2 comments about Hovawart: Special Rare-Breed Edition : A Comprehensive Owner's Guide (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

1. Hovawart:Special Rare-Breed is well written, an easy read, contains excellent suggestions and great photos. Anyone considering a Hovawart puppy needs this book!



2. Finally a book about Hovawarts that's in English! It was very informative and went into detail about everything from what to look for when purchasing your dog, the history of the breed, and the proper care for it. It's nice to have a book as a reference instead of having to do research on the internet to find things out about my wonderful dog! I definitely recommend reading it if you have or are thinking about purchasing a Hovawart of your own.

2 comments about The Miniature Pinscher: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet.

1. I bought this book for a family member who has a miniature pinscher. They have read it and told me that it's a very informative book and has helped them with training their dog and other things as well.



2. Just take a look at the cover. Aren't Miniature Pinschers (also known as Min Pins) adorable?
   
   I had a two-fold reason for reading this book. I'm writing a novel where some of the characters have dogs (a Min Pin, an Italian Greyhound, and a Keeshond). So I'm doing research on the breed for my book. Currently we don't have a dog of our own. That might change, so I'm reading these books also to aid on which dog would be best for us (though odds are we'll go to the shelter and find a wonderful dog).
   
   This is the best book I've read out of the dog books. Rose Radel is an interesting writer, and does a good job of keeping one's attention. In other words, I enjoyed reading the book just as a book.
   
   The information is also very helpful and useful. It warned me that Min Pins are barkers, and to try to train them would make them less useful as a guard dog, which they are good at. I also learned a good tip that one should not call a dog (I think this advice is for all dogs) to discipline it, or your loyal friend won't come the next time you call.

3 comments about The New Aquarium Handbook: Everything About Setting Up and Taking Care of a Freshwater Aquarium (New Pet Handbooks).

1. Perfect Aquarium Handbook. It covers virtually all aspects of freshwater aquarium fish and plant keeping. Perfect for someone looking for a general reference when setting up or maintaining any freshwater aquarium.



2. This general reference book is excellent as it provides clear, simple, easy to follow explanations of some technical concepts involved in aquarium management: lighting, filtration, water chemistry & it's upto date with the latest products.



3. This is an excellent resource for the new aquarist. It is much like the one for salt water tanks and is designed in such a way that it will take you step by step through the processes of chosing a tank, chosing the right equipment, choosing fish, invertabrae, and plants, and finally, taking care of the aquarium.

3 comments about Collie (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

1. The book has great photographs very informative, it has lot of important information well organizet easy to read and understand. I found the information I needed for the problems that can be prevented from puppyhood through senior years. Is very practical informative and still fun to read.



2. I own two rough collies, a tri-colored and a blue merle. This book had great photographs and information regarding the collie. It has great information on plants that collies should stay away from such as the common daisy. Also, it praises the crate method, something I was against until I tried it with the collies and determined they love having their own space.
   
   This book is full of good information about every aspect of owning a collie.



3. I purchased this book because I own a Collie. I am dismayed at the amount of misinformation and disinformation contained within this book. The book is poorly written in parts, which creates contradictions from chapter to chapter. A novice would not be able to purchase and care for a Collie based on the information as it is presented
   I am convinced that the author never owned a Collie, nor even spent much time with one. The author states that the Collie requires more exercise than most breeds; this simply is not so. The Border Collie does, but not the Scotch Collie. It requires exercise, to be sure, and it is a large breed dog, but it is less active than a Parson Russell Terrier half its size!
   The author is most egregious in the health chapters. The author is pushing a personal agenda that is not only dangerous for the dog, but could result in a dog being impounded by municipal animal control. In one sidebar, the author recommends against monthly treatment with a heartworm preventive, yet almost every municipality (or breeder contract, or adoption/rescue contract) requires the treatment with vermifuge! The author refers to the medicine as "poison" (does she even know that Ivermectin is used for people, I wonder?) and recommends using the vermifuge every other month or every three months, which is not how it is supposed to be used. A dog in poor health due to heartworms may be removed from its owner by local human authorities, and unfortunately, at this stage the treatment may very well kill the dog (the dying worms may put the dog into fatal shock). The author also recommends that in place of conventional veterinary medicine (again, see stipulations regarding dog health that originate from municipalities and contracts) owners should use homeopathic nostrums, which are nothing but water (something diluted millions or billions of times in water is water-- someone who had only high school chemistry can tell you that). She also recommends against the use of prescribed flea and tick preventives, yet never mentions Lyme disease by name (although she identifies the bacterium that causes it). Lyme disease is a menace to people as well as to dogs, and the use of Frontline Plus or something similar on the dog is essential throughout the US.
   Yet, she does not mention that the Collie breed is sensitive to certain medicines! Collies are prescribed a non-Ivermectin vermifuge (mine gets Interceptor), Colies should not be given Pepto-Bismol or other bismuth-based anti-diarrheal medicines, and so forth (great information is available on the Collie Health Foundation website, which is not mentioned).
   
