5 comments about Why Does My Rabbit . . . ? (Pet Care).

1. Anne McBride's book on rabbit behavior describes both the normal and abnormal in rabbit actions. It is easy to use for reference, and many common problems are arranged in alphabetical order, and even deals with wild rabbits, a bit of history, and affects on behavior as separate chapters. In all, it is a handy book for rabbit lovers and owners to use in discovering more about these unique and lovable animals.



2. I read this book straight through the day I bought it, and it was a fascinating book on rabbit behavior. It was a good book to read through, and it provided a whole lot of information about rabbit behavior. I'm going to have to read it multiple times to glean all of the information it presented.
   
   There were some things that bothered me though. Because the heart of the book, information dealing with specific rabbit behaviors and how best to deal with them, was based on letters from specific people with specific rabbits a lot of the information was too specific, and as such many, many behaviors were missing, although I suppose it would be impossible to cover all of them.
   
   Another thing that I found difficult was that it was written from a very Brittish perspective, so some of the terms and information were at best unrelatable and at worse contridictary to the way things are in America. I suppose this is something that is rather hard to avoid considering she is in England and all the experience and research as the base of this book is from there.
   
   All in all, this was a very good book, but for me the omissions and cultural differences lowered the book's overall appeal.



3. Before you buy one, read up! Before you give up on a bunny, read this book! Before you know it, your bunny with be your buddy, too! My bunny and I bonded immediately but he wasn't always mindful of my rules... now I know why he needs to dig and chew and I provide alternatives for him. He has his own bedroom that has been completely bunny-proofed and is allowed in the half of the house that has no carpet. Cords are covered in cloth and he seems to leave them alone now. He is the best pet I have ever had and is as affectionate as a dog and as playful as a cat. He is litter trained, and I feed him only vegies and hay. This book helped me understand his fear of being in the open yard with me, and to expect him to chew and dig because he is a rabbit.



4. I got this book from the library, after my shipment was canceled by the sender. I am happy I didn't pay for it, as it did not help me at all. I wanted to know why my rabbit did normal things, like running around our legs, pooing around his litterbox, ect. This book only covered major problems that people might have with a rabbit, like aggressivness, stealing food or clothes, and fear. If your bunny is fine, get it from the library. If your bunny has some issues, get it from the libary, and read how to stop it. If your bunny needs a lot of help with many issues, then I think the book would be helpful.



5. This is the most comprehensive easy-to-read book on rabbit behavior I have found. I've had rabbits for five years and read a lot about their behavior. However, this book taught me so much more. I now have a much better understanding of why my rabbits do the things they do. What I especially like about this book is that it addresses issues for both indoor and outdoor rabbits. I didn't realize how many mistakes I was making when I let my rabbits "roam free" outside in nice weather. For example, I did not realize that vast, open spaces in the outdoors are frightening for rabbits, especially if they don't have some enclosure in which to hide. I will not make that mistake again.

   Overall, this is an excellent book. It has given me much deeper insight into my rabbits' behaviors.

2 comments about Dog Body, Dog Mind: Exploring Canine Consciousness and Total Well-Being.

1. I intially purchased this book for myself. I read almost the entire book in one sitting. It is absolutely wonderful. I expected to learn more about my dog's behavior and needs but I learned much more than that. Read it and you will also learn something about human behavoir and needs. It is a must have for ANYONE but especially for those who live with a dog!



2. Dr. Fox has a wonderful grasp of animal psychology and what care they need. This book is tremendous.

5 comments about Teaching Safe Horsemanship: A Guide to English and Western Instruction.

1. This is the first book I read when I decided to begin giving lessons. The format is easy to read and the content is exactly what I was looking for. This book reminds you of all of the little things (especially safety related actions) that seasoned horse people know and perform out of habit but might forget to explain to a beginner. It also lines up about 16 lesson plans from ground safety up through canter lessons. It provides some school figures and exercises/stretches to enhance every lesson. If you are thinking about giving lessons, this book is a logical place to start and a must for your initial library.



2. this book is a great book. i would highly reccommend it to anyone who has or is thinking about owning a horse/s. it gives the basics of riding from the ground up. even for the experienced rider/owner/trainer i think it is great, simply because it will remind you of the "little things" we tend to miss when teaching. i like that it is simple and easy to read, i would also recommend it to my students to read as well, since they may find something that i may have forgotten and it would give them the oppertunity to ask me questions - something everyone could learn from.



3. There's no quick fix to teaching anyone to ride and this book can work for any age. Jan presented the same information throughout the book in varying detail to cater to the individual rider's experience and skill level. Even though some of the information might seem obvious, the idea of teaching a skill is to explain the obvious to someone who won't think it's obvious to them! It is great for those who care about their students and want the best and safest (safety issues discussed frequently) experience.



4. A solid little book about riding instruction. The whole volume puts a lot of emphasis on being safe around horses (as indeed the title suggests), it stresses basic safety rules and then devotes an appendix section on dealing with accidents and lawsuits. One great feature of this book are the review questions at the end of each chapter. I appreciate equestrian texts with that type of feature.



