5 comments about My Recycled Pets: Diary of a Dog Addict.

1. I loved this book! I found it very inspirational and motivational. Thanks to people like Randi, I have the most amazing little rescue dog and I love reading about other successful rescues as well. As a dog lover who also sometimes volunteers for dog rescue in the Bay Area, I was touched by Randi's stories. I also love her spiritual approach, of searching for divine order in a chaotic world. The book has inspired me to begin volunteering/fostering for rescue again, and to give dogs that might appear unreachable a second chance.



2. A current trend in books about dogs is that the dog(s) serve as a back drop for the author to talk about himself or herself. This book is not one of those books. And Randi Berger does a wonderful job telling the dogs' amazing stories.
   
   I truly enjoyed reading this book about troubled dogs who are rehabilitated by Ms. Berger and end up as wonderful pets.



3. Berger's stories of her years managing her full-time dog rescue organization are not only entertaining, but inspiring and sometimes painful to read. This is real-life in the dog-rescue world. Very hard work. You really get a sense of the committment and the endless effort it takes to run a successful rescue organization. Berger laces her book with humor, wit, and lots of great dog photos so you can really get a feel for each of the dog characters she writes about. I recommend this book to ANY dog lover...but especially to those who've rescued a dog from the street, a shelter, or a bad situation. You will enjoy this book. A must-have for your dog library!



4. This is a most enjoyable book and the first I have read to tell how someone begins a dog rescue group. I got my dog from one and have wanted to know more about these groups. The writer should continue to tell her story of dog rescue and of other such groups as well. Her writing style is entertaining and informative.



5. In her book "My Recycled Pets," Randi Berger shares with her readers a deep and personal glimpse into the life of a self proclaimed "dog addict." Randi is the founder and director of Recycled Pets Rescue, an organization that finds homes for dogs that would otherwise be put to sleep. This book chronicles her life and the many furry friends that aided and helped her along the way.
   
   I think the most compelling thing about this book is that Randi Berger's passion for what she does oozes from every page. In her book, Randi allows her readers to accompany her on a journey that takes her from being self centered young adult to the selfless champion of those discarded pets on doggie death row.
   
   This book is mostly a series of vignettes about the many dogs that have passed through Randi's life. These stories are filled with both joy and pathos. Randi's strength as a writer is the way she connects with the reader and is able to communicate her innermost feelings through the pages of her book.
   
   I found "My Recycled Pets," to be a very touching and readable book. In fact it I was not able to read it a quickly as I would have liked because my wife hijacked it from me and couldn't put it down, leaving it unavailable to me until she was finished.

5 comments about Tracking Dog: Theory & Methods.

1. Great book on tracking. I discoverd I needed an air scenting book, not tracking for SAR k9 work but if your into tracking its a great book.



2. For those of you looking to train a serious working dog, this is the book for you.
   
   I have a police service K-9 and utilized the training found here to help my dog (German Shepherd).
   
   But not all dogs can do this so, the selection tests at the begining of the book were a great help.



3. This book was interesting and easy to read. Good ideas for training a tracking dog.



4. This book was writtten by the guru himself.All thruout the book which is easy to understand the writer is very confident and shares his knowledge and expieriences.This book is very informative and great for the beginner to the expert.



5. This book is an excellent resource and a very interesting read. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in tracking.

5 comments about Dancing with Cats: From the Creators of the International Best Seller Why Cats Paint.

1. "Dancing with Cats" has excellent photography, entertaining text and is purrrfectly delightful. I couldn't have found a better gift for my friend. Everyone who comes through her door is shown right to the book. Then chuckles and mimicking abound.



2. When I first saw the cover of this book, I laughed out loud with joy and a sense of wonder about whether this book was for real. Surprisingly, DANCING WITH CATS is not a joke, and is an excellent primer on how to go about having some fun with your cats in a rather unusual way... by dancing with them. Since I don't currently have a cat, I borrowed one to get a feeling for how possible it might be to get a cat to dance. I succeeded in completely astonishing the cat as I began to notice the ways that the cat watched me moving around with movements that showed we were beginning to move together as one. Clearly, some cats enjoy dancing more than others, and this is one activity that may take a while to get fully into the swing of with your feline dancing partners. From the ancient history of cat dancing to modern age tips and techniques, this book provides a wealth of information about a subject most of us know very little about. The photographs are truly stunning, and you just might get some new ideas about what kinds of fun you can have dancing with cats. Highly recommended!



