5 comments about Parrot Breeder's Answer Book, The.

1. This is a very good book. Some authors fill their books with jargons and make the books difficut to read. But Soucek writes in plain language. She makes professional knowledge of parrot breeding understandable to a parrot lover like me. Photos are clear and illustrative. I considered this book is the best one among books of similar topics.



2. Well being a hobby breeder I must say that I had learned somewhat through the years. I walked into a book store and took my husband's advice for once, it turned out to be most rewarding. The Parrot Breeder's Answer Book is filled with so much information which answered alot of my questions concerning my current breeding. Most of all the book is fun to read and the amount of pictuers add alot as well, far from boring like other related books. I must say taking my husbands advise did work out this time since it never ends up good. I would recommend this book to my fellow bird breeder's especially my mother in law she can really use this book as a Christmas Gift.
   
   Yours Truly
   
   Martha Ferrer



3. Very informative, I've been a breeder for 11 years and learned a few things I didn't know!



4. THE PARROT BREEDER'S ANSWER BOOK was written by Gayle Soucek, who has been breeding and training parrots for a number of years and maintains a flock of 70-80 birds at her Chicago home. The fact that she has been able to raise baby parrots in such a cold hostile environment is amazing, especially when she informs the reader that at times she must transport the babies to work because they require "round-the-clock"feedings, just like human babies. Of course she is hand raising the birds she feeds herself. Parent raised babies are cared for all day by mom and dad, but hand raising birds is the key to training them to be friendly animal companions. Reading this book one wonders where Ms Soucek finds the time to care for birds as she works full time for a bird supply business, is involved with a number of bird organizations and writes articles and books. Soucek says "you will never travel again" if you get into this business, and she has a point, although she undoubtedly travels to various locations to speak and lecture.
   
   Soucek covers all the important aspects of baby-bird raising including parent nutrition and avian reproduction; preventive health care, including when to call your vet and when to "do it yourself"; baby nutrition including diets and hand feeding; housing, including cage requirements (do you know the difference between an incubator and a brooder?), air, water and light requirements; characteristics of birds reproductive systems including the difference between DNA sexing and the more invasive laproscopic sexing.
   
   As a full-fledged bird breeder, I found this book highly informative, and recommend it to anyone who thinks bird-breeding is a "hobby."



5. This is an excellent book for those who are looking into breeding parrots. It gives good information on the pros and cons for breeding, and comes with excellent pictures and illustrations. This is such a wonderful guide to breeding parrots RESPONSIBLY. It is incredibly honest and straight forward on the benefits and pitfalls of breeding. Very easy reading and informative. Also comes with a reference guide in the back. Highly recommended.

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.

5 comments about You Bake 'em Dog Biscuits Cookbook.

1. I just got a puppy and have been very concerned about what goes into his food and treats, so I decided that I want to try making my own (not to mention that this makes for great gifts to give). When I went to the store to find books on this type of thing, it is surprising that not many books are just about biscuits. I love my dog, but I find it a little ludacris that many doggie biscuit books actually have real meals for dogs in them (Labradore Lasagnia, Pup's Pizza, meatloaf, even Arroz con Pollo)... I'm truly serious! If you make meals for your dog, I appologize and do not mean to affend, but I barely have time to make my own meals, let alone something for my dog. Baking biscuits is one thing... but actual meals each night is another.
   
   This book was right to the point and had everything I desired in it... buscuits, treats, and even cupcakes for when he does have a special celebration. The recipes are easy to follow and the ingredients seem easy to find. I think this book is a real treat and paired with the right cookie cutters makes a great gift (see also their set that comes with cutters). I got the book as opposed to the set because I also got "Make Your Own Healthy Doggie Biscuits" by Jonna Anne that came with 3 cutters (also an excellent book and set). I may also get the You Bake 'em Dog Biscuit mini set so that I have a smaller bone. I thought this book hit the target and I love it!



2. This book has silly graphics as somebody else had mentioned, but I don't care about that. It's kind of cute actually. The recipes are straight forward and there are tips for storing the treats. The book even has recommendations for throwing a dog party. I'm anxious to make the pumpkin muffins for my guy and his dog buddies.



