No comments about From Riches to Bitches: Being a Mirthful Recounting of the Carry-On Kennel Chronicles (And a Cadillac for Your Vet! : Being a Mirthful Recounting of the Carry-on Kennel Chronicles).

5 comments about If Dogs Could Talk: Exploring the Canine Mind.

1. Mostly, "If Dogs Could Talk" is book which explores many aspects of how to approach the complex issues that surround studying what dogs might be thinking and feeling. Csanyi is Hungarian, and one of the world's foremost ethologists studying canine behavior. The book is well-translated, in that it is quite readable, in spite of its many challenges.
   
   By far, the most exciting aspect of the book concerns the examples of his own and other dogs he has known. I found that I learned to think about dogs and their behavior in wholly new ways: what they might be trying to "say" to me through their physical indications -- this was the most valuable aspect of the book for me.
   
   On the flip side, Csanyi is dismissive in his discussion of some of the most famous ethology work done with primates and birds. I suspect that this negativity, though it is not overtly stated, seems to stem from the time that the study of individual animals takes in these cases, and that only many trials with many subjects yields real data. However, he might have explored his bias rather than diminishing the work of others and had a much better outcome.
   
   One of the other Amazon reviewers said that even with its problems, he learned so much more than from reading anything else he had to give this book a high rating, and after all my reservations, I agree with him.



2. I think it has REALLY good facts, but could be better. If you want to learn about canine behavior facts, this is really good for you to read. It has a lot of author opinions and a little crazy ideas. But overall worth your time in reading.



3. I have to say that I enjoyed this book even though it was not an "easy read". The stories of Csanyi's own dogs were amusing - and he pointed out reasonable explanations for their behavior. I agree with some of his theories such as: Dogs were domestically bred to understand and communicate with humans. Makes sense although he does go a bit too far. The experiments were interesting, the study of ethology being what it is. Interesting book but not for the novice.



4. This book is by a top ethologist (one who studies behavior and thought processes, as far as I can gather) and gives insight into the minds of dogs. The author is careful to tell us that the many anecdotes he tells about his own dogs should be interpreted with caution, but that anecdotes can lead to careful scientific experimentation, which can give more substantial information.
   
   The work is largely pretty scholarly and goes into the way other animals, including humans, Alex the parrot and the clever Hans (a counting horse), think and reason. The author makes compelling arguments, using both anecdotes and experiments, for dogs' being able to show empathy, ask questions, respond, and perform several other high-order cognitive functions normally associated with only humans. This makes sense when you realize that among all animals, dogs are the species that has been most influenced by human tinkering. Dogs truly are adapted to living with us and being true companions.
   
   And that was all well and good and very interesting. But sometimes, the author makes some pretty wild stretches in interpreting his dogs' actions, for example, and states his interpretations as unambiguous, when they really didn't seem that way to me. For a scientist, he doesn't always seem all that rigorous when it comes to his own dogs (who, by the way, as he himself admits, are ill-mannered).
   
   Then right at the end he goes off on a wild tangent of how breeders should intentionally breed hybrid dogs from purebred stock (I'm a fan of the mixed breeds, but I've never heard anyone propose such a deliberate program to breed them) and even proposes developing talking dogs. He didn't seem to be kidding!
   
   At the very end, he goes on a rant about using dogs in laboratory experiments. I don't like it much myself, but he makes several misstatements about the practice. Maybe in Hungary laboratories use dogs from shelters or stolen from loving families, but in the developed world, dogs for experimentation are bred for that purpose.
   
   Finally, the translation from the Hungarian was often a bit stilted and odd. Still, there was a lot of interesting information among the flakiness.



5. Learned a great deal about the mental abilities of dogs. The book gets into great detail with experiments that are not easy to follow for the non-science reader. I gave it 5 stars because I learned so much more from this book than anywhere else.

5 comments about Smarter Than You Think: A Revolutionary Approach to Teaching and Understanding Your Dog in Just a Few Hours.

