2 comments about Brittany (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

1. I recently adopted a seven year old Brittany Spaniel from The American Brittany Spaniel Rescue. I found the book to be full of great information on Brittanys. It was very helpful to me.



2. As the cover states the book provides a comprehensive guide for Brittany owners. It cleared up misconceptions about the beginning of the breed that I acquired from other "authoritative" sources. For any one interested in a highly energenic affectionate companion dog this book and contact with good examples of the breed will bring pleasure to your life.

1 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting and Owning a Cat.

1. A thoroughly enjoyable book that covers every aspect of choosing and caring for a pet cat. With sections that include information on training (agility!) cats and how to get the most out of the relationship with a cat, it has something to offer even seasoned cat owners. A fun and energetic read, it is not only very educational, but entertaining too!

1 comments about Keeshond: A Comprehensive Owner's Guide (A Kennel Club Book).

1. Very helpful book, with detailed information. Wonderful for either a newcomer to owning a Keeshond or the experienced owner.

No comments about Tigers 2009 Calendar.

5 comments about The New Complete Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

1. I have browsed this book and if you are thinking about getting a Chesapeake you should buy this book first. It will cover many of the things I mention here in greater detail. Many people have bought Chesapeake Bay Retrievers without doing enough research and then gotten rid of their "problem" dogs. In almost all cases "the problems" were caused by the owners because they did not understand the requirements of this breed.
   
   I have owned and trained my Chesapeakes for over 12 years now and I can tell you that they are a wonderful and unique breed. There is no other breed with the qualities of a Chesapeake. They are very intelligent, extremely loyal and dedicated to their masters, great with kids (if raised with them) and love to be part of the family, have unbelievable determination and will, and in many ways have almost human like personalities. For these reasons and others, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers make absolutely wonderful companions.
   
   However, as Chesapeake breeders will tell you, these dogs are not for everyone. Their intelligence and energy requires a need for daily activity that challenges them physically and mentally and that is rewarding to them. They thrive when given what they interpret as a problem to solve. They respond much better to praise then they do discipline. Robotic methods of training don't work as well on Chesapeakes and for that reason many pro trainers won't train a Chesapeake because they think they are too stubborn or just dumb.
   This is rarely true, but it takes a strong commitment on the owners part to provide the dog with an environment in which it thrives. Chesapeakes have a lot of self-pride and if you try to force them to do something against their will, they may often resent you and become uncooperative.
   
   Chesapeakes love to swim, retrieve, play, hunt, or just show off their physical strength and stamina by lifting large logs and rocks out of the water for hours on end. If not given the proper physical and mental outlets a Chesapeake bores very quickly and can become destructive and depressed. For these reasons Chesapeakes do not like being left alone in a kennel for hours. Being part of the family is very important to them and they love attention. They are fine in the house but need a large fenced yard also. Again, if they are ignored or neglected, they will resent you and it will lead to destructive behavior or depression.
   
   Other things to consider:
   They are protective of their home and family and may bark at strangers. They are not naturally agressive towards strangers or other dogs, but if their protective side is overly encouraged, or if they are taunted, they could become that way.
   
   They shed. A lot. Nuff said.
   They eat a lot so they poop a lot. Nuff said.
   
   The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a very special breed and they make great family dogs and excellent hunting dogs. But they require a patient but dominant personality in their owner, training adjusted to the Chesapeakes personality with lots of positive reinforcement, love and respect as part of the family, room to run, and lots of happy and rewarding activity. If you feel you can fullfill and commit to these needs, then a Chesapeake Bay Retriever may be the right dog for you.



2. I bought this book through Janet Horn, our dog's (Timothy Scott)beeder before she passed away.I feel Janet's insight into a Chessie's personality to be dead on.She really loved her dogs (Her home in New Jersey was filled with Chessie's) with all her heart .When I visited her the day we bought our dog I could feel that knowledge as she advised me on what to do with our dog.He is a shining example of what a Chesapeake should be- so are his puppies!Buy this book!



3. This book is very thorough and complete, covering all aspects of this breed of dog, from buying a new puppy, to training, to grooming and preparing for a dog show. If you're intrigued by this breed of dog, just keep in mind that this is a very active breed of dog, and its activity level can drive some people bonkers! This book is quick to point out this fact, and it is an important one to consider.
   
