5 comments about Beyond Obedience: Training with Awareness for You & Your Dog.

1. This book is not your basic training guide. But, it takes a more in-depth approach to being a successful trainer and dog-owner. When you can't understand why your dog can't perform a task that you have taught over and over OR they won't do what you know they CAN do....this book helps give insight as to why. It's the best advice for these situations.



2. If you're interested in New Age philosophy as it pertains to dogs, this is your cup of Chamomille tea. If you're interested in practical solutions to dog behavioral problems look elsewhere. I'd stongly advise you to take the book out of the library and read it before you buy it.
   
   I found it useless in addressing my/my dog's "issues".
   
   And, hey, I've meditated for years.



3. A dog training manual for the metaphysician in everyone: you will love this book. Since you are reading these reviews, this book is for you. (When the student is ready...)
   
   If nothing more, read Chapter 4. It relates Ms Frost's extraordinary and inspiring experience with the "Vermont dogs." I am still moved and thrilled after many readings of this astonishing account.
   
   Try her unique methods. My puppy was frightened of passing traffic on our street. I visualized my puppy walking calming on his leash. We went for a walk right away, and he was hugely improved over the day before. Amazing! He's grown now and walks quietly beside me OFF-LEASH.



4. April Frost is an animal communicator who comes from a place of deep love and respect for animals. She relates to each as an individual, and works with each by communicating and explaining - as well as using the clear and consistent behavioral approaches common to animal trainers. She advises people to explore what is right in their unique relationship with their animal companions, taking into account their own personality and that of their animal.
   
   Frost has excellent suggestions and discussion on basics of training for the habits that will enable dogs and people to get along comfortably together.
   
   In addition to offering training to people and animals, Frost has dedicated much of her life to helping animals in need. She describes a remarkable rescue of 13 malnourished dogs out of larger pack that had run wild all of its life in a pen, never having known a positive relationship with humans. The dogs were wounded physically and scarred emotionally. Her approaches in healing them are an inspiration to animal lovers.
   
   Frost brings us great wisdom in this book, suggesting many ways in which we can learn to appreciate and care for the animals we choose or who choose us as companions in this great adventure we call life. Dogs are very much in the present, and can help us find our own sense of the now that opens into spiritual awareness.
   
   Talking to your animal mentally, explaining the messages you want to convey, is very potent in training them to understand ways of behaving that will help the two of you get along well. Establishing intuitive and psychic communications with animals also provides another avenue for opening into spiritual dimensions.



5. This book provides an excellent option to conventional dog training. April Frost shares her tremendous wisdom in this wonderful book that is a must read for those of us who want to build a different relationship with the dogs in our lives other than that offered by traditional obedience training. Frost offers guideance on how to build a strong and lasting relationship with our companions that is based on mutual respect, love, and understanding.

2 comments about The Chinchilla Handbook (Barron's Pet Handbooks).

1. This book tells you EVERYTHING you need to know!
   
   I read this book cover to cover and found it was FULL of interesting facts and information about Chinchillas.
   
   I recently took in two chinchillas that the owner could no longer care for. Before I bought this book, I knew nothing. Once I read the last page, I have since been able to teach others about proper Chinchilla care.
   
   I HIGHLY recommend this book for every beginner!



2. "The Chinchilla Handbook" makes a great companion book to Dr. Vanderlip's standard, "The Guinea Pig Handbook," by the same publisher. Profusely illustrated by Michele Earle-Bridges to enhance the well-organized, straightforward text, this book covers everything the novice (and veterinarian) should know about chinchilla history, suitability as pets, anatomy, housing, feeding, behavior, health care and reproduction. This comprehensive book concludes with information about color inheritance and the fascinating world of showing chinchillas competitively. A helpful list of chinchilla affinity groups and recommended publications precede the detailed book index.
   
   Among the many user-friendly features of the book are the well-organized tables and summary boxes which condense the essential facts about these charming little creatures into easy-to-find bites. The health management aspects of the book point the reader to the most common problems likely to be encountered with chinchillas, and practical advice about avoiding them and deciding when to seek the help of you local chinchilla veterinarian.
   
   A great, but compact, book for chinchilla lovers and veterinary staff alike, and a welcome new addition to the Barron's series of pet owner handbooks. It goes alphabetically on my shelf next to Dr. Vanderlip's manual's on "Degus" and "Dwarf Hamsters."
   
   Phillip T. Robinson, DVM
   Dipl. American College of Zoological Medicine

1 comments about Quarter Horses: A Story of Two Centuries.

1. A must have for those interested in history of the Quarter Horse. All of Denhard'ts books are excellent. I have and have read just about all of them. This book will never be outdated, and will always be relevant.

4 comments about 100 Ways to Improve your Riding: Common Faults and How to Cure Them.

1. This is a really great book! I rode around like a wild thing, bareback, as a kid, and now I've just bought my first horse in 25 years. I'm rusty, my body is less elastic, and memories have dimmed. This book puts it all together in an easy to understand way--some of it I recognize from childhood, things that I did right without knowing why. Some of it I remember being taught. But much of it is new to me--tons of info on using my weight and seat, and what my hands are really supposed to be for.
   