1. Before I picked up my new puppy, I scanned 10 different books at the public library. This one piqued my interest, so I read it cover to cover in a day or so. I wondered if I could handle the diet part, with a large family, so I considered it and found I should be very mindful of diet but not necessarily THIS mindful. The info on the anti-crate and bonding ritual, and the housebreaking part were SO true and helpful. The reason I am leaving this review is I wanted a link to share this book with my friend, because everyone asks me how my dog was so well trained. This is it. My dogs don't need leashes. My sheltie was trained within the week and she was already 4 months old and in a puppy store when I saved her. It was amazing. She is now 6 and I have a Cairn Terrier that is 4 and this method is GREAT. Bond the dog to you and not the crate!



2. Paul Loeb and Suzanne Hlavacek have written a book that should be read by anyone who owns a dog or is thinking about owning a dog. Their common sense approach to interacting with your dog will make you say, "Now, why didn't I think of that?" The idea of making your dog a real member of the family, instead of a family posession will appeal to any dog lover. The techniques described in this book are easy to follow and will lead to a wonderful friendship between you and your dog. If you truly believe that dogs are "a man's best friend" then this book will teach you how to make the most of that wonderful friendship. This book is well written, in layman's terms for all to enjoy. The stories and observations that Mr. Loeb and Ms. Hlavacek share with the reader will make you laugh out loud. I truly enjoyed this book and I know that my dog will enjoy it as well!!



3. The reviewers that have failed with the magic touch method of recall must not have been doing it correctly. We used it with our ten week old Jack Russell and she picked it up after two tries. It worked so well with her, we tried it on our older male, who rarely came back when called when he was on a mission. It worked immediatly. It never failed us in parks or anywhere there was distractions. After a few weeks, we didn't even have to throw anything, our dogs knew what we wanted. My mother-in-law owns a doberman, and one day while she was working in the front yard a man jogged by and the doberman started to chase him. She called to her to come back, with no luck. On instinct, she threw her garden gloves at the dog, who stopped, sniffed the gloves and trotted happily back. My mother-in-law had not read this book at that time. The people who have no luck with this unique method are doing something wrong.
   I also agree with a lot of the recommended ways to get through to you dog. A mother dog does not continually tell her puppies "No". She bites them. A slap on the rump is not cruel. It is no different from how a mother dog gains respect from her puppies. Over all, this book is full of good, sound advice that makes the reader think of their dogs as family members.



4. We got Leo as a rescue boxer. He was appx 2 years old. My dad gave me this book, and it has worked wonderfully. Took Leo less than a day to understand the concept of my throwing something (my keys) at him. I dont have to throw anything anymore. I walk Leo about 3 miles a day without a leash. He stays right beside of me and when I say "wait", he stops at the curb and waits for me to tell him it's ok to go across the street. You do have to remember what the book says.. to give them a few seconds to decide what they are going to do. Leo loves to chase squirrels, but that's a no-no when we go for our walk. If he starts to tear off after a squirrel, I say "Leo" and he stops abruptly, hesitates about 3 seconds, then comes right back to me. No yelling, no discipline at all. This book works on PRAISE, not punishment, and it works great! I cant say enough good things about it.



5. We met Loeb in New York City (he happens to live one block from us) and are fortunate enough to have retained him to train our dog, Louie. Previous to his training, Louie would bark and cry so loud in the morning that we received multiple complaints from our building only after owning him a few days (if you live in NYC, you'll know that angering the co-op board is not something you want to do). Louie would bite at our rugs, ruined our bedroom door and would pull us when we walked him to the point that owning a dog was simply not enjoyable.
   
   We read Paul's book for tips on raising and training a dog. His methods may seem harsh to those who have not read his book, however those who have read and truly understand what Loeb is saying will see immediate results in the behavior of their dog. Loeb is more than an animal trainer, he is an animal behaviorist and scientist- he truly understands the psychology behind owning and training a dog.
   
   After only ONE lesson from Paul, Louie stopped barking when we left the house, ceased chewing on our rugs and our door and stays next to us when we walk down the street at night. This is phenomenal progress, as the distractions and hustle of NYC can be quite overbearing for a puppy. Paul has made it enjoyable to own a dog!
   
