5 comments about Dog Language: An Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior.

1. The content of this book I found a little thin. Did not really get into the subtlties of dog communications



2. A highly technical, behaviorist slanted, wordy A-Z book of behaviors. A dull read which necessitates extraction for application in dog training. Not exactly what I thought it would be - but none the less a good reference book.



3. This was not at all what I thought it would be based on the description, etc. on Amazon and I was very disappointed.



4. Excellent book for all two-leggeds. The format is encylopedic, but what seems intuitively to be a fault is really a plus. The book has become close to number one on my shelf of books directed at learning dog. Short of growing a tail, this book will yield rewards in enriched relationships with the four-leggeds.



5. We are now fostering and I was curious what the dog was telling us. This is an excellent book on letting you figure out what the heck your saying.

3 comments about Canine Massage: A Complete Reference Manual.

1. I am going to school to learn Pet Massage and this book has been a great help. We need more people to learn to massage their dogs and keep them health and happy.



2. I found Canine Massage: A Complete Reference Manual to be a valuable reference tool for dog massage. Together, I purchased Canine Massage: Complete Reference Manual and Canine Massage DVD (Integrated Touch Therapy). Having the ability to reference and read what is described on the DVD has enabled me to put together a great massage therapy program for my canine clients.



3. Now in an updated second edition, Canine Massage: A Complete Reference Manual is for dog trainers, breeders, handlers, and ordinary pet owners alike. Author and licensed massage therapist Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt, who treated athletes and world dignitaries before he applied his animal empathy talents toward canine massage, offers clear information illustrated with practical black-and-white "how-to" diagrams. Chapters cover dog kinesiology, principles and concepts of massage, common stress areas, stretching, hydrotherapy, common problems such as inflammation and scar tissue, and much more. Canine Massage is a serious, in-depth guide written by an expert, for professionals, although it is comprehensible to lay people. A "must-have" for anyone charged with holistic therapeutic treatment of a stressed or sick dog.

4 comments about Oh Behave!: Dogs from Pavlov to Premack to Pinker.

1. The mind of a dog is not an entirely simple thing as most people think; training them is a science nonetheless. "Oh Behave! Dogs from Pavlov to Premack to Pinker" is a guide for dog owners looking to train their dog with firmness but without cruelty. "Oh Behave!" Answers common training questions about nature and nurture, conditioning, how one's personality affects the dog, and more, all while dispelling countless myths about dog training. An essential pick for dog owners and for community library pet collections.



2. Once more Donaldson gives insights that have a light bulb "on" feeling. Sure, much of what she says here we have all heard before but every now and then long lost thoughts are brought back and different perspectives presented.
   
   The chapter on observtion vs interpretation alone is worth the price of the book. If only all dog trainers and pet guardians could read this chapter and stop labelling behaviour, maybe more successful outcomes would ensue.
   
   No matter how many years you have been training, you cannot read a book by Donaldson without discovering something new and interesting. A great reminder and refresher read.



3. Donaldson's essays on dog behavior are excellent reading. She backs up her assertions with solid science, and if the science is too much for you, skip that paragraph and go on to her interpretations! Her understanding of animal behavior is deep and she shares interesting facts not only about dogs, but other members of the animal kingdom.
   
   Have a specific problem? The later chapters are responses to people's issues with their dogs and provide sensible advice for working them out.



4. I bought this book, sight unseen, because Jean Donaldson wrote it. One of her other books, The Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way to Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs, is generally regarded as one of the top books in dog training and animal behavior.
   
   That said, here are some things I wish I had known before I bought this book.
   
   First, almost all the chapters start with a "Dear Jean" letter sent in from a reader. Since it is a Q&A format, the answers sometimes seem specific to the question.
   
   Second, she also highlights the "Key Concepts" that are covered in that chapter. However, sometimes I feel that these concepts are merely touched on, not always 100% covered, because they are often huge topics.
   
