5 comments about Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs.

1. This was really an amazing book-- I learned so much about dogs and how much they can help us. Sharon Sakson makes the science understandable, and her ability to get you into the lives of people and their dogs is just amazing. Truly a book I couldn't put down.
   
   Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Fire: A Hawaiian Mystery



2. I bought it as part of my research into Animal Assisted Activities/Therapy and it has been such an inspiration! The author has found so many wonderful true stories about dogs and people who are really making a difference, and she writes about them is such a beautiful way. Dogs do not receive enough credit for all the ways in which they help humans, from detecting cancer and warning their owners of seizures to helping abused children though their ordeals in court and providing comfort to people in institutions. I now talk about this book with everyone I meet!



3. What a wonderful book! The writing is great, and it blends heart tugging stories about the love between owners and their dogs with interesting snippits from scientific studies. There are also entertaining stories about dogs and their connection with people throughout history.
   
   Ever heard of St. Roch? Turns out he is the patron saint of dogs. He was starving to death when a dog began to bring him loaves of bread.
   
   I expect everyone who reads the story of Toaster, the Mexican hairless who learned to warm and comfort a handicapped woman, will fall in love with him.
   
   Really, unless you have a heart made of stone you will love this book.



4. I savored every moment of this book. Sharon Sakson enthusiam for her subject comes trough and makes the pages fly. Parts of it almost read like a triller-- you can't wait to find out what happen next. She combines a ton of fascinating research with wonderful storie of incredible dogs. The book isn't exactly was I expetect-I thought it would be a bunch of stories about therapy dgs. but it is much more than that. It is engagingly written and the information is so interesting that it turns out to ba a book you can't put down.
   She does a great job of making the scientific information interesting and useful. it is all so interesting and some time surprising, that I was never bored, even though I thought I knew plenty on this subject.
   And if you like this book, you should really go back and read her first book, Paws & Reflect: A special Bond Between man and Dog. some of the stories are Hilarious.Ans so well-written



5. I just recently completed this book and was positively amazed at its power. Once I picked it up, I found myself sneaking around so that I would be able to read it uninterrupted. The content blends little known information on dog history and lore with the most awesome stories. I indeed believe that to be able to draw the audience into the words on the page is a gift and Ms. Sakson is certainly gifted. I laughed at some of the stories, smiled and of course, shed a tear at some of the other "tails" that were shared. When I reached the end of the book, I looked for more pages, but there were not any. I am always able to tell the best books whenI am left wanting more and I was looking!

5 comments about Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals.

1. Sheldrake makes scientific inquiry not just adventurous and rigorous, but also playful and friendly. His experiments are designed to involve many people in testing theory after theory to account for animal behavior. How do pets know when the vet is coming? How do animals anticipate earthquakes? How do they know to give up waiting by the door, when their owners change plans and postpone coming home?
   
   Sheldrake's experiments, surveys and documentation always prove entertaining. With Sheldrake, science becomes a community experience, open to all who are curious and willing to put their minds together.



2. In "Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home" Rupert Sheldrake continues his quest for acknowledgement of phenomena neglected, forgotten or brushed aside by modern science. This time he focuses on the unexplained powers of animals.
   Starting with the observations of pets, through behavior of wild animals, to humans, Sheldrake examines the connections and bonds between living creatures, which lead them to feel each other's emotional and physical state.
   
   Probably all pet owners and people fond of animals have observed that some animals demonstrate behaviors that cannot be explained by genes or instinct (or, that would be too much simplified by such explanation). Wondering, how the pets know, when their owners are coming home, when some accident or death occurred, how to find a way home from an unfamiliar place even far away, when the owner intends to give them food or go for a walk, or how to recognize an attack of an illness such as diabetic coma or epileptic seizure, or even the natural disasters, like storm or earthquake, probably happened to all pet owners some time or another - and most of the time these thoughts were probably bagatelized and quickly forgotten in the face of more important everyday events.
   
