5 comments about American Bulldog (Comprehensive Owner's Guide) (Comprehensive Owner's Guide).

1. ...my son to choose this breed of dog, it gives great background on the American Bulldog and what to look for in a well bred one.



2. its a little to text book for me... i noticed that the writer kind of rambled a bit but it does have some good info.



3. This book is a ok book has some good tips and info that you can find in most books on AB's .The guy has no Idea about AB's , I mean the many theories of the breed and his negative remarks about other people's theory about the breed and not to mention writting mistakes in this book.But that just my though's on it!



4. very good book helps me everyday understand my american bulldog. it is written so that things are easy to find and really easy to understand.



5. between his random babble, run-on sentances that lead nowhere, out of the blue paragraph openings and subject and not to mention his "theory" on the American Bulldog I wouldnt waste anymore time (let alone money) on this book. I mean come on, this guy spelled "organized" with an "s" for crying out loud. this book is an insult not only to the editors and publishers who helped put it out, but to the true American Bulldog lovers worldwide. I promise you that if you are looking for a good book on these dogs there are some out there - it's just not this one. after reading this i feel like i should write a book on space exploration - apparently you dont even need to know the subject on which you are writing about.

4 comments about Raising Puppies & Kids Together: A Guide for Parents.

1. If you were thinking of adding a puppy to your household because you have kids in the house, get this book! It could save you from making a mistake about getting a puppy, possibly saving its life.
   
   Pia and Lynn cover choosing a breed that fits your household, why you shouldn't get a puppy to teach the kids responsibility, what it's like having a puppy in the house, and how you'll have to always keep an eye on the puppy and kids whenever they are together.
   
   Buy this book if you're a parent thinking about getting a puppy for your kids.
   
   Buy this book if a friend has kids and is thinking of getting a puppy.
   
   Buy this book if you *think* you might have kids in the future and want to prepare your dog(s) for their arrival.



2. Parents can't go wrong getting a puppy for the kid when they first look at RAISING PUPPIES AND KIDS TOGETHER, a fine manual where two top dog trainers how to socialize a puppy and teach a child pet management simultaneously. From infants through school-age kids, chapters cover the basics of how kids should interact with and play with a puppy - and how parents should monitor the interaction. From roughhousing problems to typical dog behaviors and communicating with the pet, chapters focus on dog behavior but include analysis and advise on kid interactions as well. An important owner's manual - for both puppies and kids.



3. This book is a "must" read for anyone who has a puppy (or adult dog) and is expecting a baby or who has a baby and planning to get a puppy. The book is a "really should read" for any responsible dog owner. There are tips and techiniques that will make your family's life with your dog much more rewarding. It is organized in a very "reader friendly" way, and for quick reference when needed



4. We bought this book because we are expecting our first child in a couple of months and wanted to know how to get our 1 yr old dog ready for the new arrival. The chapter on introducing your dog to the baby is very helpful, and they provide specific training activities to prepare your dog. I also found some of the general dog behavior explanations and advice to be very valuable, whether or not you have kids. I wish we had known about this book several months ago when our dog entered his "teenage" years.

3 comments about Angel Animals: Divine Messengers of Miracles.

1. Purchased for our 10 year old daughter, she has not put it down. The stories are touching and funny and intense. Good quick read!



2. We all have our own anecdotes about how important our animal friends are to each of us. In some small (or large) ways we have all experienced the miracles of angel animals. In daily life they teach us patience, show us unconditional love, and expect us to be nothing less than ourselves with them at all times. In times of crisis, they stand beside us reminding us that we are stronger and more courageous than we think. In short, they change our lives, for the better. Animals really are pretty amazing creatures.
   
   Angel Animals is an anthology of animal experiences that changed the lives of various individuals. The types of animals and the dynamics of these relationships vary substantially as do the lessons learned and the gifts given by these beings. As expected household pets are common heroes and heroines in these stories. However, in quite a number of the entries, the animals depicted are quite out of the ordinary including seals, raccoons, bees, and spiders. In all cases, these creatures bring with them special gifts and lasting lessons that guided their humans through very difficult or challenging times.



3. Updated and revised to include a new introduction, ANGEL ANIMALS gathers stories about spiritual lessons they've learned from animals and comes not from new age leaders but from ordinary individuals, making for an even more powerful collection. From a sparrow's influence on volunteering to animals who promoted spiritual growth, ANGEL ANIMALS is an outstanding survey for any who would reveal the underlying importance of animals.

5 comments about Planet Cat: A CAT-alog.