   Buy the Collie Concept by Bobbee Roos, it remains the standard book on the Collie breed.

5 comments about Bird Signs: Guidance and Wisdom from Our Feathered Friends (Book & Cards).

1. Thought these cards were nice but very simple. The book gives you a lot of information about birds but I found as far as guidance and a personal tarot reading it wasn't the best. The pictures are very nice though.



2. I gave this as a gift for my mother and we bought a copy for ourselves. We use the Animal Medicine Cards each morning and find these a nice adjunct to the Animal Cards.



3. I highly recommend this book and card set. G.G. Carbone did an excellent job of describing each one of these different birds. The representation of them was phenomenal. I am very metaphysical, and I feel these were fabulous. I also thought they gave good insight about each bird species from a Wild standpoint too( Out in Nature). I was very pleased with this Set of cards. I have worked with animals very closely all of my life, and I share my life with a Macaw parrot.( Her Card hit right on with the Parrot.) She described what each bird pretty much has shown me in my lifetime. I am so happy that I have these in my collection. Thanks G.G. I will cherish this Deck forever.
   
   The artwork is also Esquisite. Well worth the purchase for the artwork also. I especially love the Peacock. Great CARDS!
   
   I give these cards a great recommendation. I Love them!



4. BIRD SIGNS: GUIDANCE & WISDOM FROM OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS offers a 52-card deck and book written by G.G. Carbone and illustrated by Mary Ruzicka to explore birds and their connections to divinity. These divination cards can be used individually or in spreads - and each profiles a specific bird or aspect of bird life, with an accompanying book providing a focus on bird relations to human characteristics. It's an excellent pick for any new age collection or card reader.



5. "Birds appear in our lives for a reason. Sometimes these winged creatures are here for a brief time and sometimes for an extended stay. We may not always know why a bird appears to us at a particular moment, but with this book and card deck, you will become more aware of the guidance and wisdom that our feathered friends convey to us every day." - From the Bird Signs companion book
   
   As one who has received many oracular insights from feathered friends over the years, I was thrilled to see a new deck dedicated solely to birds. From cardinal to penguin, lark to owl, Bird Signs covers 52 different birds (and thus has 52 cards). Attractively packaged in a colorful, sturdy box that seals with a magnetic flap, the Bird Signs kit also includes a lovely 133-page glossy companion book featuring full-color illustrations.
   
   When I received Bird Signs, published by New World Library, I was truly impressed with the quality of the packaging/storage box, the guidebook, and the cards themselves. In my mind, no one rivals baba studio/Magic Realist Press (Victorian Flower Oracle, Fairytale Tarot, The Tarot of Prague Kit, etc.) when it comes to deck and book sets. However, I have to say that Bird Signs rivals the quality of those kits!
   
   With her favorite mediums being pen and ink with colored pencils, illustrator Mary Ruzicka infuses each bird with gentle lines, flowing curves, and realistic hues. From the peaceful dove to the beautiful swan, the happy bluebird to the adventurous roadrunner, Ms. Ruzicka delightfully captures the unique character of each bird--inviting humans to study them, learn from them, and contemplate their messages.
   
   Written by G.G. Carbone, the Bird Signs companion book explains the framework of the deck, which constitutes 45 bird cards and 7 feathered friends cards. Bedecked with rainbow-colored ribbons and relevant motifs, the special feathered friend cards represent a specific intention, chakra, chakra color, and physical area of the body. They can be used alone for inspiration or with the rest of the deck for additional illumination. For example, the yellow Egg - Birth card addresses new births of all kinds and the Solar Plexus Chakra. The blue Song - Voice card deals with communication and the Throat Chakra.
   
