5 comments about Knitting With Dog Hair: Better A Sweater From A Dog You Know and Love Than From A Sheep You'll Never Meet.

1. I felt bad at first shaving my dog completely bald, but after I got the sweater made using this book, he now looks stylish in his own fur!



2. The book is as new as advertised! Full of great info. just what I was looking for. I have already started collecting my dog wool, can't wait to get using it!
   Thanks for a wonderful book and service, great way to recycle!



3. As fun and quirky as this is, perhaps a dog hair sweater isn't that great an idea. Imagine what you'll smell like if you get caught in the rain. You're lible to be tossed off public transportation because of the smell of wet dog.
   
   Maybe you could just knit a dog bed or a dog sweater instead? Seems like a more logical use of the hair.



4. In these times of impending environmental catastrophe, it behoves all of us to recycle to reduce our carbon footprint. Happily, this onerous task has just been made easier by this publication.
   
   With Kendall Crolius as my guide, I was able to produce a handsome pair of lederhosen and a saucy g-string from the excess hair produced by my pooch. I now intend to press on to the advanced section where there are designs for a fireman's uniform and a peek-a-boo bra.
   
   My friend, Phil, has always been ahead of the recycling game - his ABBA tank-top made from the scummy bits in the shower plughole is legendary - but now he faces some real competition.



5. Okay, the next time you see some poor schmuck sitting on a curb looking into his lap and doing nothing...and you find yourself tempted to think, "that poor guy really needs to get a life,"...I want you to remember some of the books you've been reading and what you're considering a valid hobby.
   
   Knitting with dog hair?
   
   What's next? Cooking with dust bunnies?
   
   There are a thousand (more like a million) sane and self-esteem building hobbies in the world.
   
   Knitting with dog hair is not one of them.

5 comments about Everything Pug Book: A Complete Guide To Raising, Training, And Caring For Your Pug (Everything: Pets).

1. I bought this book because I will be bringing home a pug puppy soon. While I am two weeks from picking up my beloved pug, I have found this book to be a great book, so far. I'm almost finished reading it. I'm reading it cover to cover and have already found out that I want to go back through and take notes on a few things to help with training. It lists all sorts of health information on pugs, the basic commands for training, bathing/grooming, a section for 'senior pugs' and I dont even know what else! There's so much information in this book! I almost bought multiple pug books at the same time to read and now, i'm glad i didn't. There's no need for them. This one book pretty much covers a lot of the questions i've had so far.
   
   As someone above mentioned, it does go in depth a little more with the training aspect to train your dog to get off something by saying "off" following with "good off" - or, to only say "no!" when it's something that you dont want them to try again - as opposed to saying no when the pug gets a training command wrong. This stuff makes perfect sense to use clear words and praise so they're not confused, it's just stuff that i probably wouldn't have thought about myself. Not only these few things, but there are more like them in the book. It's just a great general book to have for a pug owner (or soon-to-be owners, like me!)



2. I've read just about everything written about pugs and this is one of the better books. The tips are helpful and if you aren't aware of it, pugs have many health issues. The result of years of breeding makes for some common ailments. A good choice for pug lovers.



3. Wonderful book replete with information about pug care, i.e. grooming, cleaning their facial folds and finger curling their doubly curled tails when they are still puppies.
   
   You also get to read about training and breeding your pug and overall good dog care specific to this breed. You learn what words and short commands tend to work best for pugs and you and your pug can share in the rewards - limitless pug cuddles. You even get some humorous "pug tales" as well. What is not to love about a pug? Pugs are so lovable!



4. Great book! Very practical information about what pugs need as far as bathing, skin fold wiping (beware of swamp face), and other general pug hygiene. Very practical training tips, such as belly rubbing to assure your pug that you are dominant (as well as providing a delightful belly rub) and choosing useful words for training, such as "off" instead of "no jumping," so that that your pug can be praised with the same word, for example, "Good Off," which then serves as a built-in reward (and doesn't exhaust the word "No"). Interesting and funny information on pug personalities. What's not to love about a pug?



