5 comments about Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Healthy Life.

1. I highly recommend this book to anyone thinking of feeding their dog a raw diet. Dr. Billinghurst provides subtantial information on the benefits of feeding raw over processed food and makes it easy to understand what is required to properly feed your dog for a longer and healthier life. Most raw feeders consider this book their primary reference. It is not an easy find, especially at a reasonable price, and I was thoroughly delighted to find it available at Amazon. The condition of the book was exactly as described and the transaction was simple and speedy.



2. I bought this book about 8 years ago, when my Boxer wasn't doing well on any commercial diet (I tried a few premium brand foods). He also had lots of other ailments and I was one of my vet's best clients.
   After starting him on Dr. Billinghurst's ORIGINAL diet of raw meaty bones along with vegetables, I haven't needed a vet, except for rabies shots when I wanted to take him with me to Germany, and when he needed stitches in his ear after a fight. I was so happy that he was so healthy!
   Of course, unfortunately there is no guarantee that your dog will not get ill when fed an exclusively raw diet.
   My beautiful boy was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma at the age of 8 years and 9 months. The cell-types were of a kind that couldn't be cured with chemotherapy. We did enjoy another 3 months of playfull and quality time together, until I had to take the final decision.
   My other dog (now 5 years old) has been fed a raw diet since he came to us at age 13 weeks, and has only been to the vet to be chipped and to have his puppy-shots and/or rabies shots. He has never been ill during these past 5 years.
   Since Dr. Billinghurst's book I read a lot of other books on this topic, but I did find his book helpful for the starter on the path to B.A.R.F., that I was then. I re-read it a couple of times throughout the years.
   The only thing that surprised me and I think is a pity, is the price...



3. I found a boon with Dr. Billinghurst's book "Give Your Dog a Bone." I've been an advocate of home made meals for some years now. I knew dogs needed the calcium from bones. I thought it was enough to provide ground bone in their meals. I never anticipated that pets might derive satisfaction from doing what God intended them to. Rip, tear and crunch. My dog, up to that point, had been happily living on pooch meat patties I bought from the market. In this book, Dr. Billinghurst condemned these. He said they robbed a dog of satisfaction.
   
   Made sense to me. My dog is a rescue. She has issues. She needed some satisfaction.
   
   It was so funny giving her her first chicken wing. She had NO idea what to do with it. This really surprised me! She knew she wanted it. She whined and danced around the bone. She licked it and whined some more. My Persian, on the other hand, took to it like Jabba the Hutt.
   
   In the past, she'd had taken only two or three minutes to wolf down her food. Sometimes she'd barf it right back up. Too much, too fast. But with the wings, she takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to eat. She really enjoys her food. Often she makes little noises like a nursing puppy.
   
   To top it off, she had an emotional break through as a result. As an abused dog, Honey had a lot of issues. Some manifested as her over eating. Some manifested as destructive behavior. After putting her on raw meaty bones (complimented with Orbee Tough toys during the day), these behaviors ended. Also, while she remains a very high energy pooch, she is no longer manic.
   
   The sad ending to this story is that, I just discovered Dr. Billinghurst has sold out. I liked his book so much I went looking for more. Sadly, his third book advocates exactly what he condemns in his first book. Prefab doggie meat patties. I guess he smelled the profit factor.
   
   While it's true that a dog can live a happy life on these patties, don't deny your dog the satisfaction of a raw meaty bone.
   
   Also, I have an issue with Brewer's Yeast. If you won't give your pet by-products of a meat plant, why give them by-products of a brewery? Brewer's yeast is bitter and can cause gas. The alternative is often cheaper as well. Because the focus is health. Not making profit off of trash. "Nutritional yeast" is grown specifically for its nutrient qualities. It has a mild cheddar taste that both my dog and my cats love. You can sprinkle it on food or mix it with a little water and flax seed oil to make a yummy and nutritious sauce. As a side note, it goes great on popcorn.