   Upright meanings for all cards are provided, as well as reversed meanings. Ms. Carbone gives a brief bio of each bird, as well as Bird Wisdom (interpretation), Broken Wing (reversed meaning), Bird Vision (how you can "see" from a bird's particular perspective) , and a piece of bird lore (not necessarily about the bird). Keywords, healing colors, and a message is also provided.
   
   Printed on a smooth matte finish, the Bird Signs cards measure approximately 5 ¼ x 3 ½ inches. Flexible and easy to shuffle, the card backings depict a simple, yet attractive, double feather motif with greens, blues, and purples that are fully reversible.
   
   Some of the birds and their wisdom found in Bird Signs include:
   
   * Waxwing - Curiosity
   * Hummingbird - Energy
   * Robin - Joy
   * Flamingo - Balance
   * Woodpecker - Hope
   * Jay - Communication
   * Duck - Decision
   * Hawk - Observation
   * Roadrunner - Adventure
   * Gull - Laughter
   * Raven - Illusion
   * Parrot - Creativity
   * Oriole - Compassion
   * Stork - Reliability
   * Pheasant - Opportunity
   * Heron - Patience
   * Eagle - Freedom
   * Penguin - Purpose
   * Chickadee - Playfulness
   
   Despite the utter gorgeousness of the box, cards, and companion book, I admit that I'm a bit disappointed in this oracle. I did a few one-card readings the last few days, and each time, the message was totally off base. For example, I drew the Rooster yesterday, which is about 180 from how I am, where I am, and what I know to be at this time in my life. For example, if I'm in sync with this card, I'm an early riser, need courage to face the day, and have difficulty getting out of bed.
   
   Nothing could be further from the truth! I'm a night owl (it's wired in my DNA), get out of bed easily, and joyfully look forward to each day that is filled with promise and abundant blessings. (No, not being a Pollyanna here--it's really how I am!) I did another one-card reading, with equally irrelevant results. However, I DID do a 3-card Past/Present/Future spread (called the Wingspan Spread in the Bird Signs companion book), and drew three of the special feathered friends cards. This reading was highly accurate. Go figure!
   
   As I read through the Bird Signs book, I felt that some of the interpretations were too simplistic and, well, *practical* (e.g. "Go on a picnic" and "try saltwater fishing"). Perhaps I'm just used to, or prefer, more psychologically oriented interpretations. Granted, Ms. Carbone provides quite a bit of information--but it seems a bit superficial at times. Maybe I was expecting interpretations and facts along the lines of Ted Andrews' Animal Speak. (If you're used to that book, you may be a bit disappointed with this deck if you're expecting more depth.)
   
   However, I think Bird Signs could certainly be used in accordance with a book like Animal Speak, which provides depth and breadth to animal divination. Also, the bird cards would be great meditation tools for those with avian affinity, as well as a starting point for looking up birds who fly into your life.
   
   (To see 10 images from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)
   
   Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)

5 comments about Sonya Fitzpatrick the Pet Psychic: What the Animals Tell me.

1. Sure, there is only one chapter specifically on how to telepathically communicate with animals, but it is that easy!
   
   The stories on what animals tell her are endearing and can't help but make me see animals in a new, more charming light.
   
   For more exercises to become more intuitive and/or communicate with animals, I recommend Sonia Fitzpatrick's Cat Talk, Creating Money: Magnetizing Yourself. Orin Meditations, Personal Power Through Awareness: A Guidebook for Sensitive People (Book II of the Earth Life Series) and others on meditation.



2. It was not until I had spoken to Sonya in person that I had even known about her book, and I could not be happier that I picked it up. Each reader ultimately has to decide for him or herself how they think of Sonya and what they believe, but my own experiences make me a firm believer of her gifts and her abilities. It truly is an amazing thing to witness.
   
   The stories in this book in which Sonya recounts her childhood and her early life are both intriguing and delightful. I found myself laughing aloud at some parts, and fighting back tears at others. She recounts several instances of communicating with and healing animals that really give great insight into who she is and exactly what she does.
   
