5 comments about Dogs (Smithsonian Handbooks).

1. This book is a wonderful reference book especially when you are in the dog rescue business.



2. DOGS
   
   The book I have decided to read is the book called DOGS. The author of this book is David Alderson. This book caught my eye when I was looking for a book to read for my English class. I was very entertained by this book.
   
   I thought this book was great because it list and explains a variety of dogs. This book by David Alderson is also a great recourse book for any projects needed. And it is ranked the most accessible recognition guide. It also list and shows how to keep your dogs teeth clean, hair and paws clean as a whistle
   
   It is also a great book if you are looking to buy a dog. This book list dogs such as German shepherds, miniature dolt shuns and much more. It also lists about the dog's names where they came from, where they originated and what they were used for.
   
   This book was great to read and very interesting. This book is very entertaining and i am shore it will be to you. He is a great Author and I hope he comes out wit more books about this one.



3. My friend has a copy of this book that is almost the same, but shorter and fatter. I was jealous and bought this book, but found this one was way better, beacuse hers doesn't have as much information or dogs! This book tells almost everything you need to know on all the breeds of dogs. If you are a dog lover, buy this book!



4. this book has lots of really cool pictures and lots of really pretty dogs joe



5. This Smithsonian Handbook takes a photo encyclopedic approach to the world of dogs. It gives information on the evoluoution of the domestic dog. From companion dogs to working dogs it gives distinguishing features and the classification of dog breeds.
   This book contains over three hundred dog breeds. This book gives the most immaculate details I have ever seen in any dog identification manual I have ever read.
   This book includes over three hundred dog breeds and wonderfully colored photos.
   I very strongly recommend this book for any dog lover who wants to find out a broad variety of information on a very wide array of dog breeds.
   
   
   
   Dogs by: David Alderton

5 comments about Ferrets For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets)).

1. I am so happy I bought this book! It was recommneded by some users on a ferret forum. What a good idea! So much information, I've referenced it a few times about my problematic ferret: he's a biter! Some useful information about switching diets, some recipes, ferret-proofing, etc. Good to have, excellend place to check for questions, and if you still have more- take what you learned to a ferret forum and they can answer your question more detailed! This is a must-have for any ferrent!



2. I love this book just as much as the first one. Everything was excellent. The seller was terrific as well couldn't have been better.



3. This book has lots of good information and it's easy to find. It works for the beginner or the experienced owner. It's my favorite ferret book.



4. I think the other reviewers have said it all. This is the most comprehensive introduction to ferrets I've seen yet in the several years that I have owned fuzzies. In response to other reviewers saying it is outdated: yes, it was. However, the latest edition is only a few months old. Even the newest edition may not contain every nitty gritty detail you need or want to know, but it is a great place to start so that you at least have some idea of how to identify a good source on the internet and what you should be searching for. If you are getting fuzzies, have fuzzies, or are thinking about getting fuzzies, you should read this book. You owe it to your little ones to have a basic idea of how to care for them, as ferrets are "exotic" pets and cannot be treated as other common household pets.



5. I brought this book to help us decide whether we were a suitable family to have a ferret. My son (aged 6) and I read the chapters that applied to us each night, and found this book answering all of our questions, and opening our eyes to things that we had not even thought of. Since purchasing this book we are now a ferret owing family, and we are still referring back to the book regularly (as we got a baby ferret). A must read if you are thinking about getting a ferret because it out lines the pros, but most importantly the cons of ferret care.

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.)

2 comments about Tales from the Dog Listener: 28 Secrets to Being Your Dog's Best Friend.

1. Jan Fennel is one of the most intelligent when it comes to dog training. Her books have been an inspiration for us and our pets.



2. I am a fan of Jan Fennell. I enjoyed the book, as well as her first one, The Dog Listener. I find her approach very similar in attitude to my own with my own dog and the dogs with which I work. Her work, while different from Cesar Millan, complements his. Americans don't pay enough attention to the real psychology of the dog-human relationship, and the dogs pay the price.

5 comments about How to Get Your Dog to Do What You Want: A Loving Approach to Unleashing Your Dog's Astonishing Potential.

1. Having listened to Warren on his radio show for awhile, I was anxious to read his book, he is a wonderful human being with an incredible insight to "doggy behavior".
   
   I have used some of his products, such as the doggy fog horn to deter barking, and it worked like a charm!
   
   His advice is straight on and makes a great deal of sense.
   If you get a dog, get a copy of this book and you will ave the best behaved dog on the block!
   If you have a dog get this book and re-train your dog, "you can teach and old dog new tricks!".



2. This is an excellent book on dog behaviour and what you can do about it. I found it well written, interesting to read and full of great information and insights. As an owner of an intelligent frisky puppy, this book is invaluable to me and I use as my dog's bible..well worth the price.



3. Mr. Eckstein has this book so filled with incredible information. Some of the info truly is coming from your dog's perspective. His suggestions have given me four incredibly trained dogs. I buy this book as a gift for anyone I know who has gotten a puppy and tell them that this is a dog owner's bible.



4. Any dog lover should grab a copy of this book. Eckstien is known for adopting pets and transforming them into not only warm,wonderful companions but movie stars, and show winners. Eckstein shares his stories in past books about how he has save dogs and cats from kill shelters and literally certain death, to become extras in tv shows and commercials. Eckstein has worked with both celebrity pet owners and appeared on celebrated tv shows, but he is most comfortable with the dogs and cats he loves. This book was very informative because it explained the mysteries of why my dog chased his tail or burrowed before he used the bathroom, and also great tips on handling, and training my pooch. I liked how he worked on rewards basis and not beating, whipping, or restraining. Overall the book is humane, sensitive to both pet owner and pet, and describes all the areas that you would want to work on with your dog.



5. Warren Eckstein brings the same caring and compassion for pets, sprinkled with some light-hearted humor to this book, that he does to his radio shows each week. This is a comprehensive and straight forwardingly written guide book for the care and training of dogs. Warren tells us that many of the problems that we encounter with our canine pets are the result of the dog simply being bored. Given the frenzied pace at which we live, our dogs are left alone for increasing periods of time. He gives us many suggestions for keeping our pets from being bored,going from the simple rotation of toys to the suggestion of an occasional canine playdate or party. He even suggests doggie makeovers and and how to give a doggie massage. I particularly liked his suggestion of using a shake can (an empty soda can filled with some coins and taped closed) as a training aid. When Fido goes yet once again to knock down the kitchen garbage pail, you have already balanced the shake can on top of it, and Fido gets a noisy surprise when the can hits the floor.

5 comments about A New Owner's Guide to Beagles.

1. A wonderful book for people new to the Beagle breed. As a beagle owner, I found this book a must have and I give it a four paws up! ~Timothy Glass, author of the Sleepytown Beagle book series for children



2. I love beagles and this is a terrific book. Beagles are my favorite dogs. They are the reason I'm involved in the animal rights movement. Beagles are a special dog, and David and Hazel know what they're talking about. God bless them both.



3. This book is an excellent manual of beagle care from breeding to health care to show preparation. The photographs are superb and the authors have really done their homework in presenting the information. The book is written in a plain, clear style that will not only sustain the readers' interest, but will also help keep readers informed about the care and temperament of this wonderful breed.

   As the owner of a beagle, I am so glad this book exists. For people who are "prospective beagle owners," I would highly suggest that they do get a beagle and see what wonderful companions and loving pets beagles really are.




4. This is a great book for anyone who has a new beagle or who is thinking about getting a beagle. Everything you need or want to know is right here. I definitely reccommend it.



5. As a prospective Beagle owner with many questions. I found this book the most informative of all I have bought and read. For every question that I had, it had the answer. It covers everything from selecting and houstraining, to training and showing. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to raise a Beagle

5 comments about The Boxer: Family Favorite (170 color photographs) Winner--DWAA Award--Best Single Breed Book of 2000.

1. This is a great book. Wonderful photos. All inclusive. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this breed. I just purchased a boxer and I found it informative and very helpful to get a good understanding of the breed. This is a great coffee table book also.



2. This is a nice book, but I did miss some information.
   Too little discussion about the differences between the european boxer and "the american style", both physical and mental differences are now very present. If you live in Europe, I would choose another book.
   For americans I`m sure it will hit the mark, though even for some of them this is an important topic.



3. Author Stephanie Abraham put out another great book in 2000. Enough readers & critics enjoyed it to have it earn the same year's "Dog Writers Assoc of America" award. It's a handsome hardcover book with 220+ crisp pages. Pictures on just about every page. Abraham is dedicated to the Boxer breed. She speaks of the Boxer with admiration as only a Boxer owner could. She writes well and in easy to read fashion. Topics include caring for, general health, choosing your Boxer and traits to look for in a puppy, history, basic tips in training... and so much more. I refer to this book constantly. This is a very thorough book and anyone who owns a Boxer should own it. The only thing it doesn't mention - the older your Boxer gets, the more he slobbers. My family (including our Boxer, Max) is better off for it.



4. Just to state the fact that The Boxer: Family Favorite won the Dog Writers Association of America award as the Best Single Breed Book of the year 2000. This book is THE definitive in-depth study of the breed by someone who has spent her whole life living with and loving Boxers. The color photographs are outstanding.



5. As an owner of three boxers and 10 boxer books, if I could only have one boxer book this would be it. It is full of wonderful information for both people who know and love the breed, and also is a wonderful introduction to someone considering their first boxer.

3 comments about Canaries (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. CANARIES by Otto von Frisch, and translated by Matthew Vriends includes many wonderful photographs of canaries in various stages of development, eating and playing and flying. The material in this book is not very different from the CANARY HANDBOOK written by Vriends and also published by Barron's, but the additional photos are nice, and the "Dangers for Your Canary' are important for new bird owners. This list includes dangers for `free-flying" canaries, which von Frisch seems to encourage (free-flying that is, not dangers).

   Von Frisch includes helpful hints about what to do if your free-flying canary shows no inclination to return to his cage after you let him out, as well as how to create "favorite spots" for the birds outside the cage for the bird to use. In "Life with a Canary" von Frisch discusses diet. He suggests storing bird seed in the refrigerator in tight fitting containers. The cool dry air keeps the seed from spoiling, however, if you are like me with 11 birds, you may not have room for much of anything else. His list of things to add to the bird's menu includes old favorites such as spray millet and home-cooked treats.

   The photos in this book are amazing with many action shots. In a section entitled "Understanding Behavior", von Frisch includes 8 photos with text showing various examples of bird behavior including bath taking and beak cleaning. CANARIES is a nice little "how-to" book filled with information for the new canary owner.




2. This is a well-written book with plenty of photographs, and thoroughly helpful information on raising these amazing little birds (I can attest to this since I have raised them for many years.) He gives good data on all the different canary types, how to feed and care for them, etc.

   The only glitch I noticed was that he makes reference to color-fed birds being endangered by "synthetic color substances" without citing data/studies or naming chemicals. This is confusing to a beginner, especially since more than half the photos in his book are of color-fed birds! He doesn't discuss the crucial role the Venezualian red siskin in the formation of "red-factor" canaries, nor of the fact that beta-carotene is essential in both the siskin's diet in the wild and the red-factor's diet in captivity.

   A more complete book would be Barron's "New Canary Handbook"; "Coloured,Type and Song Canaries," by Walker and Avon, and of course, Linda Hogan's classic "Canary Tales." The last is still in print and highly recommended.




3. This book was bought on a whim by a canary keeper of many years. It completely rethinks the canary as a pet, revolutionizes care, e.g. your canary will now be flying around your home and is insightful in all sorts of ways. Alas many of the suggested products are no longer readily available in the US where the canary has been falling out of popularity, first to the budgie and now the larger parrots. A strong and enthusiastic recommendation.

3 comments about Storey's Guide to Raising Horses: Breeding/Care/Facilities.

1. Out of all the horse care books I have read.. This one is very clear and covers most every area in raising horses. Anyone looking for a good horse care book, this one is the best I have found. I have other horse care books but I refer to this one the most.



2. I have owned, raised, and trained my own horses from a very young age and even though I already know the basics, I found this book to be very useful. From basic horse keeping to in depth descriptions of many equine health problems, this book is one that even the experienced rider and horse owner should have. It contains fabulous drawings and seperates each sections accordingly. I have not found a basic question that this book couldn't answer. It is a must have for any horseman.



3. Has everything you'll need to take care of horses effectively. Many useful pictures too.

5 comments about Livestock Protection Dogs: Selection, Care, and Training.

1. Informative, well written book.
   Good reference book to have around when owning an LGD.



2. I bought this book to see if I could train my dog in livestock protection. Not! What I get from the book is that you have to buy the right breed, and they will do it instictively, there's not all that much you have to do to train them except expose them to livestock at the right age. However, the book is well written, so I enjoyed skimming through it. I have a neighbor who uses one of the recommended breeds to guard her kids, and I think that's such a great idea in these days when parents seem to have to be afraid of letting their kids stay even in the back yard.



3. VERY GOOD BOOK,LITTLE CONFUSING LIVESTOCK PROTECTIONDOGS WHEN YOU CALL THE DOGS LGD LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN DOG.I REALY RECOMEND PEOPLE TO READ IT BEFORE TO GET THE DOG AND NOT AFTER LIKE ME. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BUY IT WHEN YOU LIVE IN SPAIN AND I MISSED VERY MUCH A VERY OLD LGD BREED THE SPANISH MASTIFF-MASTIN ESPAÑOL THAT HAVE GUARDING THE SHEEP FROM WOLFS DURING HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND STILL DOING IT IN SPAIN BUT NOT KNOWN OUTSIDE SPAIN.I HOPE THEY WILL BE IN THE NEXT EDITION.TODAY YOU CAN EVEN FIND WEB-SITE IN ENGLISH AND IF YOU LIKE YOU CAN CONTACT ME.THE SPANISH MASTIFF IS NOT SO AGGRESIVE TO PEOPLE BUT VERY WACHFUL DURING NIGHT.MARGA



4. From wolves hungering for sheep to foxes in the henhouse, ranchers and farmers have always had to deal with the problem of predators. The use of dogs as a front line of defense against predators has achieved even greater popularity with the rising trends prohibiting the use of poisons, traps, and guns. Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, Livestock Protection Dogs: Selection, Care And Training, by Orysia Dawydiak and David E. Sims defines what constitutes a livestock protection dog; surveys the various dog breeds; provides key advice on puppy selection; addresses both the adolescent and mature dog; identifies specific behavioral probelms and their solutions, and more. If you are in need of a dog to protect your property and your livestock, Livestock Protection Dogs will prove to be invaluable reading.



5. I hope you have found your way to the page for the new, revised version of this book, published in 2004. If not, search books for the co-author "Dawydiak", and this will bring you to the page where the new version can be ordered.

   This book is written by co-authors who have been involved in breeding and working with livestock protection dogs for over 20 years. They bring their wealth of experience and common sense to the book. The things they write are based on a great deal of experience.

   The book contains breed descriptions of various livestock protection dog breeds. Seventeen breeds, some quite rare, are discussed, as well as mixed breed dogs. Breed descriptions are given, including the major assets and drawbacks of the various breeds. Photos of excellent working dogs of various livestock protection dog breeds appear throughout the book. Discussion of breeds moves to selection of a pup, and the authors remind us that all of these breeds have important things in common and that within breed differences may be important. Selecting a breed might come down to the need for a shorter coated dog in a warmer climate or simply the fact that a good breeder with satisfied customers lives nearby. One breed is not necessarily better than another, but a pup from a good breeder from a specific breed may be the best choice for a given situation.

   A moment for a word on what livestock protection dogs are: These are dogs that protect livestock from predators. They are big, athletic and smart, especially if evaluated in terms of what they do well raather than what other breeds do well. These are not "herding dogs". Nor are they urban property protection dogs. Their temperament is uniquely suited to forming family bonds with livestock and then protecting their livestock family as well as their human family. While they will protect their human family, persons seeking an urban-type guard dog may find other breeds more suitable for this role. These dogs are not good for "schutzhund" training, for example.

   This book concentrates on livestock protection dog breeds. The main focus is on working dogs, but a chapter on keeping these dogs in companion animal roles is included, and much of the information presented to the livestock raiser would also be useful to the person wanting to learn more about keeping one of these dogs in a "domestic" setting. In discussion of health or behavior issues, the emphasis is on those which are common to livestock protection dogs, leaving aside the general issues of canine health or behavior issues. General dog information can be found in other books. Good info on livestock protection dogs is hard to come by.

   A chapter on breeding is worthy of consideration. The authors have been breeding and working with Akbash Dogs for over 20 years. They exemplify the modern, conscientious breeder who is concerned about whether her pups go to good homes and who are willing to follow through with assisting the people who receive these pups to take care of them. It is pointed out that the purchase price of a dog is small compared to veterinary bills and other liabilities that can come with the dog. Therefore, it makes sense to invest in a sound pup from a reputable breeder.

   The book is not especially heavy to lift but it is densely packed with useful information. The writers bring scientific understanding, years of experience and common sense to writing this book for the owner or prospective owner who wants to get the most these dogs, whether in a companion or livestock protection role.