5 comments about The Box Turtle Manual (Advanced Vivarium Systems).

1. I love this book and I've read it many times at the library. It has nice pictures and reads clear. The directions are very easy to follow. I think if you are looking for a book on box turtles, look NO further!



2. IMO, every owner of a box turt should have this book in their home. excellent source of information that goes beyond basic care. it includes a well organized section on common ailments and their treatments.
   
   Do buy!



3. I purchased this book because my new box turtle, who seemed very lively in the pet store just would not eat. I'd done a great deal of research on what they like to eat on the internet, but thought perhaps he was sick. This book was very detailed, and wonderful at addressing my concerns with all the aspects of why he may not have been eating. While I don't agree with all the things the book says (Like turtles should be seen and not interacted with) Its a very good book for diagnosis of problems.



4. This book while informative was a little disappointing in other ways, such as its tone etc. Still a solid reference, and a good way to learn about how to take care of your pet.



5. My son had a wood turtle who was experiencing some problems with his eyes. Finally bought this book, but the turtle died before I got the book. The book is very good and has a lot of good information for us people who don't know much about turtles. Wish I would have gotten the book a little sooner and realized what the problem really was.

No comments about A Practical Guide to Building And Maintaining a Koi Pond: An Essential Guide to Building And Maintaining (Pondmaster S.).

5 comments about Playtraining Your Dog.

1. This book is written for competition obedience, not the average household pet. Ms. Burnham's "recipes" for training from Novice to Utility include breaking down the exercises into smaller bits and then putting everything together.
   
   "Corrections" are a matter of opinion. If you consider putting your dog back into the last position that they were right and trying again, then this book includes corrections. If you think "corrections" are yelling at your dog for being wrong, harsh collar pops, etc. then this book does not include "corrections." In fact Ms. Burnham's well balanced method of praise, physical placement, teaching slowly and play breaks makes a wonderful alternative to those that may not be inclined to go clicker but want something more positive than traditional, military based methods.
   
   Ms. Burnham sums up her philosophy with: "The qualities of a good trainer are adaptability, resourcefulness, observation, concentration, a spirit of fun, a will to play, curiosity, love for the dog and respect for the dog."
   That's really perfect for today's competition training.
   
   For the first time trainer, ignore most of the specific AKC rules listed in the book. They are out dated. However, the exercises and titles are still the same.



2. I enjoyed reading it even if it's outdated. It tells you how to have fun!



3. This was one of the first books on training that mentions prey/play drive, and is an interesting casual read for the dog obedience enthusiast.
   
   In essence, training in play (or prey) drive means rewarding the obedient dog with a tug or chase game, instead of a food treat. This system is very useful when training breeds that have little desire to work for their dinner, but have a strong instinct to chase - breeds like the author's greyhounds. However, Ms Burnham isn't a pure play drive trainer; she also utilises food rewards for some exercises, as well as a certain degree of punishment and negative reinforcement.
   
   "Playtraining your dog" is directed towards competition obedience, instead of day-to-day manners. Obedience exercises from novice to open are covered, including sit, down, heel, stay, send outs, retrieve, and scent discrimination.
   
   The methods and techniques presented here are fairly haphazard. One gets the impression that the author has no real understanding of learning theory or conditioning: she has merely trained her own dogs by trial-and-error, and is now sharing her results with us. The result is that the methods discussed here are all useable, but they are rarely the most sophisticated or effective methods that modern dog training has to offer. They are also relatively chaotic in presentation - there is no particular section about building drive, for example, although Ms Burnham touches on this topic several times throughout the course of the book.
   
   Ms Burnham also uses rather a lot of punishment by today's standards, including during the teaching of several exercises - heeling, retrieving and recalls, to name a few examples. The worry with using punishment while teaching an exercise is that the dog could easily develop a resentful or fearful attitude towards either these particular exercises or towards training as a whole, as he has no idea how to avoid the corrections. To preserve a dog's willing attitude towards work, I personally feel that you are better off using modern "positive" methods to teach an exercise, relying on corrections only if necessary to proof the exercise.
   