   The "100 Ways" format is excellent. Each way is presented on one page, or as a two-page spread before you, and at the bottom of the page is a bar with "Related Areas of Improvement" that lists three other "Ways" to check out that relate to your current page. With "100 Ways," I can skip topics that don't interest me right now (jumping) and leave them for later, without wading through chapters looking for what I need. The book is divided up into Seat and Weight, Hands and Arms, Head, Shoulders and Back, Legs, Non-communication, Schooling Techniques, and Mental Approach. I found the instructions to be clear most of the time.
   
   I have a hard time with visualizing descriptions of what to do with my body --this book doesn't confuse me overly, most of the pictures are helpful. With some, though, it's hard to tell if it's a picture of what you should be doing, or what you shouldn't. There's also a little too much of "have a trained eye watch and comment" for those of us without many well-trained eyes around. The author also recommends lunge line work without reins a bit too often for those of us without access to that kind of training. But the good outweighs the bad--the vast majority is perfectly clear, and the author's discussion of the uses of your weight, hands, etc. is worth the price of admission alone. I found plenty to work on all by myself, and became conviced that I should indeed seek out some help for other things.
   
   I can't say if this book is good for the young set, but if you are buying a horse after a long layoff, you can't go wrong with this book!



2. Excellent product. Very pleased! Thanks for the quick and easy delivery of my purchase.



3. i felt this book was able to point out 100 problems, but didn't really address how to fix them. most of the suggestions I've read in other references, not a single suggestion was new.



4. My riding instructors have recommended this book to me and to their other students. It is based on classical riding methods and includes a lot of pictures showing form, both good and bad.

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.

4 comments about Understanding Cat Behavior.

1. I found this book to be very interesting, and I learned a lot from it. I'm a cat lover (not an expert) and I would recommend this book for anybody who is curious about the nature of cats, their behaviors, habits, instincts, etc. as they are found in nature.
   
   I live in a very rural, wooded area, and my cats have complete freedom to be inside or out. Without cats around, the mice would have chewed my entire house to sawdust years ago.
   
   I realize (from past experiences) that their lives are very risky compared to fat, pampered, defenseless, confined cats, but they are in their natural environment, are not overweight, are very active, lean, mean, love to hunt and are very happy. And, of course, they are wonderful companions!



2. Understanding Cat Behavior is an excellent first resource to learn about the evolutionary heredity of the domestic cat and how that heritage influences the behaviors of our modern animals. Roger Tabor gives much detail on common behaviors of all cats, large and small, as well as outlining the differences of feral and pet domestic cats from their larger and wilder cousins. Several common "behavioral problems" in our house cats are discussed and why those behaviors occur from an evolutionary stand point. His overview of feline lifestages and physical signals are a great starting point to learning more about the tiny predator in our homes.
   
   If you're looking for more in depth information about cat behavior, cat nutrition, or cat welfare this is probably not the book for you (I would suggest "Your Cat - Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life" by Elizabeth M. Hodgkins, DVM Esq). However, if you're new to cat parenting, or never researched cat behavior, this book provides an easy start to understanding why your cat companions behave as they do.



3. This book was promoted as a cat behavior book. It has some interesting information about cat physiology, but the information on behavioral issues, such as scratching, not using the litter box, and so on, is really sketchy. I sent it back because the author is strongly in favor of outdoor access for cats but he never once mentions the potential dangers of life outdoors. He suggests that indoor-only cats are neurotic and unhealthy. But he says nothing at all about FIV or Feline Leukemia, nothing about dogs, mean people, cars, antifreeze, or any of the other dangers that you should consider before making the decision on whether to keep your cat indoors or not. My husband and I each lost great cats to FIV because we didn't know that we were putting them at risk by letting them out. I think it's irresponsible of Roger Tabor not to acknowledge the possible dangers of outdoor life.



4. U.K. biologist Roger Tabor's book is a cleverly illustrated and fairly comprehensive overview of feline behavior. Beautiful full-color photos are used very effectively throughout the text. However, his biologist's focus favors cats in their natural state. He sees the increasing trend towards confining cats in the U.S. and U.K. as a major contributor to behavior problems (p.120). While this may be true, many U.S. bird-lovers might dispute the British study he refers to that found outdoor cats were not threatening bird populations (p.135).

   This book is not a primary cat care manual, or a collection of detailed case studies, but it is an excellent supplemental text for any cat owner who wants (and needs!) to understand their pet better. Though much of it is not of any immediate use to owners of neutered/spayed indoor cats, the entire text is full of fascinating detail and illustration of all aspects of feline behavior throughout the life-cycle. Tabor starts from biological descriptions of the feline class and works towards the behavorial specifics. The problem-solving section is only the last 20 pp. of the book, but it seems thorough enough to cover most common situations.

