they are.
   
   Robert F. Burgess



3. After buying my copy, had to rush out and buy five more for gifts! This is a must have for any Hemingway Fan or Cat Lover!! An enjoyable read but the best is the artistic display of the photos. The photos have a softer side and is so refreshing after a long day of computers and TV's. This book won't leave my coffee table!



4. This is the perfect book for Hemingway fans and animal lovers. Hemingway is seen as a compassionate man who was endlessly devoted to his canine and feline friends. The photographs are beautiful, and the book is very well-written.



5. The tender side of Papa Hemingway? You need to read this biography to get the whole picture of his macho persona. Hem was absolutely devoted to his cats and dogs. The sentiment ran fine and deep. My only qualm with this book is in the quality of the black and white photographs. So many of them are blurry and the contrast of nearly all is downright poor. It makes me wonder if no one around him had a camera that could shoot decent pictures. Composition is generally good, but, man, you would think that some digital enhancement could have improved the lot. The 4-stars are for these faults alone. Otherwise, it is nice to have these selections from his family photo album. The text is always revealing and charming.

2 comments about The Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog (Terra-Nova Series).

1. Not exactly what I would call a good "reference" book since a good many of his statements are not specifically cross referenced with other supporting holistic information/practitioners. For a field that is still largely unregulated, opinions/approaches are still widespread even on some of the most basic of issues like vaccinations. Providing some cummulative consensus would prove more substantive and demonstrates to the reader these statements have been thoughtfully researched. Of course as with any 'advice' obtained from book reading, it is always best to consult with your own trusted vet before making any changes in veterinary treatment.
   
   This book does cover the very broad spectrum of topics within holistic/integrative veterinary medicine, but does not provide enough depth for practical applications. That said, this is one of the most well made books I've had in years. The hardcover binding is of library quality, as are the heavy-weight high gloss pages. The page layouts are very asthetically pleasing both in design, type-face, and color illustrations, so the reading is quite pleasant.
   
   If you are new to the world of holistic veterinary medicine and don't mind spending $15 to get your feet wet, then I would recommend starting with this book. Otherwise, I would recommend Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats along with The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat.
   
   For ongoing, up-to-date topics and information, consider a subscription to The Whole Dog Journal (a monthly periodical, well researched and cross-referenced with a core focus on holistic practices and applications).



2. It is hard to describe how much I love this book
   
   Most of us who have dogs in our lives consider them part of the family. We all know how it feels to not know how to help them when they hurt. We have all been in a position where we just don't know where to turn. Even the simple questions can sometimes be difficult to answer.We are fortunate to live in a time when science has made great strides in dealing with health issues for not only ourselves, but our pets as well. We also have the benefit of the ancient wisdom of eastern medicine. With all of these opportunities why just take advantage of one or the other? Dr Doug helps to find the answers. He uses his experience with both Eastern and Conventional medicine to explain how a balanced body, mind and spirit is important not only to ourselves but to our canine companions as well. This is not only an informative read, but an entertaining one.
   
   Are you questioning the need for vaccines? Do you wonder if you should use a flea treatment for your dog? Does acupuncture really work? What about those herbal remedies? Chiropractic for my dog? Do you just not know the best way to ensure that your dog is getting the best possible care? Does massage really help my dog? What is homeopathy anyway?
   
   This book shows a typical pet lover how to care for their dogs in the healthiest and most compassionate and helpful ways. You will never regret having this book on your shelf, or in your hands when your little friends need you most.
   
   If you have a dog, you need this book. If you don't have a dog, but are interested in holistic care, read this book.
   
   Now if only Dr Doug would write one for my cats!

5 comments about An Unlikely Cat Lady: Feral Adventures in the Backyard Jungle.

1. Basically, this book is about Nina Malkin's feeding a feral group of cats in her backyard and she gets involved in the TNR Program (Trap Neuter Release). She names her Ferals mostly after rock stars and tv personalities and their comical antics. While I deeply admire anyone who feeds and cares in any way for feral cats, there were a few things that I didn't care for in this book. Ms. Malkin has one stray who died, so she just throws the corpse into the dumpster and she attempts to make this comical.?! Also, there was an unattractive feral tom cat who's not very healthy and he was sleeping in an old kitty condo in their backyard and Ms. Malkin and her husband chase him away "because he's ugly". Later when setting a TNR trap, they trap the same "ugly" tom cat. Rather than take him to get neutered, she releases him in order to trap a more "attractive" cat. Did the author ever think that maybe with a little care, medical treatment and love that the "ugly" cat's looks might improve? Also, if you're conservative about curse words, the author uses quite a few. She also makes a commit about white people & Koreans which is a bit racist, tho I don't think she meant it to seem that way.
   
