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!

2 comments about Retriever Puppy Training: The Right Start for Hunting.

1. Retriever Puppy Training: The Right Start For Hunting by canine training experts Clarice Rutherford and Cherylon Loveland is a superbly organized and presented instructional guide to the art and science of training a hunting dog. From selecting the right puppy, to identifying and working with your puppy's personality traits, to solidly adhering to a chosen training program, Retriever Puppy Training is an excellent, concise, no-nonsense, "user friendly" reference to helping a young, eager-to-please puppy become the best hunting dog it can be.



2. This is an excellent book that helped me train my lab, and now she is the best dog I have ever had!

5 comments about Successful Dog Adoption.

1. While the author's test may not be 100% accurate, her premise is that one should be VERY careful in adopting dogs in order not to get an aggressive dog. This is something that most other adoption books gloss over. The author is concerned that many agencies seeking to have dogs adopted are more concerned with getting the dog a home than in protecting the adopting owner. Why adopt trouble?
   
   I've had 12 dogs in my life and am thinking of adopting when my 12 year old dog dies. I've been reading as many books as I can about adopting dogs and adult dog behavior and this is one of the best that I've found.



2. Dogs need our help. Thousands die every day simply because they do not have a home. If you are involved in fostering, breed rescue or simply love dogs, read this book to learn about how to evaluate dog temperament. If you are looking to adopt a dog, this book will teach a scientifically proven effective method of evaluating a dog's personality.



3. I bought two books on dog adoption, this book being one of them. I really didn't get my money's worth from this book. The tests that the author advised just are not practical. If people did what she said, no shelter dogs would ever get adopted. In general, other books on dog adoption have a lot more practical advice than this one. This book was not a total loss, I did learn a few things from it. But, all in all, it was not worth my money.



4. What a great book! It is very well written, authoritative without being condescending, easy to understand without being simplistic and sometimes downright funny. I started reading at random and just could not put it down. Recommended for anybody who wants to adopt a dog - even if you do not believe in or want to try the test described in the second part of the book, there is a wealth of information on the first 100 pages alone.
   I feel I have a much, much better chance now of finding the "Love of my life" dog we are all hoping for.



5. As a parent of 3 who is looking into getting a dog and has seen a very strong anti-family/anti-child bias among shelter and rescue groups, I really appreciate this book. Her section on reading the internet ads was especially enlightening, since all shelters within a decent driving distance from me do most of their advertising on Petfinder. If we do decide to adopt a dog, I feel much more confident not only evaluating the dog, but evaluating the shelter.

5 comments about It's Not the Dogs, It's the People! A Dog Trainer's Guide to Training Humans.

1. This is an awesome book! If you have watched the Dog Whisperer at all, this book parallels Cesar's style and helps with the interview and talking to people one on one when figuring out what is really going on with the dog and human. If you truly want to help people and their dogs this a good book to get your confidence up and in their door.



2. Although I not a "clicker trainer" (I use those "mean methods"), I enjoyed this book. It has helped me to become a better group training instructor. The author and I might disagree on dog training methodology but we do agree on the people training methods. I have been able to manage the training groups better, with people and their dogs having better learning success. This is a good book for anyone who instructs the public in dog training no matter what method they use.



3. I have been working with dogs for over 30 years and a service dog trainer for the last nine. I have just started my own private training business and this book was a refreshing read. Having worked with many people and their dogs, I could relate to many of the personalities described in the book. Reading this book was positive reinforcement for me and helped me realize that I have many of the tools to get my business up and running. It gives lots of helpful suggestions on how to work "with" people, encouraging them to understand and hopefully agree with you even if your suggestion differs from what they originally thought; making them think it was their idea. Expect the unexpected when working with people and their dogs. Relax and get ready to smile and learn.



4. This is a good book to help teach those at the "other end of the leash." Information can be direct but most communication is by perception.



5. I've been a professional animal trainer for 20 years and I still found this book very helpful. I was a psychology major in college and knew much of the stuff in the book, but I was fascinated by the way Nicole applies many of the principles for dealing with people, to dog training. Everybody can learn something new from this book, and the tips on dealing with the individual personality types was described in detail and applied to a dog training setting. Even the concepts I already knew about were enforced in this book and it helped me to refresh my memory and once again work on my people training skills...because as they say...it really IS not the dogs, it's the people.