5. We thought that this book was great. It has really helped us since we became new pug owners. It explained about health concerns and potty training, to what kind of toys pugs like the best. I would highly reccommend this book to anyone thinking about getting a pug!

5 comments about The Ultimate Dog Lover: The Best Experts' Advice for a Happy, Healthy Dog with Stories and Photos of Incredible Canines (Ultimate Series).

1. Hey - I wrote a story included in this book - it really is awesome (the book... and my story)- I actually teared up a couple of times while reading it (the book, not my story) - even bought a few copies for friends, which looking at the sales ranking here, prolly accounted for a doubling of sales. Woohoo!
   
   P.S. something tells me Pamela won't be gettin' a holiday card from Gina.
   
   Rock On,
   
   [...]



2. You can feel confident your dollars are well spent when you buy a book that Gina has her name listed as one of the authors.
   
   Gina Spadafori amuses and informs us about the pet world--she has many of her own such as parrot, cats, dogs, chickens.
   
   If you want to be educated about dogs--this is the book to buy!



3. Gina Spadafori is an imbecile. I can't imagine how she is making money writing books about animals, let alone animal welfare...?
   I'm surprised she doesn't promote the NRA and hunting!
   Her personal views are hidden well in marketing.



4. Dr. Marty Becker knows the bond between animal and human better than anyone! He knows what the mere touch of human hand to animal can do for the health and stress levels of both. And now he and his co-writers have extended this phenomenon to the written word. I finally started this book to get away from a miserable stress filled morning, and in no time at all I could actually feel the blood pressure go down, the heart rate recede. I gathered up the book, a bottle of water, and my favorite canine and slipped quietly away from my study leaving my cell phone purposely on the kitchen counter so when Kathleen tried to find me she'd hear it ring and know I wasn't wearing it. I dropped into the hammock hidden behind the tack room and had the best time I've had in months. This is one exceptional book. If you really want to feel good, at any time or any place, just open it to any page and start reading. Or do like I did. Soak up about half of it in one sitting. I highly recommend The Ultimate Dog Lover.



5. I'm not normally a fan of books of tips and short stories. You'd think they'd work well for someone with my short attention span, but usually I flip through and put the book away forever.
   
   That didn't happen with "The Ultimate Dog Lover," because this book has heart. Tons of it. While it's full of good advice, the single word that describes it is, as other reviews here have demonstrated, "heartwarming." Which means it will make you happy (even if it also makes you cry).
   
   Yes, as others have said, this is a great gift book. But it's one you might want to give yourself, too.

5 comments about The Koehler Method of Guard Dog Training; An Effective & Authoritative Guide for Selecting, Training & Maintaining Dogs in Home Protection, Plant Security, Police, & Military Work.

1. Mr. Koehler cut his teeth training dogs during WWII. The dogs were needed by the troops immediately. His methods, fit the task before him. His techniques are second to none. Read the ENTIRE book and then back off a few notches to suit you. If you desire a dog that will defend you until the end, get the book.



2. I brought this book originally back in 1980 and used it as a standard training text (with some slight alterations) to train several man stoppers. After loosing the original copy I recently purchased it again from Amazon (great resource for books not readily available here in Aus). Mr. Koehler presents a book that is excellent for any time, nothing is new about its acceptance and its criticisms, it was misrepresented when it was first published and is still so today. His writing style is light and humorous getting you to look at the light side of the craft of dog handling but he never toys with the serious nature of preparing the working dog for duty. Koehler is master at making humans feel completely stupid for expecting Rover (the dog) to understand that their pointless vain prattling heel, heel, heel and coaxing when they don't speaks the dogs language.
   
   This is book that as more to do with training people than dogs and Mr. Koehler's fervent and rigorous style destroys any notion in the handlers mind that the dog is somehow human and can simply be reasoned with to conform. If you are intending to train dogs for living and need a good and lasting result in efficient time this book is an excellent to get you started and keep you on the track in spite of the myriad of "new" opinions. Mr. Koehler assumes that a department or service will have developed their own training system and protocols but he gives sound and logical argument for why his method is well worth considering as a standard of practice.
   
