3 comments about Prince and Other Dogs II.

1. Libby Hall's second volume of elderly photos of dogs and their humans is another winner. Hall, who has always lived with dogs, has a wonderful sense of a good photo, both in its composition and in its subject matter. These black and white photos are charming, sometimes funny, sometimes sad; they all capture the great love and friendship possible between canines and humans. With no captions, these photos tell stories on their own. I especially loved the series of photos of a human giving some sort of order to a dog (generally for a treat of some kind), while the dog watches and listens intently. This book would be a wonderful addition to anyone's dog and/or photo book library.



2. Prince and Other Dogs 2 is another tasteful labor of love from Libby Hall and should, as did P1, please cynophiles as well as lovers and collectors of antique photographs. An especially delightful feature of this latest volume is the pages upon pages of lovely Victorian and Edwardian children, preserved forever in dignified poses with their beloved pets. Moreover, as the owner of a spunky Jack Russell Terrier, I can once again report that Ms. Hall has given the JRT crowd another bounteous offering: by my rough count, P2's canine companions are roughly 25 percent JRTs, pure or in part. (Perhaps one of these is a long lost ancestor to my own - her sire, after all, was a Brit.)

   P2 is a carefully produced companion volume of its predecessor, printed on the same high-quality paper and, as a duodecimo volume (c. 4.5" x 7"), fitting beautifully in the hand, with a nice heft that befits its quality manufacture. We keep both books out - near the First Folio facsimile - for friends to flip through. Everyone is quickly drawn to a favorite photo of dog or master.

   P2 is bargain priced and just in time for the holidays. Buy in quantity!




3. The book is a collection of old photographs of dogs and their owners, no text. Looking through the photos makes me smile and reminds me of the dogs who have brought joy to my life over the years. These dogs must have also brought great joy to their owner's lives to have been included in these family photos. After all, these pictures were taken long before the days of disposable cameras and 1-hour photo developing. This book (and the first book "Prince and Others") would make a wonderful gift for any dog lover.(Note: both books are the perfect size for stocking stuffers)

No comments about Essential Care for Dogs: A Holistic Way of Life.

3 comments about The History of Fighting Dogs.

1. Pitting man's best friend against man's best friend counts among the most heinous crimes our race has ever committed. Animal rights activists and many dog lovers cannot bear the thought of dog fighting as an acceptable "sport," yet the breeds once used in these bloody games remain among the world's most loved and popular companions dogs. The History of Fighting Dogs traces the fascinating history of the dog pits, and donkeys, to the gory contests with a thousand rats, to the ultimate fight: dog against dog.
   
   We cannot ignore or deny the history of our dogs, or of our race. This important first volume by international dog expert Dr. Dieter Fleig delves deeply into the history of the fighting dog, its effects on our dogs today, and its reflection on the social character of the times.
   
   Over a hindered prints, paintings, and sculptures-many in color- bring to life the woeful tales of the dog pit and the brave canine warriors that proved fearless and relentless time and time again. For advocates of the bull and terrier breeds, for all dog lovers, and for animal people everywhere, this book is a timeless, truthful testament to man's best friend and his all-giving (and forgiving) heart.



2. A good book describing the opponents the fighting dogs faced and how they were expected to fight them. However there is little information on the breeds themselves. Excellent art work is displayed on nearly every page,and the information is reliable. I would recommend it to people interested in there dogs heritage as a fighter. I gave it 4 stars because I feel it could have been longer. Full of details it is a good book for any fighting dog owner. You'll get a complete understanding where your dog came from.



3. I am a freash Staff owner i Norway, and got a hole new respekt for this type of dog. How can you not when you read about all the awfull thigs man has done to this amimal, and still it loves us so much.The book also pays a tribut to the war dogs which to few of us know about.The book also tells the reason for animal fights and the social situation. Thank you for this great book!

5 comments about The Israel Canaan Dog.

