1 comments about Miniature Schnauzer (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

1. This is a great book to establish everything you should know to understand this very intelligent breed. It also establishes the minimum maintenance that this very special breed deserves.

3 comments about Dog Training for Kids (Howell Reference Books).

1. This book might be old, but it is very helpful. I use it to train all my dogs and some of them are very well behaved. (It even works with stubborn breeds!). DTFK tells about housebreaking, obedience training, tricks, and problem solving. The methods work and the dogs like them. If you get a dog, please buy this book too. Read it cover to cover before you begin with your dog's training, though.



2. The latest version of this book is from 1988 and the book uses lots of traditional, but largely out of date corrections that have been replaced in most obedience training circles with postitive training techniques. I have elected to return the book instead of having my niece learn these dog obedience techniques.



3. This book has all u need to know from potty to exercise!

No comments about The Complete West Highland White Terrier,.

1 comments about TERRALOG: Turtles of the World, Vol. 4 - East and South Asia.

1. This book is a visual treat, not a technical reference. Overall picture content is very nice. There is some consistency to photo format in this volume, and many of the photos are useful aids in identification. Fair use of plastral shots is made in this volume.
   
   Range maps are provided but in many cases are inaccurate. A number of habitat photos are provided and are useful. Additional habitat photos should have taken the place of the blob-ish range maps.
   
   The senior author took the liberty to split species in the family Geoemydidae (Bataguridae/Emydidae) into many, MANY genera, making them unrecognizable to people unaware of revisions that haven't gained wide use. The scientific naming in this volume is very contrary to the objective of making animal id simpler!
   
   Husbandry information in this volume is the same as others. It's not sufficient.
   
   There is an extra section in this book that pictures the multitude of known Asian hybrid turtles. Photo quality and angles in this section are consistently fair to excellent, but the size is very small - 12 photos per page vs. 6. Regrettably, no confirmation for each hybrid's claimed parentage is given.
   
   This book will not be useful for distinguishing subspecies, but it will do a fair job supplementing a key at the species level. The book is of no use for husbandry. I found the hybrids section alone to be worth the purchase price.

3 comments about The Super Simple Guide To Breeding Freshwater Fishes (Super Simple Guide To...).

1. I feel tricked, but it's my fault for not doing my research. I was surprised when I got the book today. I was expecting a small coffe-table book but what I got was something just slightly better than a pamphlet! Well, like I said, I know it's my fault. If you're serious about the hobby, stay away from this book.



2. Award-winning journalist Laura Muha presents The Super Simple Guide To Breeding Freshwater Fishes, a practical guide for both commercial and private freshwater fish owners. Chapters discuss the history of breeding fishes in aquaria, how to condition adult fish, raising the fry, disease prevention, notes on hybrids, species-specific guidelines and instructions, and more. The species catalogue includes such popular types of fish as livebearers (guppies, etc.), anabantoids, catfish, characins, cichilids, cyprinids, and rainbowfish. Color photographs on every page beautifully illustrate this handy, plain-terms guide, printed on sturdy, water-resistant paper stock. A "must-have" for anyone interested in successfully breeding freshwater fish.



3. Award-winning journalist Laura Muha presents The Super Simple Guide To Breeding Freshwater Fishes, a practical guide for both commercial and private freshwater fish owners. Chapters discuss the history of breeding fishes in aquaria, how to condition adult fish, raising the fry, disease prevention, notes on hybrids, species-specific guidelines and instructions, and more. The species catalogue includes such popular types of fish as livebearers (guppies, etc.), anabantoids, catfish, characins, cichilids, cyprinids, and rainbowfish. Color photographs on every page beautifully illustrate this handy, plain-terms guide, printed on sturdy, water-resistant paper stock. A "must-have" for anyone interested in successfully breeding freshwater fish.

2 comments about Puppy Care & Training (Terra-Nova Series).

1. This book seems to hit on every aspect of raising a puppy. The information is presented in interesting ways and the pictures are cute. I learned a lot and will continue to use it as a reference as we train and care for our puppy. I thought it was a very good buy and would recommend it. I spent a while at Borders looking through puppy books and just bought this one on a whim, but am very happy with it.



2. Teoti Anderson, with help from veterinary consulting editor Wayne Hunthausen D.V.M., has written a delightful book that will introduce you to the wonderful and exciting world of puppies.
   
