2 comments about The King Ranch Quarter Horses: And Something of the Ranch and the Men That Bred Them.

1. Extensive history of the King Ranch Quarter Horses. A must have for those interested in Quarter Horse history. I have read it a couple of times, and refer to it often.



2. I found this book to be very interesting and informative, if a bit dry in areas. It was a wonderful insight to the people who help to shape the Quarter Horse world.

1 comments about Lizard Keeper's Handbook (Herpetocultural Library).

1. If you are new to lizards, this is a great book from a recognized expert. This is one book I always want on my shelf

No comments about Pocket Pups: The Definitive Guide to Diminutive Dogs.

5 comments about Secrets of the Cat : Its Lore, Legend, and Lives (Common Reader Editions).

1. Another wonderful book from one of my favorite authors. A must read if you live with moggies or are considering the adoption of one. This book made me laugh out loud reading about Boston Blackie (I've entertained thoughts of a hired killer a few times with my brood)and gave me chills while reading the chapters on the cat in history. I've bought copies of this book for cat loving friends and like all of Barbara Holland's books, a keeper.



2. When it comes to cats, I'm a sap. There is only one cat in my house, and there will be for quite awhile because my cat will not tolerate any others in her presence. In fact, if you were to attempt such a foolish task as trying to introduce another feline in our house you would be faced with my cat bullying the other to the bottom of our couch in the living room, and observing pieces of hair everywhere that my cat has pulled out of the other.

   In our futile attempt to find a way to alleviate this behavior, my wife and I went through several books, dozens of phone calls to veterinarians in Lincoln and Omaha (Nebraska) and were never to find a way to keep our tort shell from beating up on the calico kitten we brought home. Finally, however, we had to give the calico to my stepdaughter.

   In our desperate attempt to find a way to stop Pokeman (yes, at last I reveal the cat's name) from being a bully we discovered this wonderful book by Barbara Holland. It starts with a tale of hope for our family with a short essay called "The Conversion of Boston Blackie". Boston Blackie was a stray that would terrify all the other cats in the author's household. It became so bad that Ms. Holland actually hired someone to assassinate Blackie. As it turns out, there was no need to do so, as for some reason the cat converted. Truly a story that kept us going for awhile in our fruitless attempt to convert our cat.

   There's great stuff in this book, including the one I mentioned, some of it very sad (a story of a woman who would only let her cat live alone in a basement), some of it useful (how to wash a cat to prevent allergens from reacting).

   Lyrical, recommended, and picked up at our house and browsed through frequently.




3. I've already pressed "Secrets of the Cat" into the hands of my husband and my two of my best friends and said, "You must read this."

   So what were the odds that all of them would actually read the book and enjoy it? Slim to none, I'd have guessed from previous treatments of my recommendations.

   In this case though, both husband and friends were hooked from the first page. The author begins with the tale of Boston Blackie, a cat who went berserk in the presence of other felines. He ripped off their ears, he gouged out their eyes, he sent them streaking for the bushes even at feeding time. And then, one day...but I don't want to spoil Blackie's story for you. Just a hint - his name was changed to Basil and no anatomical alterations were involved.

   Barbara Holland has written an extremely personal book about the history, lore, and personality of 'Felis libyca.' In the chapter, "A Choice of Cats" she does riffs on many of the different feline breeds, but it is easy to see that the Siamese is her favorite:

   "Properly treated, Siamese develop a deep, single-hearted devotion to their people and overreact to competition, absences, and infidelity like an adolescent in love. They need attention, and think nothing of pulling the books out of the bookcase and the pictures off the walls to get it. They demand notice in a raucous, echoing voice that many people and some other cats find alarming; the sound has been compared to that of a giant sea gull in distress. Taking on a Siamese is rather like getting married."

   Our own preference is for Maine Coons (we share the house with five), and Barbara Holland tells a great story about them, too. Not that I agreed with everything she wrote. For instance, she stated that gray cats as a class are much friendlier than tabbies, which is exactly the opposite of our experience---and we've lived with two grays and about a million tabbies over the years.

   Holland is also very upset by some of the artificially propagated breeds, such as the Cornish Rex and the Scottish Fold. Her chapter on "Show Business" is sad, hilarious, and razor-sharp---sometimes all three in the same sentence. Even if you think she is way off-base on her assessment of say, Himalayans or feline intelligence or declawing procedures, you'll want to keep reading until the end of the book. She is opinionated even to the point of irritation, but she is also extremely readable.

   And Holland never confuses 'cat' with 'cute.'

