5 comments about Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs: Small Doses for Small Animals.

1. I'm not wild about this book. While I'm sure there's some good information in here, I haven't found it yet. What I have found are opinions that I find difficult to swallow.
   
   For example:
   
   Don't vaccinate your pets. Hmm. I understand there might be reasons to stay away from vaccinating pets, as there are for not vaccinating children. However, I also understand that if I want to board my dog, or take him to the local dog park, or take him to the groomer, or have my vet come within ten feet of him, I need some evidence that this dog has, in fact, been vaccinated. I don't see a practical way around this in this book.
   
   He says vaccinations weaken the species by allowing weaker animals to survive. My neutered dogs aren't contributing to the gene pool anyway, so I don't understand this argument.
   
   Then there's the thing about feeding your dog only raw meat, because dogs in the wild don't have someone cooking for them. Okay, fine. Dogs in the wild don't have veterinarians, nor do they sleep on a human's couch. If we're going to take this thought to its logical conclusion, we shouldn't have pets at all. And if we should have pets, why on earth would I want to risk their getting infected with E. coli? Or does this raw meat thing assume that I kill it myself rather than buy it?
   
   He says that a lot of meanness in dogs comes from the rabies vaccine. He cites no studies, offers no data, just says that from what he's seen, this is true. I'm sure I don't see anywhere near as many dogs as the author, but come on, I have yet to see a dog made mean by vaccines. Show me a reproducible study.
   
   There may be some valuable information in this book, but it's colored by these unsupported "facts", so it's hard to tell what's good information and what's not. There are better books on the subject. Buy one of them.



2. It's good for reference. A little difficult to self diagnois your pet and not always easy to find the treatment for a specific problem in the book.



3. AFTER REVIEWING OTHER BOOKS & BUYING ANOTHER BOOK (that was poorly written) I WAS RELIEVED TO READ THIS. HOMEOPATHIC CARE FOR CATS & DOGS GETS RIGHT TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER. INDEX IS GREAT, NICE LISTING OF HOMEOPATHIC SUPPLIERS THERE PHONE, FAX & WEB SITES ( I had wondered where to get supplies but that answered it for me.) YOU ONLY RECEIVE NEEDED INFORMATION. NICE GUIDE FOLLOWS WITH EASY TO FIND REMEDIES. INCLUDES INFO ON HOW TO DECIDE YOUR ANIMAL NEEDS HOMEOPATHY OR IS IT TIME TO SEE THE VETERINARIAN. IT'S NICE TO KNOW YOUR LIMITS. I PROMISE YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK.



4. I purchased this book along with 3 others to educate myself as to various diets and medical care of my pets. I found this one so far to list anything about heartworms in cats. I live in Oklahoma and we have a lot of mosquitoes and have had 2 dogs that contracted heartworm but we've never had a cat contract it and we've had cats live to be 14, 16, and 20 years. I had my suspicions about the necessity of giving heartworm medication to a cat and Dr. Hamilton pretty well answered my questions about it in two sentences on page 332, "This is a serious disease that primarily affects dogs (it is rare in cats, despite claims by the preventive manufacturers)." and, "I do not recommend their use (preventives) in cats, as the incidence does not warrant the drug use in my opinion." Overall, I found it's a very professional yet understandable book for those of us who wish to take care of our beloved pets through more natural means.



5. We just got two new fur persons and this is a great guide---
   recommend it as a study for animal understanding....
   had forgotten how much care babies require and this is a good reference

5 comments about The Complete Dog Book: 20th Edition (Complete Dog Book).

1. This is a wonderful book on the 150 AKC dog breeds. An excellent resource and reference. Only one black and white photo of each breed though, so if you are looking for a picture book this isn't it. There is a small color photo section, but these are paintings of dogs. In regards to content, I find it more than sufficient in detail for me. I reference it often when I see I new dog at the park or on TV I want to know more about.



2. Essential book
   
   A must have for every dog owner. Essential to understand dog breeds and breed evolution. I wished there were more and better pictures though.



3. A good and complete dog reference. Pet owners will love a cruise through all the potential breeds to love and those seriously taking in dog shows will enjoy a complete reference.