   Using series of concentric areas created with long and short leads combined with juicy distractions inducing Rover go his own way Mr. Koehler teaches you to begin to limit the dog's world making yourself the center of Rover's attention. Having Rover's attention you can begin to teach Rover some useful and new "tricks". This book is for any person who wants to cut through the bull and the pandering feminine pulse of modern "marketeers". The obedience section is for anyone who is serious and the manwork section is for those who need it on a daily basis to turn out serviceable and saleable dogs
   
   When the book was first published it was definitely one for its time and filled a huge gap in the field of it intended audiences and despite all of the critics and fans, both then and now, it has stood the test of time.
   
   Mr. Koehler is precise and straight to the point and if your are the type whose ego is easily offend you will not like this book as Mr. Koehler delights in making the handler feel more foolish and more in need of training than the dog. As with the training of most animals from horses to dogs Mr. Koehler teaches the fundamentals of gaining control by producing attentive dog without a pocket of rewards.
   
   If the book has a down side and it is two fold firstly, the obedience section should have been at the beginning or part one instead of part two this is a blaring inconsistency given the nature and approach of Mr. Koehler. However understanding the times and the need for such a book it is easy to see why it was marketed as it was. Secondly the style of writing binds much of the technical information with Mr. Koehler's sense of humor and keen sense of wit as he curbs the innate instinct in handlers to humanize their dog. This book is note a step one do this and step two do this style of book like training you have to work at it to get the good out of it. You will read it several times if you want the good oil.
   
   The book is good read and you will no doubt get a laugh from this work as well as serious info as Mr. Koehler's portrays the antics of Rover and his handler competing for pole position. If you like to be wooed and made a fuss over then Koehler is not for you, if you want "nitty gritty" no bull approach without reference to popular illusions then buy it's before its banned.
   
   It is also very obvious that many of the critics of this book were not around when there was a lot less available to trainers. There was a much smaller market to drive publication and only the best for its time made it to publication due to high expense of publishing,this by default, gives this work a unique place in the history and development of dog handling. This book will make a welcome addition to your collection and like so many whom have owned it you will refer to it often.



3. I have had Koehler's guard dog training book for about 5 years and have used the obedience section to train 3 of my own personal dogs. I am not a dog trainer but I understand the importance Koehler puts into his training in obedience. There is NOTHING worse than an ill behaved dog... especially since I am a fan of the GSD!!! Koehler is strange and perhaps a bit too strict in some of his training but when push comes to shove... his training works!!! The only book I've read that is equilivent or better is "Dog training for law enforcement" by R.S. Eden!!!! As a police officer I plan to use Koehler's book to further train my personal dog for home protection.



4. This was the book that I used to train my own dogs successfully and to start my own small dog training business decades ago when the book was first published. I reordered this book because my original copy was tattered shreds from repeated use and continual reference. These methods are well explained and effective. That being said, given modern animal behavior and psychology, some say these methods of training are dated and unnecessary.



5. Lots of people who call themselves dog trainers still suffer from the same fatal belief that dogs are like humans and therefore the training techniques used must be deployed as if training humans. I have trained thousands of dogs over the past 26 years most of them after so called dog trainers have stuffed it up. I can say with all honesty that if the dogs that I had to re-train had been brought up in their rightful place 'beneath the pecking order of their owner with discipline and then love', most would never need some of the more dramatic techniques Koehler mentions in the book. Dogs cannot be reasoned with like humans, let's face it, some humans can't be reasoned with either but reasoning is not a capability of canines, they do not possess reasoning skills, ask a scientist.
   Koehler's methods support the proactive position that prevention is better than a cure. His tough tactics are left only for the hard cases and only then for those worth keeping. If Koehler had his way, they would never get this way in the first place. If every person who called themselves a dog trainer could understand the dogs' psychology like Koehler, the world would be a better place for dogs.
   Don't discount Koehler's book, old as it is, it is still the final word for training dogs. It has never failed me or my customers or the dogs I have had to retrain. The method has been responsible for saving the life of at least 27 dogs that would have otherwise been put down by the local council.

5 comments about A New Owner's Guide to Beagles.

1. Great little book for a first time beagle owner. It is very easy to read and has some cute beagle pictures.



2. A wonderful book for people new to the Beagle breed. As a beagle owner, I found this book a must have and I give it a four paws up! ~Timothy Glass, author of the Sleepytown Beagle book series for children



3. I love beagles and this is a terrific book. Beagles are my favorite dogs. They are the reason I'm involved in the animal rights movement. Beagles are a special dog, and David and Hazel know what they're talking about. God bless them both.



4. This book is an excellent manual of beagle care from breeding to health care to show preparation. The photographs are superb and the authors have really done their homework in presenting the information. The book is written in a plain, clear style that will not only sustain the readers' interest, but will also help keep readers informed about the care and temperament of this wonderful breed.

   As the owner of a beagle, I am so glad this book exists. For people who are "prospective beagle owners," I would highly suggest that they do get a beagle and see what wonderful companions and loving pets beagles really are.




5. This is a great book for anyone who has a new beagle or who is thinking about getting a beagle. Everything you need or want to know is right here. I definitely reccommend it.

5 comments about Teamwork II: A Dog Training Manual for People with Disabilities.

1. I liked this book in that it tells steps to train your own service dog. step to do things like find objects, etc. however I thought it could have been edited a bit better. as in step one step two and leave out all the personal stories of the disabilities the owners had. all in all it was a helpful book



2. The crowning achievement of this book is its portrayals of actual people and dogs learning to be a team. It also provides alternatives for dogs that need a different approach to learning a task. In addition, it may seem a simple thing, but the spiral binding allows the book to lay flat and be easy to read. The stories and photographs are truly inspiring.



3. Fantastic book for those who want to train their own service dog. I trained two catahoula leopard dogs as service dogs with help from this book. As anyone who knows catahoulas will agree, they are rather hardheaded. With the excellent advice from this book, I was able to educate two young dogs into being reliable workers, one of whom saved my life twice. This edition goes into common service dog tasks and beyond basic obedience. If you don't have an assistance dog training facility or a trainer with experience in these areas, teaching your dog these tasks can be quite challenging to figure out. Teamwork doesn't make it easy, but it sure does make it easier.
   --Kym Nippes
   [...]



4. This book was basic but helpful. There are things in this book that my dog will learn to help assist my mom.



5. Teamwork II was easy to read. It presents options for each command, allowing anyone to train their own service dog.

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

1. This book is a concise little reference book and a quick read. It's not very detailed but for that I'd recommend "Your Border Collie's Life" by Kim Dearth. What I like about this book are the nice quality pictures of Border Collies and the easy-to-find topics.



2. Like many breeds, the Border Collie deserves understanding by potential and current owners. I don't feel however this book was intended to do that. A basic dog care book would suffice for most of it and in spending too much time on this, diminishes the challenge and understanding this breed demands of its owners.
   
   The contention of the author that the Border Collie is relatively a new breed is, in my mind patently dishonest. Border Collie records are well documented and go back well over a hundred years, but for the AKC, that decided to recognize the breed recently, it is "recent" and, I presume that is the authors perspective in writing this.
   
   On this point, it should also be noted by the author (but is not) that registered AKC Border Collies were created based on "looks like" and not on herding or intelligence or even the historical records for the breed.
   
   Today, there are two registries that exist competing with each other. Those that are recognized to be Border Collie workding dogs and those that are recognized by the AKC.



3. This is a very interesting book with a lot of specific information about Border Collies. I have found it to be very helpful, and refer to it on a daily basis regarding the many questions I, as new owner of a BC, encounter when dealing with my young BC. These are very complex dogs, not to be taken on casually, and this book acknowledges their potential difficulties, but also their extreme intelligence and need to work.



4. This book is clearly written by a border collie lover. The photographs are good and have cute captions, there are a number of drawings of the dogs, and the issues of living with a border collie are straight-forward and informative. I loved this book. I keep returning to some of the pictures I enjoyed most.



5. Excellent book which taught me all I needed to know about my new Border Collie. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Cesar's Way Journal: A Resource and Record Book for Dog Owners.

1. This nifty little journal is perfect for you and your dog! You don't have to be an experienced dog owner to take advantage of this journal (though experienced dog owners, fanciers, and enthusiasts will appreciate Millan's tips); the journal is tailored to all skill levels and even contains folder pockets for holding your dog's medical records--very handy!
   
   I've been around dogs my whole life, and recently got MY very own dogs (as in, while the whole family loves them, they are mine to care for, pay for, etc.). I found this journal incredibly useful on a number of levels--for those calm moments when you're trying to figure out what a certain behavior means, for those middle-of-the-night moments when the dog is sick and you can't remember the vet's number and then you remember you wrote it down in the journal, and perhaps most importantly--this journal has given me a foolproof way to store all the medical records and vet bills accrued by my dogs over the past year.
   
   I totally recommend this journal--and Cesar's Way!



2. I was hoping for a little more information than I found in this book, but it is a very unique and nice quality book/journal.



3. this was bought as a birthday present for my mam and she absolutely loves it as it incorporates sections of both of his boks along with giving you space to write in how the training is going and any important information like vaccination due dates operation dates all the things you would need to keep regarding your dog and their health, it is a really pretty little journal inside and out.



4. It is 99.9% you and only 1% the dog and Cesar once again describes it all in this book. He is one of the first who proved to dog owners AND even to trainers that you CAN get results using your knowledge, technique, proper body language, attitude, and have the right goal and expectations from your dog and from yourself.
   
   Unlike clicker training or PetSmart training where you give your dog treats just for being alive and call it training, I have been compared to Cesar a lot. This is because I always tell my clients you want to rely on your Love, Leadership, Praise and Technique and NOT Hotdogs, Ham, Sausage and Dried Liver. Kevin "The Dog Prodigy" Salem.



5. When explaining the difference between Cesar's first two books I frequently use the following analogy:
   * 'Cesar's Way' by Cesar Millan is like when one learns how to drive a car (dog/human interactions), to successfully apply useful solutions for problem dog behaviors.
   
   * 'Be the Pack Leader' explains how the car (dog/human relationship)works, is applied to the understanding of WHY being a Pack Leader works (and which can also be applied to the human/human relationship!
   
   Cesar's Way Journal brings these pieces into an integrated whole by first helping us examine OUR real interactions with our dogs in Section one: "Know yourself, Know your dog" Concrete exercises help us to see accurately how dogs are our true mirrors, teachers and healers.
   
   Section 2, helps to decide how best to put Cesar's formula into practice by examining our unique environments, lifestyle, choices and individual dog's needs. There is a through check list to help ensure we address all elements of the dog's needs. One o the most important elements of this section for me was the exercise that got me to take a HARD look at how I work with issues around power - those who have power over me and how I react, as well as those I have power over - and how I treat them...on good days and bad!
   
   Section 3 has a system that is so easy to work with to help me keep track of all the history, vet care, and resources I rely on all the time in hard copy form so I can lay my hands on it right away! There were some interesting recommendations of new reading material in the back I want to follow up on too.
   
   I have helped to rehab over 25 problem dogs who were going to be euthanized if someone didn't step forward to help. I'm no one special or especially skilled - just a dog owner who cares that these dogs don't die! Had to use Cesar's way because the way with dogs that I was raised with never seemed to work with problem dogs, only dogs that were already good!
   
   I stepped forward to help because there was no one else - "professional" or not. All but one, the first one, were brought to me by rescue non-profits who had run out o options to change the dog's behaviors into something that could be adopted out. Did it using the solutions I learned from watching the Dog Whisperer on National Geographic and then buying and studying the season 1 and 2 episode tapes:
   Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan - The Complete First Season
   and
   Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan: The Complete Second Season
   
   So for people like me - just people who want to help save dog's lives, one day at a time, this is yet another tool that is really helping me to up my game another level!

5 comments about Small Dogs, Big Hearts: A Guide to Caring for Your Little Dog , Revised Edition.

1. This well researched book covers all of the information that is needed before acquiring a small dog. Darlene Arden covers all of the breed specific information, including temperament, challenges and attributes for all of the small and toy dog breeds.
   
   It is well written, fun to read and very thorough. And... it is a must read for choosing the right breed of dog.
   Marilyn Krieger, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant



2. What a wonderful book! This book explains every concern imaginable for the small dog owner. From basic socialization, to common health problems, to reproductive issues; this book has it all. To top it off, is it loaded with some of the most heart-warming photographs I've seen in a while. You are doing yourself as well as your pint-sized buddy a huge disservice if this reference book is not the most read book in your collection. Reading this book allows you to feel the passion of the author. Feel the passion...read this book.



3. I purchased this book as an expectant toy breed mother. It is a light hearted but informative book on the joys and pitfalls of having a toy breed in your house. I was a little disappointed in the lack of information on my particular puppy, a Chinese Crested, but then I didn't expect a lot of info on the Cresteds since most people know little about them. For more breed specific information, it's advisable to get a breed specific book. However this is a great reference for those who are looking at the toy breeds and don't know a lot about them. It's an easy read and the general information is great. The breed specific information is just enough to perhaps help someone choose which breed is a good fit for their family.



4. As the owner of 4 small dog rescues, I have found all of Darlene Arden's books extremely helpful and "small dogs, big hearts" is certainly no exception. It is filled with valuable information and should be a must read for anyone who has or is even remotely thinking about getting a small dog. Like all her books, this one is well written in Ms. Arden's easy to follow and understand style. I especially like the fact that this book contains mixed breeds and all the pictures are a wonderful addition.
   I applaud Darlene Arden for emphasizing that these small breeds are not toys to be played with, but real dogs with real dog issues and needs.



5. I was very anxious to get this book. In fact by the time I realized there was a second edition of the Irrepressible Toy Dog, I had been waiting several months. This lead me to several other small dog/ breed specific books. This book is definitely top notch However, I was a little biased having read similar information in several other books before reading this book. This made me less excited about its content, however I have to say that it is extremely well compiled, lots of good information and has the best health section on small breed specific disease that I have seen to date. The picture sections are cute, however it could have included more breeds instead of the same breeds over and over. It however was not as much fun as other books, and lacks in the training section when compared to other books. It is a great overall guide on toy dogs and every toy dog owner should keep a copy for a reference guide.

5 comments about Tricks of the Trade: From Best Intentions to Best in Show, Revised Edition.

1. The advertisements on most books look better than what you recieve when you read the book. Not so on this one! I've been breeding for the show ring for over 10 years, and this book really gave me some new insites and ways to simplify, and improve how I train and groom for showing. Best book I have bought lately. I even bought some extras to give to my Mentor and some other friends.



2. This book was very informative for a newbie but I wanted just a little more detail.



3. If you are new to the show world or have been showing for years, you will find this book an excellent read.. Lots of tips on showing and grooming.. You will feel like a pro in the ring after reading this book..



4. I purchased this book based on reviews suggesting that this is the one book to get if you are a novice in the conformation ring. It is definitely not that. It is maybe a good book for a novice breeder who is intending to also show their first prospect - and who may be clueless about how to identify a good foundation stock puppy. Much of the book's substance is how to identify a prospect and then how to proceed as a breeder - like advertising, etc. Very little of the book helps a notive/intermediate handler actually do as the title suggests - from best intentions to best in show. It is not very helpful for people who already know how to get a good puppy, know the basics of stucture and how to do basic grooming and care, but would like to learn the basics of showing and the stepped up demands of grooming.



5. "Tricks of the Trade" is definitely the best book I've read in a long time. This judge really knows her dogs and knows how to explain things in plain and simple terms for even the newest dog show enthusiast to enjoy. Even if you're not a dog show enthusiast, but are just looking to purchase a new puppy, you will benefit from reading this book first.