No comments about Chihuahua (Breeders' Best).

5 comments about Pet Loss: A Spiritual Guide.

1. Julia, a great and sensitive mind.. coaxes your feelings and makes sense out of why we feel more loss when losing an animal than a close relative!
   
   Amazing...
   
   S



2. When my German Shepherd died I was given three books. This was one, and the best. I'm married man with two kids. The kids were devastated, as was my wife & I. This author writes from the heart. There is a special chapter on the difficult decision of euthansia, which we needed because Teg had cancer, and a chapter on how-to help children cope. What sets this book a part from the others is that there is no psycho-babble. No new age theatrics. The author writes from a generic spiritual angle that allows you to tap into your own spirituality, even if you feel that you have none. She presents how different world religions view pet loss and how they counsel their congregations. This is just a great book that should be on every pet lover's shelf. One word of caution - make sure you get the book by JULIA Harris. It was released 2003 by Lantern Books. There is an older book by the same title written by Eleanor Harris and it's different.



3. I appreciated the author's candidness in dealing with grief. She was straightforward and connected quickly with me. If it weren't for the fence-straddling on religious views I probably would have rated this book higher. But when I read a book I want to know the author has answers and is strong on them. I still recommend this book for general help. Thank you for writing it.



4. Having lost my beloved dog, Sasha, I read three books on pet loss. This was the only book which truly comforted my children and myself. It offers spiritual viewpoints from global religions. Doesn't matter if your Christian, Buddhist, Native American, Jewish - the author offers wisdom taken from all paths. A beautiful book which guides you through helping children cope, the difficult decision of euthansia, terminally ill or injured pets - even stolen or runaway pets. I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed.



5. In the reviews for Pet Loss: A Spiritual Guide my review is pasted above the previous one as if it were from the same author. Although the other review is good, I don't not wish to take credit for someone else's work! Thank you. Heather Moore Byerley CastleByer@aol.com

5 comments about Hands-On Dog Care.

1. This book has saved me a minimum of 6 trips to the vet. The most recent was last night, when a visiting dog was showing signs of what I feared might be bloat. It wasn't, and I was able to figure that out based on the information in this book.

   Every dog owner, not matter how experienced, will benefit from having this book close at hand. I plan to send a copy home with every puppy I breed.




2. From a review in the Portland Oregonian by Deborah Woods.Hands-On Dog Care is touted as the 'complete book of canine first aid.'This comprehensive book contains the best first aid information I have ver seen in any book--and a whole lot more...The amount of useable useful information presented in this book is stunning.

   Paws up for this excellent encyclopedic book. It's a valuable addition to any dog lover's library.




3. From Dog News magazine "Every now and then a book does come along which is a must for every involved dog owner to read. I know that cliche is written in virtually every review but in the case of Hands-On Dog Care it's much more than a cliche. You MUST own this dog book and you should suggest it to everyone who buys a dog or a pup as well! It is a 408 page tome crammed full of vital facts and information that can save your dog's life. And more importantly you know the information is reliable."



4. From Pet Behavior Newsletter: At 408 pages, 8 1/2X11, illustrated and with index Hands-On Dog Care is a big book that handles a big subject with lots of illustrations, photos, charts and guides to what to do in the event of every imaginable medical emergency a professional in the dog business or a serious dog owner would need to know. It is split into sections. The first contains 15 chapters, all of which deal with recognizing symptoms for an incredible array of physical ailments and injuries, then applying first aid. The second section holds 25 chapters on how to establish a dog's baseline behavior, provide for regulasr clinical care, fleas and worms, give oral medication, examine eyes, etc. etc, etc. Even advice about getting a proper first-aid kit...It's all there! (whew)



5. From THE BOXER REVIEW: This is a worthwhile purchase for all but the most knowledgeable breeder because it covers when to call the Vet, and what to do until you can get the dog to the Vet, and how to handle illness and injuries that do not require a Vet office appointment. Even the most knowledgeable breeders could find this useful to reaffirm a judgement concerning a dog's well being. This Doral Publication is highly recommended.

5 comments about The Character of Cats: The Origins, Intelligence, Behavior, and Stratagems of Felis silvestris catus.

