5 comments about The Dog Breed Bible: Descriptions and Photos of Every Breed Recognized by the AKC.

1. I like that this book is easy to breeze through. Each dog breed is listed on a separate, glossy page and the book is set up with a spiral binder. It's better than other dog breed books in being aimed at the consumer who just wants to pick out a breed to buy, not to show. I thought it could go even further in its info about the positives and negatives of each breed as a family pet, for instance, known to bark a lot or being too active for the average suburban household. It briefly touches on these issues. Also, more info on the grooming needs would be good. It says how often to groom but doesn't explain fully if they mean take it to a groomer or do it yourself, and how much this would cost. Some of the possible diseases that each breed can be susceptible to are listed, but no info is given on the illnesses (fatal? possible cures? how often does it occur?). It does show lots of breeds, so that's nice.



2. 
   THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK, ONE THAT I SELECTED TO BE AN INTERGAL PART OF MY SOON TO PUBLISHED WEB SITE "SELECTING YOUR PERFECT DOG, QUICKLY AND EASILY"
   
   DON SCHULTZ



3. Sturdy, spiral bound features one breed per page and covers basic information on origin, temperament, upkeep and health. Each breed is rated from 1 to 5 on energy level, exercise requirements, playfulness, affection level, friendliness toward other pets, friendliness toward strangers, ease of training and grooming requirements. A color photo of the head and side view of each breed is included.



4. I was disappointed with the limited breeds represented and the photographs of those selected. The photographs of several breeds are of selected dogs which do not, in my opinion, accurately represent the breed as a whole. I was not impressed.



5. Arrived quickly, and was just what we needed to help us choose the puppy for us! Thank you so much! Mia Rose

5 comments about Jack Russell Terrier Handbook, The (Barron's Pet Handbooks).

1. I bought this book for my husband who is a recent member of the JRTC and is planning on raising Jack Russel show dogs. He loved it! Thanks!



2. The Jack Russell Terrier Handbook is like no other book available for the breed. The emphasis is on providing the most in-depth and up-to-date informaton about subjects vital to caring for and living with a JRT, including behavior problems and training, medicine and hereditary health problems, nutrition, genetics, and breeding. Information on fun stuff to do with your terrier, such as training for earthdog competitions or even going hunting, is also included, as are tamer diversions such as agility, racing, and conformation. This is not a book of pedigrees and show-win photos, but a book for people who enjoy the JRT in every facet of its being. Intersperced in the text are lots of color photos of JRTs in action, and tidbits of technical information (Terrier Tech) and facts (Jack Fact). A book for people who want to excel at JRT ownership.



3. The Jack Russell Terrier Handbook is like no other book available for the breed. The emphasis is on providing the most in-depth and up-to-date informaton about subjects vital to caring for and living with a JRT, including behavior problems and training, medicine and hereditary health problems, nutrition, genetics, and breeding. Information on fun stuff to do with your terrier, such as training for earthdog competitions or even going hunting, is also included, as are tamer diversions such as agility, racing, and conformation. This is not a book of pedigrees and show-win photos, but a book for people who enjoy the JRT in every facet of its being. Intersperced in the text are lots of color photos of JRTs in action, and tidbits of technical information (Terrier Tech) and facts (Jack Fact). A book for people who want to excel at JRT ownership.



4. Great book!
   I have read quite a few Jack Russell books and this is very informative and very well written I would recommend this book highly, especially to someone interested in Jack Russells it explains a lot about the breed, showing, feeding, training and just understanding these special dogs. It's a must read!



5. Very good book. informative. I bought a Jack and the book at the same time and the book saved me a lot of headaches. A must have for the jack russell owner, or anyone thinking about getting a Jack. Thanks

5 comments about James Herriot's Cat Stories.

1. Goes quickly, but he writes well and if you're a cat owner, you'll really develop a rapport with the cat stories in here. Not just for "cat ladies" - my husband picked it up and couldn't put it down.



2. Look you haven't heard a story read until you've heard it read by Christopher Timothy!!!! This guy could make a phone book interesting to hear read! These stories are great! They'll have you laughing and crying! So becareful if you listen in your car ;0) I was driving my 18 wheeler down a rural road in Luisiana getting all teary eyed! Scary thought, right?



3. James Herriot writes of his veterinary experiences as no one else could. Full of humor,sometimes sadness but always spellbinding and interesting. I could not put this book down.



