5 comments about Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others.

1. Kathy Davis' book is wonderful!
   I am using it, along with one or two others, to train my own Therapy Dog for my office and local hospitals and nursing homes. (Feel free to visit at www.drferraioli.com)
   I think that Ms. Davis was right to structure her book in such a complete manner, including such topics as how to choose a dog that might be good at this kind of work, what constitutes a good therapy dog visit, safety tips, training and handling techniques, the benefits of therapy dogs, and the list goes on!
   Well written and sober, for those who are wanting to do the real thing out there!
   Be well,
   Dr. Ferraioli
   www.drferraioli.com
   Author, "Cobwebs And Ugly Wallpaper"



2. Book arrived quickly and in perfect condition.



3. I am very pleased with this book, it has given me many ideas of what to do as a therapy dog team and how I can help others. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in doing therpay dog work.



4. I purchased this book because the reviews from other shoppers were so good. I was a little disappointed though because the book is more a basic dog training guide than how to get started in the business of therapy dogs. It just wasn't the right book for me.



5. I found this book to be a helpful introduction for people getting started in animal-assisted therapy/activities. One of the other posted reviews almost put me off, but I'm glad that I decided to take it with a grain of salt. In spite of their statement that the book does not adequately define what "pet therapy" is, I found that it did indeed deal with the definition and the different terminology that is used. The book gives many helpful tips and is a good basic guide for new therapy dog teams. I would also recommend it to those who are thinking of getting involved in pet therapy in the future.

5 comments about A Snowflake in My Hand.

1. No exaggeration here, this book is quite possibly the best book I've ever read - and I've read a LOT of books. I probably average 100-150 books per year and this book stands out like a shining beacon of what a book should be.
   
   Without melodrama or saccharine-laced manipulations, the author manages to successfully illustrate the pain, no, the agony, of watching a beloved animal slip away. She shows the behind the scenes anguish and dedication of those who care for and strive to better the lives of our furry children. Nowhere have I seen animal-human relationships portrayed with such tenderness, sincerety and respect without a trace of the maudlin.
   
   Ms. Mooney does not proselytize nor does she moralize, yet somehow she manages to bring forth a sense of the divine and everlasting bond possible with a special animal. She gives the sense also that however difficult, life does go on and that somehow, it must.
   
   One other important note about this book - With her words, her attitude, and her wisdom, Ms. Mooney does a better job than could 12 trained counselors at helping to appease any guilt a companion person may have at any decisions made out of love for an animal.
   
   I highly recommend this book for anyone who has ever loved an animal or even anyone who has simply had a friendship with one. This book speaks to a level rarely seen or addressed in a simple paperback book.



2. In law school, in a cinder block dormitory, Samantha Mooney's cats were a surrogate animal family for me, but such a tragic family, since death came sooner for them than for most of our pets. This was one of the very few books I carried home with me and I have never let it go in all the intervening years. If we must acknowledge that we are destined to outlive most of our pets, again and again we need a book to remind us to cherish their lives but not tether them to hopeless life when they are ready to let go. Many animals have shared their lives with me in the years since I graduated. This is the book I turn to when that sad day comes around for each of my animals in turn.



3. It is a simple book, written for the average person. Nothing fancy, just a book written from the heart. If you've ever had the love of a cat, dog, or any other creature in your life then please get this book. It will warm your heart and make you feel what it's like to know true, sincere love. For those who think that humans are the only creatures with souls and feelings, you should read this book and maybe realize that we are truly not alone, there are intelligent and caring lifeforms all around us.



4. Hard to believe this book would ever go out of print, or that the author apparently wrote nothing else. I got this book when it first came out, and periodically reread it -- and I'm not even a cat person. A wonderful book, beautifully written, about life, love, loss and renewal. Get a copy, this one is a jewel that shouldn't be missed.