   Do not doubt Loeb's methods. You must gain a rapport with your dog and make him realize that you are his family and provider before you can allow him to run freely with other dogs. If you follow his techniques, your dog's allegiance will be to you; he will love you and be your buddy more-so than he would if you did not follow these techniques. Paul Loeb has saved our lives, our furniture, our apartment and our puppy. We could not be happier.

5 comments about The Natural Remedy Book for Dogs & Cats.

1. As Diane Stein explains, animals are our link to mother earth. Their companionship, their love and noncommital trust is what keeps us healthier and happier. In this book, Ms. Stein explores all avenues of pet care from their psychic wellbeing to the foods they need to survive. Anecdotes of her pets and the animals she has healed give lively evidence and support for her methods of animal care. A must for those of us who love our pets and want them to have the best life possible.



2. I read in this book thay beef is bad to feed your pet,however; when i read deeper the book states that one should feed the pet a beef knuckle as a means of nutrition. BUYER BEWARE!



3. I purchased this book thinking that it would give me simple at home remedies (like cooking white rice and chicken for digestive ailments)...Um, not quite.
   It is definitely "holistic", meaning most, if not all, the remedies call for ingredients not found in the typical (even holistic) household. Fresh/ Raw Bayberry, Bach flowers, Red Clover, Calendula, Devil's Claw, Goldenseal etc - not the liquids or pills, but the fresh herbs. Sorry, but I don't have fresh herbs just laying around the house and you can't find them at your local health food store either.
   Needless, to say I haven't tried any of the remedies, but I have found it useful for info purposes. For instance, the book recc putting boiled Calendula on wounds. Instead I bought a Calendula salve/ointmet and use it for minor cuts for my pet and I. The chapter on dog food/diet is very imformative, and my pet is living proof of what a good dog food can do for your pet.
   I think this book would be a good resource for a family that has tried "conventional vet" medicine with no relief, and is looking for an alternative form of disease treatment.
   PS- If this review helped you please vote for it...



4. I ran across this book when my elderly dog was diagnosed with a heart murmur and heart disease. When conventional medicine couldn't help I decided to give natural medicine a try. I used some of the remedies suggested for heart disease and was frankly astounded at his improvement. We were very happy to have him with us for 5 more years than I expected. The book is easy to understand and ailments and their remedies are listed in alphabetical order in the back of the book. This is really a must have for every dog and cat owner that wants to find out how they can improve the health of their pet naturally.



5. This book is very well organized and extremely easy to understand for the layman. Using the techniques suggested in the book I was able to cure my 12 year old cat from a 2 year bout with diabetes. The book descibes a variety of natural healing techniques that can be employed to deal with a wide range of ailments that pets often contract. There's no hocus pocus about this book, it's strictly a how to do it manual. I heartily recommend this book to anyone with an open mind to the power of herbs, acupuncture, massage and good nutrition.

1 comments about Dog Psychology; The Basis of Dog Training,.

1. I like the approach to this book. The author breaks everything down in "laymen" terms and gives you examples with his own experience as well. He also gives you tips on training (ie. conditioning for upland bird hunting, field trials,guarding) and to let the dog do their natural thing and how to enforce this as positive behavior. My pyrenees is pretty stubborn and after reading other books on "positive reinformcement only" i.e. treats I was starting to get discouraged.It was not doing the trick. but this book states that you need to find the "drive" behind the dog in order for positive reinforcement to work. If you feed them before training, obviously getting a treat won't work because there "drive" food, has already been met.
   
   I was also surprised that many dog owners make the mistake of calling "come" to there dog when he runs away and won't listen to you.(Myself included). This is the wrong thing to do because your conditioning the dog to "run away" by associating the word "come" to it. How to solve this problem... You will have to read the book..

5 comments about Genetics: An Introduction for Dog Breeders.

1. relly nice book ,well written .Lots of informations
   It is a must for a breeder in order to do a good job!!!



2. Dog breeding is an art as well as a science, and this book gives a pretty good explanation as to why this is the case. It gives a thorough overview of what we know of canine genetics, discussing physical traits, genetic conditions, etc, and what we consider our best guesses are for the inheritance patterns of various alleles.
   