1. It is my impression that Stephen Budiansky has approached this book from more of a scientific view than anything else. His history of cats and their origins is very interesting, and apparently well-researched. But his thoughts regarding cats' sociability toward humans seem to be negating or downplaying the actual personalities of cats -- giving what I think is too much emphasis on their seemingly back-to-the-wild-which-they-never-really-left traits.
   
   What I have experienced with my (and other) cats downplays and/or negates some of his theories. Sometimes I think it's our pets who have civilized us -- not the other way around.. But that's another story.
   
   That being said -- I think a few things should be revised -- after all, this book is 5 years old -- that is 36 years old, in Cat Years.
   
   First of all -- the issue of "Trap Neuter and Return" of Feral Cats (cats who are the product of abandoned pets) SHOULD be addressed. Has Mr. Budiansky ever experienced or witnessed what Feral Caretakers go thru to ensure that their colony will not only stop reproducing, but will remain a healthy and well-cared for part of the community in which they live? More people need to know about this-- maybe it will even help educate those who would otherwise discard their pets (an irresponsible and sad practice).
   
   I also feel that his remark on Animal Communicators was not well researched -- dismissing them by saying that as a cat owner, you do not want to "know what your cat really thinks of you" is disrespectful and is doing a disservice to those people who CAN genuinely communicate with non-human beings. Animal Communicators, such as Penelope Smith, and others-- have helped solve behavioral and health issues that plague so many animals and bewilder so many of these animals' caretakers - by communicating with the animals and creating a bridge of understanding between the animal and its "owner" (caretaker). Perhaps Animal Communication is not scientific enough to warrant a positive comment in his book, but there is something to it and it should not be the subject of (very unscientific) ridicule.



2. Truly enjoyable book. Having had dogs all my life and coming recently to an appreciation (and embarrassingly vocal and story-laden devotion to these little animals) it was nice to read a book that didn't become sloppily ga-ga about the critters - there are enough of us out here already quick to share the "oh-let-me-tell-you-about-the-cutest-thing-my-little-pookie-did-today"cocktail stories. Honestly! A lot of us are as bad as the new parents who simply MUST share their delight in the details about the bodily functions and cute sounds that their first baby made this week! (Yes, I'm guilty of that sin as well.)
   
   Delightfully droll and informative, this book's opening chapter is titled "Cats Plot to Take Over the World -- And Succeed" (which we ALL know is an accurate description of their TRUE intentions!) and winds up with helpful and understanding suggestions for addressing persistently annoying behaviors which owners somehow manage to overlook - at least in the first blush of ownership. Compassionate and wise, the author carefully explains the instinctual nature of cat behavior and its expression in some of the less attractive, but ultimately natural, behavior that cats so graciously share with us.
   
   Quite recommended!



3. Really interesting discussion of why cats behave the way they do and why they are different from other domesticated animals. Even if you can't buy into all of it, it does make you think!



4. This book is chock full of amazing and insightful cat lore. While I'm sure that I may have been able to read much of what was in this book elsewhere, it provides an excellent summary and review of what man knows about those amazing cats that have followed us through the ages. The author provides all of this info through very conversational and often humorous text that was very easy to read. I found myself laughing out loud as well as nodding in agreement as I suddenly understood more of why my cat's are the way they are.
   
   Speaking as a scientist myself I think it is also a robust and well-researched piece. In the back you'll find a very long list of citations to scientific work. While it may not be perfect and may not have all the answers it's clear that the author took a lot of time to try to get things right and to present as clear and accurate of a picture as possible.



5. I picked up this book under the impression that some of the quirky things my cats do might be explained and substantiated. I wanted to learn more about their thought processes and evolutionary background. Overall, this book did not live up to my expectations.
   
   Stephen Budiansky starts off the book with an interesting historical perspective on cats. He also briefly describes some evolutionary background as well as close relatives to Felis silvestris catus, body color patterns, and similarities and differences between feral and domesticated cats. From there, Budiansky delves into the behavior patterns of cats and their various personalities. He discusses things such as low-light vision in cats, the odd reactions some cats have to cat nip, the tendency to mark territory, the tendency to eat plants, and learning capabilities. He also gives some descriptions of what might be done to discourage unwanted behavior in your pets, which is probably the most beneficial aspect of the book (except for the fact that one of his suggestions is prescribed drugs).
   