   The book is very well ordered and organized, very much like a scientific publication. After a short, introductory chapter, summarizing the history of animal domestication, Rupert Sheldrake presents the data gathered during his systematic studies, mostly through surveys in different parts of United States and Europe. The data consists of examples of pets, which exhibited behaviors described above, collected and analyzed in impressive amounts (even with statistics). Not only does he report accounts from the owners of dogs and cats, but also gives examples of horses, rabbits, birds and fish, and negative examples of pet reptiles and insects. He proceeds from these examples to the flocking and migratory behaviors of the wild animals (the linking behavior is the return home) and compares the findings to the human abilities, which, in the contemporary, civilized world, seem ridiculously meager.
   
   The main body of the book consists of these examples and this is its strength (as a scientific argument) and weakness (as a popular book, because the lengthy lists of examples can be boring). The conclusions, however, are not very strong. Sheldrake applies here his famous hypothesis of morphic fields, which, in analogy to magnetic and electrical fields, are created by forces - yet undescribed -which are, in turn, created by social influence between individuals. The existence of morphic fields is an interesting hypothesis, but only a hypothesis. Luckily, Sheldrake admits it himself and does not push his hypothesis as a theory or as a universal truth, like some gurus of fashionable, popular "science" books. I have to give him great credit for being a scientist even though what he does is beyond the scope of contemporary science. The same goes for his explanations of animal behaviors by their ability to precognize certain events or by telepathy. Telepathy, or mind-to-mind-communication, seems especially plausible as an explanation of pets knowing their owners intentions before the owner can communicate them in any other way (body language, any sensory signal). Although telepathy is obviously his favorite explanation of communication between pets and owners, between animals in the group, and, almost lost, between humans, Sheldrake does not give it as the only explanation. He always tries to show other ones and, giving arguments for and against each one (sometimes, admittedly, not very strong) dismisses them or not. His approach reminds me very strongly of the approach of psychologists, which very often are vague as well. That is perhaps why I liked the chapters on the migratory birds most, maybe, because, as a biologist, I see most of the ecological and "harder science" in it?
   
   At the end of the book, the methods for investigation of pet behavior are presented, so that the interested readers can try their own experiments, which are very simple and do not require much skill - only perseverance.
   
   I like Sheldrake for pursuing his goal of presenting to the non-scientific crowd of readers the alternative or once studies, but today neglected, scientific questions, without cheap trick or want for fame. He is doing his job and I admire his work, even though I have my doubts about it. I don't think this book was supposed to convince anybody of anything (as some previous reviews suggest), it rather intends to puzzle and ask questions, making the reader realize they cannot be unequivocally answered with the current state of knowledge. This book is not his best (some are really great), mainly because of endless lists of examples, but it is good and solid.



3. Starts with many natural case histories for psychic pets, then describes his brilliantly simple experiment. I interviewed Dr. Sheldrake on my Skeptiko Podcast. He's extremely well-spoken and likeable.



4. Some dogs seem to know when their owners are coming home. No, not when they are walking up the front steps, but when they are still at the office DECIDING to come home. Some animals know when their owners are in distress or dying, far away. Some animals know when their owners are about to have a seizure, or attempt suicide.
   
   Author Rupert Sheldrake has compiled a database of hundreds of fascinating anecdotal reports, supplemented by simple but clever research studies. He challenges us to consider these unusual but intriguing phenomena, that do not depend on physical distance or any known sensory pathways. He has a healthy respect for scientific method (and uses it when he can) but none at all for scientific dogmatism. To skeptics who discount these remarkable observations as mere "selective recall," he says, do the research and prove it.
   
   This is a fascinating and well-written book. It was hard to put down, and in fact, I may read it again. To be sure, Sheldrake can't explain the phenomena he describes. He invokes the concept of morphic fields but can't really tell us what they are. Further research is needed, and, to his credit, Sheldrake is attempting to recruit people all over the world, to participate in just such research. Why, even you could participate. I recommend this book highly. Run out and buy it today. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.



5. This book was well-written, engaging, and thought provoking. The research was very well done, and I am usually quite skeptical. But this opened up a whole line of thought of how our minds may work, for me. I definately recommend it.