   This was a revolutionary book in 1980 - but dog training has come a long way since then. Ms Burnham pushes her dogs into a sit - today we can choose between this method and either luring the dog into a sit with a food treat, or capturing the sitting action with a clicker. Ms Burnham teaches attention heeling with a choke chain - it is more easily shaped off leash, with animation achieved through regular food or prey drive rewards. In short, there are better training books out there.
   
   This book is certainly worth a read if you're interested in competition obedience - some of the suggestions are worthwhile, and the photos of the greyhounds are lovely. If you're a beginner trainer who is after a practical book to teach your dog manners or basic obedience, then give this one a miss.



4. If you are interested in the dry technical aspects of training it's a good book, but as an educational tool to be read by the whole family, it was not the book of choice. The New Complete Dog Training Manual was read by the whole family (ages 7 to 18) numerous times and served as a guide.



5. 
   One of the innovations of PLAYTRAINING YOUR DOG was the idea of using tug-of-war as both inducement and reinforcement for learning obedience skills. I think this book was actually first published in 1980 or 82, when the idea of playing tug was strictly verboten in most dog training circles. In fact, I'd venture to say that nearly all dog trainers at the time, particularly pet dog trainers, would've told you not to play it with your dog. Now here we are, 23 years later (in 2005), and I can't tell you how many of my potential clients, when I ask them during a phone consultation if they play tug with their pups, still say no, they don't because they heard it causes aggression. Or they say, yes, they do, but they were told to never let the dog win because winning will make him think he's alpha.
   
   WRONG: tug-of-war doesn't cause aggression; it's actually a safe outlet for it. Plus, truly aggressive dogs don't even like to play tug. And the truth is, if you can finally get them to play with you, you'll find that they're much less aggressive if not over their aggression entirely! (It's kinda funny how that's just the opposite of what we've all been told, huh?) And then there's the fact that it's one of the best training tools ever invented because it stimulates a dog's desire to learn and obey to the highest possible level.
   
   As for a dog thinking he's alpha, that's bunk. To quote ex-cop turned dog trainer Jack Field (who's the fictional narrator of my detective novels), "Dogs don't care who's alpha and who's not. Only emotionally dysfunctional owners and trainers do." (Jack's got a bit of a chip on his shoulder about this topic. . .) And if you think Jack's nuts to say that, recent studies done on wild wolf packs prove his point; certain top wolf researchers don't even like to use the word alpha anymore because, as Dr. L. David Mech puts it, "it falsely implies a hierarchical system in which each wolf assumes a place in a linear pecking order," (Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2002).
   
   The other innovation Pat Burnham introduced was teaching a dog to jump up on command in order to increase the dog's focus on you, to increase the dog's drive to obey, and to reinforce other behaviors like the recall, the stay, and the heel. How many other training books can you think of that recommend using jumping up on command this way? (I only know of one: NATURAL DOG TRAINING, by Kevin Behan.) And remember, back in the early 80s we were told that a dog who jumped up on people was supposedly showing dominance and trying to be alpha! (Not this again...)
   
   So if you think this book is behind the times, I'm sorry, but you've got it backwards.
   
   Oh, and yes, Pat Burnham does make the mistake of promulgating the now-discredited alpha theory in her book. That's why I've only given it four stars. (If they had half stars, it would've been four and a half; no one was that far ahead of the times in 1982, not even Pat Burnham.)

3 comments about Groundwork Training for your Horse: Develop a Deeper Bond with Your Horse Through a Range of Exercises and Games.

1. Groundwork Training For Your HorseI love this book! I first saw the book in the public library, but was so impressed that I decided to get it for my personal library. It provides simple groundwork ideas from many different trainers. All the trainers have the same basic philosophies in common. They all use gentle, behavioral methods. It is nice to see the best methods by the best trainers put together in one book. You can pick and choose which exercises will work the best with your horse.