4. When I sent away for this book I had no idea that it would be so beautifully illustrated in full colour. It is a real little treasure of cat stories told in a way that only James Herriott can. I loved it.



5. We loved this book so much, we named our two cats Olly and Ginny. 'Nuff said.

5 comments about Our Chosen Child: How You Came To Us And The Growing Up Years.

1. I really like this book. Even though not everything pertains to my child, it is nice being able to have a place to put all of his "Firsts."
   
   I don't mind that it focuses only on us, his adopted family. I have a special "LifeBook" which I created that tells him all about his birth family, including pictures and focuses on them. I think it is great for him to know that he has two families that love him! I also think that it separates everything so that it is not so overwhelming right now, while he is young.
   
   If you want a great way to share your child's birthfamily information, I would highly recommend buying "LifeBooks Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child" by Beth O'Malley, MEd. It is a great help in not only creating a LifeBook, but also gives you ideas on how to explain to your child difficult things about his/her adoption.



2. We found this way too 'cute-sy' for our taste.
   We much preferred "This is Me", which allowed for much more flexibility, as it's a binder. And it was not so cute-sy.



3. I was placed with my son when he was 22 months old. While this book is geared more toward infant adoption (wanting a lot of firsts as a baby book does) I am using it for his firsts with us. I have also asked his prior placement if they can fill in the information I don't have. It has pages for a naming Ceremony (I just wrote about them name we chose and why) My favorite pages are the ones where youput pictures of "Others who love you" I would recommend this book to any adoptive mom/dad and you can alter as you need it.



4. This book, while obviously well-intentioned, leaves too much unsaid in the life of a child who joins a family through adoption, in my opinion. There's no space for including the child's biological roots or specifics about their birth family, but only a vague "other people who love you" page, for example.
   
   I didn't feel comfortable using it OR giving it as a gift, so it sits in a box. I'll create my own lifebooks.



5. I have struggled over posting this review---so here goes. 50 year ago my parents gave me a baby adoption book called" The Chosen Child". It was sweet but never talked about having a birth family.
   
   Here we are in 2006 and adopted kids are getting the same message with the latest " Our Chosen Child". Part of their history--their birth history/birth parents---gets written off. Not mentioned. Not discussed. Judy, wish you had done your homework.
   
   On a more positive note--"Our Chosen Child" works very well for everyday life. Like a typical baby/child book. But not helpful for adopted kids and their families. Sorry. Beth O'Malley

5 comments about Storey's Guide to Raising Llamas: Care/Showing/Breeding/Packing/Profiting.

1. ...this book gives a very good background on the animal, it's uses and how to do it. I bought it for basic info...our llamas are pets...they eat and give me fertilizer. Oh, and they amuse the goats and horse.



2. This book is the best guide for beginning llama owners. I have learned more from the book than from other owners and books. This is a great gift for llama lovers and highly recommended for those interested in the llama business.



3. Lots of good information, well presented, easy to read. Somewhat outdated maybe, but the overall bottom line is the same and well presented. I will recommend this book to others, along with other books in the series by same author.



4. This book is sort of the "Dummies Guide" to raising llamas. It not only covers common sense but also in depth topics. Before we purchased our llamas we did a lot of research and this is a book that we chose to keep permanently in our library. We are purchasing it for our local public library as a gift to all that may be interested in lloving llamas.



5. As with all of their books, this one was extremely informative and easy to read.

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

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.

5 comments about The Horse Conformation Handbook.

1. This book provides a wealth of information that I have not seen elsewhere. It enables a very detailed assessment of every aspect of a horse's conformation.



2. Thomas has written a fabulous book that digs deep into the mechanics of the equine. I enjoy understanding why/how things function. This book has helped me to understand why some activities came very easily to my Pony Club mount and why we had to work so hard on others.
   
   By reading this you will understand how conformation impacts performance, soundness and longevity. It is well written and the diagrams make it easy to follow. This isn't a light read, be prepared to study.
   
   If you are a casual rider that doesn't request a lot of your horse, then you may not need to know this depth of knowledge for conformation. I find something new to learn each time I pick it up.
   
   Backyard breeders... PLEASE read this book. Bred-to-the-Nines doesn't do much for a horse that isn't built correctly to perform.



3. This book is wonderful. It really goes into detail and there is more information here than I will ever need.



4. The Handbook is an exhaustive overview of equine conformation relative to athletic ability and stamina. It also appears to be a 'halter class' juding guide. There is an exhaustive amount of information which can make it difficult for the reader to maintain focus on what is an acceptable vs. unacceptable deviation from perfect conformation.
   
   The text is well written and the examples well illustrated, however, in order to be absolutely useful, the reader needs the ability to summarize, overview, review, and focus.
   
   It would be helpful if the author would re-state throughout that her text is written for the 'perfect' specimen and establish that a stated percentage of horses aren't perfect. Having done that, insert a summary on conformation points which are not acceptable under any circumstance; which confirmation points are relatively acceptable; and whether any combination of confirmation points will never be found all in one horse.



5. This book is one of the most excellent to have if you want to understand conformation, and there are only a handful on the subject even worth having. I am usually disappointed with the quality and quanity of information in books on this subject and only rarely do I find one that is actually worth buying and this is one of them. It rivals the quality of Dr. Deb Bennett's "Principles of Conformation", usually regarded as the industry's standard on this subject, and it touches on some things that Bennett's books do not. I recommend both equally as they compliment each other very well.
   
   This author is a very experienced horse woman and author who has written several books on equines and many, many articles for various magazines. I've been familiar with her work for years and she is a thorough author.
   
   This book hits on equine anatomy and it does a good job of it. You have to have a handle on anatomy before you can understand conformation and this books takes the pains to explain the skeleton, the muscles, and even equine teeth before it really delves into explaining faults, and it does really delve into faults and it explains and illustrates them well.
   
   The Book is divided into 3 parts:
   
   Part 1. Anatomy and Principles of Conformation
   2. Basic Anatomy
   3. Head and Neck Conformation
   4. The Teeth
   5. Chest Conformation
   6. Back Conformation
   7. Foreleg Conformation
   8. Hindquarter Conformation
   9. Foot Conformation
   
   Part II. Evaluating a Horse
   10. Body Proportions
   11. Body Angles
   12. Height
   13. How a Horse Moves
   14. Athletic Ability
   15 Type
   16. Soundness
   17. The Senior Horse
   
   Part III. Appendixes
   A. Applying What You've Learned
   B. Training Your Eye: Six Case Studies
   
   This book takes you over anatomy, into faults and their pathology and then it has a section devoted to illustrated critiques of 6 different horses. This is a book to have if you want to know what Equine Conformation is all about. It is concise, VERY well-illustrated, and very thorough.

5 comments about Beyond Words: Talking with Animals and Nature.

1. In this book Marta Williams carries forward the concepts described in Learning Their Language. She gives many case histories, examples of how intuitive communication has been critical in the lives of the animals whose cases are described. This is both fascinating and moving. The implications are unnerving, but worth incorporating into your world view.



2. This book was so interesting that I read it in two sessions. Parts were funny and parts were sad, but it was all well done and believable. Makes me want to sit right down and learn how to do this myself. Money well spent.



3. Probably most folks who will look at this book are already believers in animal communication but even for those like me who are, there is an abundance of profound and amazingly touching anecdotes in it.
   
   My wife and I have called on Marta for help with our cats on several occasions with great success. As a direct result of reading her previous book we can now often communicate directly with them ourselves. This new book is truely a gem and whichever book you read first, you will likely end up wanting to get the other as well! They are easy to read and understand, and make great gifts! Even children who are too young to be able to read on them on their own can learn to communicate with animals; actually learn more easily than adults.
   
   Even if you don't have a live-in companion, animals are all around us and they love it when you make deeper contact with them. If you love animals, this book is a must have!



4. Author Marti Williams takes us on a wonderful journey as she shares countless stories of animals interacting with humans. In this book she tells of communication between many animals and humans. In these communications the animals; dogs, cats, horses, etc. share their feelings, likes, dislikes, worries and such with the person they are communicating with. Interesting! She also gives accounts where lost pets are found, and emotional problems are solved.
   I am an animal lover so this book definitely touched a soft spot in my heart. I am not sure that I fully agree with how she communicates with the animals and nature, but I definitely know that everything living share a common bond. If what she is doing helps even one animal to have a better life, I say Amen and thank you to her! This certainly is a very well written book with some wonderful stories and information that I feel will help and touch many hearts along the way. Animal lovers and pet owners will appreciate this read and find it very beneficial.



5. Marta shares many interesting stories in this followup to Learning Their Language. Understanding your pet is so important, and the more we can learn about and develop positive interactive communication signals the stronger will be the bond we share with our furry family members. Being "in-touch" with
   your pet is an important part of enhancing the human-animal bond, and a critical part of a successful holistic health care program. Those clients whose patients I am proud to treat who are most in-tune with their pets have the greatest successes with both preventing and treating diseases.
   
   Shawn Messonnier DVM
   author, the award-winning The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats, The Allergy Solution for Dogs, and 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog

5 comments about Complete Horse Riding Manual.

1. I love this book. It does not go too deeply into any particular subject but covers horse care and riding in general very well. There are hundred of books out there for beginners to intermediate riders, but this is my best general reference book.
   
   It even has snippets for the more advanced rider. I really think this book is a very valuable addition to any horse lovers Library.



2. As it's not possible to 'see' a few pages of the inside of this book on Amazon, and I'm always sceptical about buying books online that I don't know and can't page through, after some searching, I found it at the DK website and looked through it there. I liked what I saw and then bought if from Amazon.
   
   The photos are fantastic. Although the book is rather thick, it is very well organized and encapsulated with a new subject or further drill down every two pages. I covers everything from anatomy, to behavior, to harmony, to drills, to troubleshooting, and goals in building a solid relationship between horse and rider in all English riding disciplines.
   
   If you're into jumping, especially, it's fantastic, because it covers, in great detail, distances between fences from trot and canter for training, gymnastics, and courses. It gives lots of exercises and drills. There are great overviews and tips for both competing and training. I have not come across any books that have this level of detail here.
   
   The dressage explanations give you good basics but leave you hanging a bit for more.
   
   It's like having great instruction from a master. The author's British, however, and Western riding is not covered at all as it's not as popular in Europe as English.
   
   I give riding lessons. One of my students is moving back to the States, so I bought if for her as a going-away present. I liked it so much that I bought another copy for myself. It's a great reference tool and worth having on your shelf. I'm definitely going to use a lot of information in it during my own workouts and lessons.



3. I'm relatively new to riding because I have only a few years of experience without too intensive training. Up to now I have read the first 70 pages of the book only but my first impression is rather good. Its language is clear, the book is well organized into small chapters and contains good illustrations. I have already learnt several interesting things that were new to me e.g. how to learn jumping progressively or how to build strong relationship with horses. I will try to put these things into practice.



4. This is a great book for all types of riders, it correctly covers beginners work, dressage, tack, cantering and jumping etc. instuctional guides cover everthing from correct postioning on the saddle to correct jumping signals to placement on the saddle. there could be more here on horse breeds, driving carriages and coaches but a great book that is carefully instructional and complete when it comes to riding technique.



5. I have a substantial library of equestrian-related books, and this one certainly deserves pride of place. It is the best and most complete general guide to horse riding I've yet come across. The photographs are gorgeous and the production values superb. William Micklem writes very well and his explanations are very clear and thorough without being dry or pedantic. This really is about how to get the most out of riding, pure and simple. It isn't one of those ordinary, "how-to-groom-your-horse-compendium-of-breeds" picture books, and it delves into dressage, show jumping and cross-country in three separate but interlinked sections. I actually learned quite a few things reading this book. Experienced and beginner riders alike will enjoy it. Read it cover-to-cover, and savour the beatiful layout and illustrations. Completely awesome and highly recommended!

5 comments about Dr. Kellon's Guide to First Aid for Horses.

1. Great book - will be put in my barn for immediate reference. Very graphic pictures but really helpful.



2. This book is a must have for any equine first aid kit and horse owner. It allows the reader to quickly find and reference relevant information regarding a number of equine emergencies.



3. Wonderful buy for to have on hand for emergencies. This book is very concise and easy to read and understand. The topics are clearly marked making it a breeze to use in an emergency situation. My copy stays at the barn.



4. This book is so well organized that even if you are in a panic you can find the information you need. Straight forward easy to understand information with pictures. I bought this book years ago and kept it in my hoses first aid box. It's indispensable!



5. This is the emergency guide we've been looking for as the long term owners/keepers of 3 quarter horses. The pictures help us visually know what we're confronting with our horses. The essential "first aid" to be given, tells us what we can do, what we shouldn't do, and relay the critical information to our vet when we call. Our vet is over-burdened, as all large animal vets are, and giving him the correct information/description helps him know how soon he needs to come. We can also tell him how our horse is responding to the "first aid" we've given and whether he wants us to do anything additional. The size and spiral binding makes it easy for us to keep this reference at the barn, where we need it. We're also reading through this guide now, which helps us decide what to read further about in other resources, such as the Merk Manual of Veterinary Medicine.