   Third, I wish I had thumbed through the table of contents to get a rough outline of the book's sections to understand if it would be useful to me overall. At the risk of disclosing too much, here are the section and chapter headings.
   
   Section 1: Behavior
   Chemistry and Constraints: How We Choose Our Dogs
   Test Your Dog's IQ
   Observation vs Interpretation
   Wolf Behavior Patterns
   Social Organization Models; A Mind Virus
   Neonate Puppies
   The Owner Signature: How We Build Our Dogs
   What Is Play?
   Dog Cognition Research
   Ambivalence and Conflicting Motivation
   Nutrition and Behavior
   Malingering: Do Dogs Ever Fake It?
   
   Section 2: Training
   Dog Training Philosophies
   Puritanism and Reward Training
   Pavlov in Everyday Life
   Prompting and Fading
   Shaping
   Exploiting Premack's Principle
   Ringwise Dogs
   Training Deaf Dogs
   Managing Barrier Frustration
   Home Alone Training
   Scratching the Rescue Itch
   
   Section 3: Behavior problems
   A Problem According to Whom?
   Marking
   Barking
   Oh Behave! Love and Mounting
   Car Whining
   Behavior Problems in Geriatric Dogs
   Understanding and Executing Time Outs for Dogs
   High Performance Dogs
   Dogs and Cats
   Small Dog Syndrome
   Tales From The Potty Training Trenches
   
   Section 4: Fear & Anxiety
   Better Safe Than Sorry: Fear
   Compulsive Disorders in Dogs
   Understanding Psychotropic Medications for Dogs
   Desensitization to Veterinarian Visits
   Separation Anxiety
   Do Dogs Pick Up Their Owners' Prejudices?
   
   Section 5: Aggression
   The Dog Bite Epidemic
   Aggression Prognosis Estimates
   Resource Guarding in Puppies
   Resource Guarding Prevention
   Fighting Dog Rehabilitation
   Predatory Drift
   Breed Specific Legislation and Behavior
   
   Section 6: Genetics & Evolution
   My Genes Made Me Do It
   Genes and Behavior
   Adaptive Significance of Various Dog Behaviors
   Chows vs Border Collies
   Theories of Domestication
   Breeder Power
   Dog Moms and Other Evolutionary Misfires
   
   Last night, I read through the chapters in section 1. I have to say that I think that each chapter is going to be hit or miss with me.
   
   For example, the chapter called "Chemistry and Constraints: How We Choose Our Dogs" wasn't that enlightening. Jean even admits that there isn't a lot of research about how we choose our dogs, and she confesses, "So, using a wholly rigorous approach -- mulling it over in the shower and chatting with some dog friends -- I have generated the following list of dog choice factors." At least she's honest, but in a book that throws Pavlov, Premack, and Pinker in the title, I figured the conclusions would be based more in research than mulling it over.
   
   On the other hand, I really enjoyed the chapter called "Observation vs Interpretation." She contrasts the behaviorism school of thought versus other interpreters, and I'm pretty sure she's implying folks like Caesar Millan in the later case. It's pretty clear from the subtext that she doesn't like the whole "the dog is displaying his dominance" school of thought.
   
   In the end, I think I'll end up marking the chapters that are worth reading, and then taking the bibliography in the back and doing some further reading. This book is almost like a series of blog posts strung together, and although that's not really what I look for in a book, it's probably a good starting point for learning more about what we really know about animal behavior science.

4 comments about Doxie Moxie: Little Dog, Big Attitude.

1. IF YOU ARE A DOXIE FAN THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!!! IT'S TRULY RIGHT ON TARGET!
   GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS AND WONDERFUL TEXT.



2. This little book is BIG on laughs for anyone who owns a Doxie or who loves dogs in general. Excellent photography and true-to-life snipets of what the famous Doxie's are all about. Great reading for all ages. Highly recommended.



