5 comments about Gerbils: The Complete Guide to Gerbil Care (Complete Care Made Easy).

1. This book is very informative and easy to read. We never had Gerbils before and this book has definately helped; from buying the aquarium to the toys that they need or dont need. It is always in reach when I have a question.



2. I may be unusual in that I happened to find out about this book because I adopted my two gerbils from author Donna Anastasi and she offered to sell us copy of the book when we bought them. We had looked through other gerbil books at the pet store and hadn't liked any of them enough to buy one. Donna's book is SO FULL of useful information that I couldn't put it down. Even my 10 year old, who doesn't like to read, went crazy reading this book.
   
   Almost impossibly easy to understand, we consider this our new bible for taking care of our new little friends. Two thumbs up.



3. We loved this gerbil book. It had tons of information. Everything for the basics of care to training and showing your gerbil. There are also quite a few very cute full color pictures. We borrowed every gerbil book they had at our local library and this one stood out far above the rest. We decided we needed our own copy and ever since we purchased it, we refer to it regularly.



4. This book really does make gerbil care easy. Everything from "finding the gerbil of your dreams" to breeding to showing gerbils in competition. I never knew there were such things as gerbil shows! Lots of nice color photos. Devotes a chapter to training gerbils, something not found in a lot of gerbil books. A good book to read if you're even considering a gerbil.



5. My 8 year old has been wanting gerbils for months. We told him he had to read and be able to talk to us about them and their care. He (and the rest of the family) have now read several books. This was by far the best. My son made the decisions about cages, types, sex etc on his own after reading this book. He could discuss care issues and that he was not ready for breeding, wanted 2 females and what he would have to do to care for them.
   
   In comparison to other books, this has more useful information, is more complete, better photos and after three days with the gerbils has already answered multiple questions.
   
   If you can only get one book then this should be it.

4 comments about The Stray Cat Handbook (Howell Reference Books).

1. Ms. Kreuz's book is truly the textbook for all things feral cat-related. The book even contains some extremely useful information for anyone considering starting their own cat rescue organization or for the average person just wondering what they can do to help that scrawny stray without getting an arm clawed off in the process. Well-written, clear, and concise- I can't recommend this book enough to anyone interested in feline welfare.



2. This is an excellent resource for anyone with an interest in helping stray cats. Using advice I garnered primarily from this book and my vet, I turned a wounded stray cat into a contented house cat.



3. I heard this author was on TV after winning a special award because of its concise and well written content.



4. This book gives a clear cut, no nonsense, help for those of us with many stray and feral cats in our neighborhoods. As the preface states: "it is a definite how to guide for helping the millions of stray and feral cats currently living outdoors."

5 comments about Nature Aquarium World: Book 3 (Nature Aquarium World).

1. I have been an advanced aquarist since 1994 and have read (and own) most of the plant books on the market. This book, as well as his others, are not meant for beginners (or even intermediate users) in search of a solid how-to manual. Better sources for that would be The Dynamic Aquarium: Building Living Ecosystems (by Adey and Loveland) or Peter Hiscock's 2 books, Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants and Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature or The Ecology of the Planted Aquarium by Diana Walstad.
   
   But, if you are a beginner looking for inspiration or scope of what is possible, this is a good beginner book. I suspect that majority of aquarists who actually get a lot of practical use from these books are those who can readily take the data from each photo and put it to good use. Amano's books, if used as such, assume the aquarist has an advanced understanding of lighting, water chemistry, nutrient balances, biological filtration, fish behavior, etc. For advanced aquarists, these books are invaluable in that they supply tested permutations that can be immediately applied. This saves the hobbyist much experimentation when it comes to combinations of plant placement, relative to CO2 levels and lighting and nutrient regimes.
   
   In my opinion, this book is not required for beginners, although they can certainly learn from and enjoy it. But, it is required for any advanced plant-loving aquarist. I would highly recommend it for anyone who loves aquariums or appreciates the natural world.



2. This really is a fantastic book. Try to understand the Japanese culture and you'll understand the way mr. Takashi Amano disigns his aquariums.
   The use of simplicity is amazing but not easy to realize. For every aquarist is the whole serie 1,2,3 a must. Fantastic. Good written and very nice taken photos as well.



3. the first two books were great with my personal fave being Nature Aquarium World 1 but this one was beautifully designed and illistrated. Not only are the illistrations wounderful but the "about takashi" section of the book made for some brief and enlighting reading.