   There is a special section devoted to pet companions who have passed on, how to cope with the event and where they go, how according to Sonya, they never truly leave us. Having just recently lost my dog of 13 years, my childhood best friend, this section brought about several moments of bittersweet tears. Though it can be an emotional passage to read through, it has made me feel phenomenally better having read it.
   
   If you are looking for a guide to communicating with your animal, this is not a book of detailed instruction for doing so. Sonya does give brief introduction and instruction to basic communication, and explains that the ability to communicate with animals lies within each of us, but that is not what the core of this book is about.
   
   Overall, I give this book 5 stars, and recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who has ever had a special furry friend in their lives.



3. Fans of Sonya will breeze through this book & gain further appreciation for their animal companions with her fabulous insite. Some stories inspire laughs, others tears and you walk away with newfound respect for all animals. The reader doesn't necessarily need to believe in "psychic" powers to walk away enlightened, simply have a love for animals & a desire to better understand them.



4. I enjoyed the book very much. It shows you how to get under the skin of the animal and understand it, even if you are not able to "talk" eith them.
   I just want to warn all Fitzpatrick readers be carful with buying. In my eager wish to buy everything from her, I bought two of the same books: one is paperback What the animals tell me, the other hardcover The Pet Psychic, What the animals tell me. I thought this was a different book, but it wasn't.



5. A note about "What the Animals Tell Me" by Sonya Fitzpatrick. Whether or not you believe her stories, this book is very entertaining and includes sage advice for keeping pets of any kind. Especially cats and dogs. I wish every current and potential pet owner would read this book and give Sonya's wise advice the consideration it deserves.

1 comments about K9 Explosive Detection.

1. This is a great book for explosive scent detection training. The author goes into detail about selecting a dog, training the dog and training scenarios, vehicles, aircraft and buildings etc.

2 comments about Parrot Culture: Our 2500-Year-Long Fascination with the World's Most Talkative Bird.

1. Bruce Thomas Boehrer is both a literature professor and a parrot lover. This makes him eminently qualified to write a book about the cultural impact of parrots on Western art, literature and imagination. Frankly, I assumed Boehrer was British, and was surprised to learn that he's a professor in Florida who spent part of his childhood in El Paso, Texas! Somehow, his knowledge of world literature and his writing skills sound more...well, European. Or am I just being prejudiced? His revulsion to animal cruelty in general and psittacophagy in particular also sound very British.
   
   Boehrer's book "Parrot culture" isn't the easiest read around. Often, it does sound like a college lecture in literature, and the author even ventures into the risky world of art criticism. Yet, somehow it never becomes *really* boring, perhaps because of the subject-matter. Parrots, after all, are intrinsically interesting: exotic, common, intelligent and stupid, all at the same time, in a bewildering combination. As a kid, one of my best friends had an assortment of budgies ("parakeets"), and I remember thinking that they were really silly, since they couldn't talk. The quiet hyacinth macaw in the local pet store I considered even sillier, since it didn't even scream! And what is a parrot that can't talk, or scream, if not redundant? So much for my scientific objectivity...
   
   But on to the book. The first European to describe parrots was a certain Ktesias of Cnidus around 398 BC. Ktesias had seen Indian parrots in Persia, and correctly described their ability to mimic human speech: "It talks like a man in Indian, but if taught Greek can talk in Greek also". Few people, if any, believed him. It wasn't until the conquests of Alexander the Great that parrots became more widely known in the Greek world. We even know what species Alexander sent back to Greece: the Alexandrine parakeet. Aristotle described the bird, and the rest is history.
   
   Boehrer then describes how European cultures viewed the parrot, and how these notions changed. The Greco-Roman world saw parrots in many different ways: as a symbol of inferior humans, as comic relief, as near-divine. During the Middle Ages, few parrots reached Europe, and yet the parrot became an important religious symbol, associated with the Virgin Mary, the Garden of Eden, or God himself. During the Renaissance, the parrot was secularized and turned into an object of ridicule and spite. In Baroque art, the parrot becomes a symbol for native lands to be colonized, or simply a luxurious accessorie, and in Early Modern plays, parrots once again symbolize social and racial inferiority. Being compared to a parrot becomes an insult.
   
   During the 19th century, the parrot was often a symbol of the sentimental, and pet parrots became increasingly popular. Boehrer also believes that a morbid fascination with dead animals characterized the period, and his verbal execution of the great naturalist and bird-painter Audubon is particularly entertaining (and very British).
   