   Budiansky covers a vast plethora of information within this book, however, none if it is really described in very much depth. Furthermore, I found it extremely discouraging that much of the behavior described in this book seems to be mere observations made by Budiansky without much (or, at times, any) explanation, and is only rarely backed by scientific studies. Much of the knowledge presented in this book is general information that anyone who has owned cats for any length of time, and paid any attention to their behavior, should already be aware of. Frequently Budiansky writes off various cat behaviors by merely stating "it's hard-wired in their brain." As a biology major, I found these explanations to be extremely elementary and quite lacking.
   
   In addition, this book was just a bland read. Though I was determined to get through it, it has taken me a couple of months of picking it up and reading a couple of pages at a time before I had to put it down and save it for another day. If anything, this book might be used as a jumping off point from which to determine what aspects of cats you might want to research in more depth, since Budiansky barely glosses over the surface of everything he discusses (how much detail can he really get into in only 201 pages?).
   
   As someone who has been a cat owner for about seventeen years now, I didn't feel that this book added much to my knowledge of cats, and would thus not recommend this book to those who own cats and are already familiar with their behavior. If you aren't a cat owner and are interested in the quirky cuteness that is Felis silvestris, then this might be more worthwhile.

1 comments about Dog Training with a Head Halter.

1. Ms. Fields-Babineau has clearly outlined the use of a head halter as a training tool for use with dogs of any temperament, size, and breed. Following her easy to understand guidance, even a brand new pet owner can acheive success in obedience training. The reader gets the feeling of sitting down to a one-on-one conversation with the author without the book being preachy. Ms. Fields-Babineau has done an excellent job of compiling a lot of information into a format that is easy to follow and even easier to use.

1 comments about A Dog for All Seasons.

1. This picture book is so unbelievably cute. I just stumbled upon it in a book store in downtown Chicago on the way to work and couldn't put it down. It makes a great coffee table book to show off to guests. Everybody will LOVE it.

5 comments about African Cichlids of Lakes, Malawi, and Tanganyika.

1. What an amazing book!!! Amazing content with very useful information and beautiful pictures to boot. I dare you to find a better book out there on African Cichlids.



2. First of all the book is 448 pages long (you would think there would be an abundent amount of usefull information) well THINK AGAIN ! The book is full of pictures with outdated scientific names, the only information about breeding any type of cichlid (being malawi or tang) is that you throw in a male with two or three female keep the water clean and BAM, you will have fry everywhere! It takes him about 20 pages to say this, in which he keeps repeating about just putting the fish in together and keeping the water clean. This book is trash and I am highly dissapointed, I wouldnt sell it for the simple fact that I would feel as though I am cheating someone out of money. If you are, on the other hand, looking for a book because your 2 year old seems to be fascinated by fish and fish pictures, then this would be ok for you. Out of the 448 pages 300 are pictures with no information about keeping the fish in an aquaria whatsoever, no explanations & poor "guessing at the correct names"; as he refers to over and over again "this is probably a ___ sp " Very jumbled and poorly organized ; even with the photos ~ this book doesnt even deserve 1 star!



3. I thought that this book will have all the info i'll need for my African cichlids aquariums, but this book is a total flop ,
   surprising with the names that were responsible for its release.
   It has little info on the life of the African cichlid of lake Malawi & Tanganyka and nothing else , it is mainly a picture book (more then 90%) WITHOUT any data on the fish in the pics.
   It seems i'm stuck with it but you can find much much better books to spend your money on.



4. I bought this book in order to gain practical information on cichled species and their identification but I am highly dissapointed. It is full of pictures with a lot of missing information (such as sexsing, behaviour or breeding) and it is full of technical descriptions which are not helpful for an amateur aquarist. Photos of the lake Malawi and Tanganyika fishes are all mixed up; pages are not organised at all.



5. One expects when buying a book by such a respected author to acquire a truly great book. This is not the case with this book. First of all, most photography are of very poor quality. Second, not all pages are numbered! This make the job of identifying fishes a lot harder. I'm very disapointed.

No comments about Perfectly Practical Advice on Horsemanship (John Lyons Perfect Horse Library Series).

No comments about SHIH TZU (Pet Owner's Guide).

No comments about Ask Monty: The 150 Most Common Horse Problems Solved.