4 comments about Your Dog and Your Baby: A Practical Guide.

1. This book looks like a free publication that you would pick up at your vet. It does have very good information but I wouldn't pay over $5 (total) for it.



2. Excellent book. We have two Rhodesian Ridgebacks that were the focus of our universe for five years until our son was born. They are well trained but we had no idea how they would react to a new addition. We wanted to respect their feelings and not have any problems because of things we did wrong. This book was really helpful. We took a lot of advice from this book and we have not had any problems. Our son is two and he loves the dogs. The dogs are very tolerant of his antics and seem to love him too. I think dogs and kids can be great friends if their owners facilitate this process.



3. This book had the best advice. She really understands the importance of positive interactions between parents, babies and dogs. She gives specific answers to specific problems that are doable. I highly recommend this book. It's an easy read, and packed with useful information. She takes the positive approach to working with your dog and your kids too. It has helped me and our 7 y.o. "baby" poodle, who was the big baby before my son came along. This book was essential in helping to make a smoother transition. I couldn't find even close to the amount of information in this book in other sources. The vet gave us a one-page flyer, and Dr. Sears recommends finding another home for your dog! I use it as a reference, and highly recommend it to every parent with a dog, wether you have a "problem" dog or not, it helps you to know what to do to teach your dog how to handle the big changes and not make mistakes even with the best of intentions (like giving your dog extra attention when the baby isn't around- gives the dog the message that when the baby isn't there, she gets attention, so the baby is a bad thing).



4. This is essential reading for all Mums-to-be and new Mums. It prepares the dog owning family for the arrival of the new baby, teaches how to avoid problems when baby does arrive and how to have a happy baby/dog relationship from day one. It teaches how to solve the problems before they happen by preparing your dog for the birth of your baby.

   I am a dog behaviour counsellor and I recommend this book very strongly to all pregnant women with a dog in the family.

   ROWNA WYATT.

5 comments about Believe: A Horseman's Journey.

1. I have been fortunate enough to see several of Buck Brannaman's clinics. and I know he is the most gifted horseman I know. However, I did not realize how much positive impact he has had on people's personal lives as well. This book tells the stories of several people whose lives have been changed by their involvement with Buck and his impact on their horses and their own way of thinking. It is very clever in the way Buck quietly introduces each story and still gives you a great lesson in horsemanship.
   If you want to understand more about yourself and your relationship to your horse, this book is a MUST! I also loved his first book, The Faraway Horse. It taught me a lot about horses and I've been riding for 40 years.



2. it was interesting for the most part.not what t was looking for.i was wanting more detail training.but enjoyed the different stories about other peoples horses!



3. Well written with feeling. A fast read. Enjoyable but nothing deep or of substantial substance.



4. I have seen Buck in person and after seeing many self proclaimed "horse whisperers" knew he was something special. His writing is no different and both his books are not only a must read for people with horses, but anyone who wants a good story.



5. Please read my review for Buck's book "The Faraway Horses," and read that book before you read "Believe." I can't say enough good things about Buck-- his way has truly changed my life. This book has the added dimension of having every other chapter be a true account from individuals whose lives have been changed and affected for the better by learning about Buck's way. Highly recommend.

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

1. This is a great book if you are a beginner turtle owner. Covers almost ever aspect of turtle care, from intial care to "training" your turtle. Could have been a bit more in-depth and detailed on cerain topics (e.g. the species guide) though. Also some of the ideas put forward seem to be a little out-dated or "incorrect" depending on what website you visit (e.g. hibertation in a fridge). One should supplement this book with reseach from other sources, especially the Internet.

   All in all a great beginner's book.

5 comments about Iguanas for Dummies.

1. There is a reason that many reptile rescues require iguana adopters to purchase this book. Melissa Kaplan's book is the bible for iguana care. If you read this book and follow it's instructions, your little green friend will live a long and healthy life! The book is also extremely useful if you are debating getting an iguana. You should definitely read it before bringing one home (the level of care an iguana requires might discourage you from getting one).