3. How can you go wrong with a photographic book about dachshunds?
   Author Melissa Sovet has captured the long and short of the spirited breed. There are photos of doxies with bling, doxies being naughty, as well as doxies being charioted by working dogs.
   
   If you love doxies you need this book!



4. If you love Dachshunds or know anyone that does, this is the book to get or give as a gift! The pictures are absolutley adorable and funny - puppies, different colors, different poses, costumes - very sweet!
   The text, written as a "doxie" describes the dog very accurately and uses several quotes in just the right places.
   A great book for "Doxie" lovers and a great little "pick me up" book for anyone else!

5 comments about The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me.

1. it is a shame for him to start out with a good dog and a good book and then turn himself into real jackass -- he should have stuck with his labs - they are suited more to him - fat and lazy - hope no one buys anymore of his books - and maybe he will have to get a real job instead of making money off of a dog he killed!!!!!



2. This is one of the best books about dogs I have read. Jon Katz has a way of writing that makes you feel the laughter and the pain. There are times when reading this book that you will literally be laughing out loud. HE is a very descriptive writer. I would (and have) recommend this book to friends. It is a must read for not just dog lovers but anyone who just needs a good book.



3. I found this book to be a fun, enjoyable, quick read. If you love animals, you will love this book. It has dogs, sheep, a ram and donkeys. The best part of this book is the parts that deal with the dogs. I recommend it.
   
   --Gerard Zemek, husband of author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"



4. The reviewer comments on the back cover of this book say "An inspiring portrait of the human-animal bond...". "Funny, touching, and insightful...". "Rewarding memoir...". I might have said as much about other books on humans and animals, but not this one.
   
   Jon Katz tells us straight out that his goal in taking on the care of three border collies, a herd of sheep, and two donkeys is to better himself, to "become a better human being". It's an admirable goal - but at what sacrifice? When does it seem a good idea to experiment on animals for your own so-called personal growth? What kind of growth is that really?
   
   Obviously I am in a different camp from Katz. Long ago I concluded that there is no animal on this earth who is safe from humans. I also concluded that human destruction of much of the natural world means that some animals, including cats and dogs, no longer have a natural habitat, that in fact their natural habitat now is with us, in our homes. A corollary: it is our responsibility to care for homeless dogs and cats humanely (which does not mean killing them); we created this situation and we are responsible for them. I offer this paragraph as a disclosure that explains part of the reason I take issue with the way Katz approaches the animals he takes on.
   
   Katz sells his mountain hideaway (the subject of previous books) and purchases a run-down farm in upper New York state. He brings his three dogs there and accepts delivery of 15 sheep and the first donkey. Later he travels to the farm of a self-described "donkey lady" and purchases another, younger donkey as companion for the first. He works with his dogs, trying to train them to herd the sheep, and he spends much of each day cleaning, repairing, doing the chores associated with this life. He also spends part of his day writing about it and appears to spend nearly 100% of his waking hours trying to figure it all out. By which I mean he sorts through his relationship with the different animals and comes to conclusions about himself, those animals, and other people and their animals. Forcing himself to be responsible for all of these animals is supposed to make him a better person.
   
   What others have characterized as "introspection" I see as justification. Katz spends endless paragraphs justifying actions that he suspects others may see as wrong somehow. He tells us honestly what trainers have told him (that, for example, he needs to stop yelling at his dogs) and that he bemoans his failures as a human being, and then he obstinately reverts to pattern (keeps yelling at his dogs). It is as if he wants to become a better person but retain all of his prejudices and habits in the process.
   
   Again and again he describes occasions when he has gone against the advice of people he trusts, only to find out that their advice was good. A trusted trainer said don't bring another puppy into the mix until you have resolved the issues with Homer. Katz wants a new puppy so he gets it anyway, only to find out after much work with all of the dogs that perhaps that wasn't such a swell idea. I can't help but conclude that he is going after what Jon wants rather than what the dogs want or need.
   