   I'm happy with my Chesapeake Bay Retriever, but he can be quite a handful at times. My dog, through daily spoiling, weighs around 90 pounds, which is about 15 pounds larger than the average male of this breed. He isn't fat, just more muscular than average, which makes him even more fun to handle. What this book says about this breed is pretty accurate, based on my personal experience. These dogs are hearty, active, and have unique personalities. One needs to keep these facts in mind before making this breed a member of one's home.
   
   If you are interested in knowing more about this breed of dog, then this is an excellent book to buy. It will quickly familiarize you with the basics of this breed, and let you know what you can expect if you decide to add a Chesapeake Bay Retriever to your household.



4. Very informative book for new (and old) chessie owners.



5. When I was in the market for a medium to large sized sporting dog, I began to research dogs such as the Chesapeake Bay retriever and of course the Golden and Yellow retriever. My search led me closer to the Bay retriever because of 2 reasons: athletic ability and intelligence.

   Upon closer scrutiny I soon discover from 'The New Complete Chesapeake Bay Retriever' that indead this was the superior choice over all other retrievers. The book explains that the Bay retiever is less popular than other retrievers simply because not many people have heard of this American breed. And as a benefit, over breeding has not occured with the Bay retriever. Hunters prefer the Bay over other bird dogs due to their undistracted committment to retrieve. As a family dog, they are gentle and stoic enough never to over react or bark in any situation

   The book was a terrific guide for shopping for a pup and especially for raising and field training the dog as a hunter or as champion show dog.

   My dog is a family pet and I owe plenty to this book for guiding me logically with the raising, training and breeding of my dog.

   I discovered later that my dog's ancestry is mentioned in the book. His grandparents are previous champs and are showcased through out 'The New Complete Chesapeake Bay Retriever'.

   'The New Complete Chesapeake Bay Retriever' is thorough, logical and very acurate with selecting, raising, and training the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

No comments about Dog Blessings: Poems, Prose, and Prayers Celebrating Our Relationship with Dogs.

4 comments about Baby Animals (Cube Books).

1. I bought this book for my daughter who loves animals. She was not disappointed. This cute hand sized but large (700+ pages) book is chock full of wonderful pictures of all kinds of baby animals. It's a great gift for an animal lover.



2. I got this as a gift. The recipient absolutely loves it and has been raving about what an awesome gift it is.



3. The book is small but heavy - it's a high quality print, contaning hundreds of pictures of baby animals by themselves or being cared for by their mothers. The selection is very good, and makes for a great reading with my little kids.



4. Beautiful pictures, all sorts of animals, perfect gift, must see (better have) one.

5 comments about Bouvier des Flandres (Comprehensive Owners Guide) (Comprehensive Owners Guide).

1. This is a great book for new Bouvier owners! I have some experience with Bouviers already, so some of the content was not applicable, however there is a nice history and information about showing Bouvs. It is a nice resource for those starting with a new Bouv puppy and for someone interested in some great pictures and descriptions of the standard and history.



2. This is a pretty good Bouvier "starter book", especially since there aren't many devoted just to the Bouvier des Flandres breed. However, I do think Jim Engel's book is still the best Bouvier book on the market.
   
   I find it humorous (and odd) that the book discourages buying light colored Bouviers, especially very pale ones, and says not to buy a puppy that is fawn--only black to dark grey--(the coat does tend to change with time) and yet there are two fawn Bouviers on the cover.
   
   Though fawn (as in light deer colored, like a fawn) is an acceptable Bouvier color, blonde, buff, cream or white is not and is considered a serious fault, as are chocolate brown Bouviers.



3. This is one of only a handful of books specifically about the Bouvier des Flandres breed of dogs, and the most recently written book in English that I have been able to find.
   
   It has a very handy format, is well illustrated, very easy to read and offers important facts listed in quickly scanned boxes on almost every page. Everything is covered: history, characteristics, puppy & adult care including training, grooming, and health, as well as showing your Bouvier if that is your thing. The health care section includes excellent descriptions and pictures of the various parasites dogs can get. I keep this book within easy reach around the house for quick reference.
   
   I would definitely recommend this particular book if you are researching the breed before choosing a dog; it is an excellent overview of all important aspects of ownership while not being too detailed in terms of the family trees of today's Bouviers in shows and competitions (for that information, turn to "Bouvier Des Flanders: The Dogs of Flandres Fields" by James R. Engle, 1991).



