4 comments about Excelling at Dog Agility: Book 3 : Advanced Skills Training (Updated Second Edition) (Excelling at Dog Agility).

1. 
   My daughter is an experienced dog agility trainer, and was thrilled to receive this book as it is the series she reads to learn her skills, and this was the next book she wanted. Very helpful!!



2. The 3rd book in the Excelling at Dog Agility can be described with one word: FANTASTIC!

   Simmons-Moake wastes no time getting into the good stuff, and starts out this very advanced book with advancing your weave-pole skills. She covers difficult and "impossible" weave entries and how to train them the right way... and succeed! Moving on to the pause table in the next chapter, she explains the concepts behind a perfect pause table performance, namely teaching your dog to "grip the table," get an immediate sit/down, and correct the perpetually sliding pooch.

   Other than the weaves and table, the rest of the book really focuses on the handler and developing his/her skills. Learn to "layer" courses designed to trip you up (literally!), perform precise pinwheels and super serpentine sequences. Improve your distance handling with this book, so that gambles are no longer a gamble!

   Some really great things about this book:
   · Extremely advanced skill taught in an understandable way
   · Home practice tips and exercises
   · A section on evaluating your handling and training skills, and addressing the dog who is "over drilled"
   · The MOST helpful Problem Q&A section I have ever seen for problems ranging from the dog being too fast/slow to control issues and more!

   Though this book is definitely not for the beginner and will probably require a professional instructor's guidance, it is a great way to increase your knowledge on the subject and improve your handling skills. Like the two previous books, this is an THE way to achieve excellence, yet a very enjoyable read. Kudos to Jane Simmons-Moake for creating the best books on dog agility out there!




3. Simmons-Moake's book offers excellent sequences to practice, and down-to-earth practical information on how to correct problems if something goes wrong. There are many books on the market now about Agility, but none measure up to Moake's. This book is NOT for the beginner, but rather for one training at the AKC Excellent level, NADAC Elite level, or USDAA Masters level.



4. In the years since Jane Simmons-Moake's three agility tapes hit the market, I have attended a bunch of seminars held by many different trainers. While I have learned from them all, I still feel that the information Jane presents in her tapes and their companion books is the most basic, easy to understand and to follow instruction around. What Jane promotes is common sense handling that is feasible for all handlers to achieve, no matter their age, ability, background or breed of dog.

   The first two books and tapes in the "Excelling at Dog Agility" series cover obstacle training and sequence training. The third book, which was just published in 2002, is subtitled 'Advanced Skills Training.' As was the case with the other two books, a handy reference guide at the end of the book directs you to the place on the tape where the skills being discussed can be viewed. The advantage of having the book to refer to, in addition to the tapes, is that it beautifully diagrams the various practice maneuvers and presents some marvelous course designs for practicing each of the featured skills. As I scanned through the book I made mental note of the courses I wanted to try. They looked like so much fun!

   The first topic addressed in this book is advanced weave pole skills. In watching Jane run her own dogs I have always marveled at her ability to send her dogs into the weaves regardless of where the weave entrance was in relation to her. This is a vital skill for anyone involved in USDAA or NADAC gambler classes in addition to often being the difference between a Q and an NQ on any course.

   This chapter carefully details the steps that will lead to a dog who doesn't need babysitting on the weaves. It also includes a number of suggestions on how to proof your dog so he will remain in the weaves, regardless of your enthusiastic praise or the distractions at a show.

   Advanced pause table skills might not seem necessary once your dog has learned to get on the table, but could your dog handle a wet slippery table at top speed? Jane writes, "If you have not taught your dog to grip the top of the pause table to keep from sliding off, you have yet to address an important part of his training." Also included in this chapter are ideas on how to maintain the sit or down.

   Two vital skills for anyone needing to make up for a slow dog or catch up with a fast one are the ability to (1) send and run and (2) layer. The first occurs when you send your dog to a jump or tunnel but you, the handler, continue to run ahead to where you need to be next. Layering is similar in that you send the dog to an obstacle while you run a more direct line to where you are headed, even if there is an obstacle between you and the dog.