5 comments about Adopting the Racing Greyhound.

1. You need to read this book. It is the most comprehensive book of its kind. You will find all of the information necessary to help you make the right decision. Greys are the greatest breed of dog on the planet!



2. This book is an essential item for any who has or will be adopting a racing greyhound. Practical information presented in a logical, no nonsense way.



3. This book has a lot of important information about caring for your greyhound. I found it to be a great source!



4. I am a first time Greyhound adopter and I'm so glad this is one of the books that was a pre-adoption requirement. I enjoy how Cynthia is so in tune with these wonderful dogs and she gives you the info directly from her heart! They said any book by Cynthia Branigan is worth purchasing, so I'm going to buy her other book on Greyhounds next.



5. This book was such a help as the breed was new to me. I knew nothing about the personality of the breed or what to expect. This book will help any one interested in adopting a Grey through the first months and the life of the pet. The medical information is invaluble as these are things some vets don't know let alone the pet owner. The book not only assists you in knowing the breed before you bring one home, but can greatly assist you in deciding if this is the right pet for you.

No comments about Play With Your Dog (Dogwise Training Manual).

5 comments about The Whelping and Rearing of Puppies: A Complete and Practical Guide.

1. I give this book 5 stars although I have found no book with a much needed "fact chart". I find myself going back through sections over and over again, trying to find out when they hear, etc. I have created my own notes and fact sheet for next time. Having known absolutely nothing, this book is GREAT and I highly recommend it. I always read the negative reviews on books first...I must say I did not find the author remiss with the chapter on sickly puppies. It has to be mentioned and fore armed prepares you. I found myself trusting my instincts and our one little puppy is doing so well at age 2 weeks. With only one in the litter I was a little concerned about delivery of a large puppy and losing our one and only. This book gave a lot of information about the birth and I felt confident in being able to step up and assist our [...] with anything. Turns out I was not needed at all. Reading this book was definitely an asset. Highly recommended!



2. This is a very well planned book. There are numerous examples and references to other breeders and the experiences they have had. This book is a very valuable assett to anyone having puppies or even thinking about it.



3. I thought this book was very helpfull for us, we had our first litter of puppies and reading this book it helped me to see and know what might happen when the puppies come...and the materical I might need for the birthing . Everything went well ..



4. The only thing I can say that this book is missing is the information you may need when you are "tying" your dogs. This is just as important a process to know about as welping. Otherwise this is a great purchase!



5. good, easy to read book for the first timers. Book arrived Saturday morning, puppies arrived Saturday afternoon. I've been around dogs all my life but this is the first litter we have ever assisted in the delivery and the book does a very good job explaining what to do throughout the birth and the different stages of the puppies first 8 weeks. I would definitely recommend this book as did my vet to me.

2 comments about The Well-Adjusted Dog: Dr. Dodman's Seven Steps to Lifelong Health and Happiness for Your BestFriend.

1. With many dog owners having behavior problems with their 4 footed friends, it's no surprise that the shelters end up with too many dogs. And with the economy struggling, shelters even get more abandoned or "give up" dogs.
   
   Dr. Dodman has authored chapters on understanding your dog, what constitutes proper behavior when on a lead, and how to deal with fear-producing situations. There's also a section on medical problems, that may have an adverse effect on the dog's behavior.
   
   The advice in the Dodman book will aid dog owners in training their dogs, ensure that the dog is getting adequate exercise, and is on the right diet-all of which are crucial to making their pet a "well adjusted dog".



2. I found Dr Dodman's book very helpful in my search for a new puppy and the first weeks of training him. I think every new dog owner should read this book!

5 comments about All 87 Breed Dog Grooming for the Beginner.

1. Wonderful book if you're trying your hand at dog grooming. I've saved a lot of money in groomer's charges by learning to upkeep my own pets from this book. Easy to read and understand and is a "keeper" if you want to venture out on your own in dog grooming.