5. Lyrical, poignant, tender, this is a book clearly written by a cat lover. A slim memoir of her time as an veterinary research assistant in the oncology department of NYC's Animal Medical Center, the author is above all hopeful, despite the inevitable early demise that awaits most of her patients. She knows that while the doctors may not be able to cure the cancers of their feline patients, they can certainly improve the quality of life, allowing the cats to live out their lives as happily as medically possible. Highly recommended.

No comments about Vet Confidential: An Insider's Guide to Protecting Your Pet's Health.

5 comments about The Howell Book of Dogs: The Definitive Reference to 300 Breeds and Varieties.

1. The photos in this book for the most part to depict the average breed of each dog. The book does include several mixed breeds and designer breeds. The captions of the breed's general characteristics are highly inaccurate. Example the Greyhound is described as easy to train but difficult to motivate. As a professional trainer my experience has been that dogs who are difficult to motivate are not easy to train. The activity levels on several breeds are inaccurate, ie. the Havanese. Average life span on most breeds is incorrect.



2. Good illustrations overall, I like that its not all about the AKC. Not as a complete as I thought it would be ( got it as a gift for my dog trainer husband ) For example shar pei's and dutch shephard's are not included



3. The pictures and articles are entertaining, and the care and behavioral information on each breed is invaluable to anyone working with dogs or looking for a pet.



4. It's wonderful to see such a complete and well illustrated full color book on dog breeds . In addition to the normally included Labradors and Yorkies, this book covers some of the rarest breeds like Thai Ridgbacks, Silken Windhounds, and the Chart Polski. Very impressive!



5. Liz Palika's new book really gives you the best of her years of experience as a dog trainer and writer. Her up-close-and personal experience with so many breeds translates into an informative and interesting book. The photography and layout are beautiful, and many rare and non-AKC breeds are discussed. Even designer dogs- purposely mixed breeds- get a nod. You'll spend hours enjoying this book.

5 comments about A New Owner's Guide to Australian Cattle Dogs (New Owner's Guide To...).

1. good book .. nothing to write home about .. a bit wordy .. a lot of history that I did not care about, I just wanted a good manual ..



2. I highly recommend this book. It provides everything that you need to know about your Cattle Dog. It has great detail/history, explanations, and it's easy to understand. I've followed the instructions and training tips that have been provided in this book to raise, and train my 12 week old Cattle Dog. The results have been outstanding. My puppy is responding just as the book stated that he would. Goodluck, it's worth your money!!



3. There he was. A cute little red and white puppy with big brown eyes. He melted my heart instantly. This was the first time in over twelve years that I had been completely bowled over by a dog. I had a dog, a beautiful spaniel/terrier mix that went by the name of Topper. She was my pride and joy and when I had to put her to sleep I really thought I was never going to be taken in by another dog until I saw him.
   
   I really didn't ask any questions about this dog. I didn't even know it was a male until I got him home. We named him "Bongo" because before he took off running, he beat the ground with his paws. Speaking of paws, all my friends' looked at them and told me he was going to be huge. I refused to believe it. Not my baby. Maybe he would weigh 35...40 lbs tops.
   
   Little did we know that our baby was part Mastadon. In less than aweek he grew three inches in all directions. The solid white parts were giving way to little red freckles, the angelic look he used to give me in the morning was becoming steadily more demonic and at the end of a month, we had something on our hands that was about as friendly as a Tazmanian Devil.
   
   What the hell kind of dog is this, anyway?
   
   We had a friend tell us that Bongo was an Australian Cattle Dog. Known for their inexhaustive energy stores. This dog was used to rounding up cattle and then after it rounded up a few hundred steers, it wanted to fetch a few dozen times and then maybe go on a brisk twenty mile hike. The dog was literally buzzing from morning to night.
   
   And tempermental...oh man, you don't know the half of it. He would flip his dog dish and grumble when he was disatisfied, he'd yell at the cats and push them over with his extra large head, he'd try and knock my feet out from under me all while getting bigger and bigger and bigger.
   
