5 comments about Bulldogs (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. If you're new to owning a bulldog, this is the book for you. The book is broken down into sections with a very detailed table of contents for different issues, which is great! You can easily find the information you need quickly. It's also not a long book so it doesn't seem overwhelming to read. Of all the Bully books I purchased, this is the one I used the most. Good Luck!



2. This is realy a manuel that gives you insight in how to be the Owner of a Bulldog. A must for any bulldog owner or someone that want to have one.



3. This book was a good intro into what we needed to care for this unique breed however we got our Bulldog as an adult so there were about 5 Chapters that weren't applicable to us so I didn't read them- if you are a buyer considering purchasing an English Bulldog puppy this should help you get started.



4. I believe this book is great especially for the new Bulldog owner. I'm in the process of buying my first puppy and I think the information in this book will help me along my way.
   There's information on the breed history, health, grooming, training, and selection. Definitely worth purchasing.



5. This book is a nice, easy to follow guide for people interested in buying a bully. It gives basic care instructions, a short history, product info and such to help you make your decision and let you know if a bulldog is right for you, or, more importantly, if you are right for a bulldog.

2 comments about The Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog (Terra-Nova Series).

1. Not exactly what I would call a good "reference" book since a good many of his statements are not specifically cross referenced with other supporting holistic information/practitioners. For a field that is still largely unregulated, opinions/approaches are still widespread even on some of the most basic of issues like vaccinations. Providing some cummulative consensus would prove more substantive and demonstrates to the reader these statements have been thoughtfully researched. Of course as with any 'advice' obtained from book reading, it is always best to consult with your own trusted vet before making any changes in veterinary treatment.
   
   This book does cover the very broad spectrum of topics within holistic/integrative veterinary medicine, but does not provide enough depth for practical applications. That said, this is one of the most well made books I've had in years. The hardcover binding is of library quality, as are the heavy-weight high gloss pages. The page layouts are very asthetically pleasing both in design, type-face, and color illustrations, so the reading is quite pleasant.
   
   If you are new to the world of holistic veterinary medicine and don't mind spending $15 to get your feet wet, then I would recommend starting with this book. Otherwise, I would recommend Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats along with The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat.
   
   For ongoing, up-to-date topics and information, consider a subscription to The Whole Dog Journal (a monthly periodical, well researched and cross-referenced with a core focus on holistic practices and applications).



2. It is hard to describe how much I love this book
   
   Most of us who have dogs in our lives consider them part of the family. We all know how it feels to not know how to help them when they hurt. We have all been in a position where we just don't know where to turn. Even the simple questions can sometimes be difficult to answer.We are fortunate to live in a time when science has made great strides in dealing with health issues for not only ourselves, but our pets as well. We also have the benefit of the ancient wisdom of eastern medicine. With all of these opportunities why just take advantage of one or the other? Dr Doug helps to find the answers. He uses his experience with both Eastern and Conventional medicine to explain how a balanced body, mind and spirit is important not only to ourselves but to our canine companions as well. This is not only an informative read, but an entertaining one.
   
   Are you questioning the need for vaccines? Do you wonder if you should use a flea treatment for your dog? Does acupuncture really work? What about those herbal remedies? Chiropractic for my dog? Do you just not know the best way to ensure that your dog is getting the best possible care? Does massage really help my dog? What is homeopathy anyway?
   
   This book shows a typical pet lover how to care for their dogs in the healthiest and most compassionate and helpful ways. You will never regret having this book on your shelf, or in your hands when your little friends need you most.
   
   If you have a dog, you need this book. If you don't have a dog, but are interested in holistic care, read this book.
   
   Now if only Dr Doug would write one for my cats!

No comments about Hermit Crabs For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets)).

5 comments about Horse Owners Field Guide to Toxic Plants.

1. I've had horses all my life, but recently relocated from the dry Southwest to moist Northwest. Thanks to my new neighbors, I discovered an extremely toxic weed growing in one of my pastures - tansy ragwort. I bought this book hoping to educate myself on what else I didn't know that might be growing in my pastures. Believe it or not, tansy, which kills livestock if consumed in very small amounts, was not listed in the book. Things like apples (the seed), castor bean, foxglove, etc. were listed... but these were items that most experienced horse people know about already. I found the information to be too simplistic for my needs, and I would suggest that anyone who keeps horses on their property needs to purchase a more comprehensive book such as "A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America". I have given the book only 1 star because I believe it could give a horse owner false assurance that they have adequately checked their pastures for poisonous/toxic plants.