4. I got this book and I was suprized to find out that it had very little information whatsoever as to how his tanks were set up and the techniques he uses. I would not recommend this book for anything other then something nice to look at and wish that you hand the time to put into making your own tanks look like that.



5. Important to note this is part III in the series. If you own part one, this is a nice addition. If you don't own part one, get it first. It's the best of Amano's photo books. Yes, these are well photographed coffee table books, not manuals to "do it yourself," although they do give you a lot of good info to work with.

   The plant names don't correspond with Western plant names. You'll have to ID things yourself based on the photographs.

   A great book of inspiration once you know the essentials of aquatic plantscaping & fishkeeping.

   Amano's tanks are a living work of art. If you're already into freshwater planted fishtanks, get this book! After you've bought book one, Nature Aquarium World, of course

2 comments about Bach Flower Remedies for Animals: The Definitive Guide to Treating Animals with the Bach Remedies.

1. The book is an excellent source of information if you have pets or are in the pet industry.



2. As a caretaker of six cats and a dog, I have used Bach Remedies for years with my animals but I've always had to refer to books focusing on the use of the remedies with humans. This book has come to my rescue and I especially like that there are separate chapters on cats and dogs. There is also a separate chapter on use of the remedies wih horses.

   The best feature of the book is the second chapter "Using the remedies" where the authors spell out the animal behaviors that can indicate a need for each of the 38 remedies. For example, Crab Apple is the remedy for cleansing and is indicated for a animal who does excessive grooming or chews on its fur or feathers.

   The only negative aspect for me, as an American, is the very British slant in the resources lists and in the case studies. However, that is a small complaint in the overall usefulness of this title.

5 comments about My Life with George: What I Learned About Joy From One Neurotic (and Very Expensive) Dog.

1. As a trainer, rescuer, fosterer, owner of four dogs and avid reader, I read just about anything on dogs. I'd recommend not to bother with this book which mainly dwells on the author's son and her escapades with lovers after losing her husband in her 40's. I finished the book but was very disappointed as George was not written about for long periods of time. When he was he either ignored, punished, not trained, and wound up with the author's last partner who doesn't like dogs. In defense of the author, she did care for George and take him to the vet. But pleeeeeze, spare me-I don't want to read about a 50 year old woman being obsequious to a man--and barring the dog from the bedroom at his behest and wanting "that animal to find his way home". Thought I'd scream if I read "it's only a dog" one more time. Hate to write a bad review on a dog book but just had to on this one.



2. I'd say this book is more about learning about love than anything else. Summers stumbled into pet ownership while floundering as a single mother after both her husband and her father died a mere two weeks apart. George is not the typical dog, and life with him is far from easy. But struggling through grief, housebreaking and the arrival of adolescence of both boy and dog is both a heartbreaking and uplifting experience that Summers shares with utter candor. This is a very charming book that I wouldn't hesitiate to recommend, especially to folks who liked Marley and Me.



3. Anyone who is going through the process of deciding whether or not to add a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or any other type of dog to their family should read this book! It will help them understand, through the author's experiences, ALL of the requirements and responsibilities plus joys and sorrows that sharing your home with an animal can actually entail. It is proof that the challenges and costs are all worth it in the end.
   
   If one is a type of person who can learn from other people's mistakes, there are some great lessons for potential dog "parents" in this book. Experienced dog people could find themselves relating to but frustrated with the author over her way of handling George's "issues". Fortunately, they will find themselves laughing and crying with her too.
   
   The title of this book is very accurate; it is about her life WITH George, not just about the beautiful little dog on the cover. Reading this would also be helpful to anyone who has lost a spouse to illness. My heart just ached for the author and her son.



4. This story, for the likes of myself, a truly passionate Cavvie owner, is so 'familiar' and yet continually enlightening and heartwarming. This little guy is not an easy subject as he gets himself into so many scrapes over the years, and I found myself regretting reaching the end of the story, wondering what else happened to him afterwards. There is something so special about this breed (not half biased!) that I feel just about any Cavvie lover and owner could write a beatiful story about their own little 'friend' and we would all love reading every page. George's mum has endeared him to so many even that I know of myself who have been so keen to get hold of this book. He's a real winner! Love you George!