4. This is the official publication of The American Kennel Club(AKC)so it stands to reason that it is quite elaborate and authorative; afterall, this is the 20th edition.If you want specific information about all the different breeds than this book is for you. Naturally the book only recognizes the breeds that are AKC and believe me, there are many others out there but yet to be officially recognized. For breeders, the information is valuable as all the official chacteristics and faults are mentioned for each part of the body. For general pets of a specific breed, and not show dogs the information is equally as valuable . For prospective buyers of a specific breed this book will help you to make sure the dog you get get doesn't have any serious faults of the breed characteristics. Overall this book is quite useful for anyone who owns a dog . Dog lovers will enjoy the book for general browsing to learn all about the other breeds. This is a great reference tool to have when viewing the different dog shows. I found the historical information rather fascinating. It is fun to learn about the different breeds since many are rarely seen in the general population. If you love dogs you will love this book.



5. The AKC Complete Dog Book has been the singlemost valuable reference that I have used in 36 years of pet grooming. It has provided a solid foundation of how each breed is supposed to look, as well as the breed standard on which that appearance is based. It is the first book I reach for when learning or teaching grooming of a new breed. It also serves as a way to show pet owners an example of how their breed is presented on which we can base modifications for their individual pet. I would not groom without this book!

5 comments about Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal: A Swift, Effective Method for Permanently Shaping a Horse's Lifetime Behavior.

1. This is a pretty good book for those who have never imprinted a foal before. There are tons of pictures and he outlines everything step by step. It's a bit dated, especially with the photos, but overall it's worth the money.



2. My sister and I have always wanted to raise foals that weren't like your typical horses, our first foals we did lots to the minute they were born, like touching there ears, everything we could think of that we didn't want them to have issues with-and they're great, but still horses. I came across this book and LOVED IT! Our next years foals were thoroughly imprinted at birth and WOW! Even better than last years foals and we taught them so many more difficult things at birth-like working off their hind-quarters, it's amazing how effective it is. I have bought un-impinted foals in the past, and by a year you have a kicking biteing, don't touch me there yearling to spent hours patiently working with. No my babies come running to me and lick me to death and nothing fazes them!
   Painted Blessings Ranch~Bringing out the best in Black and White paint horses.



3. Clear, step by step. Covering all the basics of imprinting & then moving on to first day training techniques that make all the difference for the foal's interaction with human handlers in later days & years to come. Even I can do this, though I am fairly new to horses & especially foaling. Certainly this is a 2 person job, but with an assistant, it goes very smoothly if you have a halter-broke, calm mare. The difference in the foals is really amazing! I see this applying to other animals as well. This is a real gem of a book!



4. I bought this book by Robert M. Miller with my very first
   miniature horse foal, and it WORKS!!!!
   I imprint trained him at birth and some the next day and
   everything I did, helped that horse just like he said it would.
   His personality is beautiful, he learned the desired responses
   well and I know its because of the imprint training.It does not
   take much time or effort on your part. I bought a foal that was
   not imprint trained and the difference between the two horses
   later on is UNBELIEVEABLE. The imprint trained horse is
   friendly, obedient, and unafraid of anything ,thanks to this
   book. TO me it was well worth the money I paid for it.I expect
   2 more foals this year and already have my book ready to
   do everything he suggests, I know it will make my life easier
   when that little foal becomes a weanling thru full-grown.
   For me, it was especially helpful because of my inexperience
   with horses but this book would work just as well with the
   experienced. It does shape the horses behaviors for LIFE.



5. I bought this book before the birth of my first foal. I thought I had a very good understanding of everything contained in the book. But be forewarned. This is not a something that someone can do alone. You need at least one other experienced horse person to help you. This is an absolute necessity!

5 comments about Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm.

1. While Jon Katz is controversial in some circles for non-professional dog management, his Bedlam Farm memoirs are captivating and gritty. They detail the activities of the farm's dogs, donkeys, sheep, cat, steer, chickens--and the man himself, who gets by with lots of support from more country-wise locals.
   