4. Dr. Billinghurst has done it again. This is a great book for Raw feeders, which I am. I use all the Billinghurst books as my "Bible" of raw feeding and information.
   A must have for every raw feeder IMO..



5. Suddenly you realize you are what you eat, and we are all designed to function best with the right diet, man or beast.

1 comments about Stories of Dogs and the Lives They Touch.

1. I loved all the stories. A few were repeats from other books of a similar nature that I have purchased but I loved reading them again. I laughed at many, cried at a few, and could relate to many of them. This is a really great book!

5 comments about Letters to a Young Pug (Wilson the Pug).

1. I just love this book. Anyone who loves pugs will love this story and book. We laughed so hard we were crying and the pictures just add to the story.
   
   You can't go wrong with this one.



2. This book is adorable. When it arrived I sat down with my 8 year old daughter and read it. She'd laugh at the pictures and letters from the young pug. Many wonderful messages and terrific pictures. I think her favorites were the curler in his tail and him cooling off in the fridge. She got many ideas for creative pictures for our own pug!



3. After falling in love with Wilson the Pug from the "Tao of Pug" book, I had to get this one. I was NOT disappointed. Very funny exchange between the older and younger Pug, Homer. Photos are just as creative and funny as in the "Tao" book. This is another can't-miss great gift idea and something every dog (and especially Pug) lover will want for their collection!



4. Letters to a Young Pug picks up the story of Wilson and Homer (from Homer for the Holidays). Wilson's Tao master is retiring, and before Wilson can take on the job he has to train his successor, Homer. The letters he writes to impart his knowledge of the Tao and Homer's humerous responses are wonderfully entertaining. If you have a pug, you will definitely see something of your pug in this book.



5. Continuing antics of Wilson and Homer. A must read if you have read Nancy's first two books.

5 comments about Bloodhounds (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals).

1. A nice introduction to bloodhounds. Gives you basic information about the breed and a good read before deciding on this dog. Most of the information is easily available on the internet but it's nice to have in a quick guide for a very inexpensive price. I would recommend to anyone interested in getting a bloodhound but if you already have a dog this book is a little basic, still it's nice to have in your library so friends and family can become more informed about this fantastic breed of dog.



2. Full of information, very thorough. Not too lovey dovey about the breed, very geared towards people who have or will have a bloodhound. Stuff you need to know! Wish it had more pictures, but that's what the other books are for.



3. VERY informative book for the money. Of the three bloodhound books purchased this month, one was worthless, one was a little pricey, and this one was the best value.



4. Very informative. Not only does it give you a little history on the breed, but details the positives and what could be negatives of the breed. A book I would recommend to anyone considering this breed.

   ..




5. This book has everything you need to know about the Bloodhound breed. It shows pictures of how to take care of your Bloodhound ect.... I bought this book to learn more about the breed and to train my Bloodhound to track game, and it has worked perfectly for my needs. The only thing they don't really mention in this book is how serious the ear problem is for Bloodhounds. My Bloodhound for example needs her ears cleaned about every 3 days. If you don't clean their ears that often they will get a really bad ear infection and the only way to get it out is surgery, around $500.00 worth. They are a very high maintenance animal but are well worth the effort.

2 comments about How to Train Your Doberman Pinscher (Tr-107).

1. This was the perfect book. There were lots of photos and extra tid-bits throughout, plus all of the information I needed for choosing and training my Dobe puppy. It was very thorough, but easy to read.



2. This is a very good book. It really surprised me. All the methods sound very good, and will hopefully work. (iam getting a doberman in 2 weeks). I suggest you peoplr give this book a try.

2 comments about The Dog Trainer's Resource 2: The APDT Chronicle of the Dog.

1. Dog Training is a lucrative business, and "The Dog Trainer's Resource 2: The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Collection" is a solid reference for dog trainers who want an encyclopedia reference available for them. With theories touching upon dog psychology, socialization, and more, it also touches on the business model suggestions for this business. With additional asides on training not just the dog, but the dog owner, "The Dog Trainer's Resource 2" is a must for any dog trainer looking to turn it into business.



