5 comments about Zen Dog.

1. This book juxtaposes photos of dogs with Zen quotations and sayings. The photos are quite good, and the selected text was chosen with care and thought.
   
   I'm not, however, able to make the required leap and see any real link between the words and images in this book. Perhaps I'm being way too literal here in wondering if dogs possess the sort of consciousness prone to contemplation, but I've never thought that Zen was prone to cuteness. Also, the typography used for some of the text pages is jarring, even irritating, when a simpler, cleaner arrangement would have sufficed.
   
   I appreciate the merits of Zen and of dogs but yoking the two together does not yield a compelling message or insights. I'd rather play with my dogs.



2. This slim volume contains some excellent photos of dogs with Zen and other Eastern-inspired quotes on the facing pages. For example, opposite a picture of a very majestic German Shepherd holding a leash in his mouth is the quote "Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power." -Lao Tzu/Tao Te Ching. All quotes are attributed to their sources, and there is a list of the pictured dog breeds at the back (unfortunately the pages are not numbered). Some quotes are from the Tao, others from Buddha ("The fool who knows he is a fool is that much wiser. The fool who thinks he is wise is a fool indeed," opposite a quizzical looking mixed), Sanskrit, and individuals as diverse as Goethe, Rumi, Robert Persig, and the Dalai Lama.

   It is slightly annoying that some quotes are cited only to the names of other books (e.g.," Zen Flesh, Zen Bones," "The Little Zen Companion."). The book doesn't completely elucidate the dog-Zen equation in its brief introduction, but this is obviously more for dog lovers than for serious students of Eastern religion and philosophy. A few photos could have better arranged or focused (and once in a while a quote seems a bit forced onto the picture), but overall this is a funny, calming, and sweet book that will speak to your inner dog. The nicely formatted book has 107 pages (including photos), and can be perused for light humor as well as insight.




3. This book presents in both funny and profound pictures and Zen sayings the wonderful qualities all dogs possess. Kept me in the moment as I read it.



4. As every dog owner knows, dogs live completely in the moment. It seems entirely fitting for a book like this to reveal the members of the canine kingdom for the happy little Buddhas that they are, through 50 black-and-white photographs paired with quotes from various Zen sources. I also highly recommend another little book of Eastern wisdom titled "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life" by Taro Gold which is filled with hundreds of insightful quotes to inspire and enlighten.



5. This is a wondeful little book. I love the zen quotations, and the photos of dogs were lovely. I would have liked a bit more variety in the dog photos, and some of them seemed a bit contrived in order to match the quotes. All in all, it is a good book for anyone who likes dogs and is open to zen!

5 comments about Dogtionary: Meaningful Portraits of Dogs.

1. As an amateur photographer and animal lover, I'm on the lookout for dog portraits that are something special - this book has them! The photos are divine and the "meanings" of each subject's name are terrific. You get a real feeling for each dog's personality, something which is missing from so many so-called "great" animal portraits. If you love dogs and want to have a great coffee table book, or give it as a gift, this is the one!



2. A Dog Walker/Trainer with a lifetime love for photography, this is my favorite kind of book. For sure. I've picked up many, but Sharon Montrose is my favorite. Every photo is so beautiful and I just LOVE how she captures the personality of her furry subjects. That's the true talent in my eyes. Of all of versions of this kind of work I have perused, this is my favorite one. Lightweights (Sharon Montrose) is a close second.

   I also am aslo a fan of "If only you knew how much I smell you." (Photos - Valerie Shaff/Text - Roy Blount Jr.)




3. Quirky and creative pictorial portrayel of man's best friend. Makes the reader feel warm and fuzzy. A great gift book. Arlene Millman, author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY (The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier).



4. This is the sweetest book I've ever bought. When I picked up this book in the bookstore I sat on the floor in the middle of the aisle and just started glowing as I went through the whole book page by page- It truly captures our sweet canine companions at their best. The photos are amazing and the sayings fit perfectly. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has a love for dogs. It will brighten your day and make you laugh out loud. It captures our animals true spirits.



5. After giving a few copies of Dogtionary as Christmas gifts, I am ordering a few more because the book was such a big hit with my friends. These dog portraits are beautiful and yet so simple. Any dog owner who has struggled to get a good picture of their pet can take inspiration from this book. Sharon Montrose clearly knows and loves her subjects well.

2 comments about Guide to Owning a Pomeranian: Puppy Care, Grooming, Training, History, Health, Breed Standard (Re Dog Series).

1. Excellant book for the first time or well seasoned pomeranian
   owner. Lots of tips and information in layman terms. Being
   a pomeranian breeder I intend to recommend this book to everyone
   as a must have.