5. Jan Dawson provides great information on all aspects of a riding program. The sections on lesson plans, dealing with accidents and lawsuits, and safe school horses will be useful for both instructor and clientele in evaluating their current situation.

5 comments about What the Dog Did: Tales from a Formerly Reluctant Dog Owner.

1. This is a nice book for light reading about dogs. It's amusing, but not laugh-out-loud funny. It tells you a lot about beagles, and reveals a lot about the emotions of the author. There is no logical reason to love these dogs, but people do.



2. Ms. Yoffe's wonderfully funny and sometimes poignant book of dog tales takes the reader on a tour of life like no other book I have read. Her hilarious wit and candor about both herself and her dog reveal the sweet, bittersweet and frequently quirky friendship between dog and human. Each chapter is like a short story all its own. The reader can enjoy this book leisurely by the fire as an after dinner treat, or as therapy for the latest dog adventure.



3. A great summer read - light hearted and makes me smile. Finished this quick read in no time and enjoyed every minute. I passed this on to my sister to read and she's also worked her way through it quickly and been thoroughly entertained. She said she was reading it on the plane and found herself laughing out loud. Of course, she also has a beagle who acts very much like the dog in this book...that's why I knew she'd love it. I'm getting copies for all my beagle loving friends!



4. I have been reading any book about dog/dogs I can get my hands on and this book is one I am glad I read. It is very funny- hysterical at times and I loved it. The author has a great style of writing and anyone who gets into dog rescue should write about it IMO....If you have a rescue dog you should read this.



5. I'm a big fan of Yoffe's "Human Guinea Pig" series for [...]where she subjects herself to odd tasks (nude modeling anyone? phone psychic? starvation diet?) This book is about dogs. Mostly about her dogs, and those her family takes in until they can be adopted, but also many hearsay stories. Some are funny, some tragic, some ridiculous. Most demonstrate the lengths a dog owner will go to, or stoop to, for their pet. As the owner of two English Bulldogs, I related to most of the stories in this book. The fact that a lot of them didn't seem that strange, or that the aberrant behavior of the dog owners in these stories didn't phase me makes me wonder what effects my dogs have had on my perception of what's normal. I think Yoffe's stuff reads better in a shorter format. This book seemed to drag at times, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

5 comments about Boxer Handbook, The (Barron's Pet Handbooks).

1. This book has every question I ever wanted to know about the boxer as a breed and a pet. Written in clear easy to understand dialogue.



2. This book relates basic dog care information in a fairly well written format. I also purchased the boxer training book from the same author thinking there would be some help not offered there. If you have already purchased a boxer, then I would skip this title and only get the training book. Much of the information is redundant between the books except the deciding if you really want a boxer part.



3. I have an 11 week old boxer puppy. This book has been a great help in learning all one needs to know about raising a dog. I highly recommend it.



4. I thought The Boxer Handbook was very informative--went into great depth about the orgin and history of the boxer. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone considering purchasing a Boxer for the first time.



5. I bought this book when I first adopted my deaf, white boxer. This book passed my first test - the author doesn't say that deaf boxers or white boxers should be killed. It's also a great introduction to boxers. There is information on boxer history, picking out your boxer, bringing him home, health and starting training. It's not a complete guide to everything, but is a wonderful introduction to the boxer dog. It gave me a better idea of questions to ask the vet and training questions to pursue.

5 comments about Top Working Dogs: A Training Manual--Tracking, Obedience, Protection.

1. This book covers many different possible 'occupations' of a working dog, and is written clearly. Not many pictures, it is full of information. If you are considering raising a working dog, this book outlines the various levels and certifications you (the handler) and the dog will need to complete. If you are interested in learning about a particular aspect more, this book will provide a description of that occupation and what that occupation entails.



2. Found the font size small, not that easy to read. However, the content is superb, if there is an updated version (training methods etc. change)I would be first in line.
   It is so good to get a book from a pro, someone who's been there, done that, got the T shirt at the very highest level.



3. After purchasing many dog training manuals and finding them not quite up to snuff, I was very pleased to finally find a book which was comprehensive and authoritative. It breaks each area of the sport down and is easy to follow. The book is intelligently written.



4. The 3rd edition (1994) of this book is VERY HARD TO READ. The font set is about 5 or 6 points, single spaced, very tightly packed. You need great eyesight and still must be ready for eyestrain. I can read anything up close, but this is the worst book, PHYSICALLY, I've ever had to read. Still, you can't fault the quantity of information and the first (brief) perusal makes me want to read more. I was dismayed when I opened the book so I'm giving you a heads up. I'm going to buy a magnifying glass.



5. I have owned this book since shortly after it was published, except for the short period of time when a local police dog-man "borrowed" it. I ended up repurchasing it! This book is solid and sound in content, and has information that will appeal to beginners and experts alike in the fields of tracking, obedience and man-work. I review it as a resource book whenever I need a fresh training idea for a dog or a group of trainers. I no longer loan it - I recommend you buy your own.