2. Ordered this together with a CD on dog grooming. It arrived in a reasonable amount of time in good condition. It was somewhat helpful, but probably could have done without it. The CD, of course, was better at illustrating grooming technique.



3. I bought this book and All-Breed Dog Grooming book. It is word for word the same book. Buy this book if you like both - it is half the price.
   
   I bought this to learn how to groom by Cavalier King Charles and Shih-Tzu after disasterous experience with so called professional groomers. It provided many good basics but greater detail was expected from a book for beginners



4. A very insightful and informative volume of addressing various breeds' grooming expectations. Covered are the types of tools and even suggestions on chemical hair products that would enhance and attain the styles described.
   
   The illustrations should have been more descriptive, using slides of steps, rather than rudimentary colored images of subjects with arrows showing direction of cut. In many cases, the depictions of certain breeds are not very accurate; some are even clumsily drawn.
   
   Lastly, each breed's coat and classification has a purpose, regardless of the dog being a pet or an active service, hunting, working, herding, pulling, or performing animal; the history of grooming cuts should have been rationalized and justified beyond the standards of the show ring.



5. My order came when I was told it would, and it arrived in great shape. I will order from this company again when I need another book.

5 comments about Everything You Ne to Know About HouseTraining Puppies & Adult Dogs!.

1. My husband and I are "cat people" and never thought of owning a dog until our children wanted one. I realized most of the work with training a puppy was going to be the parents responsibility and I wasn't sure I was ready. I bought this book 6 months before I made my decision. The book is very straight forward and addresses everything you need to know about house training dogs. We brought our puppy home when he was 8 weeks old. I bought everything on the must have lists and followed everything exactly. By 4 months old he was completely house trained. He's now 8 months old and we couldn't ask for a better situation. He even rings a bell by the back door to signal he needs to go out to "potty". I highly recommend this book.



2. This book has been very helpful since we are first time puppy owners. I would suggest that if you are thinking about getting a puppy that you should get this book first, read through it and then get the puppy. We did it the other way around and if you buy the book first it will alleviate a lot of frustration as a puppy owner.
   I would highly recommend this book to anyone considering a puppy.



3. Lora Verni, a certified dog trainer with many years of experience, gives us the advantage of her expertise with this simple, yet highly effective book on house training puppies (and adult dogs who aren't 100% trained).
   
   She guarantees that if you follow her steps, that you will have a house trained dog within one month--I found the book so effective that my dog was trained within 3 weeks!
   
   This book, in simple and easy-to-read chapters, tells you exactly what to do to get your dog to "perform" on command, how to praise him when he's right, and how and when to correct him if he needs it.
   
   In some chapters, she tells the reader that if they've understood the just-presented information, that they need to go back and read it again. She urges the whole family to be in on the house training routine--not just one "in-charge" family member.
   
   She emphasizes crate training and why this is extremely important in training dogs not to "go" anywhere but their appropriate and special "spot".
   
   All in all, if you haven't raised a dog in a while and are feeling the need for some pointers, this book will give you those and then some. In the conversational tone in which it's written, you will feel as if you're being given tips by a friend.
   
   I would recommend it for anyone bringing home a new puppy, or an older dog who is "not sure" about it all.



4. My girlfriend and I have only read the first few chapters and already learned a lot from the book. I believe some of what the author explains is redundant.



5. Material inside is a bit dated, but it has the right idea to get the job done.

5 comments about Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs: Small Doses for Small Animals.

1. For someone who is just learning about homeopathy in general, this book not only gave me a good introductory understanding of homeopathy overall for pets and people, but also gave me some great tips and helpful knowledge that I was able to put to use right away with my sick cat. I was able to find the best way to treat my cat with homeopathy with the help of this book and my vet.



2. I'm not wild about this book. While I'm sure there's some good information in here, I haven't found it yet. What I have found are opinions that I find difficult to swallow.
   
   For example:
   
   Don't vaccinate your pets. Hmm. I understand there might be reasons to stay away from vaccinating pets, as there are for not vaccinating children. However, I also understand that if I want to board my dog, or take him to the local dog park, or take him to the groomer, or have my vet come within ten feet of him, I need some evidence that this dog has, in fact, been vaccinated. I don't see a practical way around this in this book.
   
