No comments about The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds: A full-color photographic guide to 300 leading cat breeds of the world (Illustrated Encyclopedia).

5 comments about Pisces Guide to Watching Fishes: Understanding Coral Reef Fish Behavior (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Great Barrier Reef).

1. New snorkelers are very movement sensitive. They are looking for things moving on the reef. The more colorful, the better.
   
   After you get past this stage, you start asking questions. Why do some fish have a false "eyespot" and others do not? Why do some fish, well, swim like a fish, while others swim like a box of matches with wings? Why do parrrotfish spend so much time biting a nutrient-poor reef. Why not go after real prey?
   
   These types of questions are answered in this book. Written from the perspectives of ecology and behavior (with the emphasis on behavioral ecology), the Wilsons put together a readable and accurate (to the standards of the literature in the mid 1980s) work on fish behavior. Fish are so much more deserving than simply lumping them into taxonomic groupings. This book helps you get to that next level, the "why" stage.



2. This book is outstanding on so many levels... It has a basic intro to coral reef biology and to the fishes. It then goes on to discus the various aspect of fish life. Eating, breeding, various interactions are all covered. Look for the parts on schooling and social life of coral reef fishes. etc... The authors manage to bring a large body of scientific reference material together and make it accessible to anyone interested in coral reef fishes.

   If you are a diver or snorkeler then you will enjoy this wealth of information that will go along way to describe the intricate behaviors in this most complicated of habitats. If you are a reef aquarium hobbyist the you will learn why fish act the way they do. If you are a professional then you will appreciate the way that this book brings in the journal literature. There are 19 pages of bibliography, and although it might be a bit dated many of the articles are classics.




3. After I'd dived and snorkeled in the same spot more than a few times, I found myself wondering: what are those fish doing? Why are there such huge differences in what I see at 7AM from what I see at 5PM? Are those fish mating or fighting? While this book only begins to answer those questions--I'd love to see a newer edition with research since the early 90's--it does tell the careful observer what to look for, which adds greatly to the experience of diving and snorkeling. A caveat, however: if you don't already know the major fish families (such as parrotfish, surgeonfish, wrasses, butterflyfish, and so on), you'll find the book somewhat incomprehensible. I'd label this book as Step 2 in becoming a knowledgeable observer, with Step 1 as learning the fish families. (And for that, I'd get a regional guide for wherever you dive--the fish families are the same world-wide, although the species are not.) Note: while I criticize this book for being (slightly) out of date, that doesn't make the information useless--far from it.



4. We run charter yachts and take our guests snorkeling on reefs daily. I borrowed this book over 10 years ago, and still remember how incredibly interesting it was, not only for our own understanding of the ecosystem we enjoy so much, but also for the great information it gives us to share with our guests who are eager to learn about the beautiful reefs and the colorful fish they see. As another reviewer said, we can now go beyond just naming the fish we see and provide a broader explanation of their characteristics and behaviour. I'm thrilled to see the book back in print.



5. I agree with the previous reviewers--an invaluable, scholarly, and readable work that discusses such interesting but poorly understood subjects such as why tropical fish tend to be brightly colored, how schooling fish swim in close coordination, and whether anemones benefit from their relationship with anemone fish. It's a shame that tropical dive operations haven't made this required reading for their dive students.

5 comments about All About Agility (Howell Reference Books).

1. All About Agility is tastefully written book which is exactly as the title says... all about agility! This book covers the basics, like the origin and history of agility, along with the organizations, titles, and rules. It focuses on AKC, UKC, and USDAA mainly, but mentions NADAC in passing.

   After a history lesson and the rules of engagement, the author goes on to a section on teaching the individual obstacles. I was a little disappointed in the "bare-bones" guide, but like I said it is a great introduction to the sport. She thoroughly covers each obstacle, how to teach it, and how to solve problems you may encounter. She tends to present only her method and not mention other possibilities (as in the weaves or teeter) but her methods are safe and effective so it isn't too much of a concern.

   Good Points for this book:
   · "Training Tips from the Pros" section is really helpful, especially for the beginner
   · Includes a guide to events and your first trial
   · Also introduces a few other ideas for fun with fido, such as flyball and therapy work
   · Has a VERY complete listing of organizations, agility equipment suppliers, agility/flyball clubs, and therapy dog associations in the US and Canada

   Flaws/negative comments:
   · In general, a little surfacy. There is no talk of training for excellence and drilling. It's very "just-for-fun" oriented
   · NO sequence work is introduced. That would be fine if there was a sequel, but there isn't!
   · No course diagrams, proofing diagrams, or handling/body cue examples.
   · Really needs an instructor's guidance to achieve any training

   This book is not the best, but by far not the worst! It is a great introduction for those who are thinking about agility as a "fun thing to do" or a new hobby. It clearly outlines the basics for those with absolutely no experience and is an encouragement to join a class and learn more! It is sure to hook some new agility fanatics!




2. This book is wonderfull for people just getting started in the sport of agility.It covers everything you need to know like the different organizations, training, and basicaly everything you need to know before realy thinking about doing agility with Beau.This book is great,it answered all of my questions and I'm sure it'll answer all of yours.



3. This book will help you find agility clubs in your state, tell you all the equipment that is used. It is a book for begginers not very much for older experenced people.



