1 comments about English Setters (Kw Series , No 102s).

1. On the cover of the book, "English Setters", there issmall yellow-enclosed print stating: "#1 Best Selling EnglishSetter Book". So, I bought the book thinking there must be a good reason for its best-selling status.

   The book has 192 pages. Only 32 pages talk specifically about English Setters. And, of those pages many are full color glossy photos of adorable English Setters that cover entire pages. Ten of the first 32 pages are strictly photos with captions. So, what about the English Setters?

   If you want beautiful pictures of English Setters, then this book is for you! But, why not get a calendar? There are just as many lovely pictures in a calendar.

   The rest of the book is typical dog care mumbo-jumbo. How to groom dogs, feed dogs, crate-train dogs, housebreak your puppy, breed dogs...but nothing specific about English Setters. It seems as if two books have been combined together to take up space. Ridiculous.

   I learned nothing new about English Setters in this book. I learned more from reading an article in "Dog World" about English Setters.

   I was frustrated with this book and I want people to know it. END

4 comments about Common Birds of North America (Midwest edition).

1. Common Birds of North America (Midwest edition) is an excellent resource for identifying all the birds I see in my Wisconsin home yard. One page per bird provides a good and simple overview to identify the birds and how to attract them to my back yard. It explains the differences between male and female coloring, nesting habits, food preferences, migration, etc. My book is all dog eared now from use. I bought one for mom for Christmas along with a birdhouse and feeder.



2. After you locate the bird you see using the Peterson Flash Guide, then you will want to utilize this book so that you can find out all the specifics about the bird, like what they eat, nesting and what time of year they are likely to be observed in your area.



3. Filled with exquisite full-color illustrations, Common Birds Of North America: Midwest Edition by James Wilson (Missouri Department of Conservation State Ornithologist) is an excellent guidebook for birdwatchers of all experience levels. Each species features a fine full-page portrait showing male and female specimens if the plumage is very different, and a one-page summary of the bird's habitat, call, typical behavior, and more. A concise, elegant guide, Common Birds Of North America: Midwest Edition is an invaluable resource for birdwatchers.



4. Wow. Having watched Jim doodle birds and landscapes in pen and ink during staff meetings at the conservation department, I should not have been surprised at the accuracy and quality of his illustrations in this book. Aside from the gorgeous images of the birds and their settings, Jim also manages to capture elements of the birds' songs and behavior in easy-to-read text. It's a great book for people who are interested in learning how bird species make their livings as well as how to identify them. I bought one for my Mom (who loves to watch her bird feeder visitors), and she loved it.

1 comments about The Birdie Treats Cookbook.

1. Cute book fun to look at. Not many recipes, but didnt' really buy it for that just loved it's look !! good buy :)

5 comments about Horse People: Scenes from the Riding Life.

1. Here is the best book I've read on what it means to own or ride a horse. The author, Michael Korda has tried not to anthropomorphize horses, and as a result he sounds a bit detached from these noble creatures (I do attribute human characteristics to horses, but then I'm not a journalist). I'm left with the opinion that he could live without horses, but there are some people who couldn't, including his second wife, Margaret. "Horse People" is almost her biography.
   
   It is also an equestrian autobiography of Korda, himself. Here are the sometimes raffish, always respectful portraits of his mounts, including a "a dapper and rather flashy little Arab-Welsh pony cross that was just a little too small for me...and had, in fact, as it turned out, rather more character than was desirable." Mephisto was the pony's name and one of my favorite stories involves Mephisto's decision to back into the Serpentine, an artificial lake in London's Hyde Park. Korda has to be rescued by the regimental sergeant major of the Life Guards, aboard the regimental drum horse, Clarence "with hooves the size of dinner plates and thick, feathered fetlocks, a towering eighteen hands or more high and probably weighing over a ton..."
   
   Even though many of this book's stories are funny, and most are touching, this is not a collection for horse-loving children. It's a true-life amalgam of "American Beauty" and "National Velvet," with some of the sadness of Steinbeck's "The Red Pony" added to the mix. Horses go lame, suffer from narcolepsy, and have to be euthanized.
   
   Many of the chapters contain deft portraits of (mostly) East Coast equestrians--from Olympic medal winners to those folks, who are happiest at a slow ramble along Central Park's horse trails. President Reagan is featured (Korda wrote his biography in a separate book), as is Bill Steinkraus, who rode in five Olympic Games for the USA, and won the Individual Gold Medal aboard Snowbound at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games--he was the first American ever to win an individual equestrian gold medal. My favorite stories involve the not-so-famous eccentrics who dwell in the equestrian realm: the riding instructors, stable hands, and of course, the regimental sergeant major in "a khaki uniform with razor-sharp creases, and buttons, badges, leather, and cap peak so shiny that it hurt my eyes to look in his direction."
   
   If you are thinking of buying an old farm and keeping horses, then at the very least you should read the chapter, "The Grass Isn't Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence." Korda takes a look at some of the myriad problems that beset horse owners, accompanied by "the steady, dismal noise of money going out" to farriers, vets, and electricians. Then there are the boarders "tramping through the living room of [the] great ramshackle house in muddy riding boots and spurs looking for a drink or a convenient sofa on which to nap." Included in the usual run of leaky roofs and sagging fences are automatic waterers that shock the horses every time they try to take a drink. This chapter would be extremely funny if it weren't true.
   
   Korda is a splendid raconteur, whether writing about horses, failed marriages, or equestrian presidents. "Horse People," a 'New York Times Notable Book' is perfect for those of us who grew up reading Walter Farley and Marguerite Henry.



2. I have always loved horses, but had only passing touches with them "in the flesh". But my cousin shows a lovely Arabian, and this book gave me a glimpse into her world. Even though I'm not in the horse show circuit, I could relate to Michael and his wife's love of their horses, and the tales of the good, bad, ugly and just plain odd points of each horse as they got to know it. I think the book would also help people who've lost a well-loved pet or companion animal, as throughout the author's lifetime, he had to say goodbye to several wonderful horses, and he shares his emotions in a way that allows you to remember and grieve well your own losses. It's also a step into another world to think of the big city and finding ways to ride within its confines, and I especially loved the pictures from this time period of glamour. I highly recommend it for other "horse people".



3. I found some of the hyper-critical reviews surprising, almost as if the reviewers weren't reading the same book. As someone who has renewed her riding after a 20-year hiatus (having been, in large part, turned off by Claremont and the rutted bridle paths of Central Park), I found this book absolutely charming. The tales of Korda's various horses were heart-warming - I loved the tale of Missouri who still finds purpose in his life at 29, I cried for Hustle, and found the final chapter extremely moving. Korda has great affection and admiration for his wife after over 20 years of marriage, and who can/should argue with that? He also has great affection for his horses, with all their quirks, which is as it should be. Much of what some of the reviewers interpreted as superiority is actually self-deprecating humor of the English variety but which I thoroughly enjoyed.



4. I had high hopes for this book, but was sadly disapointed in the quality of the story and writing. While the equine anecdotes were often interesting or "struck a chord" (the only reason I give this book 2 stars), the writing of the book was about at the level of a talented fifth grader. The stories are presented out of chronological order, which is irritating and confusing; you
   will find yourself reading episodes involving horses of whose death's Korda has gone into great detail about only a chapter or two before, which is a serious detriment to the flow of the story and has you contantly flipping back and forth. Not to mention that it's hard to believe Korda was ever employed as an editor, considering his flimsy grasp on the rules of punctuation and lack of common sense about the flow of a scentence. An entire paragraph may be one legnthy scentence, laden with commas (commas, along with the occasional period, seeming to be the only punctuation Korda is familiar with-- either that or the only two punctuation keys working on his computer). He also interjects "aside" comments into scentences with no regard for how confusing the jumbled information appears to the reader. Many (if not most) of his scentences are severly overburdened and would benefit from putting some information in parenthesis, using a hyphen or semi-colon, or simply making the scentence into two or three seperate scentences.
   