2. It is a nice book, but not what I expected. This book covers mostly the ideas behind some of the prominent "Natural Horsemanship" methods and gives a few basic exercises you can do with your horse (which was pretty much the same one/idea just different method). But then that was it. The book never expanded on what else you can do besides get your horse to go in a circle in a round pen, or walk over/around some poles.
   
   If you want a book to explain the different "natural horsemanship" methods so you can decide which trainer(s) you would like to further learn from - this book will help you. If you are looking for a book which will give you exercises that you can do to get your horse thinking and moving with you, this book falls short.



3. Lot's of good information and great pictures. It lists the ideas of several trainers so you can try various methods and see what works well for your horse. I carry it to the barn all the time and try to do something everyday. So far I used some of the parelli stuff, join-up and TTEAM, all of which have been helpful in its own way.

5 comments about 97 Ways to Make Your Dog Smile.

1. 
   This is a delightful little book that celebrates the pleasure of owning a dog.Anyone who has spent any time around a dog,immediately understands why they are called "man's best friends". They show the ultimate in patience and devotion to anyone who gives them attention.They seem to understand when the people around them are busy and will simply wait endlessly until you "can get around to them". At any time you decide to give them a bit of attention,they actively become involved as if you are the most important thing in the world.Then they want to show how much they appreciate and love you.The only thing they want,is to please you.
   I have had a dog ever since I was a kid and every one of them has been a cherished member of the family and a friend to all.I must admit that there was little new to me in this book;and probably not much new to anyone who has a dog. However;I thoroughly enjoyed every page,photo and technigue covered in the book,along with the countless other things we do with our dog to relate to each other.
   To even suggest that a dog can't smile leaves me speechless. They not only smile,but also,love,tease,plead,enjoy,pine,get restless,get bored,worry,anticipate,remember,forget,conjole,get tired out,and enjoy everything around them and love it when you share any time with them. When they have had an enjoyable encounter ,they look you straight in the eye,wag their tail,and tell you that they are game for more ,if you are. Afterwards,they are content to settle down and wait until you want to do something again.
   This little book would be a wonderfol gift for any person who has a dog as well as for someone who is just getting a dog and preparing to make it part of the family.



2. Ninety-seven handy suggestions to improve the quality of your best friend's life with fun and games and the occasional good-spirited prank.
   
   My mom has this book and her kind-natured, if slightly dim three-year-old Chessie-Collie mix, Fergus, loves some of the suggestions in here. One of the ones I've tried with him is number eighty-two: slingshooting treats for him to catch using a plastic spoon as a catapult. Another one that seems particularly enjoyed is number eighteen: juggling. I've always been a good juggler and when I juggle things Fergus wants, like a trio of rolled-up socks or tennis balls, he goes NUTZ trying to leap up and get what I'm keeping right out of his reach. It's a hoot.
   
   The one suggestion that really tripped me out, though, and had me laughing was number thirty-two: "The Three Little Bears routine" which involves sneaking into your pet's bed and letting him catch you there for a change. Ha!!! Haven't tried that one yet but maybe I will when the time is right. Justice for all the times he's sneaked up onto Mom's furniture and stuff.
   
   This cheerful little book is great not only for the ideas it gives you but for its ninety-seven pages of smiling, happy doggies!



3. There are some good ideas in here to make your dog happy. Although, if you are a true dog lover, you probably have already implemented many of these suggestions. The only one I disagree with is howling with your dog in the back yard. That might not make your neighbors happy. The pictures of the dogs included in this book are some of the best I've ever seen. A fun book for dog lovers of every breed.



4. I often use this book in my animal assisted therapy work with at-risk children- it has been a wonderful tool and has made many children smile as well! A very happy book - with the ability to make a lasting impact when incorporated in therapeutic work. Kate Nicoll, MSW, author of Soul Friends



5. I received this as a gift for Christmas, and not a day has gone by that I haven't picked it up just to look at all those smiling doggie faces. What a joy, and a real spirit lifter. As for my dog, all I have to do is giggle and she gets the BIGGEST grin on her face. There's nothing like a happy, smiling dog.