   Other topics addressed are obstacle discrimination, the 'get out' command, pinwheels, zig-zag rear crosses, 'heel and side' commands and advanced distance skills. The latter chapter includes a number of pages devoted to how one should prepare for gamblers.

   Each chapter in the book starts with a section on 'How to Begin,' continuing with 'How to Progress,' interspersed with what to do 'if you have problems,' generously diagrammed so you can practice each of the skills you are trying to teach.

   Finally, if you are one of those who lacks equipment at home and thinks it's sufficient to practice only once a week at class, Jane dispells that theory with a number of exercises you can work on when you're alone. Some you can do with no equipment at all; others are designed for those who have space for only one or two pieces of apparatus.

   If you already own the first two books and tapes in this series, I'm sure I don't need to recommend that you run out and purchase this third. If you don't already own any of the "Excelling at Dog Agility" series of books and/or tapes, I would most certainly suggest that you add this to your wish list. Guaranteed, the instruction contained will help you progress.

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.

5 comments about Training Your Dog: The Step-by-Step Manual (Howell Reference Books).

1. My husband and I used this book 17 years ago for our Black Lab. This book is the best tool out there to assist in training your dog. It had worked so well for us 17 years ago that I had to track this book down again to use on my Chocolate Lab, she is 5 1/2 months old and is doing tremendously well with this training also. She is crate trained knows speak, sit, down, stay, come, wait commands etc. We are on week 6 of training with her. I recommend this to anyone that wants to find a fast and effective method in training.



2. nice great book, een if youve already started training your dog. i noticed a difference the first day!



3. I've been trying to train my bitch Spaniel (CoCo) for a long time but she is so high-strung and independent that I've had terrible problems....until I found THIS book.
   
   I cannot stress enough how helpful, clearly written, and effective this book is for dog owners of all ages.
   
   The cognitive behavioral aspects delving into the intricacies of canine development ensure that owners truly understand what to expect from their dogs at each developmental stage as well as the reasons behind canine behavior - all immeasurably important issues.
   
   This book is awesome and is THE BIBLE of how to train your dog.



4. Hello! I'm training my Golden Retriever puppy with this book, and Volhard & Fisher's training methods have worked wonders!!! My puppy, at four months of age, has been taught to sit on command, heel on command, and down on command. You can also teach your dog signals for the commands you want them to do, which can come in handy if you're talking on the telephone or chatting with a friend while walking your puppy. The main idea Volhar and Fisher teach you during this book is "positive reinforcement", which is a really handy training method to use. If their methods can work on my stubborn, rambunctious, sly Golden Retriever puppy, this book can definetly perform miracles with YOUR dogs!!!



5. Hello! I am a twelve-year old that recently found this book in my public library. I don't have a puppy, yet, but reading this book helped me to understand the mind of the dog. I think it's so cool you can start training your puppy as soon as you bring him home!
   Several times I have considered switching my training books to more faster methods, but in the end, many people find out that the "fast" methods don't work. It's better to take your puppy's training slow, I mean, if you're lazy and can't take fifteen minutes of your time every day for eight weeks to train your dog, then you shoudn't own a puppy at all.
   The book itself, considered by many people "boring", is actually very awesome! The little cartoons and comic strips found inside made me laugh my head off. The whole book has a light, humorous plot to it, which made the book appeal to me in the first place.
   So, trash your other training books and the little electric collars and the rolled up newspapers and start reading "Training your Dog". I am so excited to start training MY puppy with this book!

5 comments about My Lucky Dog.

1. This is already a well-reviewed book--so let me just add that this book is beautiful. The photos are poetic, the prose is terse, and it is clear that the bond between dog and owner is eternal. As the owner of a city mutt who loves the country, too, I adored it. As the owner of a dog who is getting on in years, I didn't want it to end....but I knew it would. In an overstuffed market filled with cutesy-poo dog books, this elegant, elegiac book really stands out.



2. Reviewed by Nikki Pringle for Reader Views (6/08)
   
   With "My Lucky Dog," photographer turned author Mellon Tytell, uses stunning imagery and brief captions as a poignant goodbye to her beloved dog. Hunter, a mixed-breed stray that Tytell found through an ad at a pet store in Vermont, became her constant companion and the "love of her life" for the thirteen years he was hers. Tytell's background as a photographer in breathtaking locations like Paris, the Andes, Haiti, and the Himalayas served her well as she took roll after roll of film capturing Hunter's adventures at her homes in New York and Vermont.
   
   While the words enhance Hunter's story, it is really the pictures that tell the tale. Tytell has captured her dog's every mood, from sadness to playfulness to pure joy, with absolute clarity. She finds the perfect words to augment the array of snapshots she has chosen to share. In one portion of the book, a variety of photos of the Vermont landscape are laid out next to close-ups of Hunter's fur from different angles, and it is amazing to see how closely these two very different things seem to synch up in color and texture.
   
   Tytell also incorporates images that are not of her dog but serve well in telling his story, like the haunting photo of a bird flying through the trees over a foggy dirt road, accompanied by the caption "He could no longer sit. His spinal cord wasn't sending messages to his paws." The combination of these words with the photo lends visual perspective to the fact that Hunter is preparing to "fly away" from his beloved owner.
   
   Mellon Tytell has accomplished her goal of giving a more than fitting tribute to the animal that was more than just a pet; he was a part of the family. While the book is not marketed for children, I do think it is suited to those that are a little older and dealing with the impending or recent loss of a family pet. All animal lovers, especially those with a canine companion that they could not imagine their lives without, will be moved by Hunter's story in "My Lucky Dog," by Mellon Tytell.



3. We bought this book because the lucky dog bears an uncanny resemblance to our own aged hound. I've now purchased three more copies as gifts for the dog lovers in my life, and will no doubt continue to give it as a gift in the future! The photographs are beautiful and funny and moving by turn. Most important, they capture the spirit of the love that we feel for our dogs, and the joy they bring to our lives. This book is a MUST for any dog lover. As it happens, our dog who so resembles Hunter, is terminally ill. This book has been a comfort for our family. I've especially appreciated being able to read it with my children.



4. My Lucky Dog is a great book. The photography is fenamenal and the story almost made me cry. It is written really well and I think dog lovers like myself will really enjoy this book.
   
   Alix Pamphilon
   9 yr. old
   Brooklyn resident



5. This is a beautifully composed story. I love the way Mellon puts nature and Hunter together as one. I see my dog in a way I never thought of before. I highly recommend to all and you don't have to be a dog lover to enjoy!!!

5 comments about Traveling With Your Pet, 9th Edition: The AAA Pet Book (Traveling With Your Pet).

1. This is a great book if you travel with your pets. Shows MANY hotels and what animals you can and cannot bring. We have 2 dogs and 1 cat and we were able to bring our cat with us to alot of the hotels. It's wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



2. Relatively good. It doesn't have some smaller places that I know are "Pet Friendly". It's a good resource to keep in your car if you want to stay in a well-known hotel. It didn't include many B&B's that I knew were in existance.



3. One of the problems I see repeatedly with products like this is that they become out of date quickly with hotels changing their pet policy. We recently took a trip from California to Arkansas that I was unable to fully plan in advance. When it came time to stop for the night we'd check the book for a city that had several pet friendly hotels listed, just in case policies had changed at our first choice, or there wasn't room. We were able to get a room at the first place we called every time.
   
   I'd recommend the latest edition of this book to anyone traveling with a pet.



4. Not much else to say. It is seperated state by state and region by region, then city by city. Can be difficult to find out what region you're in but it is very detailed. There are even listigs for my little home town. But be warned, some locations that say pets are allowed have restrictions, so call in advance to make sure that you are still ok. We have a Newfoundland and could had to hunt for a place that would let us stay with a 150 lb puppy.



5. This had alot of listings, but I was expecting more information than just a list of places that were pet friendly

2 comments about Loaches: Natural History and Aquarium Care.

1. This is a pretty remarkable book in that its authors are a group of loach fans who knew each other from internet websites centered on loaches. Instead of the typically distant, dull text that most tropical fish books have, this book is delightfully colorful and passionate about loaches. Not only that, it is written from the perspective of ardent hobbyists who are enthused about loaches and their care in aquariums, which leads to a lot more useful, practical advice than you generally get.
   