2. Many pet books that are currently on the market are full of fluff and sound like they could be about any breed of dog. However, Ms. Ellmann has written a wonderful guide to Pomeranians. She highlights on the history of Poms, the proper way to choose a pup, housebreaking, training, grooming, and general health care of Poms. She also gives great information about how to show your dog if you desire to do so. It's not a guide that goes very in-depth, but in my case, it's a great book to get started learning about Pomeranians. One of my favorite features of this particular book are the stunning pictures that are throughout it. I definitely recommend this Guide To Owning a Pomeranian!

5 comments about Basenjis (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. Well done! All that you need to know about raising, training and loving your Basenji.



2. I bought the book to learn training techniques specific to a Basenji, and the book failed on that account. However, the book gets 2 stars because it gives a great description of the history of Basenji's, and their personalities. I found the book is better suited for you friends and family (that don't live with you), to explain why your Basenji acts so "weird"... but as for training ideas, don't waste your time/money.



3. Although it is an older book, the tips in it are still extremely useful today. Not only does it give a shortened yet vivid history of the breed but also has vital tips for training. I have begun training my basenji puppy from the steps outlined in this book and he was been doing wonderfully! The pictures are also a really great addition. If you own, are planning to own, or even thinking of owning a basenji be sure to get this book so you know what you're getting into with this unique breed & how to deal after you get one!



4. I was very anxious to receive my book on Bansenji's.
   We have a one year old Bansenji named Sadie....she is completely different than any dog we have ever had....very sweet....but also very stubborn.....the book was very helpful in learning more about this breed of dog....very useful in training her and myself. i would recommend this book to anyone who has a basenji or are thinking of getting one....lots of very helpful, useful suggestions and great photos as well.
   
   linda troxel



5. This book, although small is jam packed with the greatest information for basenji owners. It is a great way to introduce the basenji to prospective owners and makes an affordable gift to send home with puppies and their new owners.

3 comments about Doc Halligan's What Every Pet Owner Should Know: Prescriptions for Happy, Healthy Cats and Dogs.

1. Doc Halligan has written a gem of a resource for pet owners; whether you own a cat or a dog, "What Every Pet Owner Should Know" is just that. A book of common-sense, basics that each pet owner needs to know in order to raise a healthy, happy pet.
   
   Drawing on her years of experience as an ER and Animal Shelter Vet, Doc Halligan shares her wisdom on such topics as:
   
   *Your pet is what he/she eats.
   
   *Dental Disasters
   
   *The Battle of the Bulge
   
   *Preventive pet care
   
   *How to Talk to Your Vet
   
   *Avoiding the ER Blues
   
   Dr. Halligan provides an indespensible reference for maximizing the benefits of pet ownership. My only complaint is that I feel she should have written one volume for dogs, and another for cats in order to tease out the information that is germane to each specie.



2. This is one of the best books out there. It is very thorough, informative and detailed. I could not put it down, took it on our family vacation last month and I learned so many things that will benefit our 2 dogs which are like our kids-A must have for everyone, and a great gift, I bought a few for friends and co-workers and they love it too!



3. While I'm no expert on dog care, I've read at least a dozen books on the subject and have talked with numerous pet owners about general pet care. This book, however, is perhaps best aimed at an audience that is less informed and less educated. I say this because in the introduction to this book, the author describes her early experiences of working at a vaccination clinic and treating numerous victims from hurricane Katrina. The author is also president of the ASPCA-LA. With this kind of background, I presume the author's experience is primarily based on worst case scenarios of pets that had been either neglected or abandoned by their owners. And this book is geared more towards that audience, who probably wouldn't read a book on pet care in the first place. If you really want quality information on pet care, buy another book and skip this one.

4 comments about A New Owner's Guide to African Grey Parrots (New Owners Guide).

1. Anything that helps us to understand and care for these amazing birds is welcomed. This is one of the books that is on my night stand. What a lucky person who has an African Grey who owns them.



2. This book is one of the best Grey books I have read. Ms. Moustaki does well in being simple, frank, yet detailed enough to guide the reader in how to care properly for an African Grey. Specifics would have been good in the housing your african grey chapter, but she painted a broad enough stroke and gave enough guidelines to guide the owner in their decision. This is a basic book, and meant for new-owners. It fits its purpose well!



3. This book has great information especially for the new bird owner. I would highly recommend reading it to anyone who is even just thinking of getting an African Grey! It gives alot of insight into things a first time bird owner might not think about ahead of time.



4. This book tell us all necessary information about what we want to know about african grey parrots

3 comments about Senior Dogs for Dummies.

1. This book is an excellent resource and an easy read for anyone with a senior dog. It brings to an owner's attention many areas of aging in a pet similar to human aging. It also gives good advice on dealing with problems encountered with an aging pet.