5 comments about The New Encyclopedia of The Horse.

1. This book has answered many of my questions I have had about horses. I even learned information I never thought to ask about.
   I love it.



2. I love this book! It has so much info! It tells about lots of breeds, and they're all mixed through the book. I'm glad that it tells about my favorite breeds as well as others that I've never heard of, or I don't know a lot about. This book has over 400 pages, but it dosen't cover horse care. My local librery bought it for $40, but I don't know how much it costs here (Amazon). Get this awesome book, it covers so much, including the Spanish riding school and a horse called Coogenhogan. This book is high on my wishlist, and it's a wonderful book. I would like to know about the revisesd edition, if there is one. Buy this book, no matter how much it costs!!!!



3. The New Horse Encyclopedia
   The New Horse Encyclopedia is your average encyclopedia. With facts diagrams, photos and all that jazz. You can find anything in there that you need to know. I'm not saying it's fun to read but it is easy to understand and it is quick and decisive in telling you stuff you need or want to know about horses. If you don't mind reading facts and if you don't know much about horses than this is the book for you. If you don't like reading facts than don't pick up this book.



4. I am very new in horses. Living in a small city my whole life, I never had the opportunity to own a horse, or even be around them much. But I have always loved them, and know that someday I will have one when I live in an appropriate area. So I want to take my time from now until then to do as much research as I can on horses so I am prepared.
   Going to book stores, I do not have much luck finding books that are informative. Most of them focus on one small category of horse ownership or history, os just focus on photos.
   So I came online and looked through all the horse books on Amazon and read reviews. This book got great reviews and multiple times refered to as the best horse book that exists. So I figured I'd take a chance and order it!
   I was not disappointed! This book covers EVERYTHING! It has a 2 page spread dedicated to each breed and includes their history, size comparison to humans, temperament, etc. with beautiful photos of each breed.
   It also has so much general information on horses including evolution, veterinary care, grooming, showing, etc.
   If you are looking for one big horse book that covers all topics and breeds, I very highly recommend you go with this one!



5. This is a fabulous work. The book is large every page is like 2 pages of a regular size book. Great photos on all of the major breeds. The history section in the front is very informative. I read it cover to cover over time and this is the book I refer to when I want to show a breed to a friend.

3 comments about Animal Healing and Vibrational Medicine.

1. As a Pet First Aid Instructor and Reiki Master the value of Vibrational
   Medicine is just now starting to take hold. This book is well written and the instructions are easy to follow and understand. A great book to
   get in touch with all your critters and contacts for resources as well.
   Great Job!



2. I found I was disappointed in the book. Put very few post-it note tabs on the books. Perhaps I expected more from it.
   
   I found the book "Animal Healing with Australian Bush Flower Essences" much more useful for use of a vibrational medicine with a practical emotional and physical repertory in it.
   
   Louise



3. Animal Healing and Vibrational Medicine

   by Sage Holloway
   Animal Healing and Vibrational Medicine by Sage Holloway,
   
   If you have ever wondered what you can do for your sick pet, besides the usual trip to the vet, this book, a resource and reference guide for over 1,000 remedies, has some answers. It's obvious Sage Holloway has a deep respect and love for creatures. As she says, animals serve us provide for us, rescue us, feed us, and are our companions, yet cannot seek healing for themselves. We, their caretakers, must learn to do that. Since animals aren't as complicated with their emotional baggage as we are, that's a relatively easy thing to do. Vibrational medicine is a gentle way to revive their energies.
   Holloway stresses the proper use of aromatic oils, the importance of using pure oils rather than the synthetic ones. A Vibrational Remedies Cross-Reference lists various types of remedies good for abuse, abandonment, cage stress, car sickness, depression and dozens of other conditions. A list of flower essence qualities, what they can do for your pet, is quite interesting, I could use a few of them myself!
   As if this is not enough, there are charts on animal chakras, how to use dowsing, the five Chinese Elements, The Doctrine of Signatures. The Appendix has a resource list of companies that produce vibrational remedies, suggested music for your pets, and a list of essences carried by various companies. Sage has done a beautiful and thorough job of putting this book together. I strongly recommend Animal Healing and Vibrational Medicine if you have any kind of animal.
    