   There is one chapter in "Secrets of the Cat" (originally titled "The Name of the Cat") that you might want to skip: not because it is badly written, but because it is totally horrifying. That chapter is called, "Cats and the Church" and it relates the history of cats in (primarily) medieval Europe.




4. I've already pressed "Secrets of the Cat" into the hands of my husband and my best friend and said, "You must read this."

   So what were the odds that both of them would actually read the book and enjoy it? Slim to none, I'd have guessed from previous treatments of my recommendations.

   In this case though, both husband and friend were hooked from the first page. The author begins with the tale of Boston Blackie, a cat who went berserk in the presence of other felines. He ripped off their ears, he gouged out their eyes, he sent them streaking for the bushes even at feeding time. And then, one day...but I don't want to spoil Blackie's story for you. Just a hint - his name was changed to Basil and no anatomical alterations were involved.

   Barbara Holland has written an extremely personal book about the history, lore, and personality of 'Felis libyca.' In the chapter, "A Choice of Cats" she does riffs on many of the different feline breeds, but it is easy to see that the Siamese is her favorite:

   "Properly treated, Siamese develop a deep, single-hearted devotion to their people and overreact to competition, absences, and infidelity like an adolescent in love. They need attention, and think nothing of pulling the books out of the bookcase and the pictures off the walls to get it. They demand notice in a raucous, echoing voice that many people and some other cats find alarming; the sound has been compared to that of a giant sea gull in distress. Taking on a Siamese is rather like getting married."

   Our own preference is for Maine Coons (we share the house with five), and Barbara Holland tells a great story about them, too. Not that I agreed with everything she wrote. For instance, she stated that gray cats as a class are much friendlier than tabbies, which is exactly the opposite of our experience---and we've lived with two grays and about a million tabbies over the years.

   Holland is also very upset by some of the artificially propagated breeds, such as the Cornish Rex and the Scottish Fold. Her chapter on "Show Business" is sad, hilarious, and razor-sharp---sometimes all three in the same sentence. Even if you think she is way off-base on her assessment of say, Himalayans or feline intelligence or declawing procedures, you'll want to keep reading until the end of the book. She is opinionated even to the point of irritation, but she is also extremely readable.

   And Holland never confuses 'cat' with 'cute.'

   There is one chapter in "Secrets of the Cat" (originally titled "The Name of the Cat") that you might want to skip: not because it is badly written, but because it is totally horrifying. That chapter is called, "Cats and the Church" and it relates the history of cats in (primarily) medieval Europe.




5. This is a book written by someone that loves and understands cats very deeply. Some of the stories made me laugh to tears, while others made me cry. I believe that the story of the cat who was so lonely that found friends in the cellar mice is the saddest cat tale I've ever read. The book is well researched, however I disagree with some of the author's views on witchcraft. But that doesn't change the fact that every catlover is going to love this book.

No comments about First Aid For Dogs: An Owner's Guide toa Happy Healthy Pet.

1 comments about bowWOW!: Curiously Compelling Facts, True Tales, and Trivia Even Your Dog Wont Know.

1. Very good and informative book that is a quick read as well. Even an avid reader of dog books like myself was able to learn a few new things inside these pages.

5 comments about The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital Book of Wellness and Preventive Care for Dogs.

1. This book is just great. It's full of information on how to keep your dog happy and healthy, and has lots of very useful explanations of technical terms (for example about dog illnesses). It is very readable - it's like having a good friend who knows all about dog health, explaining stuff to you.
   
   The book is arranged very sensibly, and I know I will be able to easily find information when I need it. I will probably take this book away with me when we go on holidays with our dog - it's the sort of book that would be handy in an emergency.
   
   I also liked the way that the author didn't push any particular views - I have lots of other dog books where I feel that the authors are telling you that you MUST treat your dog in a certain way. In this book, the author gently suggests to you that this is a good thing to do.
   
   Clearly a lot of research has gone into finding the best information for this book, and I really wish that I had owned it when I first got my dog. I've had some bad vet experiences and when I got to the section about "how to choose a vet" I wished someone had suggested those to me a few years ago!
   
   Overall, this is a calm and sensible book, one that I am sure I will be referring to many times in the future.



2. Darlene's Arden's book is an essential for the bookshelf of any dog owner, new or experienced. She covers EVERY aspect of care at every stage of your dog's life in an easy-to-read style. It includes a WELLNESS program, a way to KEEP your dog healthy, as well as ways to recognize illnesses and emergency situations. The behavior and training sections are wonderful.
   
   This book is a must-have, and don't just hide it on the shelf. Keep it handy because you'll find that after a first reading, you'll be referring to it on a regular basis!