2. The first Dog Trainer's Resource was greatly oriented toward running a dog training business. This book, however, mostly addresses actually training, rather than business issues. This book consists of the best articles from the American Pet Dog Trainer's magazine "Chronicle of the Dog." It covers some of the most up-to-date, newly conceived ideas in dog training. Much food for thought. More for the serious dog training person (such as obedience competitor) than the pet owner.

5 comments about UC Davis Book of Dogs : The Complete Medical Reference Guide for Dogs and Puppies.

1. Information on the subjects I have needed has been hard to find and incomplete. I do NOT recommend this book. I'm still looking for a really good general reference.



2. Poorly organized. Try looking up something like the common "kennel cough" and you will find snippets of information under "respiratory system", then refered to infections (viral, then bacterial), but never get a concise, useful idea of the condition. Web site search via Google gives much better discussions.



3. Great reference book, without getting too technical. I consider it my "canine bible" and "dictionary" rolled into one. Arlene Millman, author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY (The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier).



4. No, this does not have all of the info of the Merck Veterinary Manual, but most dog lovers and owners can be easily frustrated by the medical terminlogy etc. THIS however, is simplified and essential info for the average person to really learn so much about their dogs health. My Merck, this book and "Symptoms and Solutions" are my dog bible trio!! I can not tell you how many people I've been able to help w/ dog health problems, solutions and understanding the disease or condition.Worth your money!!



5. Just like a parent should have a comprehensive pediatric medical guide for their children, dog owners should have a comprehensive medical guide for their dogs. And, technically, this one certainly fits the bill.

   This book is thick for a reason. It covers nearly every medical condition, disease and ailment that you can think of. It also provides solid information on normal dog growth and development, feeding, and home health remedies.

   HOWEVER, if you are looking for a user-friendly, easy-to-read, "For Dummies"-type canine medical reference, THIS IS NOT IT. I strongly disagree with some other reviewers who say otherwise. "The Book of Dogs" rivals your average human medical reference guide -- full of medical jargon and technical terms. I cannot find my way through this book without constant use of the glossary and index in the back. And I find myself sifting through page after page trying to locate the exact information I'm looking for. Not user-friendly at all -- especially in an emergency.

   (By the way, I AM an educated -- albeit non-medical -- professional, and I STILL have problems understanding this book!)

   Unless your dog has some kind of serious medical condition(s) -- my dog, for instance, has Sebaceous Adenitis, a rare auto-immune disease -- for which you need more detailed information, you don't really need this book. You (and your dog) are better off with a book like "What Your Dog Is Trying To Tell You: A Head-to-Tail Guide to Dogs' Symptoms And Their Solutions" by Stephanie Pedersen and John Simon.

5 comments about The Dog Who Loved Too Much: Tales, Treatments and the Psychology of Dogs.

1. I found these cassette tapes both educational and entertaining. I wasn't aware of some of the hard decisions that pet owners have to make and how medication can help.



2. EXCELLENT FOR PEOPLE DEALING WITH DOGS DAILY----VETS, GROOMERS, PET SITTERS AND OWNERS OF DIFFICULT DOGS



3. This was recommended by a friend and it has helped me turn around a very challenging dog. It's easy to read, entertaining, and invaluable for understanding and working with challenging dogs.



4. Showing a sense of humor, Dr Dodman describes his experiences with a variety of problem behaviors in a pleasant, fun read. At first I was extremely skeptical of using drugs to solve behavior problems, but I decided to give Dodman a chance. In each case he analyzes catalysts and contributing factors to the behavior being discussed as well as the biological background. I felt he used a very well-rounded approach, suggesting liefstyle changes (diet, exercise, management), behavior modification, training, and sometimes drugs. Not every case involved drugs, and those that did often were for short term use only. What I found most insightful, however, was Dodman's analysis of various aggressive behaviors, their basis, and how they're acted out. He very clearly differentiates between dominance aggression and fear aggression, providing precise and various examples of each. Overall I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has a problem dog. Even if you don't go the drug route you'll still learn a lot about your dog and his/her problem(s). The only reason I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars is because it's a rather dated book (1996) and doesn't cover some newer therapies.