   With his flight from urban professionalism well-documented in A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me and Running to the Mountain: A Midlife Adventure, Katz continues the Bedlam Farm series with this book about his third year of "hobby farming" in upstate New York. He's been at it long enough to improve his lambing skills and to establish an Easter tradition (reading from St. Augustine to the dogs and then bringing the sheep down the meadow above the church).
   
   Katz writes without undue sentiment about farm life. He counts himself as a newcomer whose animals are "somewhere between products and pets." (p 29) The sheep-herding border collie, Rose, and the affectionate Labs Clementine and Pearl (the "Love Twins") are his constant companions; when a second border collie joins the menage, things get complicated. His wife lives and works in the city but to Katz's satisfaction is learning to enjoy her visits to the farm.
   
   I found this book more satisfying than the earlier The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me because Katz is so much more assured in farm matters. An entertaining read.
   
   Linda Bulger, 2008



2. This is the second book I have read by Katz. His connection with animals and his insight and understanding of their lives makes remarkable reading material. Katz is a gifted writer with the talented ability to clearly express his stories. I am a dog lover (own three and foster rescue dogs) and appreciate reading such detailed stories about dogs and their lives.



3. I listened to the audio version of this book. The reader's voice had a bit of gravel in it which made for a believable autobiographical narrative. Jon Katz will entertain you with stories of his animals, the farm, and his expositional speaking on what it all means to him. Life is ironic because what he says he believes versus what he does are not always the same thing. This may grate some readers - that is why I give this book 4 stars. Also one chapter on how to talk farmer really was not necessary for the story. A plus is that you fall in love with the animals when reading this book.



4. Jon Katz writes dog stories from the heart. His warm anecdotes of life with multiple animals at Bedlam Farm, in upstate New York, fill the reader with peace. Wrung emotionally and physically from living in the big city, Katz has bought Bedlam Farm and become a gentleman farmer. His choice brings with it new realities. Life on a working sheep farm is a far step from that of an apartment in Brooklyn. His wife Paula, a working woman in her own right, respects her husband's move but does not embrace the radical change for herself. She keeps a home in the city and hibernates to the farm on most weekends.
   
   The reality at Bedlam Farm is that much work needs to be done. Strong border collie stock, led by a dog named Rose, is the heart of the operation. Katz mourns the loss of his first dog-love, Orson, whose tumultuous life is chronicled in A GOOD DOG. Katz makes the best decision for the good of both the farm and the dog when Orson is put down. Orson's memory creeps onto the pages of DOG DAYS but in no way diminishes Katz's love for his remaining animals, of which there are many.
   
   Katz realizes early on that the key to a successful operation is having good people in charge. Trained as a writer, not as a farmer, he sees in Annie DiLeo his strong counterpart. She's compassionate and a balance for his pragmatism. He has the ultimate say, however, when tough decisions are required. When Katz becomes impatient, Annie communicates with the animals. Pearl and Clementine are two lovable Labs, while Rose (and soon Izzy) claims a border collie's right to sheepherding. Elvis, a new arrival to Bedlam Farm, creates a clamor of his own. He's a lumbering piece of flesh, a gigantic, apple-loving Brown Swiss steer. Four donkeys, a herd of sheep, a rooster, chickens and a barn cat complete the menagerie at Bedlam. Katz's limitation is his arthritic back. He finds the feeding, care and clean-up an increasing chore, especially in winter, so Annie's help is a daily welcome.
   
   When Katz receives a phone call from a friend, rescue-person Amy, he's hesitant to respond positively. Katz is drawn to rescue but realizes that it could become a preoccupation. He has helped Amy place a number of animals but has not welcomed one to Bedlam. A farm has sold; puppies need a home as does their parent, a three-year-old border collie named Izzy. Never housebroken, and raised mostly in a caged area outside, the dog's plight tears at Katz's sense of right. Izzy is an out-of-control hurler who thrives on human attention. His first ride in a car is home to Bedlam Farm with Katz. It's to be a temporary solution, but Izzy becomes a permanent fixture there. He even learns from Rose to herd the sheep and becomes quite good at it. According to Katz: "I loved him very much, and he had strongly attached himself to me."
   