2. This is a nice guide for any horse owner. The pictures are clear and the descriptions are detailed.



3. ... and knowledge is necessary for prevention. This book is an absolute necessity for anyone who owns a horse, even if your horse doesn't go out on pasture. Did you know that clover is toxic to horses?? As are many other common pasture plants. I also found out that the main ingredient of a supplement for sale at the feed store is toxic to horses. This book should be required for horse ownership. Since it's not, I gave this to all of my horse friends for Christmas.



4. A good resource, though I found the information overwhelming. Also in some cases not complete. I think this book in conjnction with the county extension office and your vet is the best.



5. I purchased this book after having attended a horse clinic where toxic plants were mentioned in passing and it seemed my property might contain a few species of which to be wary. I chose this book as I had read that it had nice photos, which is important to me as I have no real knowledge of plants. However, after receiving this book and immediately looking up Red Maple, one of the trees I thought I needed to learn about, I realized this book was a mistake. It has a desrciption that does not compare it to any other maples. I know I have a few maples, but which one is it. This one mentions some characteristics, but I do not know if it is the only maple to have those characteristics.
   
   I quote, "What to do- Call your veternarian. Fluids, oxygen, and blood transfusions may be helpful if administered early. Do not plant red maple trees in horse pastures. Always provide a nutricious diet and remove fallen maple branches and leaves from horse pens."
   
   Gee... ya think I really shouldn't plant red maples in the horse pasture? But, golly, they're so pretty! The rest of the book is about as useful; with terminology such as "a lot" or "a good quantity", meaningless without some value expressed. If you already have a great deal of knowledge about toxic plants and this is just a refresher or reference, then it might have some value, thus the single star rating. However, if I could not get my money back from Amazon on this purchase, I would be using it as a doorstop.

5 comments about Saint Bernards (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals).

1. I had hoped for more Saint specific advice (especially nutrition and obedience training). This book may be useful to a first time dog-owner but if you are looking for advice breed specific, this book is not it!



2. This book prepares you with the pros and cons of getting a Saint. I bought this book and it really helped me get ready for the challenges of owning this beautiful dog!! I definately recommended it.



3. This is the best dog care books I have ever read, it is perfect how they describe one of the best dogs that you can have. This book includes many color pictures of the St. Bernard ecspecially the puppies. It is the best book in this dog series. This is a must for soon to be or St. Bernard owner.



4. This is the best dog care I have ever read, it is perfect how they describe one of the best dog that you could have. This book includes many color pictures of the St. Bernard ecspecially the puppies. It is the best book in this dog series. This is a must for soon to be or St. Bernard owner.



5. THIS BOOK HAS DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE GREATEST BREED THERE IS THE SAINT. IF YOU WANT A BOOK ON HOW TO CARE AND THE SPECIAL NEEDS FOR THE SAINT THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. I LOST MY FIRST COPY AND I'M BACK FOR ANOTHER. LONG LIVE THE SAINTS.

5 comments about Beginning English Exercises (Hill, Cherry, Arena Pocket Guide.).

1. This book makes a nice gift for horse lovers but is a bit small for the price. It could be a few more pages for the price or lower the price by a few dollars. My daughter really liked the book so all-in-all it's not a bad deal. I bought the other 2 books in the English Exercises series and my daughter also enjoyed them as well.



2. This book is of minimal value to anyone interested in riding. One of the "exercises" is halting correctly, however important, i was expecting more thought put into this book.



3. If you have your own horse and need new things to try and things to help you warm up this book is a must for you! Ride along with this splendid book!



4. Give easy to understand directions and takes all the guess work out of learning to ride. Great for riders working alone as well as for instructors.



5. This little book is jam-packed with tips, advice and guidance. It explains the basic gaits and tells you how to ride them. The author's clear explanations are a great help for finding the proper position on a horse and for helping a rider learn to feel what the horse is doing. And the book is small enough to tuck in your jacket while riding for quick reference. It's like a mini "how-to" manual for English riding that gives excellent guidance to those who want it.

5 comments about Shock to the System: The Facts About Animal Vaccination, Pet Food And How to Keep Your Pets Healthy.