5. this book is easy to read, at times humourous, and provides some good knowledge to dog owners who are into the behavior science part of dogs. i will outline how the book is styled.
   
   the book breaks down behavioural problems into 3 main category:
   1. aggression
   2. fear
   3. obsession
   
   5 chapters under the aggressive probems deals with dominance (dog-owner aggression), rage syndrome, territorial aggression, dog on dog aggression, dog aggression to babies.
   
   for fear related problems, each chapter would deal with separation anxiety, fear of thunder, geriatric aeparation anxiety, phobias and fear of strangers.
   
   the obsessive section deals with tail chasing (esp in bull terriers), shadow chasing, persistent licking and incontinence.
   
   each chapter is written very much like watching an animal planet documentary. dr dobson would tell you a little bit about the kind of problem, then use real life examples to tell you how he treats the behaviours shown in these dogs.
   
   it is easy to read, sometimes humourous, and quite matter of factly written. at the end of each chapter, he would conclude the chapter with a "treatment for" summary. the summary notes down in point form treatment/s for each chapter's problems.
   
   i think this book covers all the usual behavioural problems in dogs that we face. some of the chapters was written is a fashion that is much like the tv series "house" (a persoanl favourite), so it's quite exciting and entertaining.
   
   the only downside to the treatments suggested is that i find dr dobman's like for using drugs for treatments. noting that he may be doing these for badly affected dogs seems like a good idea, especially when all courses of treatment has been done. this seems to be the case for the book as he dwells in only the worst cases. this might lead to the reader thinking that one MUST use drugs for treatments. well, if it comes tothe end, if drugs have to be used and it has little side effects, why not? they are increasing being used in treatine human psychological problems anywways.
   
   generally, a very good read and anyone interersted in canine behaviours should have the full repertoire of the more common canine behavioural problems being dealt with here.

2 comments about Scruffy the Legend.

1. Scruffy the Legend is a wonderful portrayal of a man's love for and devotion to his dog. The author's descriptions and accounts of Scruffy's life made me feel like I was right alongside him for the wonderful ride that was Scruffy's life! I highly recommend this book to anyone that has ever loved and lost a pet companion. You will not be able to put it down!



2. This is a heartfelt little book that captures the essence of living with a keeshond entirely. Don't expect this book to be a training manual or a definitive guide to the breed. The author stresses that he is no expert on dog training --- and not really a writer, either --- but it's a tribute to his dog and that genuine affection shines through. Although no two keeshonden are the same, the stories he tells about his "Scruffy" will cause anyone who ever loved a keeshond to smile.

3 comments about French Bulldogs: Lightweights Littermates.

1. There isn't much reading that goes into this book. Mostly pictures of frenchies with funny quips. There were several pictures that made me laugh out loud and many more that made me go "ohhhh how cute." I've looked at it several times since purchase and enjoy it every time.



2. Absolutely adorable photos that you will enjoy looking at again and again.A 'must' if you love French Bulldog puppies.



3. I purchased French Bulldogs: Lightweights Littermates and Dachshunds: Lightweights Littermates together, as gifts... I flipped through them prior to sending them off to their final recipient and was pleased to find that the photography and composition was appealing to my tastes. Sharon Montrose's composition skill is what sets these photos out from the rest. I like the bold imagery. And having tried to take pictures of my own pets, I know it's a VERY tough experience to have them pose... they're curious little creatures. My 1-star off of the review is pretty much for repetitiveness; the concept is fresh to begin with, but it gets boring, real fast.