   But unless your breed of choice happens to be Weimeraners, you won't find many specifics in this book. If the breed you're interested in has fairly typical canine genes, you'll find more here than if your breed is more obscure. Moreover, the book necessarily goes into Genetics fairly deeply; I've a degree in Biology and I have more genetics background than the average joe, and *I* found the book a little overwhelming. I think it would be heavy reading for most people, especially if they do not have some basic idea of how the mechanics of Genetics work.
   
   It's a good reference, but nothing I'm just dying to read. I got much more out of certain breed-specific books.



3. This book should be required reading for anyone serious about breeding quality dogs. Easy to read with lots of valuable information, but detailed enough for the experienced breeder.



4. I know the very subject matter of this book is difficult and involved, but unless you are at least slightly well versed in the subject or have a steel trap of a mind and remember everything you ever read, this will be very frustrating!
   
   I was constantly re-reading to try to make sense of it all and trying to memorize the terms & their meanings. Even when I was successful, it was a short-lived accomplishment because the next paragraph introduced something else just as complicated or more often worse.
   
   It isn't a total loss, though. There is some interesting dog/wolf history... even the history of science & genetics was interesting.
   
   I don't think the average dog breeder looking for an introduction to genectics would find this an easy read or get a lot out of this book unless you use it more as a study mannual & had some to help guide you through it.
   
   This one is on my shelf to be re-read at a later date.
   
   I hope you have a better time of it than I did!!!



5. Every single dedicated breeder should have the knowledge found in this book.
   In addition to important information on genetics, it has very interesting information on the evolution of dogs and a great chapter on behavior which even goes into detail on the stages of development in puppies and effects of environment on behavior.
   There is excellent information about hereditary problems, genetic disorders, and even mate selection. There is a list at the back of every breed with their hereditary disorders listed and mode of inheritance when known, which should be especially helpful for breeders. There is also breed-specific information on coat colors and alleles- which, by the way, used to look like an exotic foreign language to me and now makes sense!
   
   I had a very simple understanding of Mendelian genetics before I read this (from reading "The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog by Anne Seranne- another great book.) This book made my understanding complete.
   
   Before I read this book I thought that genetics were going to be difficult and boring to learn, but the author does a great job of keeping the subject interesting. The preface mentions that the author had her breeder friend, who was confused and intimidated by genetics, read the manuscript and point out areas that were especially confusing to a beginner or areas that needed clarification, etc. Maybe this is one of the reasons why this book is so effective.
   
   A great, absolute must-have book that I highly recommend!

5 comments about Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs.

1. Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs is a great premise for a book, and if you are both new to either gardening or dog ownership, it would be a good read. The writer presents the information in a logical order and there are plenty of lists. But ultimately it reads like little more than an organized collection of common sense notes.
   
   There are a few aha moments in this easy read but for the experienced gardener or dog owner, those golden tidbits are few and far between. I'm glad I picked up this book, but it did not bowl me over with its imagery, imagination, or concepts.
   
   It is an easy read, the graphics and photos are limited in quantity and quality, but overall it lacks the substance I was hoping for. The writer live in the North West and the content dedicates much of is perspective to this climate zone and type of landscape.
   
   ~m



2. Makes me want to write a book on this topic myself.
   
   There are few "tips" in this book, so if you're looking for them here, don't bother. It's mostly stuff like "want a patio? Dogs like patios, here's a general idea of how to build one." Pretty stale.
   
   The photos and landscaping ideas are also too geographically specific -- they'll only work in places that get a lot of rainfall or moisture. I live in the desert and so found most of that part pretty useless.
   
   There's better information online if you simply Google "pet friendly landscaping."



3. Okay. Not as much information specific to creating a nice doggy retreat. Lots of general garden information though.



4. Book had some good ideas. However, if your yard is already established the ideas they came up with wouldn't work (at least in our yard). If you are putting a yard in, then you might consider some of their ideas. What I found most helpful was the plant section as to what plants are harmful to your pets.Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs



5. Cheryl S. Smith's Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs is one of the few discussions of garden design which incorporates a pet's needs and habits. Gardeners and pet owners alike will relish the approach, which tells how to blend traditional garden tasks and designs with a dog's needs. From plants which work well with dogs to creative use of directed digging and growing fruits and veggies for the family pet as well as the family, Dog Friendly Gardens/Garden Friendly Dogs is packed with ideas.