5 comments about Boxers for Dummies.

1. The book about Boxers has lots of information about the breed. Those of us who are unfamiliar with the breed, gathered lots of things that will help us in the care and nuturing of this wonderful animal! Who knew that big old grizzly looking Boxer was a sweetheart, full of affection and devotion! Great reference book to have on handle, especially if you're rearing a pup.



2. We've just become the owners of a boxer pup, and used this book before and after he joined our family. The book is very easy to understand and contains a wealth of useful material. It also has a lot of general sections that would be relevant to any new pet owner. This isn't a book you would use for hard-core research, but I recommend it for the average new pet owner as an easy to read reference. It was well worth the price.



3. I agree with one of the preceding reviews. Substitute beagle or French poodle for boxer and you have 90% the same book. I was looking for a little more insight.



4. I really enjoyed reading this book on Boxers. I am researching dog breeds before I commit to a new family member. There was a careful balance of enthusiasm for the Boxer and warnings of their specialized needs AND the responsibilites of Boxer ownership.
   I especially enjoyed the observations he made between male and female boxers, puppy training, and problematic behaviors.
   Even if I don't decide to own a Boxer in the future, this was an entertaining educational read that I would recommend to all.



5. Like most for dummies books, this is essentially a cut and paste of all of their other dog books with the word boxer inserted in place of dog. In a few cases it has stories of the writers experiences with boxers but this book is really nothing special. Try culture clash to get a better understanding of your companion.

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

1. This is a wonderful owners manual for anyone wanting to own this wonderful breed of dog. The book is very knowledgeable and clear to understand. Very good tips on being a good Havanese owner.



2. Interesting to read about the breed from the Cuban perspective. The history of the breed, however, seems to be skewed by a lack of free information exchange in Cuba...it doesn't quite mesh with the history as presented in other countries...but, it was an interesting book and worth reading.



3. I was very diappointed in this book. Having read the reviews I looked forward to receiving it but in fact I thought it no better than generic dog book descriptions of the havanese breed. So many of these books, like 'Puppies for dummies' for instance, just repeat the same old stuff. I really wanted to know more about choosing and raising a havanese puppy, but it was of little use as its main focus seemed to be for potential breeders. There was very little about health problems, temperament or behaviour. In fact the book's layout and presentation looks 20 years old and I have already given my copy away to a thrift shop.



4. Excellent book - especially for the first time owner of a Havanese. I would have liked to see a little more about the eye problems that pertain to this breed. Wonderful photos throughout. We enjoyed the section explaining the history of the breed.



5. This is a comprehensive and very informative book for anyone interested in learning about Havanese dogs. Its caught the attention of so many of my family and friends that I will be giving it out this holiday as gifts. Highly Recommend!! P.s. loved the extra pictures of Havana...

5 comments about Dr. Axelrod's Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes.

1. The book serves to identifying any fish provided if one knows the scientific names. If the target audience are technically competent it will serve its intended purpose. But for the general hobbyists/fish keepers or even fish dealers the scientific names are impossible to remember. Even to pronounce them correctly seems impossible. By far the common names are more acceptable and meaningful to them. Even speaking to technical people the common names are more often used. I am not suggesting that the scientific names be dropped but be mention as an additional information to those who needs it. What I meant was that; the far the majority of hobbyists/fish keepers; young and old, technically minded or not would appreciate the common names as a reference.
   Personally, I do find it difficult to locate a fish. It must be somewhere in the book! Maybe it helps if you know the region of the world it comes from as that will narrow down your search.
   On the whole I know lots of work and effort has gone into the making of the book and credit must be given to all responsible.