5. This book is a must-read for any and all dog lovers.Some of the other reviewers thought that George,the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,was not in enough.It is true that there are some chapters that he is not in.Many people compared this book with Marley & Me:Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog,and they said that it is better than My Life with George because Marley was in more than George,but Marley was not in some chapters,too.They are both great books.Please come to the Discussions to talk about dogs.Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog

5 comments about Dog Health & Nutrition for Dummies.

1. first the bad: the nutrition aspect of this book a *really* lacking. while the author initially states that meat should be the base of any dogs meal, absolutely NONE of the recipes she includes have more than 30% meat (give or take). there is no mention of how to discern a good dry or canned food (if you want that try Dr. Pitcairn's books), and while I can understand her hesitation about raw diets, she completely fails to point out that common sense and basic hygeine can take care of a lot of those problems. in short, the nutrition sections were useless.
   
   the good: the health and first aid sections are top rate and those make this book a must have for ANY dog owner. Luckily the bulk of the book covers these issues (the nutrition section is very small), and that makes this book a worth while purchase. one of the most useful things is a list of things that is included is a list of what to have in a pet first aid kit.
   
   overall I'm only giving the book 3/5 stars because I feel that a book titled "health and nutrition" should thoroughly cover nutrition and this book just doesn't cut it. I highly recommend buying it used (which I did) and keeping it around just for the "health" information.



2. I found this book to be very useful for the layperson. It's written in simple terms and the author has done a good job explaining the "basics" of dog health, including nutrition. It's hard to find a non-bias reference book on canine nutrition that's not endorsing a specific feeding "style".
   Coming from an animal care background, I can easily recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about caring for their furry friend.



3. Overall a good book, although sometimes it is overly basic and at others lacks detail it does have a particularly good first aid section. It is well laid out, clear, and easy to read. Well worth the investment to have on hand as a reference. Definitely a good buy for the first time dog owner!



4. I reserached a while into various bokos on dog nurtriotn and health. the options I found were limitintg: one can purchase books for alrge sums on money giving me all kinds on information about rare diseases and symptoms or the opposite, very light and uncritical. this book is in the middle. It highlights the most important facts for both nutrition and health and whilst it does not go into too much detail, I feel that I would not be able to cope with that anyway and would need to refer to a veterinarian anyway. And this is from a "human" doctor, turned dog owner, where I would feel the same about a book on human health, too many details are too confusing and worrying for the reader.



5. This book, is an very informative read. I love it. It gives in depth details on how to care for your dog. If i were you I would order it !!

1 comments about Horse Breeds: 65 Popular Horse, Pony & Draft Horse Breeds.

1. Beautiful photography, well written breed descriptions. Even if you are a seasoned horse lover you will enjoy looking at all the wonderful photos! A fabulous coffee table book for when your "horsey friends" are over for a visit.

5 comments about The Ultimate Pet Food Guide: Everything You Need to Know about Feeding Your Dog or Cat.

1. An eye opener. I've already cured my German Shepherd's allergies by feeding her a grain free diet. Author is also a great dog obedience instructor.



2. This book is a great place to start if you are considering feeding your dog homemade food. It has many recipes and suggestions so you don't have to search several different books.



3. I have tried some of the meals and gotten a lot of great ideas . My girls were already eating cooked chicken, this gives them some variety.



4. I found the information in Ms. Palika's book has helped me a lot in looking at the labels of my cat's and my dog's foods. I appreciate the recipes for home made diets, both raw and cooked, but I don't cook that much for myself. But at least after reading this book I understand what to look for when buying a commercial food--and I even found a safe, easy to feed raw food brand for my pets. Thanks!



5. This book presents an easily understandable, yet comprehensive review of the options available to feed your pet. The book covers the complete range of pet foods, from kibble you can get at almost any store, through specialized dehydrated natural pet foods, and finally to raw or cooked foods you can prepare at home (too much effort for me!) Being a dedicated dog owner, I focused on that part of the book, although there is also lots of information on cat foods.
   