   I gave this book the full 5 stars because it's very well done for what it offers. However, if you're primarily interested in spayed/neutered indoor cat behavioral issues, there are better books to advise you.

5 comments about My Cat Spit McGee.

1. Have read this a number of times ... ditto Morris's dog book ... continue to order both as gifts for first-time cat/dog-owners ... may they never go out of print!



2. Pet ownership is a responsibility as well as a joy. Owners who do not safeguard their pets are not doing the pets any favors; they are simply being irresponsible owners.
   
   When Morris writes, "I felt that [Spit McGee] should have one chance at least to become a father" I wanted to reach into his grave and slap him. In numerous other places he endangers his cat (and I assume dog in the earlier book) in the name of misplaced anthropomorphized freedom.
   
   These books should come with parental advisories: kids, don't try this at home.



3. I read this book in one day, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I highly recommend it to anyone who loves cats as much as I do. Great story!



4. I finished this book with my beloved Siamese, Tia, draped across my lap. As she looked up at me and I gazed down at her, I wondered what I found lacking about this novel. Was it not gushing or reverential enough? Was Morris too languid or episodic? It wasn't too bad necessarily, but it didn't leap out demanding 5 stars like I was hoping for when I saw it. There are of course mild laughs to be had by some of the anecdotes, and by the end the author's conversion is complete. Willie Morris, who apparently was always a `dog' man, circuitously comes into the company of split eyed Spit McGee. Spit grows on Morris over time. The rest of the novel details their interaction and the constant comparisons to his previous dogs. There are a couple groups who will read this book, those that have been cat lovers all their lives, and those like Morris who are joiners. I fall into the former camp. I think my disaffection here boils down to impatience with those who don't grasp the allure and majesty of cats initially, and need to go on some sort of personal vision quest to `get' it. Arguably, that may make the late comers appreciative, but the author's constant questioning, comparing, and reassessing of the cats love is unnecessary for the born ailurophile. Juxtaposed to the sloppy, loud, non-focused devotion of a dog, when a cat chooses to grace you as an object of affection it is a supremely special gift. Thankfully, it appeared that Morris eventually realized this.



5. I absolutely loved this little book! I saw the movie, "My Dog Skip" and was interested in reading the actual book and came across Spit and decided to buy both! I am a cat lover; have been all my life. It was really neat to read about Willie's journey into the cat world! Willie Morris' nostalgic writing style and how he learns to appreciate the uniqueness and quirky nature of the cat leaves you wanting more!

3 comments about Chesapeake Bay Retrievers (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. I really enjoyed this book--lots of information about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed and good pictures. It's the perfect book if you're new to the breed (like I was) and just want a general reference book about Chessies--or just want to know more about them.



2. I realy thought that this book was a great source of information! It told you how to groom and care for your chesepeake. It also said alot about where and how the breed originated. It is realy good for new Chessie owners.



3. This new Barron's paperback is a much better guide to Chessie ownership than the Henschel book. References Chessie's throughout the book. Example: Specific guidelines on how to shop for a Chessie pup - not just pups in general, depending on your need - show, hunt, or companionship. This 100 page book will get you off to a good start, or help explain the Chessie's reputation, help with training, and increase your general understanding of this underappreciated breed. Get it!

4 comments about The Ultimate Golden Retriever, Second Edition.

1. The best book ever written about Golden Retrievers!!!
   This lady is a real professional. She employs world class specialists from both sides of Atlantic. It is the "must read" book especially for Americans. There are a lot of beautiful pictures and this is a great help for people to see how the Golden Retriever should look like. I just hope this book will get translated into other languages too. In the last 20 years this fabulous breed has spread incredibly in many countries even not covered in this book. In this case this book is a little behind but this cannot be hold against the book. This is a nature of all the books. Additionally one has to wait till changes will have more permanent character. I am sure that in the next edition of this book the author will try to update this. I just hope that all my clients will read this book prior to a puppy buying decision. This would save me a lot of time and it will set them on the right track. This would be better for the breed, for the dog owners and ultimately best for their dogs. What else can I say - I love Goldens and I love this book!



2. This book is really great. It covered everything I wanted to know about my new golden puppy and the pictures are awesome. I recommend this to anyone.



3. This book is absolutely fabulous -- you can't get a better book about Goldens. For the beginner, it has all the information in there about how to housebreak him and when to take him to the vet, but it also has the Golden only type stuff, like how to teach puppies not to be afraid to swim. But it is really best for the expert, because there are so many photos of great Goldens and so many placed next to each other -- a British next to an American -- to show the differences in type. This is a really big book with tons of photos and easy to read and really tells you everytthing you need to know. It is interesting to see how the two coutnries diverged in their idea of what the structure should be. It was written by half British writers and half American and oh boy what that committee must have been like!



4. Excellent reference on correct structure of the Golden. Interesting documentation of similarities and differences of standards between the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of Britain. Great history about the successful kennels and which ones developed which lines and how the foundations of the breed developed in the UK, North America, Canada and the rest of the world.

No comments about The Daily Coyote: A Year with Charlie.