2. "most", "some"... Facts need to be added to support her views, which is what her writings come down to... her views. Stick with other books if you are looking for the way to properly care for your little green friend. Check out 'Green Iguana: The Ultimate Owner's Manual by James W., III Hatfield' Hatfield relies less on shock value and exaggerations, facts are important.



3. I have had my green iguana for three years and it seems I never stop learning when it comes to whats best for her. I really wasn't aware how poor of care she was receiving until I bought this book. It's helped me help her so many times, and opened my eyes to details I was ignorant about before.
   
   This book is easy to read and understand. The way the topics are divided make it easy to reference anything you want. Though it's not meant to be read cover to cover, I did so anyway.
   
   Melissa Kaplan knows what she's talking about.



4. Excellent information written concisely and with a sense of humor by someone who truly knows, loves, and admires the species.



5. Living in the Florida Keys we have dealt extensively with discarded Iguanas - perhaps 15 or more. People buy them, and get rid of them constantly - and down here, in the semi-tropics, they can survive (with difficulty)in the wild.
   With all the iguana problems we have encountered good information is a necessity, & we have purchased many iguana books including Hatfield's "Green Iguana, the Ultimate Owners Guide" (a great book, but we still prefer Kaplan's "Iguanas for Dummies").
   If you still want addtional technical data you can add "What's Wrong with My Iguana" by John Rossi M.A., D.V.M. and "Understanding Reptile Parasites" by Roger Klingenberg D.V.M.
   Kaplan's book is based on research & a lot of personal experience. It is thorough, and her experience shows through - there are tidbits of information that have been useful to us that we have not found elsewhere. She has long maintained a caring website to help iguana owners and potential iguana buyers - not just to sell books. And the price of this book is reasonable.
   By all means get a good book like Hatfield's or Kaplan's - preferably before you get an iguana. Even if the book talks you out of getting an ig for a pet it will be well worth the price. Proper care for an iguana involves a devoting a lot of time and spending a lot of money. The cost of the animal is nothing in comparison, and they are far more complex to care for than a dog, cat, or hamster. Judging from the number of abandoned iguanas in the Florida Keys a huge number of people do not bother to inform themselves and the animals suffer. It may not be entirely their fault. Many pet stores do not seem to offer the best books or accurate information - often they just want to sell a hapless reptile, and make a few bucks on inadequate (sometimes dangerous) supplies and food. They frequently give bad advice.
   Whatever book you get you will still need to get a good experienced herp vet., and they are hard to find. Things go wrong with iguanas that are not covered with specificity in any of these books. We have been unfortunate enough to encounter some of them.

5 comments about Smitten: A Kitten's Guide to Happiness.

1. Rachel Hale, Smitten: A Kitten's Guide to Happiness (Bulfinch, 2006)
   
   If you are aware of the origins, meaning, and etymology of the phrase DED OF TEH KYOOT, then I have no doubt that you will be as charmed by Rachel Hale's latest book of photos, designed to provoke an "awwwww..." from even the hardest-hearted soul (read: me). Given the title, it should not surprise that this is a book of kitten photos and amusing quotations from various personages. And isn't that enough? If you're a kitten fan, buy this as a Christmas present for yourself. You deserve it. And so do the kittens. ****



2. 'Smitten' is absolutely adorable but the two JPEGS that have been` uploaded beneath the book in the upper left-hand corner are not the professional work of Ms. Hale's. I know because I own the book. Amazon should taken them down.



3. I really like Hale's photography, especially when kittens are involved, and the quotes in the books are always good. This one is no exception.



4. An absolute fabulous book. The pictures are amazing and the words are uplifting. A must for every cat lover!



5. I got this book for myself and my daughter immediately fell in love with it and walked off with that copy but I like it so much that I bought another copy for myself that I will hide. This is a wonderful book; the pictures and the captions are incredible. A must-have for anyone that loves cats or even remotely likes kittens or cats.

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

1. This is a pretty good book about the breed. If you're thinking about getting a Malamute, this is probably a good buy. However, there may be a better book out there...



2. This book clearly states the pros and cons of having a Malamute. They are as discribed. I wish there was more training information in the book. The history is nice, but more content would be effective. The feeding and other care needs more elaboration. Good overview.