   He says vaccinations weaken the species by allowing weaker animals to survive. My neutered dogs aren't contributing to the gene pool anyway, so I don't understand this argument.
   
   Then there's the thing about feeding your dog only raw meat, because dogs in the wild don't have someone cooking for them. Okay, fine. Dogs in the wild don't have veterinarians, nor do they sleep on a human's couch. If we're going to take this thought to its logical conclusion, we shouldn't have pets at all. And if we should have pets, why on earth would I want to risk their getting infected with E. coli? Or does this raw meat thing assume that I kill it myself rather than buy it?
   
   He says that a lot of meanness in dogs comes from the rabies vaccine. He cites no studies, offers no data, just says that from what he's seen, this is true. I'm sure I don't see anywhere near as many dogs as the author, but come on, I have yet to see a dog made mean by vaccines. Show me a reproducible study.
   
   There may be some valuable information in this book, but it's colored by these unsupported "facts", so it's hard to tell what's good information and what's not. There are better books on the subject. Buy one of them.



3. It's good for reference. A little difficult to self diagnois your pet and not always easy to find the treatment for a specific problem in the book.



4. AFTER REVIEWING OTHER BOOKS & BUYING ANOTHER BOOK (that was poorly written) I WAS RELIEVED TO READ THIS. HOMEOPATHIC CARE FOR CATS & DOGS GETS RIGHT TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER. INDEX IS GREAT, NICE LISTING OF HOMEOPATHIC SUPPLIERS THERE PHONE, FAX & WEB SITES ( I had wondered where to get supplies but that answered it for me.) YOU ONLY RECEIVE NEEDED INFORMATION. NICE GUIDE FOLLOWS WITH EASY TO FIND REMEDIES. INCLUDES INFO ON HOW TO DECIDE YOUR ANIMAL NEEDS HOMEOPATHY OR IS IT TIME TO SEE THE VETERINARIAN. IT'S NICE TO KNOW YOUR LIMITS. I PROMISE YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK.



5. I purchased this book along with 3 others to educate myself as to various diets and medical care of my pets. I found this one so far to list anything about heartworms in cats. I live in Oklahoma and we have a lot of mosquitoes and have had 2 dogs that contracted heartworm but we've never had a cat contract it and we've had cats live to be 14, 16, and 20 years. I had my suspicions about the necessity of giving heartworm medication to a cat and Dr. Hamilton pretty well answered my questions about it in two sentences on page 332, "This is a serious disease that primarily affects dogs (it is rare in cats, despite claims by the preventive manufacturers)." and, "I do not recommend their use (preventives) in cats, as the incidence does not warrant the drug use in my opinion." Overall, I found it's a very professional yet understandable book for those of us who wish to take care of our beloved pets through more natural means.

5 comments about The Last Will & Testament of a Very Distinguished Dog.

1. My husband found this book and bought it for the time when our beloved dog passes on. A friend's dog passed on a month ago and I gave her our book. We read sections of it when 8 of us gathered to comfort our friend. The words brought tears to our eyes and helped us honor the memory of her small companion. We repurchased the book to help us get through our grief when the time comes. Definitely recommended to anyone with a beloved dog.



2. I, unfortunately, have bought this book about 12 times. I buy this as a gift whenever someone close loses a dog from their family. Anyone who has lost a canine member of the family can use this book, it becomes personal to anyone.



3. i think this is an excelint gift for someone who has lost a loved dog.



4. ...as only a master of literature can do. This is a beautifully told tale, one which I have shared with friends who have lost their best four-legged friends. O'Neill captures the depth of feeling these creatures share with us for too short a time...
   A wonderfully positive, uplifting book for anyone dealing with the loss of a beloved pet.
   A treasure.



5. I have sent this little book to dear friends who have recently suffered the loss of a canine family member. They have told me that this little book has brought them tremendous comfort at a very difficult time.