   When Katz wants a new dog he heads for the breeder. He chooses a breed and a specific puppy for its characteristics. He wants a border collie to herd sheep. He wants a labrador for companionship. He snipes at those who frown on obtaining dogs from breeders with this argument: some people adopt babies but most of us want one of our own. Is that a fair comparison, though? The comparison fails on more than one level:
   
   *When Katz goes to a breeder it's like he's going to an adoption agency, not "having his own". He also deludes himself by assuming he can specify exactly the dog he wants. Even when you choose a puppy of a breed that tends to have certain characteristics, there is no guarantee that the puppy will grow up to be the dog you expect. Katz's own experiences with different border collies are testament to this variability in dogs. All dogs. (not to mention all people)
   
   *Even the best breeders produce dogs that are "not acceptable": dogs they can't sell. These dogs are a result of the breeding process. Even the champion dogs tend to have physical or mental issues that are genetic, a result of the breeding process. The best breeders will claim that they find homes for all of their dogs, whether or not they are "perfect". But every time a breeder's dog goes out the door the people who take that dog do not instead take another dog that needs a home. Thus breeders contribute to pet overpopulation and contribute as well to the population of genetic misfits.
   
   *Approximately 40% of the dogs in shelters are purebred dogs. Many breeder dogs do not come to good ends.
   
   *Katz ignores statistics because he wants his own chosen dogs, not some "rescue", even though he has rescued dogs in the past, from inappropriate homes. Therefore he justifies his decision.
   
   When Katz takes out his rifle and shoots a feral cat it is at the end of many paragraphs explaining he never thought he'd ever shoot anything and his dogs were being attacked and he did not have a choice. Actually, he did have a choice, but it would have taken more work of the kind he chooses not to do. It would also have labeled him some kind of bleeding heart there in the country, and we can't have that. He desperately wants (maybe needs) approval from the old-time "real" farmers and ranchers. Katz is no lazy person. He simply makes his choices for his own comfort and supposed better-personhood rather than for animals.
   
   Katz does come to the conclusion that he cannot provide the kind of home needed by his sweet Homer. After agonizing and justifying this decision - a justification not needed, believe me - he places Homer with a family that can give him what he needs. In this Katz has done the right thing. He wears the hair shirt, however, over and over expressing distress that it was his own bad training practices that complicated life for Homer and made it necessary for him to go to another home. Enough already. He protests too much.
   
   I have come to the odd conclusion that perhaps Katz is not the dog person he says he is.
   
   He would say he's not a "Dog Person" too, but his definition of "Dog Person" is not what I mean. He describes his sister and others he has met as dog persons, and what he means is people who actively rescue "unadoptable" dogs, who care for them with every last scrap of their incomes, who let them overrun their lives in every respect, shutting out people - except other "Dog People" who meet the same definition. This type dog person is a small subset of the whole, the dog people I know personally.
   
   Katz is not afraid to reveal what he sees are the problems in his own personality: a lack of patience, a tendency toward anger, especially quick anger. He refers frequently to a childhood of chaos where he learned these ways of keeping other people at bay. He obviously truly wants to find and keep a genuine long-lasting closeness to those who matter to him, and does not want to continue to alienate friends and family with his bursts of anger or silence.
   
   He finds his salvation in the animals. Through them he learns patience especially. Through them he harnesses his will toward the care of others. Through them he finds a connection to his sister that had been lost. Clearly this is the message of the book. Animal people will all tell you that animals change you, make you better than you were. I have no argument with that. What concerned me throughout this book was the total me-ness of it. It was always about Katz and what he wanted and needed from the animals. Even though he went on various trips to find out what the animals needed, the need of the donkey to find her "inner donkeyness", for example, ultimately he did these things because they would make him a better person. There is something backwards about this approach that simply bothered me the whole time I read this book.
   