3. This book has appeared in my life several times, always with a mixture of joy and terror. The concept of the book is simple: through engaging one's cat in dance, a certain physical and spiritual equalibrium is achieved. Various people are interviewed and photos are shown of them dancing with their cats. Half of the time, though, it is not clear whether the cat is jumping or has been thrown into the shot by the photographer's assistant. Throughout the book you question yourself if cat dancing is "real"; by the end, it doesn't matter anymore.
   
   Each one of the "cat dancers" is borderline schizophrenic, but the images are so whacky that one can't help from laughing histerically. Some people have actually recruited their children into the cat dancing way, which makes you feel sorry for them. (They will never have a normal existence.) The text that accompanies the images, however, is cause for brief moments of terror: these people actually believe they are making a spiritual connection with air-born cats. One is even concerned about creating too much spiritual energy and collapsing an astral vortex. Regardless, the book is a perfect ice-breaker, a coffee table book for all ages that allows strangers to point and laugh and sigh collectively. To say with a smile: "At least we're not them!"



4. A pristine paperback copy of this extraordinary book. If cats are your thing, then this is a book for your shelf



5. My niece got this for me as a gag gift. After 30 minutes of looking through it, I was lmao. I am lauging right now just thinking about it.

5 comments about Pit Bulls for Dummies.

1. THE INTRODUCTION TO THIS BOOK SAYS IT ALL.
   
   I told myself I'd never own a "pitbull". A friend at work does rescue work for this breed, and I decided to take in a foster pup. Never say never. These really are words to live by. I'm on my second foster pit, and seriously thinking of adopting one of them.(ok maybe both) This book has helped me come to that decision. I never take on ANY BREED, until I've learned what I believe is all I need to know. Don't just read a book though, talk to owners of the breed your considering too. I never knew a more cuddly, funny and amazing breed than the Pit. GO PITS !!!



2. I OWN THIS BOOK AND I READ IT IN THREE DAYS, IT HAS EVERY THING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A PITBULL. IT ALSO HAS A LOT OF DETAILS OF THE LITTLE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW! WHAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK IS IT ACUALLY TELLS YOU HOW NICE PITBULLS ARE,AND HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM!!! THIS BOOK IS SO GREAT!!! IF YOU WANT A PIT BULL YOU SHOULD BUT THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!



3. Dr. Coile has immense experience and expertise in raising and training dogs for numerous canine sports. She offers an easy and fun to read manual for the novice Pit Bull owner and a handy guide for the ol' timers too. Great pictures, great advice, and important facts about our breed. Looking for books on the breed? Start with this one, it's a must have.



4. I own this book and have read it several times. It makes perfect sense that these are great dogs and they have developed a bad reputation based on having bad owners. A dog is a biproduct of their owner. We have seen the same thing happen with German Shepherds, Rotts, and Dobermans. This book was very helpful and there is no bias, only truth. The American Pitbull Terrier is a wonderful family dog when properly raised and socialized.



5. first of all, all bulldogs come from the same line (pits, english, american, etc.). What made the pits fight like they do is mixing in TERRIER BLOOD !!! Terriers are bred to hunt down little animals, rats, mice, etc. that is what they mixed with pit bulls to make them PIT BULL TERRIERS!!! I have a pit who lives with two other dogs, a cat, and a number of small rodents and birds that are our pets, and children; he is a therapy pet, a service dog, and a wonderful companion. I think you people in denver are not addressing the situation properly. Its not the breed you should be attacking, but the horrible owners who abuse them into thinking that they should attack. All the people in Denver are going to do is find another dog to use. There are plenty of other types of dogs that are much more aggresive then pits, pits are just cheaper. What about Presas or Cane Corsoes, bet you didnt check them, they are much bigger and more dangerous than pits.(Nothing aginst Presa or Corso folks, im just making a point.)
   Anyone who wants a breed banned is missing the big picture, the people who are training these anamails ! The people who are training them to fight are NOT the USA's finest to say the least, THEY ARE YOUR TRUE PROBLEM ! You could make a golden or a lab attack to kill of you try hard enough! DOGS, EVEN PITS, ARE NOT BORN TO HUNT DOWN HUMAN BLOOD ! IT'S REALLY CRAPPY PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEM THAT WAY !
   *my last final words are*
   "All creatures on earth should be respected"
   &
   "No matter how poor you may be, having a dog makes you rich."
   