1. Myrna Shiboleth is the world's leading authority on Canaan Dogs. Having worked with the breed's founder (Dr. Menzel), owning the largest Canaan Dog kennel in Israel, having bred and shown to their championships in many countries innumerable Canaans, being an esteemed international dog shows judge herself, and a professional animal behaviorist, give her a unique perspective and qualification to write about this breed.

   The result is this authoritative book on Canaan Dogs, still the more complete book available on the breed. This text is a "must" for every person seriously interested in the breed, but it is accessible to newcomers as well. The only possible fault I find with this book is that with the exception of the covers, all the photos are in B&W. Perhaps a future edition will bring in colors?




2. This book is written by the world's leading authority on Canaan Dogs. The collection of photos alone is invaluable, depicting early dogs as well as those more recent. The information on feral and Bedouin-owned Canaan Dogs can not be found elsewhere. The information on breeders is less useful because it constantly needs to be updated. If you are interested in the breed, or pariah dogs in general, you need this book.



3. The book includes many photos of early dogs so is great for anyone studing the history of the breed. There is an excellent description of temperament and what it's like to live with a Canaan Dog. This book is a must for anyone thinking about getting a Canaan Dog



4. I would like to ask if in U.S. in Animal Husbandry Shylock exist 2nd name for Canaan Dog-Israel Sheep Dog? If it's true that they cooperate with you? And this is the name, how they intriduce this dogs in U.S.? Vivian



5. Nice Photos. Detail is lacking on the Drs. Menzel and their creation/development of this breed and their studies on pariah dogs. Would like to see discussion in the book on how it came to be to have 2 different types of Canaan Dogs.

3 comments about The Total German Shepherd Dog.

1. Mr Lanting shares his extensive knowledge about German Shepherd Dogs - a very useful resource book.



2. There are few men in North America who know as much about the German Shepherd than Fred Lanting. He shares with the reader his amazing breadth of experience and in most lucid, engaging and elegant prose touches upon virtually all the issues connected with the world's most popular breed. From the genetic origins and evolution of the standard to the health concerns and breeding tips, "Total GSD" has it all. Together with Susan Barwig's "GSD Encyclopedia" and Malcolm Willis' "German Shepherd Dog: a genetic history", it is an absolute "must have" item for any serious GSD fancier.



3. The perfect book for either the beginning or established German Shepherd Dog owner, THE TOTAL GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG covers its subject "totally". Lanting educates his readers on the GSD from its beginnings in the 1880s through modern bloodlines in both Germany and the U.S. Covering such topics as how to get a healthy GSD puppy, read a German pedigree, whelp a litter, get into agility or obedience and more; the book contains more useful information than most others and is not as intimidating as Willis' THE GERMAN SHEPHERD: A GENETIC HISTORY (also an excellent book).

   If you are going to buy a book on the German Shepherd Dog, BUY THIS ONE! You won't regret it

1 comments about Hamster (I Am Your Pet).

1. I love this book! I have learned so much about hamsters that I could almost be a encyclopedia for hamsters! It's so cool that puppies can get along with hamsters. Plus those dove hamsters are sooooo cute! (as are the teddy bear hamsters!)

5 comments about A Cat's Life: Dulcy's Story.

1. This beautiful book found me a year after my precious cat died from throat cancer. I bet I read it 10 times, each time finding something new that related to us. It is tucked away, forever to be kept, tear-stained in the hallows of my mind and heart.
   
   If you've never had or loved an animal, this book will change your heart and life forever...trust me!



2. On a late winter day in 1972, a cat (soon to be named Dulcy) found a woman worthy to be her human and with whom she would live for the next seventeen and a half years. When Dulcy's lithe and graceful hunter's body began to fail, and the time came to say good-bye, then her story became a song of acceptance and bravery that would drive to the core of anyone who has ever felt close to an animal companion. Dee Ready's A Cat's Life: Dulcy's Story is beautifully, memorably illustrated by the spectacular artwork of Judy J. King and simply wonderful reading from first page to last.