   At the end of the book Katz is laying in supplies and readying the farm for another winter. We are expected to believe that he has found his place at last. I for one doubt it. It was good enough for one book but the adventure will not be enough for many more.



5. I'm disappointed in this book, after having wanted to read it for a long time. It is the first of the author's books I have read. It's fairly interesting, but not anywhere close to a great book.
   
   I had assumed that this is a book by a shepherd about his sheep and his working border collies. Instead, it's about a man who has animals for a hobby (apparently mostly as research for writing books, actually). He comes across as very narcissistic: leaving his family, expecting working farmers to help him at a moment's notice, working a farm that he doesn't need with dogs that aren't well trained, as a short-term experiment.
   
   His understanding of herding dogs seems slim. Now, I have a collie and not a border collie, but I'm dismayed to see him present herding as bloodlust, as a dog's desire for tasty prey that is kept in check by its owner. Good herding dogs, from everything else I've read and seen, protect the sheep and don't drool over them. Herding dogs really aren't hunting dogs; the instincts are very different.
   
   I can't figure out how this book made it to best-seller lists. There are MANY better dog books out there.

5 comments about Just Gus: A Rescued Dog and the Woman He Loved.

1. This is a beautiful story that can be read in about an hour. It's of hope, kindness and generosity of spirit. The photos are delightful as well.



2. This writing is not particularly deep and was not meant to be, but it will touch you deeply. I loved it! It sits on my coffee table and I have had to wait for guests to finish before we can leave.



3. Just Gus is basically a picture book for adults. A heavy picture book that's short but powerful. You can read it in 15 minutes but it'll stay with you for long after that. It's the story of a rescued stray and the love he brings to a woman in her final days. Read it and pass it on.



4. This was a nice read but was disappointed it was not more story than pictures. Too high a price for no more story.



5. This book, although sad, makes you feel so good. The devoted love an an unwanted dog helps a dying woman to get through her last two years of her battle with cancer. Written well and with photographs.

5 comments about Poodle Clipping and Grooming: The International Reference (Howell Reference Books).

1. This book has been so helpful to me with my new standard poodle puppy, I am grooming him myself and this book covers so much more than grooming.



2. I have owned poodles all my life, but never dared to clip one. I now have two standards and decided it was time. With this book (and a prayer) I have clipped my first standard poodle and she looks terrific! I followed the directions for the specified clip (Miami) and all went very well. It may not be a perfect job, but she looks darned good. I'll do her brother tomorrow!



3. A brilliant book on all you need to know clipping, grooming etc of your poodle. I have saved heaps of money by doing the clipping etc myself. The best book out.



4. I needed a book as I am new to grooming a poodle for show. This book has been great when I need advice from bathing to brushing to products to scissoring and clipping. A must have book for those that want to groom their own poodle. I highly recommend this book.



5. The photos, text & descriptions are detailed. It really got my creative juices flowing. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to groom their poodle either as a pet or for show.

5 comments about Four Paws Five Directions: A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs.

1. If you want to get empowered to understand Traditional Chinese Medicine and help your cat or dog, this book will launch you into orbit with theory, charts, and information you can put to work quickly with acupressure massage, diet and supplements. The diagnosis charts are a great starting point for training yourself to observe your pet's symptoms. The only negative for me is that hypertension and blindness are not in the index.



2. Not necessarily the easiest book to follow for the lay person, but this book contains very comprehensive information on treating your whole dog rather than just a specific symptom.



3. Although I must say that this is a well-written book, and very useful for those people who don't know much about Traditional Chinese Medicine, the author did not seem to have an in-depth knowledge about TCM.
   
   Filled with little mistakes that can mislead a practitioner, I'd recommend picking up a different text to learn from. (For example, the author refers often to "Kidney Blood," which is NOT a term used in Chinese Medicine.)
   
   Fun to read, but too inaccurate for an alternative medical doctor.