   Beautifully illustrated and informative, Puppy Care & Training has a free care and training DVD, sections on how to train your canine using positive training methods, up-to-date health care information, convenient diet options, as well as easy-to-follow grooming instructions.
   
   Owning a dog is a source of great joy; but it also carries with it a sense of responsibility. This book will help you keep your four legged family member healthy and safe for years to come.

1 comments about Simple Steps To Riding Success: Feel the Power of Positive Riding : Includes Exercises & Case Studies.

1. The book is very well organised with plenty of structured exercises and tips. If we apply some project management and psychology to help us focus on our horse riding activities, it will help us achieve little wins to help us along our way. This book is a friendly, easy-to-read book with handy hints and a further reading guide appended at the back. Definitely worth a look.

5 comments about The Verb To Bird.

1. Mr. Cashwell's stories were cute and some of the bird info was mildly interesting but this is not a worthwhile read unless you know nothing about birds (but then why would you be reading about them?) Ah, you want to know more about birds? Stick with Dunne or Kauffman. Those guys know what it's like to really bird. Cashwell is only casually engaged in birding and it shows in this book. The title makes it seem like he's some sort of authority.
   Even though he isn't, he still wrote a book that was entertaining at first. Then I got annoyed and thought that many of my birding adventures were just as funny. When I realized that I was no longer enjoying the read, and not learning anything, I really lost interest.
   I did like the list of bird flock names in the beginning. I wanted to read more from someone who shared this passion. However, this book didn't make me want to bird more and wouldn't be very interesting to a potential birder. Again, learn the birds from the field guids and GO BIRDING...don't stay home reading this book.



2. This book began great. I was thinking I should get a copy for everyone who cares about me so they can get a better perspective on what this geat passion of birding is like. I was laughing out loud and thoroughly enjoying the read. But after about half way through the book, I began to lose interest. It seems as though Cashwell had some good ideas at first, but then he still needed to come up with filler for the rest of the book. By the end I was so frustrated with his mundane and frequent asinine observations that I finally had to put the book down without finishing it. His glibness went from entertaining to irritating to the point of unbearable by three-quarters of the way through. I did manage to get the part where he said he had about 250 life birds. I'm not sure how a person living in the Eastern US could have such a small life list and feel good about writing a book as though he's an expert on the topic. I know people who can log that many species in one day on the East Coast. So, if you get this book, stop after the story about the Christmas Great-Horned Owl. That was the last good story in the book.



3. A well-written book by someone who enjoys birding, but is far from obsessed by it (a lack of obsession is sometimes a good trait to have!). I found that I was able to relate to many of the stories; particularly those when he was searching out a specific species of bird, or the differences in birding alone or with a partner (I prefer the buddy system -- he comes around to it slowly).
   Being a New Yorker (& living on Long Island specifically) I was somewhat offended about his (& his fellow southerners) belief that nature ends at the New York border. Fortunately his birding trip on a winters day to Cold Spring Harbor seems to have changed his mind (so might a visit to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge or even Central Park). His tale of birding in Iowa, in particular his experience with the Iowa Birding Hotline, was good for a few out-loud laughs.
   I was less interested in his research of the naming of the cardinal, or his disdain (though I share it), for the starling.
   All-in-all, a good read about the big (and small) pleasures to be found in the pursuit of birds.



4. Peter Cashwell never really captures the spirt and pleasure of birding in "The Verb to Bird". The book is more of a forced literary exercise than a story about birds, birding or anything else. A collection of anecdotes related to the author's occasional hobby, the stories are not compelling nor do they capture the imagination. Cashwell's fascination with the mundane is illustrated by his search for the origin of the name Cardinal. He is surprised when he finds the bird was first named by Spanish, Portugese, and French explorers as he is chauvinistic enough to think Anglo Saxon settlers were the first to see this bird in North America. Following the the tale of his discovery leads to some very boring reading, as is the case with the whole book. In the end I had to work hard to finish this book even though birding is a passion in my life.

   I would not reccommend this book except as an example of how a person with excellent literary credentials can take an intersting subject and make it quite boring. Perhaps if Cashwell would work more on building his birding skills he would be able to write better on the subject.

   Sorry for the bad review. As Sandy Komito said: "In birding integrity is like virginity, you can only lose it once."