   We went to the bookstore one day and loaded up our arms with all kinds of reading materials. This book plainly says that the cattledog is a completely different kind of dog. No kidding. We even wanted Cesar Milan to pay a housecall. We were running out of patience, but it turned out, that's exactly what Bongo needed and to be honest, we did too. We took this little guy in not even knowing what to expect. It was kind of unfair to him. But I really was beginning to fall in love with him, even though a few times I wanted to strangle the thing.
   
   Two years later, and after making this book (along with a few others) our Bible, we have a beautiful dog. He's kind, he's gentle, he's loaded with personality and he is just a great addition to our world. This book and its advice works, but you must work with your dog on a regular and consistent basis. You must be willing to know that yes, he is part of the family, but he is still a dog. He's not a human. He's a dog and he wants to be treated like one. He wants boundaries, discipline, affection, and most of all he wants you to notice him. This is not the kind of dog that should be left alone to his own devices, that is unless you want your backyard to look like the moon's surface, your garden hoses to be perforated, and your trees gnawed down to little nubs. You must be willing to give your heart, your soul, and your mind to this breed and I promise you, you will get something incredible in return.
   
   I love my dog. In fact, when I take my dog out for a walk, I just cannot believe why other people would settle for such ugly stupid dogs when they could have something beautiful and wonderful like my beautiful Bongo-Boy.
   
   No, I'm not biased...why?
   
   Get the dog you deserve with the help of this book!
   
   Peace & Blessings...



4. We recently adopted a cattledog mix, going in blind, knowing nothing about the breed. This book was an excellent eye opener and helped overcome a lot of obstacles that may have otherwise caused us to reconsider our choice of puppy.



5. Narelle has done a wonderful job with this book, updating the older version with new photos and relevant information. The book is filled with wonderful pictures of many Australian Cattle Dogs and puppies and shows them herding, playing, sleeping, in the show ring, and doing agility and obedience work. I particularly love the picture of a wonderful blue cattledog named Darcy sleeping on the couch with one of her owners, Rick Williams, on page 130! Although Australian Cattle Dogs are not a breed for everyone because of their high energy level and high intellengence coupled with the need to herd things, the book gives a well-rounded view of the breed. Really a fun book and highly reccomended!

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 Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal: A Swift, Effective Method for Permanently Shaping a Horse's Lifetime Behavior.

1. Expecting our first foal, I bought this book and read it cover to cover. What I came away with is a simple concept which is well-explained in this book. But as simple as the concept is - handle and introduce the new foal to as many life lessons as possible - this book also explains the reasoning and logic behind imprinting. I recommend it for anyone who is a beginner with a baby horse like I was. BTW, my filly is now one year old and nearly bomb proof. She's safe, affectionate and whinnies when she hears my voice.



2. I felt there was too much 'imprinting/handling' too early. I did not use many of the suggestions, but just handled the foals carefully just like I would with any newborn. Both my foals are very personable and I don't know if that's because of their dams' temperament from the way I train them, the way I work with the foals and their mothers or because of how carefully I chose their dams AND sires. I certainly have not OVER-handled them.



3. This is a pretty good book for those who have never imprinted a foal before. There are tons of pictures and he outlines everything step by step. It's a bit dated, especially with the photos, but overall it's worth the money.



4. My sister and I have always wanted to raise foals that weren't like your typical horses, our first foals we did lots to the minute they were born, like touching there ears, everything we could think of that we didn't want them to have issues with-and they're great, but still horses. I came across this book and LOVED IT! Our next years foals were thoroughly imprinted at birth and WOW! Even better than last years foals and we taught them so many more difficult things at birth-like working off their hind-quarters, it's amazing how effective it is. I have bought un-impinted foals in the past, and by a year you have a kicking biteing, don't touch me there yearling to spent hours patiently working with. No my babies come running to me and lick me to death and nothing fazes them!
   Painted Blessings Ranch~Bringing out the best in Black and White paint horses.