   Although the book provides a few examples of good and bad pet foods, its real value is that it taught me how to become an educated pet owner, so that I can provide my dogs with healthy meals that meet their nutritional needs. Understanding the nutritional needs of dogs is not obvious to the typical consumer - for example, it turns out that there is "good" kibble and "bad" kibble. Good kibble tries to mimic what dogs and wolves evolved to eat in the wild, while bad kibble mostly consists of grains and whatever meat byproducts that pet food conglomerates can put together at a cheap price. (You don't often see wolves, which are closely related to dogs, out cooking up a batch of rice or wheat for dinner....) I found this book to be a tremendous source of information on this subject. As another example, ground corn (the first ingredient in some dog foods) includes the entire ear of corn - not just the corn kernels, but also the corn cob, all ground up together. Yuck - but it's a lot cheaper than meat! Care to guess how much of that ingredient nourishes your best friend and how much passes straight through, for you to clean up later?
   
   In summary, this book really makes you think about what you are feeding your pet, and gives you the information to make better decisions. As Ms. Palika writes, the old adage that states "we are what we eat" also applies to our pets. Taking the time to understand that can pay benefits in healthier pets that are likely to live happier, longer lives. Highly recommended.

2 comments about Training the German Shepherd Dog.

1. This is very Excellent book for Professional dog training :) to e-mail me: myghost2000@hotmail.com



2. This is very Excellent book for Professional dog training :)

5 comments about The Dog Trainer's Resource: The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Collection.

1. This book is titled as being for "dog trainers" but is actually geared toward people who are instructing others in dog training. Some good articles, especially one by Jodi Binstead on Bach's ideas on how breeders should raise puppies. Also some good articles on shelter dogs by Sue Sternburg, but her books are more up to date and thorough. If you have a business you may find this book of use, otherwise your money is probably better spent elsewhere -- though there is that excellent acticle on puppies to consider.



2. I am really enjoying this book. It's chock full of good information for Dog Trainers!!



3. I found this collection of articles by experts to be extremely valuable. It covers the scientific aspects of animal learning and discusses the many approaches to training and running businesses related to pet training. Worth its weight in gold.



4. Editor Mychelle Blake has done an excellent job of assembling a variety of articles that contain information that is valuable to dog trainers at all levels of experience. The book is nicely organized, divided into sections by topic. Each topic boasts a variety of articles, some more philosophical, some more "hands on." For example, the section titled "Dog Behavior, Training and Modification" contains both a thoughtful article by Dr. Ian Dunbar on the eight criteria for effectively using punishment, along with "Assessing the Alpha Roll" by Terry Ryan; it also contains an article by Emily Keegans that offers concrete suggestions for environmental enrichment.
   
   It is a testament to the wide scope of experience of the authors (as well as the good judgment of the editor) that articles are included that might be outside the average trainer's educational sphere. For example, an article by Dan McNally discusses protection trained dogs, while Jim Barry suggests positive methods for training hunting/retrievers. I found both of these articles fascinating. There is much "how to" to be found in the section on class tips and curriculum, and an entire section devoted to working with shelter dogs. The section on the business aspects of dog training is something that every trainer should read.
   
   All things considered, this book is a great educational value and one that should be on the shelf of all current and aspiring trainers.
   - Nicole Wilde, author So You Want to be a Dog Trainer (2nd edition) and Help for Your Fearful Dog: A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Your Dog Conquer His Fears



5. I'm not an APDT member but I have seen a few of the articles posted
   elsewhere. This is a collection of their 'keepers' in print form.
   Mycelle Blake is the editor of the book.
   
   I found the book interesting but kept having the one reoccuring
   thought - were the authors checked before the article was put in the
   book if their thoughts had changed in any way from their original
   article? I know that permission to print them in this format had to
   have been obtained so contact with each had to occur. Not every
   article needed something along these lines. The other thought that
   comes to mind is when would you draw the line to say 'check to see if
   they still feel this way?' Some of the articles go back to 2000 but
   there are one or two as current as 2006.
   
   For example, is Trish King still using abandonment training in
   dealing with dog-dog aggression? p. 127 "Dog-Dog Aggression and
   Abandonment Training, July/August 2002. After using it for a while
   has she changed her thoughts on using it or its effectiveness in
   dealing with dog-dog training?
   
   Or another example, is Joan Guertin still usin a "levels" class
   system? 'The "Levels" System: Adavance-at-Your-Own-Pace Classes" by
   Terry Ryan and Joan Guertin, September/October 2003.
   
   One article really popped out at me - "Recognizing Multiple, Related
   Diagnoses for Treatment Success" by Karen Overall September/October
   2003. The article went into discussion about thunderstorm phobia,
   noise phobia and separation anxiety.
   
   There were several other articles I found interesting, these are just
   examples of what came to my mind.