3. I have owned 2 Malamutes & this is the most informative book I've every read about them. I am getting a new pup this spring & can't wait to use some of the ideas in the book. These are the most beautiful dogs on earth & they love people, they are also the smartest!



4. Briefly..
   We read this book, and others before adopting our Malamute. We found it to be right on the money. Especially important are the parts of the book that discuss on whether you personally are up to adopting a Malamute.
   Personally, I wouldn't have another Dog, period. But they are absolutely not for everybody. Better read this book and some others before getting one of these precious and gorgeous animals. If you decide not to, it makes a beautiful addition to any library.



5. As a prospective Mal owner I found this book very imformative, more so than some of the larger and more expensive books which I have in my collection. Especially the section ARE YOU THE RIGHT PERSON FOR A MAL. I found this especially interesting as a Mal is not suitable for just anyone. A well written book with plenty of good information which some other books don't cover enough. I recommend this book to anyone, new and old Mal owners alike.

2 comments about Taming and Training Your First Budgerigar.

1. Greetings...here's a real review for Risa Tetler's Taming and Training Your First Budgerigar. (also known to Americans as the Parakeet.) Her simple and easy-to-understand training method for these smart and crafty little birdies is very practical and can be followed by anyone with a desire to learn more about their behavior, and how we as pet owners should best interact with them. At this writing, I have 4 parakeets and I use this book along with other bird books, but I think I like Ms. Tetler's training method best. This book is priced low enough that it should be easily available to any parakeet/budgerigar owner, of any age. Her other books are also very helpful, especially the African Grey book if you are interested. Remember, though that every parakeet is different in temperment, and your success in training them will depend on your degree of patience as well as your pet's tolerance level for being handled and played with. Good Luck to all bird owners out there!



2. i love this boo

5 comments about Hound Health Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Keeping Your Dog Happy, Healthy & Active.

1. This handbook is fantastic. It's the go-to for EVERYTHING dog--not just health issues (bee stings, dog stings, seizures--all things my puppies had...) but also grooming, feeding, housebreaking, etc... I really like how it lays out clearly when to go to the vet immediately, when to just call the vet, and when to just take care of the issue at home. I'm buying a copy for my sister who just got a dog. It's my #1 doggie book--and I have almost a whole shelf of them.



2. I love this book! It's easy to understand and offers ALOT of information. I found out about it through "Animal Wellness Magazine" and decided to look it up on Amazon... luckily they sell it!! The book is priced very reasonable for all the information it packs. I collect dog books and this is one that should be added to ANY dog owners collection. If you don't have a single dog book or one on dog health - then you should buy this one! The index makes it easy to find a topic quickly.
   Yappy Reading!



3. This is a must have for any dog owner. It covers it all. From puppyhood to senior dogs (and resources for when your dog is gone), it tackles all the tough questions. It's like the "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" series but for dogs or like WebMD for dogs.
   
   Every time my dogs sneezes too many times, I pick up the book. If he's panting too much, I pick up the book. It calms my fears and lets me know when I need to call the vet for things. We recently had to put our dog to sleep and it described the process step-by-step so we knew what to expect once we got to the vet office.
   
   I really can't say enough about this book other than I wish I had found it a few years earlier.



4. This is one of the best and aptly name guidebooks offering credible advise on health, nutrition, common problems and prevention for hounds. Written by a writer-turned-vet, the book did exactly what the author had set out to do: "To save people from making unnecessary trips to the vet, and yet rush them in when their dogs really needed to be there".
   
   Having three dogs of my own, I could recount ad nauseam first-hand horror encounters with vets who were either too commercial or inexperienced or mediocre or all of the above: there was this one vet who told me something as ridiculous as neutering my dog would give him testicular cancer (huh?!); another who misdiagnosed the onset of ringworm as a mere scratch on its paw (later developed into full-blown skin infection afflicting me in the process); another who wanted to jump into operating on my dog following a mere bout of vomiting (the book discussed at length many useful home remedies before resolving to show up at the vet's clinic!); and yet another who urged me to wait it out until my puppy had been through one or two heat cycles before getting her spayed for no apparent reason (the book brought to my attention this delay would increase the incidence of breast tumor by 28%, no different from a dog who was never spayed in her entire life!). More often than not, I have experienced vets who shoved me out of their consulting rooms in a little more than 5 minutes without first hearing out the history/symptoms in full or performed detailed enough physical examination before formalizing on some half-baked diagnosis. Call it a streak of bad luck but I have been through enough vets to know that the best thing you could do to your beloved pets is to equip yourself with as much knowledge as possible in both prevention - whipping up a wholesome diet, social and exercise program - and cure when the inevitable hits home - knowing how to tell the grass from the weed in your pursuit of a vet and the book does precisely that.
   