3. enjoyed this book. Good info,easy to read and use. Has a lovely selection and variety of recipes.Thoroughly recommend it.



4. This book not only gave you the recipes, it had little helpful hints in regards to what ingredients are not good for your pup.



5. I bought this book based on all the good reviews and was a little disappointed....almost every recipe calls for a food processor and not having one at the moment pretty much excluded alot of the recipes. Of the ones I did make my two pugs weren't crazy about them. It is O.K. but there are many more that are better out there...

5 comments about Manstopper!: Training a Canine Guardian.

1. After reading this book, I came away with a better understanding of the canine mind in general and the canine protector specifically. The book was written in an easy to read and understand yet compelling way. The author not only gives a good look into how to train your canine guardian but also the reasons why you shouldn't. I would recommend it to anyone remotely interested in this subject and I plan on purchasing his obedience training books shortly.



2. This book is a jumble of poorly thought out and untested idea's. The author uses bad examples to try and prove his points, but it isn't hard to see that he literally doesn't know what he's talking about.
   It only sells because idiot "sic'em" dog trainers buy it.



3. Although this book promises an engaging subject, the style of writing, less than exciting stories, and minute passages of actual training knowledge are enough to make one choose to read the tax codes over this waste of paper. The multiple interjected "stories" and comments about alledged events during training, detract from any useful information, which in and of itself is difficult to find. Very disappointing.



4. I highly recommend this book in tandem with "Dog Logic". Even if you have zero interest in protection training (and let's be honest--even Joel says it's not something you do from a book!) this book gives valuable insight into how to think "associatively" like a dog does. It's great information to help identify where current problems may have cropped up from, and to help you think ahead to prevent improper associations in your training routine.



5. "Manstopper!" is a must read if you are interested in protection work. Overall this book was a great read. Entertaining yet informative and what I enjoyed the most was the author's obvious love for dogs that surfaced in his work with them and in his writing. It was not a how to guide for training a killer, and anyone who claims they used it as such did not heed the advice given by the author.
   Not only did he warn potential manstopper owners of the financial and moral responsinility of owning protection trained dogs, he also warns about training the wrong dog for this work. This is terribly important because most owners assume any German Shepherd, Rottie, or Doberman can do protection work. If I had not bought this book I may have made a big mistake and trained my German Shepherd mix for protection. His temperment was just not right for it but I never knew until I read this.

5 comments about Riding into Your Mythic Life: Transformational Adventures with the Horse.

1. This book was interesting . I just felt it got a little to unatached in the mythic life areas. Great to have some ideas for session time. This book took helping people to a different level. The sharing of the different tribes beliefs was fascinating. A lot of Mythology history shared from a new perspective.If you want a book grounded in reality for EAP work this is probably not what you are looking for, but if you are looking to make your EAP program more creative this book has that. The title is what this book is all about.



2. Horses are here defined as mythic creatures, and RIDING INTO YOUR MYTHIC LIFE comes from a therapeutic riding instructor who has developed her theories in over twenty years of working with horses and children with special needs, developing horse camps for teens and adults alike. RIDING INTO YOUR MYTHIC LIFE is for horse enthusiasts and therapists alike, and will appeal to any collection strong in new age theory or equestrian interests.



3. The author of Riding into Your Mythic Life, Patricia Broersma, is a therapeutic riding instructor who founded Saddle Light Center. She is also an instructor with the North American Riding for the Handicapped and president of the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association. In her work, this author has seen the healing connection that can occur between horse and human being. It's truly a magical transformation, not unlike that of the hero and his allies in Joseph Campbell's Journey of the Hero.
   
   Riding into Your Mythic Life is an interesting work. The book is part philosophy, part self help, and part horse training guide. The author equates the bonding between a person and their horse in terms of a journey of self-knowledge. The resulting connection further serves to facilitate deep healing within both individuals.
   