2. I bought this book when I started getting really into the hobby and I absolutely am impressed with the quality of the photos, how the fish are separated by continent and other useful information. I frequently check back with the names of the fish and where these fish come from. I guess the only not serious complaint is that it does not contain the common name for the fish, only the latin. Although, I could see how hard it could be to list the several common names of each fish, since it's already so huge!



3. The book delivered by Amazon was in Excellent Condition.
   This Book displays pictures and details of fishes not available in other Atlas I have bought, so it is worth every dime.
   Large, clear pictures of all freshwater fishes, great for reference.



4. I bought this book to help me identify fish. Have it worked so far? No.
   
   First, it only names the fish in latin (scientific) name, which is a little frustrating to me. Sometimes, I need to cross info from other sources to reach the specimen I'm looking for.
   Second, you need to know the continent where it comes from.
   
   I've also found some errors in the information. The freshwater stingray, for example, is catalogued as an egglayer, while it's a livebearer fish.
   
   This books is huge, and looks great in your library or stacked in your desk.



5. This book has changed a lot since the first edition. Mostly, it has removed information and added pictures. LOTS of pictures. It is more of a coffee-table book than any kind of aquarium guide. But even the pictures are of uneven quality. I was shocked that the only picture included for a couple of fairly common fish were of dead, poorly-preserved specimens. Yikes!
   
   The authors' stated purpose for this book is "This book was created with the express purpose of making the identification of fishes easier for hobbyists, aquarists, and scientists alike."
   
   Well, if that was the goal, it fails miserably. The book is organized based on geographic area where the fish originates. Think about it. If you saw a fish and wanted to know what it was, would you somehow instinctively know which continent it came from? Of course not. You might want to identify it based on its colors or shape or whatever. The book does not function as an identification guide.
   
   Although most info has been removed, there is some very terse info below each picture as small text and icons. The text lists info such as pH, ideal water temperature (in Centigrade), maximum adult length (in cm), and minimum tank size (in litres). Although it does not tell you what these mean, any intermediate or higher fishhkeeper should be able to figure it out.
   
   The icons are not particularly clear unless you already know the fish. For example, the icon for egg-scatterer versus livebearer is only obvious if you know what the fish is to begin with. More importantly, I can find nowhere in the book where it actually tells what the icons mean. This is very sloppy.
   
   The index is also horrendous, failing to include a number of entries, and including numerous false entries. For example, the first page entry listed for Scleropages jardini sends you to a page that does not contain pictures of jardini, and in fact is a section for a different continent.
   
   Even the quality of the pictures is uneven. For some fish, the coverage is extensive, with a lot of pictures showing different color strains, breeding colors, and so on. Yet for other fish, the coverage is incomplete. For example, there are three pictures of Silver Arrowana, and all three show just-hatched arrowanas. Why not show an adult? The fish changes as it gets older. Also, there are only four pictures of Astronatus (Oscars), showing only 4 color patterns. It's absolutely shocking to me that the abino and tiger albino forms are not shown. They've been in the trade for well over a decade before this edition was published.
   
   My last complaint is that they have been adding pages by adding them as decimal additions. For example, they added 16 pages of pictures of Swordtails (16 pages!) after page 432, and numbered them as pages 432.01, 432.02, etc. The reason for this, of course, is that it means less work adjusting the index, etc., and 16 pages in one place from a publishing standpoint is easier, because it means not changing the rest of the plates. But from a reader's standpoint, it is sloppy and unforgivable, considering the price of the book.
   
   To summarize, this book contains an incredible array of pictures. On the plus side, it has pictures of many fish you'll find nowhere else. It is massive and impressive. The pages are slick and glossy and the physical production standards are high. On the down side, it is badly in need of extensive, high-quality, detailed editing to correct the numerous glaring errors and omissions.
   
   Frankly, this is overall a hugely disappointing effort and I simply can't recommend plunking down such a high price for this edition.