1. Most interesting book regarding vaccines, pet food, etc. This British author has done much research, but tends to agree that not all dogs and cats are suited to a raw diet (which I feed), but points out that some do better on cooked or even dry food depending upon their age or circumstances. She has done extensive research on diseases and vaccines which I found most informative. A lot of technical reading and much to absorb.



2. This is not the first book of this type I have read about vaccines, how awful pet food really is and alternative ways to keep your pet healthy. This book is very informative and has articles that relate to what I have found in other books by different authors, so there is a real problem in the pet food industry as well as with the vaccines and drug industry. Driscoll even gets into historical psychological facts about humans to show a correlation between human and animal side affect from drugs, vaccines, poor food and that modern medicine is not what it is cracked up to be. I have seen first hand what modern medicine can do to cats. I rescue, break up colonies and adopt them out. I have seen Revolution give cats seizures after only a couple day, high fevers for now reason appear after about two weeks for no reason. One of my cats has a burn from where I put the Revolution. This is a pesticide, I knew this, but I am having a really bad time with ear mites and was at my wits end. I have not used conventional anything on my cats in eight years and regret even this time. Revolution is a suppose to be safe and the conventional vet I bought it from thought I was a fool for waiting so long to use it. My cats are indoor only, but the rescues pose a problem sometimes and with all black cats I missed the ear mites in one. I pay very close attention to my cats and this is why I caught the problems. Most people put Revolution and their cat or dog and send them out the door. And, especially a cat, if it does not come home for a few big days no big deal. They have no idea the animal could have been suffering badly. I a dog they will probably run it to the vet and no one will suspect the Revolution is the culprit because the drug company says it is safe. Vioxx was said to be safe and how many other drugs are now under the gun for being not safe. Please get Dr. Pitcairn's book Naturally Healing for Dogs and Cats. Start with this and learn all you can about how to better the life of your dog and cat.



3. A very eye opening book for those that truly care about your pets. If more people would read this there would be alot less pets going to the vet every month for allergies, etc..
   A MUST READ!!!!



4. I was able to get my hands on Ms. O'Driscolls other book which is out of print now,"What Vets Don't Tell You About Vaccines" and I found it admirable she openly admits in this book she doesn't blame vaccinations only for the illness of her pets. She now is factoring in other possibilities. "Shock To The System" is full of information but I did not find it an easy read. I have read many many books on this topic and consider myself well informed. However it was hard to break down this book in layman's terms for easy understanding and comprehension. I did "get it" but I had to re read many topics over again. I do like that she factors in other reasons as to why our pets are dying horrible deaths at such young ages! Such as pet foods, stress and genetics. I'm a firm believer that vaccines are harmful to our pets and any responsible pet owner really needs to research this before handing over their pet to a veterinarian to decide what is best for them. Ms. O'Driscoll does point this out. Maybe your vet doesn't have your pets best interest at heart but rather their pocketbook !! The more I read the more I understand this. This is a good book to have but please do not stop with it. Protect your pet and read on!!!



5. Catherine goes into details with research from vets on the effects of vaccinations on our pets. Do they need annual vaccinations or are they causing our pets to become ill? Are vaccinations a moneymaker? Yes, pets should be examined yearly to insure good health, but vaccinations should not be the reason for this yearly health check. Catherine also encourages the reader to do more research on their own.
   
   Catherine talks about food and stress and their effect on your animal's health. Catherine used to feed exclusively a raw diet, but has since modified that stance to allow that it can be too much 'energy' for some animals and that a cooked or prepared diet may be more appropriate. Rare for those who have made the conversion to admit that it may not be the 'best' for all dogs.
   
   Shock to the System will make you think - not a bad thing!
   
   I'm looking forward to her visit in May 2006 on CSDogBookReview and learning more from her.

5 comments about Living with a Shih Tzu.

1. Another great book if you own a Shih Tzu! The book has a lot of great information on the breed of dog! Lots of tips and suggestions!Good pictures...



2. This book was somewhat helpful. It was interesting to know about the personality of this breed. But I have a lot of unanswered questions now that I have had the puppy for two weeks.



3. The book is a great manual for Shih Tzu owners. From day one it was helpful for us to understand how to handle our puppy. She is now 8 weeks old and is healthy, active, curious, mischievous and sometimes seems to have read the book before we did. The author perfectly describes the usual behavior of this breed and, best of all, she provides useful hints and instructions on how to deal with specific situations and problems such as feeding, discipline and playtime. We recommend the book with enthusiasm.