   The text itself is filled with touching stories showing the potential of such equine-human relationships. Chapters are organized by topic with each subject building upon the knowledge attained in the previous section. Each of these sections includes practical exercises that serve as a guide to the reader's own hero's quest and the strengthening of the connection between them and their ally.



4. I've always felt a deep connection with horses, even during the times in my life when none lived with me. 'Riding into Your Mythic Life' takes its readers on a hero's journey to explore that connection. I love the blend of myth, science, poetry and personal stories. It seems that if you open your heart and let in the message that Broersma and the horses have to share, it could truly change your life. I keep this book on the kitchen table and read it with my morning coffee. I am finding that I go back to it and reread chapters after working with my horses.



5. I would recommend this new book by Patricia Broersma to anyone who has an appreciation for horses and a desire to befriend themselves at a deeper level.
   If, in addition, you happen to own or have access to a horse, this therapeudic riding instructor can lead you into a profoundly deep relationship, heightening your sensitivity to your horse and teaching you new ways to communicate and learn from each interaction. Reading this book, I felt I was being gently guided on an experiential journey through my own life, discovering it from a much larger perspective and learning how to appreciate the magic and wonder of it. With Broersma's guidance, I found it easy and very empowering to see the events of my life in the framework of a personal mythic journey, as the great adventure it is. What a gift!

5 comments about When Animals Speak: Advanced Interspecies Telepathic Communication.

1. When Animals Speak is an original, groundbreaking work in the field of telepathic animal communication. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in expanding their own telepathic abilities, and also for animal lovers who want to deepen their understanding of the animals in their lives. Ms. Smith's connection with animals as complete, spiritual beings is the foundation of her work as an animal communicator, teacher, and spiritual evolutionary leader, and this awareness and perspective infuses her writing with gentleness, warmth, and a good deal of humor. Ms. Smith's clear examples and honest descriptions of her experiences with her own animal companions, as well as those of her clients, make this book a heartfelt, fascinating read.
   
   This book has been my companion and guide for many years. I have found that I return it again and again for its wisdom, warmth, and deep insights about both human and non-human animals. It has been a hugely important resource for me in deepening my own telepathic connection with animals and all life, and I find that I regularly pick it up and gain new insights and clarity.
   
   Penelope Smith guides her readers and students to experience the spiritual essence of each being, including ourselves. Reading this book will take you on a path of opening your heart, quieting your mind, and bringing you closer to understanding the truth of your own soul. It takes honesty, suspension of mind chatter and limiting beliefs, and unwavering courage to pursue the journey of relating to animals as fellow beings and travelers on the path, and allowing them to be not only our companions and friends, but our teachers and guides as well. The rewards of opening to this experience are immeasurable: a deeper connection with all of life, and a deeper connection to the beauty and truth of your own being.



2. 
   What is the size of the 'door' through which our beliefs enter? Is it large or small, open or closed? As I read this book, I felt: here is the truth. These animals have hearts and minds and spirits. Each is an individual being, just as real as you or me. Scientific research often focuses on animals' ability to understand and respond to humans, instead of what they feel and experience in their own lives and with others of their kind. Science is not necessarily off course, just narrow. Intuitive animal communication is less limited because it is not just looking for what we might expect to find.
   
   Penelope Smith (PS) discusses how we have habitually invalidated ourselves and each other as we receive and share communication with animals, and how much we all miss by doing this. I believe that we communicate all the time, but we usually don't think it works! This book is a big step in looking beyond all that, in her experience and for others.
   
   This book covers all kinds of communication, with animals, plants, nature itself, spirit contacts, and more. I didn't keep up with some of the 'farther out' sections of the book, but they are there for those who want to explore more. The life and death stories were very interesting. Especially in the story of the rabbit family's deaths I had such a feeling of the naturalness of death, not struggle, but 'going from one room to the next'. The story of the life and death of her Afghan friend Pasha is certainly the most moving. PS shows death is to be respected, rather than hated or denied.
   
   How hard it is to read her words of anguish, but how present she is to each nuance of caring and respect for Pasha's dying. I too have been present for the lengthy dying time of an animal friend, compounded by the rural lack of access to vet care and bad roads, asking myself, "What is best, what is right? What does my beloved companion want, and how can I help?" It is very challenging to experience that at length, as she describes with Pasha. Yet in the moment, all we really can do is to be present. Sometimes there just is no rescue, and death must be faced, by the one who is dying, and by those who love them.
   
   I chose one communication from a song sparrow, to convey the overall feeling of this book:
   
   "Life is good. Death is necessary. Renewal is constant. Spirit is ever present. . . . The Spirit in all moves us in different ways to experience infinite creation. Figuring out why is not our way. We know deep in our cores. Life is its own reason. There is no more to understand."



3. I have dozens and dozens of books in the fields of Spirituality, New Age and Eastern Religion, and this book is one of the most inspiring, deeply moving, and life changing in my collection. I have read things in this book that I have not found anywhere else. Penelope's experiences of animal communication rings true to my heart. Her abilities and experiences have had a profound impact on my world view and have inspired me greatly. Reality is far vaster and far more magical than we have been taught to believe. While others may find this possibility threatening, I find it liberating and a way of connecting with my soul's truth.



4. If you think you can learn anything valuable from a person who believes they were once a Yetti (Big Foot) in a previous life, who communicates with faeires, and can control the elements, then spend your money. You won't be disappointed. This woman is totally off her rocker. She believes she communicated with a horse with an evil spirit, the spirit left the horse after she spoke with it, and then caused planetary changes and the demise of Communism. HUH? The woman is totally out of touch with nature, her spiritual side, and most importantly herself. Go back to the basics Penelope. Learn to love the animals again for who they are. Do not impose on them your own distorted beliefs.



5. What a hoot! This book is fabulous and very entertaining, well worth the money. I found it in a bookstore and could not put it down. It will provide you with plenty of hilarious anecdotes and ridiculous stories to amuse your friends. Anyone who does not like this book probably was taking it too seriously, or didn't fully realize what they would get from a book on "interspecies telepathic communication." High ratings for imagination and camp value, new age to the hilt, and absolutely, completely, totally out there. And, yes, as a previous reviewer alluded to, she has her own way of relating to and caring for animals - definitely not the way I would treat an animal in my care. I give it a 5 star rating over all.

5 comments about Successful Dog Adoption.

1. While the author's test may not be 100% accurate, her premise is that one should be VERY careful in adopting dogs in order not to get an aggressive dog. This is something that most other adoption books gloss over. The author is concerned that many agencies seeking to have dogs adopted are more concerned with getting the dog a home than in protecting the adopting owner. Why adopt trouble?
   
   I've had 12 dogs in my life and am thinking of adopting when my 12 year old dog dies. I've been reading as many books as I can about adopting dogs and adult dog behavior and this is one of the best that I've found.



2. Dogs need our help. Thousands die every day simply because they do not have a home. If you are involved in fostering, breed rescue or simply love dogs, read this book to learn about how to evaluate dog temperament. If you are looking to adopt a dog, this book will teach a scientifically proven effective method of evaluating a dog's personality.



3. I bought two books on dog adoption, this book being one of them. I really didn't get my money's worth from this book. The tests that the author advised just are not practical. If people did what she said, no shelter dogs would ever get adopted. In general, other books on dog adoption have a lot more practical advice than this one. This book was not a total loss, I did learn a few things from it. But, all in all, it was not worth my money.



4. What a great book! It is very well written, authoritative without being condescending, easy to understand without being simplistic and sometimes downright funny. I started reading at random and just could not put it down. Recommended for anybody who wants to adopt a dog - even if you do not believe in or want to try the test described in the second part of the book, there is a wealth of information on the first 100 pages alone.
   I feel I have a much, much better chance now of finding the "Love of my life" dog we are all hoping for.



5. As a parent of 3 who is looking into getting a dog and has seen a very strong anti-family/anti-child bias among shelter and rescue groups, I really appreciate this book. Her section on reading the internet ads was especially enlightening, since all shelters within a decent driving distance from me do most of their advertising on Petfinder. If we do decide to adopt a dog, I feel much more confident not only evaluating the dog, but evaluating the shelter.