   AND FINALLY- focus on the real problem, not the indivdual dog breeds, but the horrible people who train them to fight.

5 comments about Training Your German Shepherd (Training Your Dog).

1. While the book has a lot of good advice , IMHO too much is dedicated to specialized training (rescue, work, etc.); basic training tips are mentioned in a minimalistic way. Overall I was dissapointed.



2. I find most of Baron's pet series books to be very general



3. I was expecting a basic training manual with a few things directed to the GSD but instead it goes from simple sit and come tricks to how to teach your dog search and tracking. It helps by explaining that if you play certain games or teach certain tricks early on, it would help if you are training them for a more advanced work and tasks, like tracking or search and rescue. It has good pictures that explain much of what they are writing about and lots of info and explaining on tricks, the breed and more advanced jobs the GSDs are known to do. I would recommend for anyone wanting to train their dog basic manners and training or more advanced levels of the training or those that just want to know more about the breed and what it is able to do a learn. It is very helpful and great for first time owners.



4. Not a complete training manuel. Very elementary training. Sit Spot Sit stuff.



5. I wanted to have my first dog. But I wasn't sure which breed. So I decided to do some research on breeds like mastiff, rotweiler, doberman, german shepard, labradors and terriers. I bought one book on each breed (I mentioned). This book I bought for doing some research on german shepard. This is a very good informative book specially for people who want to have their first guard dog. It has explained the breed in easy and detailed way. I would recommend this to anyone who want to go in for german shepard or just want to reserch on this breed. Pictures are quite good specially of the puppy.

4 comments about Damselfishes & Anemonefishes (Reef Fishes).

1. This book's excellent content is certainly equal in quality to the first three. Economics being what it is, I can understand the slightly lower paper, and cover, quality of this volume. As to the number of books in the series, while more books will ultimately cost more, I'm inclined to believe that the actual scope of Mr. Michael's project grew beyond his original anticipation, and the amount information in the set will be worth the cost, and the wait -- although I really want the rest NOW! Good things take time. Hang in there, Scott... And, BTW, I note from the preview of the next (wrasse) volume the page count will be higher than this volume, which further justifies the additional volumes.



2. Yes, the paper is not quite as good as on the previous volumes. But given the skyrocketing price of paper, this is no surprise. It is still perfectly adequate and the images are top-notch. It is no surprise to me that this has expanded to multiple volumes given the economics of publishing such low-demand books.
   
   Scott Michael's series ultimately will be the most comprehensive series on marine fishes for aquarists. They are a treasure trove of useful information. I only hope they can get the rest of the series published in a timely fashion without compromising the quality and quantity of information.



3. Still would buy it but I was disappointed in the fact that they keep dragging the series out. Originally it was suppose to be 4 books..........then it went to six....Now it is nine books according to the newest book. I would agree the quality is not as high as the first 3. Still the information is good. Still I will have NINE BOOKS in my Library instead of 4. Lastly who knows how much longer it will take to release the rest.



4. While the content of this book is outstanding inline with the rest of the series the publisher of this book took many shortcuts including useing lower quality paper stock then previous volumes, decreasing the size of the book and increasing the size of the series in order to make more profit. I am highly disappointed in the publisher for taking these steps. What was originally supposed to be a 3 books series grew to 5 books with precious releases and with the release of this book has grown to 8 with each subsequant book in the series containing less information than the last.

5 comments about Cockatiels for Dummies.

1. Terrific info for a new Cockatiel owner-I knew nothing, so of course the title is appropriate, and it's been quite helpful. Thanks for another one, Dummies!



2. REALLY enjoyed this book. Good for beginners and vets. Learned things even after owning birds for 10 years.



3. When I received two cockatiels from a rescue organization, my vet suggested I read this book. In a couple months, I was able to train my foster birds so that both were adopted. Very helpful.