   In spite of my reservation over the author's advocacy over commercial pet food (fellow reviewers may wish to refer to Ann Martin's "Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food" and its sequel, "Protect Your Pet: More Shocking Facts" and learn why vets unanimously endorse pet food ad nauseam), as well as tune in on Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats for recipes and holistic/alternative medicine, this book is still highly recommended for its comprehensibility, readability and generosity of medical information from the viewpoint of a vet! A must-read!



5. Anything and everything you would want to know about the health of your pet. Use this book when going to the vet to educate yourself about the medications and issues the vet addresses. Determine if those tests are really necessary. Find out what medications are most often used for various ailments. This really is the definitive guide.

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

1. Very good starting point for raising discus.Well laid out, easy read, good value. I have two other books by Degen but this is the one i keep picking up to browse.



2. I BOUGHT THIS BOOK MANY YEARS AGO AND WENT TO BUY IT AGAIN AND ENDED UP WITH THE LATEST EDITION. THE LATEST EDITION IS MISSING ALOT OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT THIS BOOK HAS. IF YOU ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF DISCUS FISH THIS IS A GREAT BOOK. THE NEW EDITION HAS BETTER PICTURES BUT THAT IS WHERE IT ENDS. BUY THIS BOOK



3. A good book for the beginning to think about keeping Discus. It provided enough information for me to make the decision to give it a try. Two years later, I still have 4 of my orgininal 6 dicus purchased, so I think it helped get me on the right track. Other books can be had with more detailed information on discus if your intent is to keep many of them and even trying your hand at breeding them.



4. Did not appreciate a book from a library. Will be contacting the library is see if book was stolen!!!!!



5. So far, one of the best books I have read for a beginner just like me. It is easy to read and very informative, though it may come short on some subjects.

5 comments about Gerbils: The Complete Guide to Gerbil Care (Complete Care Made Easy).

1. This book is very informative and easy to read. We never had Gerbils before and this book has definately helped; from buying the aquarium to the toys that they need or dont need. It is always in reach when I have a question.



2. I may be unusual in that I happened to find out about this book because I adopted my two gerbils from author Donna Anastasi and she offered to sell us copy of the book when we bought them. We had looked through other gerbil books at the pet store and hadn't liked any of them enough to buy one. Donna's book is SO FULL of useful information that I couldn't put it down. Even my 10 year old, who doesn't like to read, went crazy reading this book.
   
   Almost impossibly easy to understand, we consider this our new bible for taking care of our new little friends. Two thumbs up.



3. We loved this gerbil book. It had tons of information. Everything for the basics of care to training and showing your gerbil. There are also quite a few very cute full color pictures. We borrowed every gerbil book they had at our local library and this one stood out far above the rest. We decided we needed our own copy and ever since we purchased it, we refer to it regularly.



4. This book really does make gerbil care easy. Everything from "finding the gerbil of your dreams" to breeding to showing gerbils in competition. I never knew there were such things as gerbil shows! Lots of nice color photos. Devotes a chapter to training gerbils, something not found in a lot of gerbil books. A good book to read if you're even considering a gerbil.



5. My 8 year old has been wanting gerbils for months. We told him he had to read and be able to talk to us about them and their care. He (and the rest of the family) have now read several books. This was by far the best. My son made the decisions about cages, types, sex etc on his own after reading this book. He could discuss care issues and that he was not ready for breeding, wanted 2 females and what he would have to do to care for them.
   
   In comparison to other books, this has more useful information, is more complete, better photos and after three days with the gerbils has already answered multiple questions.
   
   If you can only get one book then this should be it.