5 comments about Kindred Spirits: How the Remarkable Bond Between Humans and Animals Can Change the Way we Live.

1. If you want to read a serious, beautifully written book on this subject, you couldn't do better than to choose this one. The author has an elegant mind and a clear style. The stories he tells, personal and professional, are unforgettable.



2. I found this book very touching and moving. Sometimes when we think we know so much about animals the fact is we will never know enough. Any opportunity we can learn more about how they live is a gift to all humans. They are so willing to teach us - we just need to open our hearts and minds and accept all that they are willing to give. They can truly change the way we live, this book helps to show you just that.



3. So you think you know and understand your pets, especially dogs? Not until you read this wonderful and insightful book can one begin to understand the exceptional love and experiences that dogs bring into our lives. This should be required reading in schools!!!



4. This book is a great primer for people who have an inkling that our relationship with animals runs deep and is often spiritual or even mystical.
   
   Dr. Schoen has given us a one-stop shopping source, with introductions to: alternative medicine for animals, alternatives to commercial pet food, and ways to enrich the human-animal bond through touch, massage, and meditation.
   
   Buy it as a gift for someone whose eyes are opening to the reality that we are all connected and responsible for each other.



5. Allen M. Schoen, D.V.M., M.S., author of "Kindred Spirits" has written a sensitive book that pulled me in from the beginning. I have to confess that I am a person who feels more in touch with animals than than I do with most people. I have enjoyed reading this book so far and would recommend it to any adult who enjoys understanding the complex relationship between man and the animals around us. It is easy to read and full of wonderful anecdotes from the author's experience as a vet.

5 comments about How to Build Everything You Need For Your Birds: From Aviaries . . . To Nestboxes.

1. This is not for the do-it-yourselfer who wants to build a cage for his small parrot in the living room. It is for folks who want to build the equivalent of chicken coops in their back yards. I learned more about parrot toys searching the Inet.



2. I waited a long time to get this book and it was worth every moment. The designs are well thought out and easy for even the mechanically challenged to understand. The author has devised an aviary/cage system that can be increased or decreased at will, by adding or subtracting carefully yet simply designed panels. Each panel fulfills a particular function of the whole to form the basic unit and you can add unlimited units to form your ideal facility. This information is timeless and I am very pleased.



3. This book lays out a good set of plans for starting small and working your way up to as large a breeding operation as you like. I am adept at building small animal pens, and I've been doing so for several decades, on a hobby basis. I was still impressed with the simple brilliance of this book.



4. Potential purchasers of this booklet should be aware that the author is very serious about his birds. What he considers a "quite small" aviary, "for the aviculturist who has only restricted land area for his hobby", measures 11 by 16 feet. A "fairly large" one is 38 by 24 feet, complete with concrete foundation, plumbing, heating, electric lights, and 12 foot ceilings.
   If, like me, you are looking for ideas for a small backyard aviary for a few canaries, you should look elsewhere. This publication contains plans for only 6 aviaries. Four are far too large for the average suburban lot, unless you are willing to knock down your house first, and the other two are so rudimentary that plans are hardly necessary.



5. I needed a means by which to build aviaries for my birds. I have built one out of the book, and it is great. I'm most impressed with the bird "hospital" cage.. It works exactly as described. My first impression when I received the book was not that great. The drawings were clear, directions clear, but I guess on some level I expected something more than what looked like a college study packet from Kinko's. The designs in this book and the subsequent modifications I've made to them to fit my needs have been outstanding. One needs only a modicum of building expertise, a knucklehead can put the designes together. Highly recommended... again, this is coming from someone who has actually built items off the plans in the book. It's not a glitzy book, but doggon functional.

1 comments about Koi (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This is a great concise introduction to koi fish and ponds. It includes pics and descriptions of different classifications of koi. Types of water plants and construction of different types of ponds are addressed. Basic, but still very informative.