4 comments about Dog in Action: A Study of Anatomy and Locomotion As Applying to All Breeds.

1. Very informative and easy to read. The author uses 'every day' examples that make understanding muscle movement easy.



2. This is a difficult book to get through. The author tries to compensate for that fact by starting out with some "stories" of his own, but it can't make up for the difficult reading ahead of you. You're going to need a dictionary to read this and don't read it when you're bored, you'll fall asleep!

   The structure information is good, it's just not an easy read.




3. This book is like a bible for those that study the mechanics of animals as they move, especially dogs. It details the coordination of every bone with the corresponding limb as the dog moves and then ties it all together with images of how the whole dog should move as a unit. It justifies every aspect, supporting the information with examples of the survivors in nature. For anyone aspiring to judge dogs or already judging or breeding it is a must. Although written over fifty years ago, the information is still relevent and stands up to recent high tech studies done with slow motion and stop action cameras. The book is presented in a way that makes it easy to understand the mechanics of the dog as it moves, the importance of efficiency, which is such an important part of assessing the value of one dog as compared to another. After reading this book, watching dog shows will become more meaningful, whether one has been breeding and judging for years or is just getting started. Years ago I lent out my copy and never got it back so will order a copy in paperback.
   Gordon Garrett



4. I first saw this book when my friend brought over a library copy. I didn't have time to read it, but I read the chapter on single tracking.

   Let me explain. I'm an engineer. And conformation vs. performance as always been a hobby of mine. Mostly for horses. I always wondered why horses single track. Now I know. Based on that chapter I scoured the used book market until I found my own copy. I found this book to be thought provoking and credible. I bought a copy for a friend of mine who is a professor at one of our state universities and who heads up the collage's judging team (horses again).

   I found that by studying dogs, whose conformation could be much more diverse than horses, I could better understand how more subtle conformation differences affect the horse. I will never give up my copy. They will have to pry it from my cold dead fingers.

4 comments about Pet Pages Unleashed!: Fetching Ideas for Animal-Inspired Scapbook Pages (Memory Makers).

1. I'm not a huge scrapbooker, but I like to do pages from time to time. This book is great to give me layout ideas when I get tired of doing things the same all the time. It's useful for all types of layouts too, not just pet pages. I'm glad I bought it.



2. This is such a great book for scrapbooking your pet photos. I have really enjoyed using this book while designing pages of my dog Roxy. The book it self is beautiful and the page layouts are fantastic. It really gives you some good ideas and shows alot of detail for scrapbooking one of the most important members of your family!



3. What can I say - I just love this book. Has some great layouts and plenty of ideas. Can't wait to get started on some new creations of my own.



4. I cannot believe there are no other reviews out here for this marvelous book! Animal-lover scrapbookers will totally love this book. There have been a few prior, but this one is awesome.
   
   I am always looking for ways to scrapbook my dogs and cats. Their photos are so much fun to work with and practice all my techniques. But I rarely if ever see pet pages in the magazines. This book is beautiful. The pet layouts are fantastic and give me lots of motivation to get cropping.
   Also recommended: SCRAPBOOKING PETS & ANIMALS !!!

5 comments about Dogs, Diet, & Disease: An Owner's Guide to Diabetes Mellitus, Pancreatitis, Cushing's Disease, & More.

1. I bought the book for my dad whose favorite dog was recently diagnosed with diabetes. It didn't sound like his Vet had given him much information beyond the most basic information (give the dog a shot at this time every day). My dad says the book answers many of his questions and provides him with the information he needs to understand the condition and properly care for his dog.



2. I purchased this book because my dog was diagnosed with Cushings Disease. It had some helpful information on the disease. I found some really good information on diet even if your dog is healthy. Diet really does make a huge difference even in healthy dogs. Since following some of the suggestions both of my dogs seem much healthier and shedding has decreased tremendously.



3. This is the 2nd copy of this book I've purchased. I can't keep it in my library because it is always out on loan to someone. It provides such good information to help people understand these diseases and how to handle them. This copy is going in our "Rescue" library so that it is available to anyone who adopts from us. (Westie Rescue) A must for any dog owner.



4. This book has helped me a great deal with the diagnosis of my canine. I would suggest it to anyone facing these diseases.



5. This book was exceptional in the help it provided with my newly sick dogs. I was able to find many ways to help them and me through this.

2 comments about Cichlids (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. I purchased this book awhile back when I was first getting into Cichlids. It has alot of useful info, and it's easy to follow and refer back to. It gives good tips, and informative basic overveiw. If you're looking for more detailed and/or species/region specific info, this isn't the right book for you. If you are just getting into the hobby, this is a fabulous choice!



2. This books gives someone wanting to learn about Cichlids a good starting point. It covers several varieties, explaining their origins, behavior, breeding habbits and so on. It also gives some pointers on what varieties can coexist and some that shouldn't be mixed. Not all-ecompassiing by any means, but gives a person a good beginning overview to to Cichlids and to help you decide if this is the type of fish you want to put in your aquarium. I've read it to completion, am still interested and now am looking for more detailed information.