3. This guide to preventive health care for dogs is long overdue. Thoroughly researched with veterinarians at the appropriately renowned Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston, I knew this book was a winner when I reached for it several times when worried friends called to ask for advice. It outlines Angell's preventive approach to health care. The three main sections cover puppyhood, the middle years, and the senior years. It starts with the basics for every dog - vaccinations, parasites, grooming, trimming nails, nutrition, diseases, surgery, and the need for obedience training. The puppy years section is so large that it covers half the book. The diseases are explained briefly in lay terms so that anyone can understand what happens in a given disease. Annual check up, first aid, and cancer form the middle years section, and the senior years section covers again gracefully, geriatric wellness, and loss. The whole book is easily understood.



4. = Your best friend's best friend
   Reviewer: Alan Alford from Marlboro, MA USA
   Every loving breeder, who has ever sold a dog, has worried over whether she's given the new buyer everything he needs. This marvelous reference work from Darlene Arden will put to rest the concern of such breeders. The Angell Memorial Animal Book of Wellness is a "must" gift to accompany every puppy to its new home, and deserves a prominent place in every dog owner's library. It certainly has one in mine, where it's kept close enough for instant help each time one of my beloved pets shows the slightest sign of distress. In just the few short weeks since acquiring it it has brought me comfort on two occasions, and caused me instantly to take off to our veterinarian in a third. In 14 well-researched, easily read, heart-warming chapters, from Puppyhood, through the Middle Years, to the Senior years all dog-lovers dread, the author "holds the hand" of the dog owner through every possible medical concern and, in finale, comforts him in the final chapter of every human - canine love bond, "Saying Goodbye." This is one of the rare book investments that will earn, continuously, a return of its cost. I'm glad I found it.

   Alan Alford




5. Finding a book on veterinary medicine that is easy to read and refer to but still has exceptional information, is difficult. Darlene has captured both in her book. Whether a person uses western medicine or has a more alternative approach, Darlene's book can be utilized by either approach. One must first understand diseases and health issues before being able to choose a method of treatment. With Darlen's book, this is not a difficult task. She also captures dog behavior in a very realistic and positive light. A MUST HAVE for any dog owner.

5 comments about Frogs and Toads: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet.

1. If you're interested in frogs in general and would like to find out information about them, you'll probably enjoy this book for its many facts and profiles. It's almost like a frog magazine that has short articles on various species.
   
   If you're interested in owning a frog but don't yet know much about any species, you'll enjoy the brief explanations of the various types of frogs and their housing requirements. The profiles of species span nearly half of the book's length, offering many choices for future frog owners.
   
   Unfortunately, if you already have frogs or are already decided on what species you want to own, this book doesn't have the detailed care information you'll want and need in order to properly care for your pet(s). As the author states, "This slim volume is by no means the end-all . . . so you may want to locate and purchase additional . . . material on the frog or toad that you own" (p. 40). As an example, there were less than two dozen lines about both of the species of frogs I have, combined, and it was all basic. It's important for purchasers to realize this book is not all-inclusive, unlike the back cover copy above claims.
   
   While this book is an excellent, fun, and educational overview for those interested in frogs in general, it isn't a book suited to those who need species-specific care information. For that, you may have more luck by searching the Internet for fan sites and mailing lists. The book also needs some updating--only one of the websites mentioned in the back is still online.



2. I liked this book alot. It's pretty informative and mentions alot of different species of frogs/toads. I have toads, and it was hard to find a book about them. It's also great for beginners.



3. I am a new frog keeper, but yet, I know some things about frogs. I bought this book because I read the previous customer comments about this book. This book says about almost anything but it doesn't bother to explain how things work. For example, while I was needed to know the use of a heat mat, the book didn't say how you must use it. I'm also still concerned about the top of a terrarium (must it be a closed one or not?) How exactly I use vitamins with food? It contains many information but only as Titles and a few comments! (well, not bad for the money)



4. For the money, probably the best value on the subject. Very informative. Lots of color pictures. Describes dozens and dozens of animals, with feeding, housing, climate and related information. Also lists resources in back of book: where to find live food and climate equipment, as well as additional reading material. And much, much more. Wow!



5. This book is great for the beginner frogger, the experienced frogger, and everyone in between. Very informative, easy to understand, and written with the person who needs a quick reference in mind!

5 comments about Positive Puppy Training Works.

1. Some of the techniques in this book work and others are questionable. What they teach in this book does not work for every dog. Each dog is an individual just like a person, and different things work for different dogs. I think Cesar Millan's methods are much more effective in my opinion. This book does not dig very deep into dog psychology.