3. As one who has been "owned" by many felines during my lifetime, I found "Dulcy's Story" to be the history of a wonderful relationship between human and pet, all of the joys and all of the sorrows until the ultimate sorrow of losing a companion of many years. I've gone through it so often and it never gets easier, whether the decision to take the pet to its final rest is made by me through euthanasia or by a natural death. Reading "Dulcy's Story" demonstrates just how these beautiful creatures wrap us around their little paws until we become slaves to all their whims and demands, and we love every minute of it! Unfortunately, many of our family and friends don't understand our loyalty to our pets and, therefore often dismiss us as a little crazy. But that's all right - we know we're OK; it's the rest of them that we worry about and even feel sorry for them if they have never known the unconditional love of a furry friend. Dulcy was a very special cat to a very special human, and the story of their life together is a wonderful testament to their relationship.

   It makes me wonder if one or both of my current cats were to write a book on their life with me, what would they say? I would like to think that they would say their lives have been enriched as much as mine has been living together for nearly nine years and hopefully many, many more years.




4. If you were to take a survey that asked what a cat did with its life, chances are people would say "nap, look out the window, and get into stuff." And of course theyÕd be right. If those people lived with cats, however, they might have a lot more to add, and if they loved their cats, they might understand the magic that a cat brings to the life of the family it lives with.

   The author of this book invites us to observe how this magical bond comes about between human and cat and how deep such a relationship becomes when each learns the ways of the other and grows to love and depend on the other.

   Dulcy fits the stereotype many people have of cats. SheÕs independent, persnickety, bossy, and fastidious. But as we read, we find out some amazing things. Dulcy actually teaches her human how to understand cat language; and we learn that she is very complicated indeed and experiences many human feelings. We see her express jealousy, superiority, intelligence, impatience, understanding, loyalty, and above all, love.

   Dulcy lives a long, full life and has many adventures, some humorous and some humiliating. And because the book is written in her voice, she shares many of these adventures with us. We get to know her human, too, and while we sometimes wonder how Dulcy puts up with her humanÕs foolishness, we come to understand her human in the special way that Dulcy understands her.

   In the end, when Dulcy has been very ill for a long time, her human does not want to let her go. When she takes extraordinary measures to prolong Dulcy's life, we get the sense that Dulcy hangs on to life purely for the sake of her human. Just when her human feels that there is no hope, Dulcy manages to scrape together a few more days, even weeks. And when she goes, she goes sweetly, leaving behind a look of love and a lifetime of memories.




5. This outstanding book is a story about the befriending, training, hurt, and love that a cat, Dulcy, and her human experience throughout their life. As Dulcy's tells her life story with her human you will smile, laugh and even cry as their life together unfolds. As an animal lover and friend this story made me remember all the patience my dogs (2) and cats (2) have had to endure while training me. This is a 'must read' for anyone who loves or has loved an animal and will bring back memories of the special bond you had with them. The illustrations were great and the story wonderful!!

No comments about Turtle: Your Happy Healthy Pet.

5 comments about Healing the Pain of Pet Loss: Letters in Memoriam.

1. A good and helpful book. It helped me through a terrible time. I still miss my baby, but this book let me know my feelings are real and they count.



2. Most people around me seem to be more polite than understanding when I talk about losing my dog, Lincoln. It doesn't matter anymore after reading this book. They don't understand the depth of our relationship, but the writers in this book do. I wish I had someone in person who knew, but going back to this book every once in a while gets me through. This book will be my rock as long as I need it.



3. Finally I don't feel so weird about my feelings toward my rabbit. People made fun of me, but now I know I am ok and I will be able to get through this. Thank you.



4. I appreciate the other reviews I read and am glad these people found this book to their needs - but I did not. I just don't see how hearing about someone else's losses helps me - I am already bogged down in my own pain. Anyway - that's all I wanted to say.