4. This book has pretty much all the information you'll ever need to know about owning a cockatiel. It has some great tips, and essentials that any owner would need to know. I would recommend it to anyone thinking about getting a new cockatiel, or to anyone that just acquired a new cockatiel and needs to know the basics.



5. There couldn't be a better person to simplify cockatiel ownership into a "For Dummies" book than Diane Grindol. She is the author of "The Complete Book of Cockatiels," which you will want to get to complete your education if this one whets your appetite. The book is organized in an especially helpful way, listing first the joys of cockatiel ownership, then the hazards and diseases, then finishing up with a summary of do's and don'ts. In the process, you'll learn the not-so-obvious differences between males and females, the importance of diet, the gauntlet of avian diseases, setting up the cage, travel, grooming...in short, everything you'll need to know. When you reach the end of this informative and readable book, you will never view a cockatiel the same again. You will see complexity, fragility, intellect, and camaraderie, where before you saw only ornate plumage. If you read this book in preparation for cockatiel ownership, your new friend will find hundreds of ways to thank you.

5 comments about True Unity: Willing Communication Between Horse and Human.

1. Tom Dorrance was never a "how to" kind of "trainer." He often disliked being too specific because he felt that it focused people too narrowly, and kept them from reaching for the "bigger picture," or a broader feel and awareness of the horse and their environment. His book is no different. It is not poorly written in the slightest. It was never intended as a how-to on training horses, but an acknowledgement of what real rapport between horse and human feels like, the mindfulness it takes to get inside, and the willingness to live in a world somewhat different than the one we've been taught to see and experience. The CD of his book is very helpful to anyone having difficulty understanding the way he presents his ideas on the page.



2. Next time, I will take the time to read the reviews. If you were standing there with Tom as he was talking, it might of made sense. But I wasn't so therefore it was vague and frustrating. I have a hunger for Natural ways versus old school and like to pass my books to others with the same heart. I can't even pass the book to someone else. Maybe it was Milly's first book?



3. Let's agree, first off, on one important thing: riding horses is not the same as riding motorcycles or four-wheelers. Many of the people I know who ride expect to get on a horse--any horse--and control it as they would a machine. Every horse the same. Every signal with the reins nothing more than steering with handle bars. Right?
   
   Wrong! The essence of Dorrance's book, TRUE UNITY, is really quite simple: horses are individuals, complete with personalities as varied as their human counterparts and realizing this fact is the beginning of finding the unity that Dorrance espouses.
   
   TRUE UNITY, like the process of achieving it with a horse, is not easy. It's easily one of the most complex books I have ever read. I found that I had to read and reread sections several times in order to get the gist of Dorrance's lessons. I had to act as if Dorrance was in the room with me, explaining his experiences and I had to listen as carefully as I could and "feel" his ideas. In the end, I found that the content was exceptional and the fact remains that dealing with horses is an exercise in shared feelings between two individuals--the rider and the horse.
   
   Some have noted that this book doesn't follow enough of a lock-step process to handling horses. What they seem to have wanted was an owners manual for horses. Step 1: Find a horse. Step 2: Climb aboard. Step 3: Ride and ride and ride. Step 4: Put horse away. Again, Dorrance makes it clear that this book was never meant to be a set of steps to take with guaranteed results. Those who feel otherwise should stick to machines.
   
   I have to take exception, though, with the editing. The job of an editor, being one myself, is to help communicate the meaning of the writer as concisely and as clearly as possible. Given this fact, Milly Hunt Porter, the editor here falls flat on her face and the readability problems with this book, such as they are, arise, in my opinion, from Ms. Porter's ineptitude as a communicator. It becomes readily apparent that Ms. Porter was nothing more in the process than a glorified secretary, taking down, verbatim, Dorrance's sometimes rambling reminiscences about handling horses. It's apparent that she didn't take time, as she should have, to ask clarifying questions and then communicate her findings to the reader. As my title indicates, I don't blame Dorrance; I blame Porter.
   
   Handle this one with care. If your expecting a well-written, flowing, easy read you will be sorely disappointed.
   
   For me, now that Tom Dorrance is gone, I wanted, whether clear or not, to read his thoughts about getting into the heads of horses and, in the end, the read was well worth it.
   