2. I've know Joel for 13 years, my husband and I purchased our first Lab puppy from Joel. We hired him to come to our house to train us to train her, what a life changing experience that was. This was the first positive puppy experience I've ever had, due to Joel working with our family. He knows what he is doing and is a great person. Keep up the good work.



3. I thought this book was great for the new puppy owner to be. I bought this book over a month before my pup came home, and I read it twice or three times. I felt prepared for the arrival of my new pup, because of the good info this book provided. Teaches you several different ways to train your pup, all of which are POSITIVE methods. Highly recommend this book.



4. Book is easy to understand and has been helpful. Simple solutions for solving behavior problems.



5. Puppyhood is a wonderful time, a time that can and should be thoroughly enjoyable for both owner and puppy. New owner's (and old ones, too) should set aside a few minutes daily to read and put into practice all the wonderful advice POSITIVE PUPPY TRAINING WORKS offers. The end result is almost a *given*...a dog that is well mannered and well balanced emotionally. In addition, your dog will be starting off on the correct path toward becoming your life long soul mate and partner with whom you are able to explore and share the wonderful world with.

   As a certified professional family dog trainer and behavior counselor, even I find myself refering to POSITIVE PUPPY TRAINING WORKS. Sometimes you can't see futher than your nose,or you don't practice what you preach and desperately need someone, or some book, to put things in perspective...your book does just that. Thank you Joel Walton for another wonderful clearly written, easy to read and understandable book.

5 comments about Feline Husbandry Diseases and Management in the Multiple Cat Environment.

1. I'm complaining about the price! To ask over a hundred bucks for a 1991 copyright is ridiculous. I'll defer to everyone else's assessment, both here and other places. It's evidently one of the essential tomes. But when one (like me) is able to find a 2nd edition copy of Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice, a decidedly expensive book, in mint condition on Ebay, for $35, it's really odd that one can't find even an "acceptable" grade copy of Feline Husbandry--meaning the front and back panels are intact and all the pages are there, in addition to someone else's marginalia, annotations and coffee stains--at a markedly reduced price. Was the print run for this title, like, 1000?



2. I can only recommend this book(must have) to every cat owner,breeder and Vet.
   It is a little bit medical, but with little effort it is good to read.
   
   It has 8 chapters:
   1) History of domestic cat and cat breeds
   2) Normal genetics, genetics disorders, development anomalies
   3) Reproduction and reproductive disorders
   4) Common infectious diseases of multiple cat environments
   5) Behavior
   6) Nutrition and nutritional disorders
   7) Toxicology
   8) Cattery design and management
   
   What I miss in this book is a extra index within every chapter especially in chapter 4, so I made one my self. So you do not have to search a lot.
   
   Chapter 8 I find to sterile especially for kittens growing up, I want to breed and grow kittens and let them live in a normal family environment and not in cages no matter how beautiful they are.
   That you have to have some isolated spaces for diseases or giving birth that is another thing, but for daily living all my cats live with my family in a secure home and garden.
   BTW: his first book is also very good: Feline infectious diseases, but also out of print :-((



3. This is a book I've given to a number of people. It is EXCELLENT for anyone doing cat rescue, fostering cats, doing TNR (trap neuter return, to stabilize cat colonies).
   
   It's not *that* hard to read! Really sets out and discusses many issues and problems of "multi-cat environment" (> 5 cats).
   
   Highly recommended.
   
   P.S. (October 12, 2006) Just heard they're working on a new edition!



4. Diseases and Management in the Multiple-Cat Environment. Eight highly respectable authorities present practical information on problems unique to multiple-cat environments. They cover the following areas: History of Domestic Cats and Cat Breeds, J. Wastlhuber-Miller; Normal Genetics, Genetic Disorders, Developmental Anomalies and Breeding Programs, R. Robinson and N.C. Pedersen; Reproduction and Reproductive Disorders, H.G. Stabenfeldt and N.C. Pedersen; Nutrition and Nutritional Disorders, C.A. Buffington; Behavior and Behavorial Disorders, B.L. Hart and N.C. Pedersen; Toxicology and Intoxications, G.D. Osweiler and G.F. Grauer; Cattery Design and Management, N.C. Pedersen and J. Wastlhuber-Miller; Common Infectious Diseases of Multiple-Cat Environments, N.C. Pedersen.



5. This book is one you need if you need detailed information. Except for behavior problems, there is everything you need to know about illnesses, breeding, kittening, genetics and other hard-to-find info. It has answered many of my questions to which I could find answers no where else.