2 comments about Just Siberian Huskies 2009 Calendar (Just).

1. I don't mean to pick a fight with the previous reviewer but the gorgeous dog on the cover is indeed a Sibe. The ears of a Malamute aren't as close to the top of the head, they're more to the side. Also, this dog appears to have the smaller, tapered muzzle of a Sibe. But the real give away is the blue eyes. Malamute eyes are brown.



2. I might be more inclined to buy this product IF they actually featured a Siberian Husky on the cover--they have used a Malamute, NOT a Siberian Husky. Although they are both Northern Breeds and similar in looks, they are two totally different breeds. The ear size and placement are different; the snout size is different, as is the overall size of the dogs (Huskies max out at 65lbs, Malamutes at over 100lbs!). If you look at the other calendars featuring Huskies, you will probably be able to see the difference.

5 comments about Animal Friends, Tail Wagging And Throat Purring Stories of Shelter And Rescue Pets.

1. Being able to share Mama D's story was one of the truly memorable times in my life; knowing that her story is just one of millions makes my heart break. Everyone who read my copy of this book has loved the animals, cried over their circumstances, & rejoiced at most of the outcomes. In an age of all the cruelty in the world, it does my heart good knowing this kind of book can touch so many. Christina, thank you again for your belief in Mama D's story & it's ability to touch your readers.
   
   Susy Hiller



2. I haven't read all of this book, but rather the stories that interested me. Several brought tears, usually happy, to the eyes. There is a wide variation of the expertise of the writers, but it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the read, and shows you don't have to be a professional writer to write a good story. I would recommend this book to those that have an interest in saving unwanted and abused animals, and perhaps encourage more people to seek out adopting these "loosers". Most make our lives much fuller. Heart warming, feel good stories.



3. This book was wonderful!! It made you laugh and cry, which is the scale I judge books on. The stories were written in different styles, making it so personal. And it makes you want to head down to the nearest animal shelter to see how you can help. Congratulations to the author. I wait for her next compilation.



4. I became aware of this book through the local Pittsburgh Shelter I volunteer for - Animal Friends. The only no-kill shelter in the city of Pittsburgh. It has many heart warming stories and I've sat reading many with tears in my eyes. It not only tells tails of pets from Animal friends, but other rescue groups as well. A must for any animal lover out there.



5. This book is the best I've read about rescued pets. Too many people look at rescue and shelter pets as second best. Nothing could be further from the truth. This book shows pets who have changed lives. Whether they come to us at a time we need a best friend or we rescue them when all of their chances are gone. Animals make lives better every day! Thanks to Chris for telling their stories!

5 comments about A New Owner's Guide to Great Danes (New Owner's Guide To...).

1. My wife wants Great Danes and this book was a great place to get insight,and if she could handle these big, but gentle dogs. The book even as small as it is has every aspect of the Danes good and bad. Instead of one my wife now wants three! That's how informative this book is.



2. Jill Swedlow has written an excellent and informative book for the first-time Great Dane owner. Not only does it explain in great detail the responsiblities of the owner, but also tries to discourage those who may not be prepared for the demands of this "Gentle Giant." If you are purchasing a Great Dane for the first time, or just need a "refresher" on the care of your "best friend," this is the book for you. I always have my copy handy. I truly enjoyed it.



3. I am a wannabe Dane owner and have just been researching before I purchase - this book has a lot of good information for individuals in my position.



4. Very well written book, easy to understand and you could tell written by someone with years of experience with this breed of dog. Examples of behavior set forth in this book I could easily see in my dogs. Great Help from Great Book.



5. I have been considering a Great Dane for a while now and want to read up before making that huge leap. Jill Swedlow's name was on 3 out of the 5 Great Dane books I found.

   The part written by her about the breed is wonderful. It is clear she loves the breed but also points out why Danes are not the breed for everyone. She knows her stuff and conveys it in a manner that is friendly and compelling.

   The main problem was that almost half the book is a generic dog guide. It relates to training and other issues, but it does *not* specifically address the problems with a dog that is as big as you are.

   I hope Swedlow writes a comprehensive Dane book. I would buy it in a second.