   I did not, however, notice him over-exaulting his wife, a common complaint in the reviews. Nonetheless, I did become irritated with his belief that his horses were all so much more special than and superior to everyone elses' horses-- even horses who (to the author's own admission) enjoy throwing their rider are exaulted and touted as better than all other horses, so long as they belonged to either Korda or his wife. Every one of the horses Korda has ever owned, he seems to believe, is the "best horse in the world". One eventually begins to wonder why Korda wote the book, as he continually critisizes fervent horse people and repeatedly admits that horses are but a hobby for him, not a true passion.
   Ultimately, I'd say read the book if you're very into horses and can get it free or cheap. Someone familiar with the horse world (especially Hunting or 3 Day Eventing) will certainly get a chuckle at some of the characters in the book, and as mentioned certain aspects of the anecdotes certainly strike a chord. However, be prepared for a frustrating, poorly written read as well as some general confusion due to the grammar and chronology of the book.



5. I found Horse People to be highly amusing, if a little too centered on the riding career of the author's wife and the world of eventing.
   
   I grew up in Southern California in the world of horses and I disagree with the author's analogy of "food stamps and old paint" in his description of Western horse owners. While I did know many people of modest means who owned high-dollar horses, I did not know any on the dole. Most of them were working class, as was my father. We had good horses of good breeding and we managed to take pretty good care of them--which was also true of most of the people we knew.
   
   I also knew real movers and shakers when I was coming up and, although some might criticize Korda's excessive attention to their world, he has them pretty well pegged, in my opinion. They're important, in my view--since it is they that help our cherished traditions continue--since only they can really afford to indulge themselves fully in this expensive endeavor. Also, it is they who provide employment for the countless trainers and other handlers, who are truly the unsung heroes of the equine industry.
   
   I do feel that he could have gone a little more into the details of horse rescue and retirement, which is carried on by people of relatively modest means all over the country. I also feel that he could have discussed the horse meat industry in a little more detail. For example, he might have mentioned the growing equine theft problem that it has given rise to, now that it is profitable for any petty criminal to steal a horse that might be convenient and sell him by the pound to the killers--something that happens frequently and almost happened to one of my horses about a year ago.
   
   Still, I highly recommend this to horse people and non-horse people. Above all, it is a fun read and maybe it will inspire more horse people, from other walks (or rides) of the "riding life" to tell their stories.

2 comments about The Joy of Owning a Shih Tzu.

1. A very good book for the history of breed and anyone who is going to breed the shih tzu, this is the book.
   
   The book arrived in excellent condition and gift wrapped.



2. There are not many books on Shih Tzu, and most of them are formulaic. This book stands out by a mile as the best-written, most informed, most sensible and complete book about the breed. Even though it is an older book, it has not lost anything over the years, because the breed is still the same! The special care that Shih Tzus need is explained here better than you can find it anywhere else. I would say to all breeders, when you sell a puppy, and people want to know what to do, tell them to buy this book, because it is written by two women who were breeders and understood the breed. It doesn't have any chapters in there that some publishers thinks would apply equally to a Great Dane or a Pointer or a Shih Tzu. This book is special, it is all about Shih Tzu. Don't even bother with those other books.

5 comments about Tricks I Taught My Master.

1. The first person I called was "Uncle Mattie" from PBS after my American Eskimo bit my friend. He told me that if I didn't send my dog out to California to be "reconditioned" by him and his staff that I might as well put my dog to sleep. When I told him I couldn't do either of those things, Good old "Uncle Mattie" continued to berate me and yell at me over the phone for another 20 minutes until I was hysterically crying in my office.

   Then I got Dr. Robert Andrysco's name from my vet and MY GOSH! it was like day and night. Dr. Bob came over to our house, worked with me and my dog and diagnosed my dog with Confusion Aggression (my dog is afraid of everything and lashes out instead of running).

   We've been working with Dr. Bob for about 8 months and he's an excellent trainer. My dog has shown incredible progress and our life has totally changed. I've learned so much from Dr. Bob and his book that his is the only book I refer to now for dog behavior and training.

   I'm not sure what that reviewer's problem is that gave the book only one star. Dr. Andrysco definitely does not use dominant techniques. As a matter of fact, there have been several instances where we've let my dog "win" with certain issues in order to control more pressing aggressive behaviors. Dr. Andrysco teaches you how to live with your pets, not dominate them. Another positive training technique Dr. Bob has uses is food rewards if your dog is one that responds to this.

   I recommend this book for any dog owner, not just owners that have problems. It's a fun read too.