5. Peter Cashwell, an English teacher, has written a graceful book that discusses birding in a light-hearted manner. It will delight those of us who love birds and those of us who love the English language. I often laughed out loud at the various situations Cashwell creates for himself in the pursuit of birds. After reading it, I felt inspired to look at the visitors to my backyard far more closely.

5 comments about The Coral Reef Aquarium: An Owner's Guide toa Happy Healthy Fish (Happy Healthy Pet).

1. I first bought this book because of the author. When I recived it and thumbed through the pages I concluded that it was a book for beginners. In any case, since I had already spent 11 bucks I thought what the heck, if I could get at least one good idea out of it it will be worth the time and money.
   
   I was delighted to find the clearest explanations I've ever read on aquariun systems. I have a much better understanding now. I also picked up some very useful tips.
   
   Fantastic book. Very clear, easy to understand but detailed explantions of complex systems.



2. This is a great book to ease your way into learning about the reef. It uses simple and scientific verbage to teach the basics about the coral reef. I love it, read it twice, and will read it again. :)



3. I was disappointed by this book.

   For one thing, this is a very small book. It has only about 100 pages on a 4 X 8 size paper. And most of it is occupied by photos. But I also have to accept the fact that this book is much cheaper pricewise than the other comprehensive books out there such as the one by John Tullock.

   So in view of its shortness, the subject of coral reef keeping is not covered comprehensively. There is very little in depth explanation of the equipment and the biology of the hobby. As a rough comparison, most of the other coral keeping guides are more than 400 pages long.

   Coral reef keeping is an advanced subject (as opposed to marine fish keeping), and the equipment are varied, from lights, filtration, skimmers, chemical additives, chillers, etc. Each of these subjects is covered in a couple of paragraphs, as opposed to pages.

   A beginner will not have enough advice to start a new tank error-free, while a more advanced hobbiest will not be satisfied with its simple explanations.

   There are much better books out there.




4. This was the first book I've purchased as I was recommended by various hobbyist whom I have lots of respect for. When I started reading this book, first thing I told myself "Wow, how little I knew". I would highly recommend anybody who is getting started with Reef Hobby. Dr Ron is not only an experienced (PhD) Marine Biologist, but an active participant/contributor in various related Forum, Magazine and so on.

   On a different note, I would like to respond to the reader from Kingston, MA. Bristle Worms are your friend :p . They are mostly scavengers and will be a great member of your cleanup crew. There are some cases where aquarist found bristle worm gorging on their favorite fish, but the truth behind that almost always is, your fish died of other reason and Bristle Worm really doing its job, cleaning it up for you. If you have a super huge Bristle Worm, you may or may not choose to relocate it. Happy Reefing.




5. I fell into reef aquarium ownership almost overnight. I didn't know what I was getting into and bought an established 140 gallon tank with rocks and fish. The second hand tank had been neglected and there were only 3 surviving fish and the rock didn't look too healthy. I had no idea what I was headed into and I bought and killed a number of beautiful, expensive fish out of total ignorance.

   This book would have not only saved me a lot of money, but a lot of headache, heartache and trips to the local fish store.

   Dr. Shimek includes tips on inexpensive ways to equip the hardware and contents w/o spending an arm and a leg on overpriced items at the store. He tells you what animals to avoid (especially for beginners) and which ones are must-haves.

   For a beginning book, it is packed w/ info in just over 125 pages and in a very affordable package. Most aquarium books are VERY expensive and you'll never read the whole thing.

   I read this book in about 2 weeks (I work full time and I'm a slow reader) by taking it with me during my lunch hour and it has already saved me hundreds of dollars in items/livestock I was considering on purchasing.

   My only criticism is the lack of photos of critical things the author was citing. There are tons of high quality photos in this book, but some creatures were mentioned that I would have like to have seen represented in a photo and still have no idea what the author was talking about.

   The author does assume some knowledge in some areas where it seems he may have forgotten his audience. Had I not already dealt w/ some issues during my "baptism by fire" experience of learning the hard way for months before buying this book, I wouldn't have understood some of the concepts he brought up.

   This book was one of the best purchases I've made in regards to aiding my hobby. Thank you, Dr. Ron!

No comments about Thinking Riding Book 2: In Good Form (Thinking Riding).