4. This book is perfect for those who are interested in learning more about Agility. It includes information that pretains to people just getting into the sport as well as tips for those who are already involved. It's detailed descriptions make it easy to follow even if one doesn't know the inside lingo. The exercises and training techniques worked wonders on my dog and I'm sure it will help you too!



5. This is a nice book for someone looking to get into agility. Lots of good photos, and information on the obstacles, the various organizations, etc. Good information on preparing to go to your first show. Not much here for the experienced competitor.

4 comments about Living with a Rottweiler.

1. Do you want to have a puddle or a Rottweiler?
   I've bought a few basic books about Rottweiler to teach my dog the basics. I am very happy to say that I have a wonderful puddle, not a Rottweiler! He is a wonderful companion dog (for old ladies), not aggressive, very sociable,...etc. Do not "abuse" your dog, don't kick him, don't make him be scared of you...etc. Really? I wouldn't recommend the "operant conditioning" as described in these books, unless you want a really stupid dog with no balls at all.
   
   Nice DVD by the way... You will really learn a lot... :D



2. It was more than what i expected, very good quality and lots of pictures and information.



3. This book was well thought out and very descriptive with what's necessary when owning a Rottweiler. Her methods are strong and intelligent. I've read quite a few books on Rottweilers and this ranks in the top 3 with its information and tips on training. Good luck current and future owners.



4. Of all the books I've perused on Rottweilers, this is the most concise and comprehensive. Rhetoric is absent, and it presents a wonderful plethera of pertinent information as well as numerous color photographs. Truly great information about this incredible breed of dog.

5 comments about Rabbits (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. It has some good basic info... but lacks specific in depths about rabbits.



2. This was my first rabbit care book. It is typical of the ones you find in pet stores etc. It is relatively thin and has a lot of glossy rabbit pictures in it and good basic care information. Since getting it, I have found it to be a little vague in some areas of rabbit nutrition, mainly the need for timothy pellets, the mainstay of the rabbit diet, and the evils of calcium in a rabbit diet. Other than that, it is a good, inexpensive, colorful rabbit book that I did enjoy reading.



3. I bought this book a couple days before getting my bunny. We have now had him for 3 days, and I am looking for a more detailed book now. It was good because it shows pictures of bunny types, is easy to read, and easy to reference.
   The downside, it only has a little information on everything, it is a thin book. I want another one with tons of information, but this one is good for kids and referencing.



4. It was an okay book, but none of the information was anything I hadn't already read on websites for free. The heading here also says it provides everything about training, but I didn't find any training advice other than getting it to stand up, stuff I don't consider training, my rabbit does those things naturally. It doesn't discuss chewing at all. I was very disappointed.



5. If you're thinking of adopting a rabbit, this is the perfect book to get for a new pet owner, seeing as how all of the information that it contains is broken down simply, in a language that is untechnical, and easily understood by rabbit owners and lovers of all ages. RABBITS: A COMPLETE PET OWNER'S MANUAL, is filled with tons of different information that rabbit owners need in order to care for their new bunny. From info about a rabbit's origins, life cycle, temperament, to info about selecting the perfect rabbit for your family, information about feeding, purchasing a cage, health care, accessories, and more.

   As someone who loves rabbits, and has owned a Holland Lop named Cinnabun for 6-years, I know first-hand that this book is a must-have. In fact, just last week, this book saved Cinnabun's life. I noticed that Cinnabun was acting strangely, and looked up his symptoms in Monika Wegler's RABBITS. I soon found out that Cinnabun was suffering from Snuffles, a deadly upper respiratory infection. The vet informed me that had one more day passed, Cinnabun would have surely died. It has now been a week, and Cinnabun is not only feeling better, but is back to his old ways, and I have this book to thank. The easy-to-understand chapter about health care is amazing. A true must-have!

   Erika Sorocco

1 comments about The Puppy Owner's Manual: Solutions to all your Puppy Quandaries in an easy-to-follow question and answer format.

1. This book is good to have while training a puppy or getting accustomed to a new puppy. Every question I come up with I can refer to the book and bang my answer is there. I don't have to call the vet or trainer for every little problem or question. This book has helped me train my 14 week old chocolate lab with no problems at all. Best wishes.

No comments about In Praise of Oxen.

2 comments about Purebred Rescue Dog Adoption: Rewards and Realities.

1. Even though I have had many dogs, Tank was my first rescue dogs. This book was very helpful to read before adopting and in the first few months I referred back to the book frequently for helpful hints.



2. This book is just full of good information for anyone considering a rescue dog, or even just an adult dog to purchase. It reassures you that happenings are normal while also alerting you to anything that might need further study. I especially liked the case studies of actual rescue dogs and their happy endings.

3 comments about The Complete Guide to Bird Dog Training.

1. This book is a great beginning book for helping you to decide what breed of Bird Dog you would like to purchase. It covers the basics of several of the top Bird Dog breeds and includes training for the puppies and life after purchase. Please read this book to help you decided if you are unsure of what breed of bird dog you want to purchase.



2. The title of this review says it all.



3. I was looking for a somthing to help me train my dog when i saw this book. I read it cover to cover and didn't need it again. It was very helpful. It shows almost every single thing that you need to know how to train your Labradore Retreiver.(gun dog)

No comments about Goldens Forever: A Heartwarming Celebration of the Golden Retriever.