   The clever chapter titles mislead. "The Whore of Bedlam" reminds one of saloons and devious living. Katz's whore turns out to be a lovable Labrador named Clementine. By definition, Katz conjectures that a prostitute is one who sells his or her favors. Clem, according to her owner, "will give it up --- anytime, anywhere --- for a sliver of beef jerky." He sees her love of all people not as disloyalty to him but as the quality he loves most about her.
   
   Katz's half-dozen books about animals throw his audience a bone that continues to please. His self-learned expertise on the rigors and joys of owning dogs, sheep, cows, donkeys and smaller farm animals is a story told with ease. I am an avowed Katz fan at present and eagerly anticipate more tales from Bedlam Farm. DOG DAYS is a book to warm the soul when one is weary.
   
   --- Reviewed by Judy Gigstad



5. Wonderful series of Katz books. I saw the piece on CBS Sunday morning and immediately bought this book. Great reading!!

4 comments about Why Goldens Do That: A Collection Of Curious Golden Retriever Behaviors.

1. This book is very well written. I gave this book to my husband for Christmas. He is enjoying sharing wtih me and with others about things that goldens do! We both have learned some things as to why goldens do what they do? For example,why do goldens rebel when they are between one and two years old ? The answer is because they are essentially teenagers.
   I would recommend this book to anyone that has a golden. There is never a dull moment with a golden in your household.
   
   



2. This is a very good book--the pictures are great and worth the price of the book themselves. The "curious Golden Retriever behaviours" are basically curious behaviours of ANY breed of dog, with one or two exceptions, but still it was a very interesting book and it helps you to understand why your dog does some of the (somewhat disgusting ) things it does.



3. 
   
   I gave this book 5 stars due to two things: excellent, delightful pictures of golden retrievers in all sorts of places and the text
   which must be read out loud to be appreciated. You won't get a vet's answer to these such questions as Why are Goldens always Napping?
   Davis gives an answer that napping helps them avoid some potential while-awake danger and hey, people who nap a lot are a friendly lot and so are napping Goldens. No technical best-in-show tips here. But a fun,fun read and very pleasing photographs of those dogs who never really act like real dogs. And we love them.



4. I gave this book as a Christmas present, and the family that I gave it to has read it multiple times! They love it! They go around the house saying "Oh, it is a Golden thing" about all that their beloved "Mollie" the Golden Retriever does!

5 comments about Angel Dogs: Divine Messengers of Love.

1. This is the first book in the series I have read, I also purchased the angel cats book but havent read it yet. The stories in the Angel Dogs book are very nice and I found them so comforting at this very difficult time of grieving the loss of a very dear dog. This book gives me hope that there will be good times again and that our dear friend is still very much with us and I pray he will choose to come spend more lifetimes with us. The book also helps confirm some beliefs or thoughts that I have had already and now I have the confirmation that I was indeed visited by previous beloved pets in my dreams as well as during wakefulness. The book helps give the strength to go on and offers so many stories I laughed and cried plenty through reading the book.



2. My book arrived quickly was as described and I am very pleased. Great book seller. Will use again! Thank you.



3. As a dog lover I enjoyed every page. Everything was as advertised.



4. This book was so good to read. I laughed and cried as I read each of the stories. I am now passing it around my job so others can enjoy it too. Anyone who loves dogs, lost a dog will love to read this book. This is a must buy and read book.



5. Recently we lost our Chocolate Lab "Moose" who was 13yrs old and reading this comforted me!

5 comments about Planet Cat: A CAT-alog.

1. I purchased this book just two weeks ago so I have yet to get through the whole thing. However, I have definitely made a dent in it and I have to say it is totally rad. I have two senior cats who I love to death. My family adopted them when I was very young so I never really took much intrest in educating myself about cats. Now as a high school senior I have developed a serious fascination with all kinds of felines. This books contains all of the information you could ever want, it is packed with facts. With a book of this size I was worried that it might contain too much filler and not enough killer. I was pleased to discover that my assumptions were unfounded. Planet Cat talks about social/cultural/ political history of cats, grooming, health concerns, the basics about adopting cats, etc. I was kinda bummed to see that a decent portion of the book is dedicated to grooming/health concerns. Im sure caring for your cat tips are relevant to other readers but I was in it for the history. Whatever the case by the time I found info on Hemingway's cats, Literary Cats throughout history, and stories of amazing cat feats, I was no longer bummed. This book is a cat tome! I don't regret buying it. Highly Recommended



2. 
   Planet Cat is not the type of book that you want to bomb through in one sitting. Instead, Planet Cat should be savored slowly like a fine wine as you marvel at the amount of time and research that has gone into this collaborative effort.
   