4. As a trainer and breeder of Shih Tzu for over ten years I highly reccomend this book. It has great practical advise and is full of great pictures and stories. I give this to all my Shih Tzu puppy buyers. Enjoy your bundle of joy!!!



5. As the owner of an eight week Shih Tzu, the book provided many good ideas on raising my puppy. This book was recommended by the breeder as a "how to" book.

4 comments about Old English Sheepdog (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series).

1. Este livro é sensacional para aqueles que amam os Sheepdogs ou Bobtails...
   Ele trata do dia a dia dos cães, desde sua fase de filhote à idade adulta, de uma maneira primorosamente ilustrada.
   Recomendo para todos que criam essa afetuosa raça de companheiros.



2. This book is an excellent resource for anyone who is contemplating getting an Old English Sheepdog. It has a wealth of information on the breed and I found it a great help in preparing for our new puppy.



3. A great book for those who own anb OES or thinking about getting one. There is alot of information about these dogs and this is the best I have found



4. Well, the American Kennel Club has found a book that merits it's seal of approval. If all of their breed books are this good, they'll put everyone else out of business. It is that good. Details about the breed, pluses and minuses, basics of training and healthcare, tailored to the breed. Just great. I would recommend this series to anyone who is a first time dog owner, or who wants a comprehensive book about their breed.
   I've read a lot of breed books, training books and magazines, have dog breeders and trainers in the family, and this is the best breed book I've seen.

5 comments about My Life with George: What I Learned About Joy From One Neurotic (and Very Expensive) Dog.

1. As a trainer, rescuer, fosterer, owner of four dogs and avid reader, I read just about anything on dogs. I'd recommend not to bother with this book which mainly dwells on the author's son and her escapades with lovers after losing her husband in her 40's. I finished the book but was very disappointed as George was not written about for long periods of time. When he was he either ignored, punished, not trained, and wound up with the author's last partner who doesn't like dogs. In defense of the author, she did care for George and take him to the vet. But pleeeeeze, spare me-I don't want to read about a 50 year old woman being obsequious to a man--and barring the dog from the bedroom at his behest and wanting "that animal to find his way home". Thought I'd scream if I read "it's only a dog" one more time. Hate to write a bad review on a dog book but just had to on this one.



2. I'd say this book is more about learning about love than anything else. Summers stumbled into pet ownership while floundering as a single mother after both her husband and her father died a mere two weeks apart. George is not the typical dog, and life with him is far from easy. But struggling through grief, housebreaking and the arrival of adolescence of both boy and dog is both a heartbreaking and uplifting experience that Summers shares with utter candor. This is a very charming book that I wouldn't hesitiate to recommend, especially to folks who liked Marley and Me.



3. Anyone who is going through the process of deciding whether or not to add a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or any other type of dog to their family should read this book! It will help them understand, through the author's experiences, ALL of the requirements and responsibilities plus joys and sorrows that sharing your home with an animal can actually entail. It is proof that the challenges and costs are all worth it in the end.
   
   If one is a type of person who can learn from other people's mistakes, there are some great lessons for potential dog "parents" in this book. Experienced dog people could find themselves relating to but frustrated with the author over her way of handling George's "issues". Fortunately, they will find themselves laughing and crying with her too.
   
   The title of this book is very accurate; it is about her life WITH George, not just about the beautiful little dog on the cover. Reading this would also be helpful to anyone who has lost a spouse to illness. My heart just ached for the author and her son.



4. This story, for the likes of myself, a truly passionate Cavvie owner, is so 'familiar' and yet continually enlightening and heartwarming. This little guy is not an easy subject as he gets himself into so many scrapes over the years, and I found myself regretting reaching the end of the story, wondering what else happened to him afterwards. There is something so special about this breed (not half biased!) that I feel just about any Cavvie lover and owner could write a beatiful story about their own little 'friend' and we would all love reading every page. George's mum has endeared him to so many even that I know of myself who have been so keen to get hold of this book. He's a real winner! Love you George!



5. This book is a must-read for any and all dog lovers.Some of the other reviewers thought that George,the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,was not in enough.It is true that there are some chapters that he is not in.Many people compared this book with Marley & Me:Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog,and they said that it is better than My Life with George because Marley was in more than George,but Marley was not in some chapters,too.They are both great books.Please come to the Discussions to talk about dogs.Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog