2 comments about Help Your Dog Fight Cancer: What Every Caretaker Should Know About Canine Cancer, Featuring Bullet's Survival Story, 2nd Edition.

1. My dog was diagnosed with lymphoma 7 weeks ago. The amount of information on treatments, diets, and supplements that exists is overwhelming. The author distills this body of research and information down into an informative and digestible book. I've switched to the homemade diet she recommends in her book and my dog is much more energetic. I highly recommend this book for anyone whose dog has cancer.



2. Cancer is not something exclusive to people. It is not uncommon for people to consider the animal companions as 'family'. These two facts are why Laurie Kaplan wrote, "Help Your Dog Fight Cancer: What Every Caretaker Should Know About Canine Cancer", a guide for dog owners who are unfortunate to have their beloved dog develop cancer. Outlining the causes and reasons for Canine cancer as well as outlining preventative techniques that readers can use and outline to protect their pooch, it also addresses care for when the unfortunate does happen. Very highly recommended for personal and community reference collections, "Help Your Dog Fight Cancer" is a must for anyone whose canine companion is diagnosed with a cancer.

5 comments about Positive Perspectives: Love Your Dog, Train Your Dog.

1. I found that this book had excellent information but seemed more suitable for training adult dogs. I was hoping for more detailed information on puppies. While the book offers information on puppy training issues, it does not go into great detail on their development, specific challenges to expect at different puppy stages, etc. While it is an excellent resource, I also ordered "My Smart Puppy: Fun, Effective and Easy Puppy Training" by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson, which I found to have much more detailed information specific to puppies.



2. In my opinion, this is one of the best starter book for raising a puppy, I wish I know about this book 3 months ago when we get our first ever puppy. I now know that we have spoiled the little guy and will need a much longer training to bring him back to true family pet.
   
   The reason it does not get a 5 stars is the book missing detail on some of the training technique or process. But overall, I recommand this to all new dog owners.



3. I have had dogs all my life, and though I thought I knew dogs pretty well and how to train them, I learned a lot from this book. I recognized that some of my methods were out of date. I tried these new and improved methods on a new dog I just got who is 1.5 years old. It has been amazing how quickly our bond grew from these both sensible and respectful methods of teaching. I learned not to be quite so forceful with my new friend. I learned that being Alpha in the pack did not mean having to intimidate my dogs. I highly recommend it for those who are not getting the behaviors they want and need from their dog companions, and also, for those who are considering getting or just have added a new dog of any age to the family. Knowledge like this can really save many if not most of these beautiful and loving animals from being dumped at our shelters or elsewhere.



4. I am a rescuer, and I have purchased many copies of this book to give to new adopters-- and I ALWAYS recommend it to every dog owner. This book offers great instruction for training obedience-- AND lots of useful information on dog behavior.



5. This book goes over the basics of puppy and dog training using positive methods. It's a great introduction to positive training methods and describes how to teach your dog a number of important behaviors. It has definitely helped me train my new puppy. My only complaint is that there are a few training descriptions that don't really tell you how to finish the exercise with your dog. For example, the book goes over the difference between "wait" and "stay" and describes how to do both, but focuses on "stay." It didn't really tell how you tell your dog he can stop the "wait." I'm going to be looking for more information to help me continue training my puppy, but I still would definitely recommend it for anyone new to dog ownership.

5 comments about How to Live with a Neurotic Dog.

1. The problem with most dogs lies not within themselves but with thoughtless owners who hog bedcovers, force dogs to make nice with cats and children, and think feeding time is something less than 24/7.
   
   It's good to read a book that at last exposes the base self-centeredness of most dog owners, by which I mean of course all dog owners except myself. I still remember the day I was humiliated at a so-called pet store when I asked a giggling woman at the counter if they sold baby slings for dogs, so I could bring my dear pooch-pal Cassidy (pet is sooo demeaning a term) along for work and shopping. Alas, I was forced to try something with gaffer's tape, which did not suit Cassidy as well as I hoped.
   
   Author Stephen Baker is my kind of writer, judging from other books of his like "The Complete Unfitness Catalogue" and "Playing Golf In The Low 120s". Although published in 1988, there is plenty of timeless advice on offer: "Dogs, like human infants, learn by imitation. Show him what you want; whether or not he performs, he will be duly pleased by your hilarious attempts to please him."
   
   The book contains many illustrations by Fred Hillard; unfortunately I was less pleased with these as they tend toward a humorous bent not at all in keeping with Baker's sober text. In a section about why dogs prefer beaches to mountain retreats for vacationing (which has to do with the absorbent qualities of sand), Hillard shows several dogs wearing sunglasses, not optimal accessories for dogs as they, unlike humans, know well enough to sit in the shade. More helpful is Hillard's diagram of a dog's brain, a complex organ divided into three equal parts: Sleep - Food - Play.
   
   Elsewhere there are useful tips on bathing your dog: "Refreshed by the bath, and glad that it's all over, dog will want to work off pent-up energy. Encourage him to roam around the house a bit, to be himself. Let him shake himself. Then wipe up the puddle he leaves behind."
   
   Frankly, if more people took the time to read Baker's book, there would be far more well-adjusted dogs in this world, or at least better understood ones. It should be handed out to every new dog owner, followed by a government-mandated test.
   
   One caveat: The use of the male pronoun throughout was obviously sexist and demeaning to my own dog, who happens to be a female. Baker tries to explain this in the beginning as not offensive, but it's a bit too much like those ethnocentric bigots who use the hateful term "mutts" instead of "Cockapoo", "German Husky", "Bedlington Rat Terrier", and Cassidy's breed, the "Beagle Jack". It gets me so riled up that I need to compose myself with some bedside reading of "How To Live With A Neurotic Dog".
   
   Unless of course Cassidy is on my bed already. Then the floor is just as nice a place to read from.



2. Of course I am a bit partial. But my dad has caught all the bow-wows at their funniest. For a good laugh, a good gift, you won't be sorry. How to Live with a Neurotic Dog continues to be published in new languages (over 20 so far), and sell briskly. Million of dog owners - or is it the other way around? - can't be wrong.



3. I have a dog. My dog is neurotic. I always used to say I had a puppy, but at seven months, heck, let's go the dog route, y'wanna? So this dog, I'll call her Chocolate...no, wait, that's her name...I'll call her Jane, yes, Jane to protect her anonymity. Anyway, she's cute and overall just great, but she has some issues. Yep. One of these is thunder and another is vacuum sweepers. The first hint of thunder and she dashes for the closest person and plows into that unlucky soul, seeking comfort. And as for sweepers, best to lock her outside or beyond the range of hearing the sweeper unless you want to spend about ten minutes picking up whatever item she's shredded into confetti. Now my first theory was she had some sort of past life trauma. Last time around, she might, say, have been done-in by a vacuum sweeper during a thunderstorm. Or maybe the sound of a sweeper just subconsciously reminds her of her father and activates a dog's normal, otherwise latent "my-daddy-abandoned-my-mother" issues, I have no clue. But the nice thing about this book is its level of compassionate understanding. Sure dogs can be neurotic little challenges to sanity and a happy home, but heck, can't we all? I found a lot of "yeah, me too!" moments in this chipper book and the laugh therapy chapters were a much needed relief after my third fragrant cleanup of the evening during a recent electrical storm. I'd recommend this for light reading (with helpful suggestions) for anyone whose dog has more neuroses than Woody Allen and Oedipus Rex combined. It's a hoot.



4. I enjoyed reading it 'til end.
   It really make you feel the joy of having, more than a pet, a good companion in your life.
   Entertaining book and give you some clues to build a better relation with those tender-annoying-wonderful four legged.



5. I loved this book. Everything in it reminds me of the fun and antics that I experience with my two Pugs. I would highly recommend this to any dog owner or soon to be dog owner. It is a lot of fun and has many "out loud" laughs.

2 comments about Dogs: 101 Adorable Breeds.

1. This is a beautiful book with very adorable photos of many different dog breeds. I found myself falling in love with dozens of the cute and cuddly breeds and even some of the types of dogs I'd never have thought I would be drawn to. Rachel Hale is a fabulous photographer who really captures the essence of the pups. What a great book!



2. Dogs: 101 Adorable Breeds is a photographic showcase for dog breed lovers. Each two-page spread features a striking, professional-quality photograph of a breed of dog on one page, and a brief amount of text concerning the breed's history, disposition, and appearance. Dogs: 101 Adorable Breeds is not a comprehensive guide to caring for one's pet, but rather a brilliantly assembled tribute to man's best friend in all his beautiful glory. A wonderful coffee-table giftbook highly recommended for dog lovers everywhere.

5 comments about It's a Dog's Life...but It's Your Carpet: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Four-Legged Friend.

1. Since purchasing this book...I have not been able to read it...Why...because my wife can't put it down!!! It really does explain all of those little things that a dog does! It is funny and entertaining. It covers things you have always wanted to ask...and things that you never even thought of asking. Can't wait for the next one to come out!!!



2. I loved the book so much I also bought a copy for my mother-in-law (the hardest person to shop for) and for my veterinarian for Christmas. The book is informative, entertaining and answers questions that I had always wondered about but didn't want to ask. I can't wait for Dr. Lee's next book.



3. This book makes a great gift for your dog loving friends! It's a funny, light and informative read. Dr. Lee gives plenty of advice and offers a compassionate and caring opinion, interspersed with lots of wit and sarcasm.



4. Lots of people have mentioned how funny this book is -- rather than echo those comments, I'll mention how touching and heart warming the book is too. The author is clearly an expert and is very funny, but the thing that stood out the most for me is how deeply she cares about our 4-legged friends.
   
   The author provides sage advice on how to best care for our dogs, maximize their quality of life, and even discusses the best options for when it is time to say goodbye. This book is a fantastic tribute to the slobering little buggers that bring joy to ours lives like nothing else in the world. Bravo Dr. Lee! Can't wait for more from you!



5. This book is funny and informative! It covers serious and not so serious questions with a sense of humor and some interesting facts. I couldn't put it down!

5 comments about Rhodesian Ridgebacks (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. Dont get me wrong, this book is a great read and I certainly recommend it to anyone who buys/owns a RR. The problem with the book is that when it comes to the training area or any specific breed information, the book is very general. This book is best for a new RR dog owner and a must for someone who has not had a puppy before.



2. Rhodesian Ridgebacks Manual is pretty much right on with the temperment and traits of this breed. Quick read with helpful tips.



3. This is not intended to be a comprehensive, indepth encyclopedia. BUt as a basic primer on Rhodesian Ridgebacks, it covers all of the key highlights and provides a firm foundation for understanding this wonderful breed.
   
   Intelligently written, well-illustrated, well-organized, easy to navigate, with an index and bibliography.
   
   I highly recommend it.
   
   $8. 95 pp., Good binding and glossy paper.



4. This book is very beneficial for any one that owns, wants to own,or simply is fancinated by Rhodesian Ridgebacks. They are great dogs, and this book is a great resource for the money.



5. I was expecting this book to be more informative. More of a coffee-table book in style of information.

3 comments about French Bulldogs (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. I really enjoyed this book, it in real speak talks about the breed and details many aspects. It is very conversationaly and informative. Buy and enjoy!



2. I bought this book on a whim as I already have plenty of other similar books but to my delight I found it to be funny and insightful as well as interesting and informative. The authors obviously have in-depth knowledge of this lovely breed and will give the reader many chuckles as they comment on the Frenchies quirks and peculiarities. However, it is also an excellent guide for the prospective owner giving good, sound information (and masses of photos)on how to look after a special little dog.



3. This is an excellent resource for anyone considering a french bulldog. (I also recommend it if you just like lots of cute puppy pictures!) It's packed full of everything you need to know about your frenchie, with special attention paid to health and training issues. Please make this book your first step in acquiring a french bulldog. Proper research is key to finding the right dog for you!

5 comments about Help for Your Shy Dog: Turning Your Terrified Dog into a Terrific Pet.

1. I almost didn't get this book, when I was shopping on line, BUT I am soooo glad that I did. I found it very helpful for working with my dog. This is the first book that I got that said that sometime shy dogs are just born that way. I was such a relieve. I have tried many things to help bring her out of her shell, but was feeling like somehow I was failing her. The book gives practical examples and advice on how to handle situations and lots of patience is needed. To notice the small victories. It also had stories of how other shy dogs had overcome their shyness and do things that you want for your dog. I really recommend this book. If gives lots of suggestions and hope. Your hard work will pay off!



2. I just recently acquired a somewhat shy mini-dachshund and needed instruction on how to assist him in overcoming his apprehensions. Various sources on line recommended this book. I bought it, as well "Help for Your Shy Dog" by Nicole Wilde. This Deborah Wood book was a complete waste of time - no details were included on how I should proceed with my dog on anything, only just what amounted to a bunch of cheerleading (e.g., "with patience even you can do it!"). The Nicole Wilde Book, however, contains all the protocols you need to follow for virtually any kind of fear a dog might have. I highly recommend "Help for Your Shy Dog" for anyone with a shy dog, or any kind of dog for that matter. After reading Nicole Wilde's book, I am now making huge progress with my dog's apprehensions, and feel well equipped to deal with any fear that may come up in the future. The Deborah Wood book is going in the trash.



3. Okay book, a litlle disappointed since she stresses over and over training since I did that with my Ted already....many of the ideas in her book are really common sense



4. A lot of good ideas for helping a shy dog to become a great member of your pack. It helped me to realize that my rescued shy dog will get better with time and there are actions I can take to help her adjust to her new family. Thanks for the encouragement in helping me deal with my timid dog. I would reccomend this book to people who have a shy dog.



5. I'm so glad I found this book. The real-life stories she shares have helped me understand my sweet-but-fearful dog so much better. It's great to know that there is hope for helping my dog become happy and content.

1 comments about Agility Training for You and Your Dog: From Backyard Fun to High-Performance Training.

1. This is a very good book for all those who really want to excel at agility. My daughter is a beginner and there was a lot of foundation info in the book for her to learn. The book covers obedience basics which is very important for anyone wanting to do agility. There are good photos to back up the text. This is not just a beginners book though. My dog and I compete at the Masters level in USDAA and Excellent in AKC and I picked up a lot of useful information in the book. The book covers necessary psychological concepts such as operant vs classical conditioning, clicker training, shaping and targeting. They do a good job of covering groundwork and the diagrams are very useful. There is some extensive info on jump training including jump circles and drills. There is coverage of all the obstacles. Contact training is included but most of the info is for the 2 on 2 off method. One of the authors, Ali Canova, has a very good Running Contact DVD out but none of that info is really in here, they just mention running contacts. I have the DVD and Running Contacts for Dog Agility by Ali Roukas Canova recommend it too. There are two sections on weave pole training which really cover it all. The first is weave pole introduction and the second section is the advanced weave pole system. This really helped me a lot as we had problems at shows weaving. One of the authors , Joe Canova, has a World Class Weaves DVD out World Class Weaves for Dog Agility by Joe Canovaand the book is a very good companion to that.
   Overall I highly recommend this book for anyone new who wants to learn properly from the start as well as serious competitors who want to excel at agility.

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

1. If you're new to owning a bulldog, this is the book for you. The book is broken down into sections with a very detailed table of contents for different issues, which is great! You can easily find the information you need quickly. It's also not a long book so it doesn't seem overwhelming to read. Of all the Bully books I purchased, this is the one I used the most. Good Luck!



2. This is realy a manuel that gives you insight in how to be the Owner of a Bulldog. A must for any bulldog owner or someone that want to have one.



3. This book was a good intro into what we needed to care for this unique breed however we got our Bulldog as an adult so there were about 5 Chapters that weren't applicable to us so I didn't read them- if you are a buyer considering purchasing an English Bulldog puppy this should help you get started.



4. I believe this book is great especially for the new Bulldog owner. I'm in the process of buying my first puppy and I think the information in this book will help me along my way.
   There's information on the breed history, health, grooming, training, and selection. Definitely worth purchasing.



5. This book is a nice, easy to follow guide for people interested in buying a bully. It gives basic care instructions, a short history, product info and such to help you make your decision and let you know if a bulldog is right for you, or, more importantly, if you are right for a bulldog.