   Authored by Sandra Choron, Harry Choron and Arden Moore, Planet Cat offers the reader a distinctive look into all things C-A-T. From early history to contempurrary culture, learn about famous cats, famous people who share their lives with cats, Presidential kitties, care and training, cat behavior even popular and obscure cat myths debunked. You name it; you will find it within Planet Cat.
   
   Such extensive content requires a six page Table of Contents as the three authors behind this book contact authors and experts gathering up content in an easy-to-use guide. Learn about what gifts will satisfy the cat who has everything. How to photograph your cat, travel tips, which websites are the most popular for cat lovers on the Net, how to secure insurance policies for your cat- they litter-ally cover every cat-topic on the planet.
   
   Put this book on your bookshelf for it is an educational find, fun to read, highly informative, and a must-have for any cat lover. Sits proudly in my bathroom next to my copy of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Cat Lover's Companion.
   
   Bravo to the authors for providing such a wonderful find!



3. This is such a FUN and informative book. Couldn't put it down when I received it. The prrrrrfect gift for all kitty lovers!



4. This book has tons of information on cats. It's the perfect book for any cat lover.



5. I bought this book becuase I had checked it out at the library, and it has so much good information in it! Just about anything you can ask about a cat is covered. It even tells you lots of way so say "cat" in different languages. If you're a cat lover, I would definitely reccommend it!

3 comments about All Creatures Great and Small.

1. This compilation of many of the stories of this master storyteller is superb in every way. I've met the man and one of the subjects of his experiences (in the story of the man with cattle). James Alf Wight (real name of author)was famous in the vicinity of Thirsk for his stories. One of his customers told me that as a kid he couldn't wait for the annual visits as "Herriot regailed him and his family with stories the whole time." The book is a retelling of some of his stories - and entertaining in every way. Super book!



2. James Harriott's ability t create characters, that we all recognize, rivals shakespeare's famous gift,. His description is such that I went to England just to see that part of the world. It is exactly as he describes it. A very good read and one that makes us anxious for the follow on books.



3. If you ever wanted to be a vet... "All Creatures Great and Small" will either inspire, or send you running off to be a lawyer. Heartwarming, funny, sad and highly educational, James Herriot's debut biography (he wrote five in all) give readers the whole messy, glorious picture of being a 1940s country veterinarian.
   
   The book opens (after a brief chapter taking place several months later) with James arriving in Yorkshire, to be the assistant to the eccentric but kindly Siegfried Farnon (yes, that is his name). He becomes accustomed to Siegfried, Siegfried's mischievous younger brother Tristan (yes, that is his name), and the gruff, kindly farmers who eke out a living in the Yorkshire Dales.
   
   Among the oddballs James encounters: Pampered pooches, savage pigs who chase Tristan around the farm, a nightmarishly strict secretary who drives Siegfried up the wall, James's brakeless car, cows running on three cylinders, a sadistic vet who makes James wear a rubber bodysuit, and an elderly, immensely wealthy widow who adopts a pig. And through this, James falls in love with the beautiful Helen Alderson and worms his way into the trust of the farmers.
   
   James Herriot (real name, James Wight) was truly a one-of-a-kind man. He let readers into his head throughout the book, where the cows kick him across the yard, farmers often treat him as an interloper or a nuisance, and his boss gives contradicting orders from one day to the next. But he never loses his drive or his love of animals. Okay, he hates some animals, but only as individuals.
   
   He even lets the readers see him at his worst, when he's humiliated by some recalcitrant livestock, and one horrible scene where he and his date show up drunk and mud-smeared in front of the girl he adores. (Not to mention when Tristan got him to use very feminine-smelling bath salts) But don't think that all of these stories are funny or romantic -- quite a few are aggravating or outright sad. James didn't soften the blows at all.
   