   Don't get me wrong, there were things I enjoyed in this book too. Being my mother cares for over 70 homeless and stray cats, I really appreciated the author drawing attention to other people (the unsung heroes) who have helped cats. Also, this book gives readers ideas for helping feral cats. As, I should, I do applaude Nina Malkin for all her efforts in the TNR program.
   
   Overall, I'd recommend checking this out of the library first or swapping for it. While there were parts I enjoyed, I doubt I'd read this book again.



2. In her sassy, humorous memoir, Nina Malkin describes life as an accidental cat lady. She and her husband noticed feral cats in their Brooklyn neighborhood, had their hearts stolen away, and then educated themselves about proper handling of feral colonies. Nina and Jason quickly became Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) advocates. TNR is a grassroots effort to trap feral cats (a humane trap will run you $50), have them neutered and vaccinated, and return them to the wild. A true cat lover can not just feed feral colonies, encouraging continued breeding, so TNR is a true way to show humane support for animals.
   
   Nina lovingly names her cat-neighbors after rock stars Axl Rose and Sid Vicious, and throughout the course of the book, she teaches the reader to appreciate these lost and wild cats on their own terms.



3. The book was informative in general, but I became a little weary of the author's sarcasm. I was also greatly disturbed when they disposed of one of the dead ferals in the trash can. That was surprising to me given their level of emotional and financial investment in the cats. I would have expected that a proper cremation would be in order.



4. I read up to page 32 where the author complains about some bad tenants
   who are white and says "They are textbook examples of what black people
   mean when they say white children get no home training."
   I've lived in Chicago all my life (57 years) and have
   never heard that black people say white children get no home training.
   It was a racist slur against white people and since it accused blacks of
   a racist belief which I don't believe they even have, it was also anti-
   black. Her bigotry disgusted me. I threw the book in the garbage where
   all racist trash belongs. I do not recommend this book.



5. This is the first published book i've seen that describes someone's experience with TNR, (trap, neuter, return) which is what everyone should do if you have a feral cat in your backyard. You look up your local cat rescue or SPCA groups to find who is supporting TNR in your neighborhood, you get a vet appt or find out when the next TNR vet day is for feral cats (many vets won't work on ferals hence a good idea to hook up with an existing TNR group, or just start your own), you buy or borrow a cat sized humane animal trap (20-40$), trap the cat, take it in to be vaccinated and neutered, and then if feral, release it back in the same location. And then, ideally, feed and monitor your TNR'd cats (their ears will be tipped so you can tell who you've done and who is unneutered). No more kittens or cat explosions, and you have the security of knowing the ferals in the area are protected against rabies.
   
   More and more people are getting on the TNR bandwagon. It's pretty easy to do, and you know you've done some good for the animals in your neighborhood. Feeding of course is not enough, because the animals continue to breed. Feral cats aren't easily adoptable, and many shelters will just euthanize them. They're in that middle ground between wild and pet animals, but with a little effort they can be given a niche to survive in the environment, and TNR is what they need, plus a bowl of kibble and some water.
   
   This is a light and amusing book that describes one woman's first venture into TNR. The only cautionary note was that I didn't like it when she let one cat out of the trap and didn't TNR him because she didn't find him attractive. It's a sorry thing when such care is only available to cute kittens. And if she didn't like him, why leave him unneutered to sire more just like him? And I wondered if she had gotten him vet care, if he would have made it, since he seemed ill. At least he could have been humanely euthanized rather than being let out, ill and still unneutered. But other than that one diappointing occurance, it was a reasonably good tale.

1 comments about The 100% Horse: How to Create the Go-Anywhere, Do-Anything Horse.

1. This is a great book for someone with a youngster to bring on or a older horse or pony. Great photos to help you visualize what to do. Author Michael Peace has assisted the police force with training their horse, what more can you ask for !!! It will enable you to have the confidence to do more with your horse or pony.
   Highly recommended!!