5. Clear, step by step. Covering all the basics of imprinting & then moving on to first day training techniques that make all the difference for the foal's interaction with human handlers in later days & years to come. Even I can do this, though I am fairly new to horses & especially foaling. Certainly this is a 2 person job, but with an assistant, it goes very smoothly if you have a halter-broke, calm mare. The difference in the foals is really amazing! I see this applying to other animals as well. This is a real gem of a book!

1 comments about The Essential Book of Koi: A Complete Guide to Keeping and Care.

1. EXTREMELEY HELPFUL BOOK. I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO HAS A POND OR IS THINKING OF INSTALLING A POND. IT WOULD OF HELPED ME BY READING THIS BOOK PRIOR TO THE BUILDING OF MY POND.THIS IS A GOOD INVESTMENT OF YOUR TIME.

3 comments about Horse Journal Guide to Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals.

1. Dr. Kellon is the world-famous equine nutritionist. She is also the vet editor of John Lyons Perfect Horse and Horse Journal. Famous for her no-nonsense style and attention to detail, this book is a wonderful resource. She covers everything from antioxidants to joint support to feeding the senior horse. It is a must-have for horse owners.
   For those who want even more detail than this book provides, Dr. Kellon also has on-line courses covering a range of subjects from nutrition to cushings to understanding bloodwork.



2. I heartily second Claire Cox-Wilson's review. I would add that Dr. Kellon's First Aid For Horses should also be in every horseman's stable. It is as detailed, informative and clear an emergency book on horsekeeping as I've ever read. Both will become well-thumbed references for horses and the people who love and care for them. Solid, current, medically sound advice can be difficult to find. It's here in both books.
   
   Carolyn Larson
   Lamoine, Maine



3. I highly recommend this book... a wonderful compilation of all of Dr. Kellon's work with the Horse Journal.
   It is a great resource for all horseowners who truly care about their horses' well-being. A no nonsense straightforward guide to providing your horse with optimal nutrition & care. Dr. Kellon's recommendations are solidly based on scientific fact, personal experience & in many cases trials conducted by the Horse Journal. Don't be misled by hype and buzz words that feed & supplement manufacturers throw at you. Dr. Kellon cuts through all of it and gives you the bottom line.
   And for those horseowners, trainers, breeders who want to go one step further into the world of equine nutrition, Dr. Kellon offers online nutrition courses. For more information visit her website: http://www.drkellon.com/
   With heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kellon for all she does for these magnificent creatures.
   A most grateful student,
   Claire C. Cox

5 comments about Veterinarians Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats : Safe and Effective Alternative Treatments and Healing Techniques from the Nations Top Holistic Veterinarians.

1. I am very glad to have purchased this book. It's clear, easy to get into and it's good to have a book like this around, especially if your cat is a good, good friend and you want to do the best by your cat.



2. Veterinarians Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats : Safe and Effective Alternative Treatments and Healing Techniques from the Nations Top Holistic Veterinarians
   This is an excellent book...very informative...easily read...easily understood by the layman...would be an excellent book for veterinarians, who are not knowledgable about natural remedies, to have on hand when they are treating animals with infections that will not respond to antibiotics



3. This book is a valuable resource filled with alternatives to conventional treatment for your cat(s). I found this book to be very well written, informative and honestly presented. If you are looking for natural alternatives and real answers to your cat's care and longevity...you have come to the right place.



4. I own many natural/alternative healing books for cats, and this is the ONLY one that has post-its sticking out everywhere that I've saved reference points to return to. Also, after cross-referencing with other books, it is almost always this book whose advice I follow with 99% success. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone's pet library.



5. My vet recommended this book to me to help aid the diet of my adopted old diabetic/kidney diseased cat. It's an eye opener... some of the information about pet food is shocking! This book has been so helpful laying out your basic health care, lists healthy food recommendations, food recipies. and great holitistic help with ailments. My youngsters are getting a much healthier start with me just being better informed. Highly recommended!