4. We recently purchased this book along with a Bouv pup, 8 weeks old then.This so far in all the checking out we have done has proved to be the BEST Bouvier book on the market. So if you are thiking of purchasing a Bouv read this book from front to back and it will answer any question you have. Our pup is now 7months old and thanks to this book we are still learning. Excellent read.



5. This is a nice book. Especially, when you are still in the "research phase" of finding out if a Bouvier is the dog for you. We currently live in The Netherlands and took this book to our new puppies breeder and he also thought it was "a very good book." This book is easy to read and has nice heavy pages. A very good beginner book with everything you need in it, from history to fleas!

4 comments about Fox Terriers (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This book is "okay" but I hoped that it went into more details about the personality and communications with the Fox terrier.
   Most of the info in this book is covered in other Pet Manuals that I would recommend more than this book.



2. Save your money and do a Google search on fox terriers or actually visit a breeder and see many different fox terriers to get a true sense of their personality. There is no way a book can adequately capture the essence of these unique and spunky dogs.



3. If you are going to buy one fox terrier book make it this one.
   Simple and concise with pertinent information.



4. With FOX TERRIERS, Dr. Vanderlip has given us a very informative, interesting, and delightful look at our beloved little "square dog". Her knowledge of the breed and animal care, and her love of dogs, shines through in each chapter.
   This book will be easily understood and enjoyed by everyone who reads it, as she personalizes the little terriers she speaks about, with their own names, - "Anna" and "Willie".
   Throughly covering all aspects of living with and caring for a Fox Terrier from puppyhood to old age, it is expertly written and packed with beautiful full-color photos of both Smooth and Wirehaired representatives of the breed.
   It will be hard to find another book on the Fox Terrier that defines this breed's character so precisely. I can attest to this, as I belong to 5 Smooth girls.

2 comments about Prince among Dogs, A: and Other Stories of the Dogs We Love.

1. This is a fabulous anthology containing twenty-eight real life escapades of loving canines starting with Dr. Prince being there for his adopted family including the cat when they were ill. The entries are fun to read for dog lovers though the quality of the writing varies; as some are over written and some boring, but each reminds the audience of their "significant other". Intermingled throughout are "paw" quotes from celebs. For instance Anne Tyler provides the first one on how dogs view people: "... we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul-chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we are the greatest hunters ..."; my Chauncey, who flew with me like the dog in Snakes On a Plane does for sure as she has her knife and fork ready when we come home with food. Readers will think of their "Real Life Lassie"; mine was Max, a Toto with psychotic fears except if he thought I might be in danger; whereas my spouse might choose flight, unrequited loving Max chose fight. Then there is Charlie who arrives at the house when Pixie is dying; reminds me of when we took Deuce for his first vet visit the same Rusty went for his last. Readers will find their own personal Jack London Buck tale amidst this heartwarming collection as pets constantly show there "For the Love of Man" and woman and children. Clearly this compilation of true life canine-human relationships targets dog lovers; as M. Acklan puts it "... dogs give us everything. It's the best deal we ever made". Pooches make us better people whereas the latter is rarely true.
   
   Harriet Klausner



2. Reviewed by Julina K. Mills
   
   Compiled and edited by Callie Smith Grant, this collection of short stories submitted by dog owners captures the reader with anecdotes of pets that made a difference in their people's lives. Although occasionally slow paced, the book is generally well-written and is a quick read that can be put down after each chapter without feeling like any part of the story is lost. Celebrity quotes in highlighted boxes are scattered throughout the pages and add to the casual and friendly feel of this book.
   
   Heartwarming and uplifting, the stories in A Prince Among Dogs share the deep emotional bond that forms when a four-footed friend touches the life of someone in need. With unconditional love and patience, the dogs in this book change the lives of the people they come into contact with... some over a lifetime, and some in just a few hours.
   
   Throughout the book you will meet a variety of canine characters, including a tiny blind mongrel who mourns the loss of her master to cancer, a smiling spaniel-collie cross who acts as a personal trainer, and a "three-legged survivor" who helps to heal a broken family.
   
   Contributing authors include individuals from diverse backgrounds including a dog trainer, freelance writers, a marketing director, and a social worker, among other professions. Although their personal histories may be drastically different, each contributor is a linked by a common thread - the thread that connects them to man's best friend.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: A nice tale for dog lovers-and you know who you are!