2. This book just won a 2004 Maxwell award from the Dog Writers Association of America in the Book: care and health category, and with good cause. McCullough knows what she's talking about. She covers nutrition, exercise, health cost, typical diseases, what to expect, and - of course - a discussion on when is the best time to let your friend go. Housebreaking can be a problem for some seniors, and McCullough recommends bringing out the crate. Certain problems that seniors are prone to, such as going blind or deaf, are discussed, as well as how to help your dog cope. Her practicality and compassionate approach to canine senior citizens, who deserve to lounge about in the sunshine, comes through clearly. Much of what she says is common sense, but if you haven't experienced what happens to a senior dog, this book will really help you prepare, understand what is happening, and what you can do about it.



3. This is a great resource! I have a 9 year old Sheltie with some health issues and I found this book to have terrific information specific to older dogs. It's a good read straight through or as a reference if you're just looking for information on a particular subject.

5 comments about The Complete English Shepherd Guide: Raising Your Puppy and Caring for Shep--American's Generic Dog.

1. The comprehensiveness of Mr. Hammond's book makes it a great resource for all new dog owners not just those looking to learn about the english shepherd. The book touches on all areas of caring for your dog, from training your puppy to breeding your dog. I found Mr. Hammond's chapter on nutrition extremely informative. In addition to being an excellent resource for general dog care topics Mr. Hammond's book includes numerous entries addressing the uniqueness of the english shepherd breed. This book is an easy read that is not only informative but is also very entertaining.



2. James T. Hammond's book is very informative and narrative, and definitely a must-read for any English Shepherd owner and/or potential owner. His devoted and knowledge for the breed shines thru with his personal experiences of raising English Shepherds all his life. Easy to read, heartfelt and comical at times, yet complete with very resourceful and practical insight and information for acquiring, caring, training, breeding and marketing English Shepherd puppies. Definitely a book I will refer back to many times as I embark on my own adventures with my new English Shepherd puppy. The ultimate owner's manual for everything you need to know about raising and caring for your own English Shepherd! Thanks!



3. Jim Hammond is a fraud and a liar. His kennel conditions are terrible. He is NOT a licensed NY State breeder as he claims. He is nothing more than an English Shepherd Puppy Mill Breeder. BEWARE!!!



4. Hammond's book on this breed shows his intense devotion to it and his in depth knowledge as well. In his easy, laid back style, he tells you what you need to know about the whole process of acquiring the dog, breeding it, raising and marketing puppies. This would be a great book for anyone who has decided to go into the dog breeding business regardless of the breed. I really enjoyed this book.



5. I spent a lot of time on the internet researching working farm dogs and then specifically English Shepherds before I found this terrific book, but nothing on line gave me the kind of firsthand sense of what these very special dogs are all about, or what living with them would really be like. I expected a typical breed book and was delighted by the author's charming, somewhat irrascible tone, and I cried at least twice while reading the book. His insight into the dog food industry and its brilliant marketing of canine junk food was eye-opening as well. Mostly what i appreciated was a real sense of the breed and, for the novice dog owner who is lucky enough to start out with an ES, this book provides an excellent guide to all the basics. Bottom line: within hours of reading the book, my own ES puppy was on his way to me. Now I've shared the book with a friend who decided she didn't want a Border Collie after all, and we're looking forward to raising our puppies together. Buy this book, you won't be sorry.

1 comments about The Best Dog Stories.

1. If you're a dog lover (we pity those who aren't), you will love this collection of sweet and tender dog stories. Sure to bring a chuckle and mayby a tear or two. Enjoy!

2 comments about Birds Off the Perch: Therapy and Training for Your Pet Bird.

1. I agree with the other reviewer, that this book provides excellent advice on how to live with a companion bird, and that the book is well written. The authors are clearly well knowledged and review all facets of the different types of birds, which should be thoroughly reviewed before you purchase: playfulness, loudness, availability, size, care requirements, and whether the types are recommended for experienced or for beginners only. One of the things I especially enjoyed is that they did not say, like many books do, that every bird is perfect for every person or situation. They gave realistic examples of some of the harder aspects of living with companion parrots and try to emphasize that it is a life decision to purchase a large parrot, because it is a lifelong responsibility. Personally my lifestyle would not allow me to have a large companion parrot anyway, but if I were considering the idea, this book would have provided a well-needed reality check.



2. I got this a year after having my bird, and I wish that I had it from day one. The book offers great advice on how to live well with a compainion bird.

   It is written in a straight forward manner, and even gives examples of birds that they have worked with. There is also a list of birds and what personality traits they have. This is a good book to get when making a choice to get a bird, it will help you be prepared to bring your bird home, and it will help you get the kind of bird best suited to your situation and lifestyle.