   THE HORSEMAN



4. I liked this book because Dorrance tries to explain how a horse thinks. This is not an easy task and he gives lots of examples of this. Horses think in pictures. It all comes down to that. If we can see them doing what we want consistently, then it can happen. It's all about understanding the horse. Not an easy book to read but worth taking the time to try and understand what a true horseman is telling us.



5. This is not a how-to book and Tom Dorrance said up front that it was not. This is the next step in the journey and I can see how it would be a disappointment for those that are looking for the equine version of mapquest to get where Tom's going to go.
   
   He does repeat himself several times, but based on several of the reviews for apparently obvious reasons. The senses are unique to each person based on their backgrounds and their beliefs. The feel between myself and my horse and how we get there is not going to be the same journey as my friend and her horse.
   
   This book was designed for the person who is ready to take their equine relationship to the next level.

5 comments about Leader of the Pack.

1. I thought I had the best dog in the world until we got another little puppy. Then, my dog became very territorial with his toys. Wanting the two dogs to love each other forever, I got this book because it was recommended by the local German Shepherd rescue.
   Most of the things in the book I had already done with my first dog, but the writers explained why my dog was acting this way with his toys and how to correct it.
   My two dogs share toys now and don't fight (other that puppy play).
   Sometimes it is hard to 'think like a dog', but you have to in order to communicate with yours. These writers must be part-dog, and the book is very effective.



2. This is an excellent book for anyone who owns a dog. It gives you good insight into the heirarchy of the dog world and helps you understand how the dog thinks and should help everyone in the training of their dog.



3. I have had dogs my entire life. Unfortunately, I never realized how poor my understanding of dog behavior was. (I currently have 4 dogs--the introduction of an exuberant 1/2 American bull dog/beagle/lab mix has required the tutorial!).
   
   I would recommend that every dog owner read this volume. In fact, no one should even own a dog without understanding and implementing these basic concepts. (I know that sounds didactic; however, I would humbly submit to being called on this by any who have read no books on dog behavior and who, having read this book, finds that my comment rings false.) I read Cesar Milan's book, but felt that I was only introduced to concepts with no meaningful means to engage the concepts--more autobiographical. This book not only introduced the concepts but provided specific guidance on how to implement.
   
   This is not a book solely for problem dogs. Rather, it is a book for any person or family that wants to enjoy problem-free habitation with a dog. Providing for our dogs confident leadership, clear boundaries, safety and comfort are our responsibilities as dog owners. You will feel well-equipped to carry out these responsibilities by starting here.



4. This book is generally good and effective at explaining a good relationship between a dog and his or her owner. But, there are a few things that i have learned from my experience in numerous training classes and from working a boarding kennel that I disagree with.



5. I thought this was an excellent book. My boyfriend and I adopted a jack russell terrier. It was an older dog with some pretty severe dominance/aggression issues. This book was recommended twice to me. I think the two biggest reasons that this dog is still in our family is because of the size of our hearts and this book! We learned that our dog will always have problems, but we also learned that he can be controlled. He still slips into dominant/aggressive mode, but with the book in mind, we put him(humanely)right back into his place.

5 comments about Mastiff: A Comprehensive Guide to Owning and Caring for Your Dog (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

1. Mastiff: A Comprehensive Guide to Owning and Caring for Your Dog (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series)
   This book was very useful and informative. It is also written in a manner that is easy to follow so it was quickly to get through.



2. Informative & easy to read. Gives a detailed history on the breeds origin and characteristics. Great sections on housebreaking, everyday care and health. I loved all the color pictures!



3. This is a must have for any Mastiff Owner from the beginning owner to the seasoned breeder. It is extremely informative and Inspirational.
   We purchased this book as well as another.
   "History of The Mastiff"- Gathered From Sculpture, Pottery, Carvings, Paintings and Engravings; Also From Various Authors, With Remarks On Same, This book was "NOT" worth the purchase price.



4. This book provides a good overview of all topics related to Mastiffs. A great book for someone interested in the general history, care requirements, and peculiarities of the mastiff breed. The photos are nice, and this is a fun book to pick up and browse through. Lots of quality information can be found within, yet the breadth of information prevents a truly comprehensive approach. Still, a good value overall!



5. This book is by far the best. it gives thorough information specifically for mastiffs. it has a place for records and gets down to all the particulars about the breed!