5. Being a man, it is hard to express emotions of pain. This book helped me understand my grief as perfectly acceptable and that there are other males who have faced this same kind of social misunderstanding and that it is normal and meaningful to mourn the loss of one of my best friends - my dog, Ranger. So many of us don't know until we lose our animal friends just how important they were in our lives. I will always be grateful to the friend who gave me this book as a gift - it helped me so much.

4 comments about Why the Wild Things Are: Animals in the Lives of Children.

1. An excellent, comprehensive overview of the relationship between animals and children. Children's relationships with household pets, therapy animals, wildlife, and fictional animals are all explored, and many interesting questions are raised about what aspects of the relationship are the most beneficial, how caring for animals relates to caring for other humans, and what children may be most likely to benefit. The issue of children who harm animals is also discussed. The book is enjoyable to read and cites many references that may be of further interest.



2. Kids live in a world filled with animals both real and fictional, from Black Beauty and Barney to Pooh and more. Kids seem to relate better to their pets than to adults - and may understand them better. Why The Wild Things Are is a fascinating survey of the history, psychology and effects of children's media and how it reflects kids' attraction to animals and its influence on their growth. Chapters tackle such varied subjects as how kids relate to and learn from animals, how they perceive object and animal differences, and how they form close associations with animals. A fascinating and informative survey.



3. Roughly 75% of American households include a pet. However, it was not until about 15 years ago that social scientists discovered that animals were an important part of people's lives. The result was an explosion of research in "anthrozoology"(the study of human/animal relations) and the publication of a number of books describing the sociology, history, anthropology and ecology of human-animal interactions. Surprisingly, until the publication of Why the Wild Things Are by Gail Melson there has been no equivalent book describing the psychology of these relationships. Melson, who is Professor of Child Development and Family Studies at Purdue University and well known for her research on the role of animals in the lives of children, has produced a terrific book on the psychology of kid-animal relationships.

   While the focus of the book is on the developmental psychology of human-animal interactions, it is an excellent introduction to general field of human-animal studies. The book covers a wide array of topics. For example, in the early chapters Melson discusses the evolutionary psychology of pet keeping, the emergence of pet keeping in the American middle class, and the demographics of companion animals in the United States. Other chapters focus on topics such as gender differences (or lack there of) in interactions between children and their pets, the role of animals in the development of empathy, and how children cope with the death of a pet. Later chapters deal with topical issues such as the role that animals can play in child psychotherapy and the connection between animal abuse and violence directed toward humans. In addition, there are treatments of the role of animals in children's literature and in the fantasy life of kids.

   In short, Melson has provided a fascinating picture of the complex roles that animals can play in the psychological lives of children. Published by Harvard University Press, the book will certainly be of interest to scholars. However, Melson has an engaging style, and the general reader - particularly parents and animal lovers - will find this book useful and interesting. To my mind, it is one of the best books yet on human/animal relationships.




4. Why the Wild Things Are is a long needed, wonderful, thoughtful and comprehensive review of child animal relations. Author, Gail Melson has reviewed and integrated research from a variety of disciplines including history, social work, psychology and literature. She has effectively walked a tightrope between producing a scholarly work and writing a book that is readable to a lay person who is not a professional psychologist. In addition to documenting the field of child animal relations she has also provided the reader with an insightful and critical review of the works that she covers. She does this in a way that makes her conclusions and findings comprehensible to the lay reader while acknowledging the academic concerns of the professional.

   She suggests areas for future research, introduces the reader to programs of animal assisted therapy, animals in the classroom and covers the emerging area of the relationship between animal abuse and violence toward humans. She not only discusses academic research but gives plenty of real life, compelling examples. In addition her references are arranged on a chapter by chapter basis at the end of the book. They are very easy to either follow if you are looking for more information or easy to ignore if you don't want to be bothered by details. Anyone who has children, works with children or animals in any capacity or teaches child development should consider this most worthy book required reading.