   There are a lot of details about surgery and animal care that will nauseate the squeamish, but at least you'll learn a lot of medical trivia. For example, what is a torsion? Herriot tells you early on, when he documents his nerve-wracking first case. But more than that, his love of animals is infectious -- it's easy to come out of this with a new appreciation for ordinary dogs, cows, cats, and so on.
   
   The people around James are just as fantastic: Siegfried, his weird but genial boss who can kick Tristan out of the house and forget about it overnight; Tristan, the mischievous anti-scholar who usually manages to keep out of trouble; and Helen, who seems a little too saintly at times (which isn't surprising, since James married her).
   
   It's sweet, sad, funny, romantic, dramatic, and full of the blood and sweat of vet work. "All Creatures Great And Small" is a truly unique and heartwarming biography.

5 comments about The Language of Miracles: A Celebrated Psychic Teaches You to Talk to Animals.

1. For anyone who loves animals and wants a closer bond with them, this is the book to read. Amelia Kinkade combines knowledge with humor to make this book a real page turner. I highly recommend this book to anyone.



2. The cover gives the impression this book is all about animals, and yes it is, however there is much more beneath it's cover. This book gives an insight into the nature of consciousness and how to work with it. Practical, scientific, mystical; it covers aspects of quantum physics as well as practical exercises to expand the mind. Good book for life learning in general. Communication with all species would be improved through your experience with this book. It was much more than I was expecting.



3. Well I heard Amelia Kinkade on coast to coast with George Nory and had to pick up this book. It is very insightful! The exercises are provided right away and at first they didn't seem to work for me so I let my kids try it out and Hey! My 7 year old daughter was able to channel several of our animals that had died 2-3 years ago including our horse "Taboo". If she could do then so could we; within two weeks my wife and two children were getting really good at communicating with very type of animal you could think of (mostly living animals, lol). I am determined that this works so I will continue working at it until I can catch up with my wife and daughters.



4. I liked the book, but I enjoyed Amelia Kinkade's other book (Straight from the Horses Mouth) way better. Straight from the Horses Mouth had more tools in learning to communicate with animals.



5. This is one of the best books ever on the subject of animal communication. There is a lot of humour in the book as well. If you are interested in this subject, this is the best!

5 comments about The Lord God Made Them All (All Creatures Great & Small).

1. I think we've all heard of ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL. The book was brilliantly written in every way, and I thought that was that. But then he wrote a sequel, and I marveled that it was at least as great as the original. Then he did it to me again with a third book. The titles come from a famous poem or hymn, by the way. He used the second verse, for the creatures, then the first, then the third, and now we're at the fourth.
   
   I'm going to say it again. I believe I'm enjoying this one most of all. All the humor, all the spot-on accurate observation of animals, of both the four-legged and the two-legged variety. And, I'm feeling this time, a maturity in the veterinarian, the author, and the person. He still has the ability to write a chapter so touching or sad that I stop and wipe my eyes, and then read a few more so I can laugh before I put the book away for the evening.
   
   So I've read four in a row by this guy, and they all get five stars. I ordered all of mine from Amazon, but you in "the west" can probably just swing by your local library. Do so.



2. I read his books as a teen and loved them. Bought the whole set for my grandsons, [teens]. They laughed until they cried. [so did I].



3. I was verey satisfied with the whole process of ordering
   on-line and I will continue buying books this way.



4. As an animal lover, if I were to be restricted to a single author on my bookshelves, it would be James Herriot, hands down. All four books by James Herriot, The English Country Veterinarian, comprise a collection of stories that remain unsurpassed in all animal literature.



5. In this fourth edition you will have everything you are use to in a James Herriot book. Eccentric pet owners, nutty business partners, fun loving animals, and the author who reveals his heartfelt love and admiration for the animals he cares so deeply for. Only the souless few won't be touched by these humorous stories of animal and human interactions. Mr. Herriot shows just how much better the world is because of the animals who inhabit our daily lives.