   The last chapter of the book takes us into the modern world. The author interviews environmental activists, writes about his own fascination with parrots, and even talks to a parrot smuggler! The smuggler was apparently imprisoned for trying to smuggle a couple of Australian parrots to the US, all the while the Australian government is busy exterminating thousands of parrots themselves. Who is most absurd, the human or the parrot, one wonders?
   
   Amazon has coupled this book with Richard Verdi's "The Parrot in Art", a good choice in my opinion. Verdi's book is really an exhibition catalogue, and while the text is much shorter than Boehrer's book, the paintings are reproduced in full color (Boehrer's book shows some of the same paintings, but in black-and-white, and smaller size). Thus, the two books nicely complement each other.



2. I was very excited when I bought this book. After reading it once, I still found it quite wonderful, but since I`m writing a book of my own (on african greys), I had to check up on some of the "facts" I wanted to use myself. I`m sorry to say that some of the historical facts don`t add up to other, reliable sources. For instance, one painting is dated to 1889, but the painter died in 1883, and according to the book it was the French who invaded The Canary islands in 1402. It was the Spanish... A few other dates are wrong as well. I haven`t found (or searched for) many errors, but this makes me question the rest of the book as well. But if you`re not really "hung up" on historical accuracy, this is a very good book indeed. The facts themselves still hold water, although some dates and such may be wrong.

3 comments about The Weimaraner: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet.

1. I am looking to purchase a Weimaraner in the near future, and this book is by far the most informative book I have found yet. I wanted to be sure that I know as much as I can about the proper care for a Weimaraner, and this book is it. From what to do when you first get the puppy, until it becomes an old dog, this book has it. Highly reccommended for anyone looking to buy or learn more about Weimaraners.



2. As a soon-to-be puppy parent I enjoyed reading this book, it had a lot of good information about the breed, but it shouldn't be the only one you read if you plan to get a Weim. In addition to other dog books, I would strongly recommend the one called "How to Speak Dog" to anyone who plans to get a dog or already has one.



3. My husband and I purcahaced this book when we were getting ready to bring home our first Wiemariner. We were looking for guidance on things to expect, how to make the dog feel at home, behaviors of most dogs, training this breed, and other general guidelines to follow. The book targeted itself to all these areas, and in addition, helped us greatly in bringing our new family member home. Riley did an excellent job at describing the breed in general and gave many pointers on supplies, training, health, and what owners need to expect. It is a great book if you are a first time owner and have a lot of questions.

3 comments about Caiques (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This book contained alot of good information about these little clowns. So what if there is another simillar book. The point is to get pet owners the information they need, and this book does it with ease.



2. Ok, so I have been thinking of getting a bird for quite some time, and have been reviewing all kinds of books.
   
   This book- the Complete Pet Owners Manual of Caiques, is absolutely wonderful. It goes into great detail about those wonderful little birds, everything from their mannerisms, to their diet, and their disposition.
   
   Not only do I recommend the book, but also a Caique!
   
   Enjoy!



3. In general, this is a great book for anyone looking to own a caique. The information is up-to-date and easy to understand. However, there are some things that were missed (and I would love to see this info in a 2nd edition someday).
   
   First, under the section "Special Caique Behavior", the author forgot "hopping". This is a unique behavior that is often mentioned in almost every caique article out there.
   
   Second, I would love to have read about the possibilities of owning two caiques. Do you have to get one of each sex? Or can two males and/or two females co-exist?
   
   Third, I would like to have read about the different developmental stages they go through as they mature (dominance issues, hormonal issues, etc.) and at what age to expect them. Also, at what point do they lose their dark eyes and yellow-ish chest to reveal their adult coloration? This would help a buyer determine if they were really get a young bird.
   
   Fourth, a section on breeding would be greatly appreciated, and needed, as there are very few resources for caique breeders to refer to. Photos of babies' physical developments, weight charts, feeding schedules, etc. would be quite helpful. I find caique babies more difficult in some ways to hand-raise than other species, and this info can really be of use to breeders who are new to this species.
   
   Again, this book does have a lot to offer, but I do see room for some improvement. I would be very interested in purchasing a revised edition if it were to address my above-mentioned suggestions.