   The downside of such an approach by collaborative amateurs is that you would expect to see comparatively shoddy organization and lousy text quality. Fortunately, however, the project was headed up by some superb professional text editors, and the text is every bit as professional as you could hope for. What's left is the best of both worlds -- a personal, charming, and extremely helpful book about loaches that is entirely professional.
   
   I can only hope that this model of publishing becomes more commonplace, because it produced a jewel here. If you're interested in loaches, this book is a knockout.



2. Very informative book on loaches. Everything you need to know and many different loaches in this book!

2 comments about Keeping a Horse the Natural Way: A natural approach to horse management for optimum health and performance.

1. This book has some good advice when it comes to looking at stabling from your horse's point of view (he'd rather be out in a field, rolling in mud than be shiny clean and locked in a stall all day). However, I was disappointed that it didn't go into more detail in other areas. For example, I thought it was strange that the topic of sheath cleaning was never even mentioned. The author tries to address horse behavior and the horse-human relationship, but I think it was handled a bit awkwardly, as large portions of the text seem to be directly copied from Pat Parelli's book. The author acknowledges that she does this, but I just didn't like how it was done. The book was also a bit awkward because the author is apparently from Great Britain and parts of the book seemed to assume that the reader is also. I ran into some terms that I, being American, was not familiar with. But like I said before, the book does contain some good advice and I did learn a few things from it, just not as much as I had hoped.



2. This book uniquely offers equine advice from the perspective of the horse - this is most unique in the stabling/turn out advice. The author also goes into detail about how relationships can be built with the horse, from horse to horse (or other animal) and how those relationships change over their lifetime and a caring touch to loss. In addition to useful information, the author keeps it interesting with lots of pictures/illustrations. This book is not an all-inclusive equine textbook, but it has that "something" the others do not.

3 comments about Veterinary Guide to Horse Breeding.

1. Great Book! Very informative. Goes into good detail of every aspect but not too detailed that you have a hard time understanding it. I have purchased a few books on the topic as I have experienced some unusual situations with my horse breeding program and found it to follow right along with my vets advice and information on many of them. For the money, this is by far the best book I have purchased yet on horse breeding.



2. This is a pretty informative book, but I found that there is still some basic information that is not mentioned. For example my vet said a 3-week heat cycle for a mare's first March heat is not unusual. The book never mentions it. It also doesn't say anything about dealing with a virgin stallion. My vet had different advice than they did on washing the stallion. Since he maintains a stud, I trust his judgement. It is still informative however and we'll have to see how the foaling part goes. Just wish it had more information in certain areas. It would have saved me a $70. trip to the vet for something that is normal.



3. This book will enlighten you too. It is great for the large or small facility. Have to read. A must!

5 comments about The Legendary Appaloosa.

1. Cheryl's book has managed to eloquently portray the beauty of the appaloosa, with colorful and captivating photos of the breed! The stories are heartwarming and lovely. This is a fantastic book for appaloosa and horse lovers everywhere.



2. Cheryl has put together an outstanding composite of wonderful photography, interesting facts and a glimpse into the history and relationships of some of those whose lives are entwined with one of the greatest breeds of horses to grace this planet.
   
   The photography is captivating and the fact she gives ample credit to those artist whose works grace her creation is refreshing.
   
   A book for every coffee table.



3. If you love Appaloosa's or just love horses in general you will love this book. Beautifully done with lovely photos and inspirational stories. I would HIGHLY recommend this book. Cheryl really captured the spirit of the Appaloosa.



4. Book just arrived, and WOW! An absolute must for every horse lover's coffee table! And requirement for Appaloosa lovers for sure! A work of art laced with photos!



5. All I can say about this amazing book is WOW! The photos are stunning! I highly recomend it for anyone who loves the Appaloosa horse. More then just facts about the wide range of colors that Appaloosa's come in. This book tells heart warming stories of the horses people have loved. Again, WOW, simply amazing!

1 comments about What's Wrong With My Snake (Advanced Vivarium Systems).

1. I'm a biologist, and this book contains a wealth of valuable information on snakes, and what can ail them, that would ordinarily be found only in a much more sophisticated and expensive title. Highly recommended!