4. This is an excellent reference book for both beginners & experts. It is well organized, easy to understand & contains a wealth of information.



5. This book is a constantly used handbook for me. I bought this copy to replace the one that I have given away most recently. It is wonderful to be able to help your pet feel better, in addition to what your vet can do, with relatively inexpensive remedies available at the health food store and with accupressure which also helps you bond with your pet. I was even able to get remarkable results from an inexpensive & common TCM patent remedy for my dog who had great difficulty moving her hindquarters after a life-threatening infection. it worked within hours!

5 comments about The Loved Dog: The Playful, Nonaggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior.

1. Although there was a lot of Hollywood-style name dropping, and a ton of treat-giving, the book was a pleasant read of the author's life story. Most of the dog training info can be found on-line for free, though, so you might want to try that out before buying this book.



2. "The Loved Dog" doesn't teach or instruct the reader on anything more than common sense would dictate in dealing with dogs. Geller uses a much kinder method than other trainers, but the book is lacking in depth and detail. Too much time is spent on her past without really connecting the reader on anything more than a basic level. Once the training starts in the book, the author seems to speed through it without taking enough time to get fully into the hows and whys. More time is spent in commenting on all the famous folks that Geller knows and has worked with in the past. The book is definitely a good start to someone new to dog training, but wouldn't be the only book needed.



3. On page 82 where Geller discusses learning your dog's favorite treats, she mentions that one of her client dog's favorites is chocolate. Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Geller warns against other foods that are toxic to dogs--onions, grapes and raisins--but she makes no such warning about chocolate. This is a pretty serious oversight, especially for new dog owners who may be reading this book because of the Humane Society CEO's good review of it. I might have given this book 3 stars otherwise, but I'm giving it one star just to call attention to this hazard.



4. It was a pleasure finally to find someone with whose gentle, sensible, methods, view point, and philosophy I agree, especially after some rather harsh tactics I have observed by other trainers. You can tell Tamar truly loves her dogs as much as most owners love their dogs. I am glad I happened to become familiar with her book. All dogs deserve to be the loved dog.



5. I enjoyed this book, since I'm at the beginning of learning about dog training, in advance of getting a dog. But dear god, that woman likes to name drop! Did I mention Oprah's dogs? What about Olivia Newton-John? And my favorite, her best friend in the world is married to some moderately successful somebody, and she barely mentions her best friend to describe what her best friend's husband does... and then she gets to their dogs. Yikes.
   
   That being said, she has a nice message, I like the nonviolent approach, and the fact that she does incorporate some pack behaviorism (alpha dog without the alpha roll or forced submission).
   
   Next, I'm reading "The Other End of the Leash", "Culture Clash", and "How Your Dog Thinks" for a little meatier training. Tamar Geller is light and has a nice kind philosophy, and some good ideas about how to handle your dog(s).

5 comments about Dog Grooming For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets)).

1. Well written and informative.Fairly good on the "how to" subject and very good on general dog subjects such as dog health,dog maladies and the basics.



2. The book is good for beginner easy to read and understand,has a little of everything in there.



3. I really liked this book. It was helpful to me in all the areas that I needed a grooming book for. The tool recommendations plus the way the book was written itself I found interesting and helpful in grooming my pets at home.



4. This book does provide a lot of helpful hints and information. It is a good item for dog owners.



5. This was purchased just in time to supplement the adult Ed. Intro to Pet (dog) Grooming classes (10 hours) at the local JVS.
   The class is strictly an INTRO to dog grooming, BUT, was disappointed that instructor/school for our $150 fee did NOT give us an actual book on the subject. We got some printed copies of pages from insructor's book...
   DOG GROOMING for DUMMIES is a GREAT source for home groomer want-to-be's.
   I think it is well written and not at all boring.
   I am glad I got it for I have 2 new pups and two older dogs, and, I I have found out, I can do a LOT more for both me and the dogs' benefit.