1. I purchased this book just two weeks ago so I have yet to get through the whole thing. However, I have definitely made a dent in it and I have to say it is totally rad. I have two senior cats who I love to death. My family adopted them when I was very young so I never really took much intrest in educating myself about cats. Now as a high school senior I have developed a serious fascination with all kinds of felines. This books contains all of the information you could ever want, it is packed with facts. With a book of this size I was worried that it might contain too much filler and not enough killer. I was pleased to discover that my assumptions were unfounded. Planet Cat talks about social/cultural/ political history of cats, grooming, health concerns, the basics about adopting cats, etc. I was kinda bummed to see that a decent portion of the book is dedicated to grooming/health concerns. Im sure caring for your cat tips are relevant to other readers but I was in it for the history. Whatever the case by the time I found info on Hemingway's cats, Literary Cats throughout history, and stories of amazing cat feats, I was no longer bummed. This book is a cat tome! I don't regret buying it. Highly Recommended



2. 
   Planet Cat is not the type of book that you want to bomb through in one sitting. Instead, Planet Cat should be savored slowly like a fine wine as you marvel at the amount of time and research that has gone into this collaborative effort.
   
   Authored by Sandra Choron, Harry Choron and Arden Moore, Planet Cat offers the reader a distinctive look into all things C-A-T. From early history to contempurrary culture, learn about famous cats, famous people who share their lives with cats, Presidential kitties, care and training, cat behavior even popular and obscure cat myths debunked. You name it; you will find it within Planet Cat.
   
   Such extensive content requires a six page Table of Contents as the three authors behind this book contact authors and experts gathering up content in an easy-to-use guide. Learn about what gifts will satisfy the cat who has everything. How to photograph your cat, travel tips, which websites are the most popular for cat lovers on the Net, how to secure insurance policies for your cat- they litter-ally cover every cat-topic on the planet.
   
   Put this book on your bookshelf for it is an educational find, fun to read, highly informative, and a must-have for any cat lover. Sits proudly in my bathroom next to my copy of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Cat Lover's Companion.
   
   Bravo to the authors for providing such a wonderful find!



3. This is such a FUN and informative book. Couldn't put it down when I received it. The prrrrrfect gift for all kitty lovers!



4. This book has tons of information on cats. It's the perfect book for any cat lover.



5. I bought this book becuase I had checked it out at the library, and it has so much good information in it! Just about anything you can ask about a cat is covered. It even tells you lots of way so say "cat" in different languages. If you're a cat lover, I would definitely reccommend it!

5 comments about Dogue De Bordeaux: A Comprehensive Owner's Guide (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

1. This is a dog that seems interesting, but I knew nothing (and I mean nothing) about. This book filled me in on all about this amazing breed of dog. Very good for the dog lover who is unfamiliar with the breed.



2. This book is great ! A must for a Dogue De Bordeaux owner or those who are thinking of getting a pup. Well written with beautiful pics.



3. This is an excellent book with plenty of information on the breed of dog. Also lots of tips on training the cute puppies who grow in to large dogs. It informs you on how to encourage good and obedient behavour from these dogs at an early age.
   
   I would recommend this book



4. Absolutely fantastic book with enough infomation to help anyone from the novise to the very experience Dogue de Bordeaux breeder I loved it .



5. This book is a good beginner book for new Dogue de Bordeaux owners. The book covers a little history on the Bordeaux breed as well as information about how to care for the breed. This book was a little too "beginner" for me for it covered a lot about how to care for dogs in general such as house breaking, create training, etc.

5 comments about Breaking and Training the Driving Horse: A Detailed and Comprehensive Study (Wilshire Horse Lovers Library).

1. I have actually trained my horse according to Ms. Ganton's book and it took virtually no time at all. I did not use a bitting rig - as my horse was already being ridden. I had virtually no driving experience and found the book easy to understand and the techniques simple. This is an excellent book for the novice driver. As an added note: my horse was always ridden bitless and no bit was used to teach him to drive. He goes bitless and blinderless. Aside from her strict use of blinders (never used by fire horses back in the day and used very little in Europe and horse farming)I will use her method with every horse I teach to drive.



2. Unfortunatley with this book, it didn't give me the information I was looking for. I have driven before, but have never broken a horse to harness, and wanted to make sure I was taking all the right precautions to do it right the frist tim.. I felt this book left alot of questions unasnwered, especially with the grainy and unclear drawings. The insctructions were very unclear and there was no concise "to the point" aspect about them. Honestly, I basically got a review of what I already knew, and felt this book would not be a help for someone breaking her horse to drive. If anythign it is a usefull reference for those already having experience in driving. After reading through it, this book is going in ebay.



3. There is one significant part of this book with which I must take issue. After one succeeds in harnessing and then hitching the green horse to the cart, do NOT, under any circumstances, follow the book's advice to then lead the horse with the empty cart behind. I did this and the horse was so alarmed by the noise behind him that he took off with me running alongside, hanging on to the bridle, trying to get a badly frightened running horse to stop. We finally came to a fence, much to the relief of us both. Since then, I've spoken to several 'driving' trainers and all of them, without exception, say to never, ever lead a horse with an empty cart behind. If I had been unable to keep up with my panicked horse (and it was a miracle that I could) he would have wrecked and most probably his driving days would have been over. Following that horrible event, he had to go back to square one in his training and be brought slowly forward again.



4. Did I read the same book as the rest of these folks? Wefound the "illustrations" to be amateurish drawings with very little clear detail and the photos were from afar and grainy with no discernable detail. The sections on how to harness, and particularly the fit of the harness, were poorly organized and without enough details. Basically, the book is very wordy but without giving enough clear step-by-step instructions and sharp diagrams and photos to really make the reader certain that they are proceeding correctly.
   
   In reading and preparing for the first few lessons I felt secure that I had JUST enough information from the book to carry out her instructions. In practice, we got as far as the training shafts. We constructed them per her measurements, and tried to follow all of her instructions. Unfortunately for a rank novice there was not enough detailed information about how long the traces ought to be on a correctly fitted harness or how far and high from the horse's back legs the cross member should safely be positioned. Our first session in the "poles" was nearly disasterous. We were left with many questions regarding the correctness of our harness and/or should we have modified it in some way to make the exercise more successful. We found ourselves peering at the grainy photos straining to glean some detail that might explain why our set-up didn't fit her description. In reviewing the material we found that should we survive to hitch the horse to a cart, we would be uncertain as to similar details about distances, heights, lengths, etc.



5. Doris L Ganton presents all of the wonderful information in this book in a clear, easy to understand format complete with pictures and detailed drawings to depict exactly what she is talking about. Great book for the first time driver, or someone new to training. This is an excellent buy!

5 comments about How to Start a Home-Based Pet Care Business, 2nd (Home-Based Business Series).

1. self help book in starting a pet business. I was hoping for a little more information



2. Salzberg's experience in the pet care industry comes from her work as a groomer, and her book reflects this. While she does briefly cover such topics as pet sitting/dog walking and obedience training with a chapter on each, there isn't a whole lot of information here for someone hoping to break into one of these businesses. There is much more in depth information for those hoping to start a grooming business, but even so about half the book covers general how to start your own business information with a chapter each on starting a business, creating a home office, accounting, insurance, banking and the basics of working at home - none of the information in these chapters was specific to the pet care industry. Some "fluff" on the history of pet grooming and the increasing amount of money people spend on their pets rounded out the information. This book probably won't prove useful to anyone who wants more than a brief overview of getting into the pet care business. Salzberg herself recomends the books Pet Sitting for Profitby Patti J. Moran and The Professional Pet Sitter: Your Guide to Starting and Operating a Successful Service Edition 2005 Newly-Revised Includes Business Formsby Lori and Scott Mangold and these would probably prove better bets for people looking for detailed information on getting into the animal care business.



3. This book was informative however please note that it is very US focussed and will not be of great assistance with regards to regulations in other countries.
   
   The book did not provide an all round knowledgebase for setting up a dog walking business - mainly focussed on grooming.



4. There are two main aspects to a home-based Pet Care business, or in fact to just about any business. First is the part of the business that is special to the particular business. For a pet care business this includes such things as grooming equipment that is unique to this business as opposed say to starting a car repair shop. Second is the standard rules fo business. For instance, what do you need in the way of business licenses, will you be a corporation, what about insurance -- all that stuff. This book draws a nice balance between the two requirements.
   
   There's only one point I would do differently, not so much differently as with a greater emphasis. That is: Get a Computer. You don't need the latest and fastest, I bought quite an acceptable computer at a thrift shop for $75. Then get some accounting software. When they get around to questioning you, the IRS will look at computer generated reports with a lot more acceptance than they will at any manual system. QuickBooks is a good package (there are others). The latest version will cost you two or three hundred dollars. Or you can buy last year's version on eBay for about a hundred, or the year before that for about $65. Each year buy an income tax package, about $20. Do your own taxes and then have an accountant go over them. You can type stuff into the package just as well as he can and he will charge you a bunch.
   
   All in all the book is very well written, the authors clearly understand the business. The writing style is clear and informative. Highly recommended.



5. this is a great book to give a first time entrepenuer good guidance

5 comments about Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation.

1. This book is mainly a scholarly work,with chapters by various biologist wolf experts,some of which are well writen and others more text-book style,and full of charts, graphs, tables and reference notes. If you love canines though-wolves or their dog brothers, you will want this book.Some of these experts have spent years studying and observing and living with wolves and they have extremely interesting stories to tell. Especially interesting are the chapters on sex,raising of young,survival and the domestic dog descent from wolves.Depressing is the number of wolves killed for no reason other then people wanting to kill.
   A good encyclopedic work for canine lovers



2. This was a great book, and told me everything I needed to know about wolves



3. Absolutely thorough, professional and superb information.



4. L. David Mech et al. weave a superb rendering of wolves and there ability to adapt and survive. They introduce the reader to several aspects of the secretive lives of wolves and discuss valuable conservation matters needed to preserve these remarkable creatures.
   
   This book is a must have for any student of conservation and also for those who truely find wolves fascinating.



5. A superb book. If you want to know just about anything about wolves, you should purchase this item. Not an easy read, but hugely informative and well written with great photographs.

5 comments about A PocketExpert Guide to Reef Aquarium Fishes: 500+ Essential-to-Know Species (Microcosm/T.F.H. Professional).

1. Although most of thsi is duplicated the the book 'Aquarium Fishes', it is a must have for beginner and expert alike. The pictures and data are up to date and I am using it almost every day.



2. A good guide to the many fishes & accurate. I bought a Spiny Puffer, who the author said that he's prone to Ich. I was skeptical, but after just the first overnight, I found a big white spot on his head.
   
   I will heed this guy's advice more closely in the future.



3. What can I say? This is the best book when you're ready to stock your saltwater tank. Do the fish a favor and read this BEFORE you buy a Naso Tang for your 90-gallon tank. Helps avoid many costly mistakes. And it's not just the cost: this book saves fish lives!



4. This is an updated edition of this series of guides. It does contain more fishes and is a little more organized but I did notice that some fishes were left out that were in the older edition. Otherwise, this is a great guide for aquarists and reefers alike.
   
   I rated it four stars because it a great guide, but not perfect.
   
   Ejoy your fish!



5. Part of the outstanding "The Pocket Expert Guide" series from TFH Publications, Reef Aquarium Fishes by Scott W. Michael is a comprehensive and in-depth guide and reference for a vast number of fishes suitable for home or office aquariums. Enhanced with colored key codes for aquarium suitability and reef compatibility, Reef Aquarium Fishes knowledgeably presents a wealth of succinct information on over five-hundred species. Reef Aquarium Fishes is profusely illustrated with color photographs of the fish and offers aspiring aquarium owners with intricate and detailed descriptions with expert coverage of all the most popular and commonly available reef-appropriate species, along with up-to-date information on their selection care, and feedings. Simply put -- no aquarium owner should be without a reference copy of Reef Aquarium Fishes.

5 comments about How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong: A Road Map for Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs.

1. It took the author 4 YEARS to rehabilitate her dog using her method, and its easy to understand why. Nowhere in this book are you taught how to nurture trust and respect from your dog. The advice on training specific commands is worth reading, but probably not what most people that buy this book are looking for. The books I bought after reading this one were so much better. I would highly recommend the books by Patricia McConnell instead. Her 'How to be a Pack Leader' booklet is awesome and sets the stage for success with her other books, Feisty Fido and the Cautious Canine.



2. This is a no nonsense concise guide for training and rehabilitating an agressive dog and also their owner. Pam Dennison gives precise step by step positive training techniques that will create a lasting bond between human and dog. It is a must read for the agressive dog owner, but is also common sense training for any dog owner. Her use of positive reinforcement of good behavior rather than punishment for bad will make many dogs' lives happier. Her suggestion to keep a daily log of training is a great tool and she supplies a template. I've already seen great results using her techniques with both my dogs. This is a must read for all dog lovers, easy to read, and full of valuable information and insight.



3. A useful book with straight forward explanations about "aggressive" emotions in dogs. A humane approach to management of these dogs and also helpful ideas to prevent people from making the situation worse and aggravating the anxious animal. A good book for new pet owners who find
   dog handling to be more hazardous than anticipated.



4. I liked this book and feel it will help. Some other resources for some specific types of aggression not mentioned in the other reviews are "Fight!" by Jean Donaldson, for dogs that aggress toward other dogs, "Mine!" by Jean Donaldson, for dogs that guard their food bowl or other items of value (to the dog), and "Feisty Fido! Help for the Leash Aggressive Dog" by Patricia B. McConnell and Karen B. London. The techniques in these practical, reasonably-priced pamphlets would mesh well with the other resources mentioned.



5. Although its been suggested in a review here, Aggression in Dogs: Practical Management, Prevention & Behaviour Modification (Paperback) by Brenda Aloff is rather expensive. I like Karen Pryor's books because they emphasize positive, reward driven training and behavior modification.