2. "Tricks I Taught My Master" is a book I often prescribe to my clients to prevent and treat behavioral issues. As a veterianrian, I find poorly responsive behavioral problems motivate pet owners to prematurely consider euthanasia. I feel it will help save pets' lives because the book is easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to carry out the recomendations. Dr. Bob Andrysco's vast experience of working with pets and veterinarians make this a valuable reference for all dog owners.

   Dr. Tamara Shearer




3. I turned to Dr. Andrysco's book after my eight year old greyhound began to exhibit severe separation anxiety. This book is a quick read with many practical and easy to implement tips that really make a difference. I am glad to say the my dog is feeling much much better. Great book.



4. My dogs are really coming along! Let me say that Dr. Andrysco's book is so right on. I have nine dogs, and I know first hand that you HAVE to be the alpha "dog" with your pet or they'll walk all over you. I've been employing Dr. Andrysco's techniques for several weeks now and my dogs are starting to behave much better. They don't fear me, they just know I'm the boss and they must behave. They're very happy and display a great wish to please me. I am not feared at all, I am respected. I've tried reasoning, treat rewards, and only praise techniques, and none of those methods were successful. Dr. Andrysco's techniques REALLY work. If you are looking for a pet book that tells you what you need to do to get excellent behavior results, then get buy this one. Thanks, Dr. Andrysco!



5. This is one book that I keep in my library along with other reference books. The first time I read it, I was sold by the common sense techniques, the humor, the real life examples and the viewpoints from both the owner's and the animal's perspective. I used several techniques in the book to correct problems with an 11 year old Dalmatian. When he passed away and we adopted a 2 year old mix of Bull Mastif and Chocolate Lab, I again pulled it from the shelf to correct minor problems with our new house mate. We happen to take our new dog to Dog Care 3 days a week since we both work, and regularly the Dog Care owners comment on how well behaved, loving and responsive our dog is to them and how socially adjusted he is with not only humans but other dogs. I continually pass my copy along to friends who are first time dog owners. They ultimately end up purchasing their own copy because they find the author's techniques easy to follow with immediate results. Just like raising kids, parents often forget that being a parent and having rules and guidelines is the most important thing we can do to help our children into healthy individuals. Too often people want to be a friend to their children rather than a parent and this is where the behavior problems start. The same holds true with your pet - yes, you can certainly be their friend, best buddy or whatever, but you also have to be their disciplinarian to make the mix work and to make your pet happy and healthy. This book definitely provides the owner with the techniques to do just that. Bravo to Dr. Andrysco and his book "Tricks I Taught My Master".

1 comments about The Mammals of Minnesota.

1. I purchased the book as text for Mammology class @ BemidjI State University. The Author taught the course and related that he could find no book that gave the imformation as he wanted it presented. So he wrote the book as he saw it should be presented. The diagrams and dentition were fascinatiing. The range maps were entlightening. The book was organized by all the different orders of the mammal family. I am glad to return it to my collection of reference books.

1 comments about Spiny-tailed Agamids: Uromastyx and Xenagama.

1. Not a bad guide. If you're looking for general information it's pretty good. It does have wonderful pictures which are helpful for a comparison as well as an idea of a housing set up. Not as much information on behaviors as would be desired. Great if you're looking for a little information, but really should be coupled with another book.

2 comments about If Your Cat Could Talk.

1. This book answered many of my questions about cats. Why will a cat appear to enjoy being petted but then suddenly bite you? Why do cats catch mice when they always have food available and can't be hungry?
   
   I've lived most of my life with cats, but this book taught me a lot about them I never knew. They're very different than dogs, and you can't expect them to act like a dog, or in a way you think is "reasonable."
   
   The photos are wonderful, and are a good illustration of cat postures and expressions.



2. This book has a lot of cute kitten pictures. The text, though sparse, goes into excruciating detail on the pregnancy cycle of a cat. Otherwise there is not much about a cat talking or what their body language says.

1 comments about Finch and Softbilled.

1. I bought this book a little while ago and i LOVE it! Since i am going to get some finches soon, I decided to by this book. I am SO glad I did! I reccomend this book to everyone and anyone who is going to get finches or soft-billed birds or needs a good reference!