5 comments about Rover, Get off Her Leg!: Pet Etiquette for the Dog Who Pees on Your Rug, Steals the Pot Roast and Poops in Improper Places.

1. Rover Get off Her Leg (great title, by the way!) is not only helpful for dog owners, it's a must-read for future dog owners who want to get a "leg up" on dog training before Fido comes home. This book is a catch-all of unwanted dog behaviors and how to prevent or "fix" them. It's written in a friendly, down to earth style that everyone can relate to. I have read several other books by this author, and I appreciate her solid advice on all things animal.



2. Has your dog ever sniffed somebody in a way that wasn't exactly appropriate? What about a dog who likes to hump...again inappropriately? Or perhaps your dog eats things he shouldn't...like used food (aka poop)! UGH! It's bad enough that they do these things, but it can be embarrassing when other people are around to see it.
   
   Rover, Get Off Her Leg, by Darlene Arden takes a light hearted look at some of the irritating behaviors dogs exhibit and gives practical advice on how to work on them. Rather than just writing about how to solve the problem though, Darlene gives a little background on why the dog may be doing whatever it is he's doing. As with most things, if you figure out why something is happening, it's easier to figure out how to fix it. Even with dogs, knowing the `why' can make the solution pretty apparent.
   
   Rover, Get Off Her Leg is a pretty easy read, but gives a lot of practical, easy to follow advice on how to hone your dog's behavior into something a little more acceptable. And all of her advice involves kindness - you won't find any negative training methods in this book! A certified animal behaviorist, Darlene is an advocate of positive training, using lots of love and positive reinforcement. It's her opinion (as well as mine, and many others) that positive training will produce the best results and in the long run make for a happier, healthier, more well behaved dog. It's more fun, too!
   
   There's a lot of info packed into this little book, and it can help you give your dog a bit of a tune-up in the manners department!



3. With an engaging writing style, hysterical anecdotes and illustrations, Darlene Arden educates owners on solutions for dog behavior problems. From basic training to serious behavior challenges, this comprehensive book presents complex information in an easily understood way. The book's layout also greatly facilitates use as a reference. As a professional trainer and behavior consultant, I'm always looking for ways to make training fun for my clients. While there are many dog training books on the market, it is a true rarity to find one that is entertaining as well as informative. What a great resource this will be for my clients!



4. Darlene Arden, who usually specializes in giving advice about small dogs, has described some general problems for the average dog owner whose dog hasn't tried to kill the mail carrier, but sometimes may be not so well behaved. She does this with wit and a deep empathy for our quadrupedal friends and their sometimes frazzled owners. This is a small, inexpensive book that should be on dog owners' shelves.



5. Anyone can write a about the niceties of the human/animal bond(ad-nauseum).
   Anyone can write a"how-to" book on animal behavior problems,a-la Popular Mechanix--dull and trite.
   But it takes a Darlene Arden-- a special, genuine, confident connoisseur to pull off a bold, informed,and humororous book with THAT TITLE. Just like Smuc kers---"It's got to be good". And indeed it is-- better than we could have anticipated. What a joy to have such a valued authority like Darlene--- a certified animal behavior consultant come forth with such an authoritative book dealing with the dark side of human/animal relationships with such taste and gentility, and with such deep and welcome humor.
   I have had the good fortune to know Darlene, not only as a friend and admirer, but also, uniquely, as a client. As such, I have had a rare opportunity to witness her profound feeling and compassion for animals, her deep well of knowledge of their traits, normal and aberrant, and her insightful and intelligent manner of dealing with such pathologies. I know her then from two vantage points--- as a devoted reader, and from a close doctor-client relationship. On both levels, she merits and has earned accolades. She is so good at what she does, so forgive me if I wax enthusiastically--- it is deserved. Who else would discourse about inappropriate behaviors so blithely and a productively.
   My hat is off to my very dear friend--- I revel in her achievements and the wonderful receptions she has received. At last, I have a point of a reference I can turn to when an embarrassed client comes to me with noisome problems, and I can refer to Darlene's new book with pride and authority.
   I look forward to her future efforts with great anticipation---they are not only good reads, but I have learned so much from them, in addition.
   
   Sincerely,
   
   Ray Russo, D.V.M.
   Kingston,MA.

2 comments about Decoys and Aggression.

1. This book is the best I've seen for teaching decoys to read dogs. The information is great for both novice and seasoned trainer. Prior to training any decoy it is required reading. It's great to see someone who has spent time training dogs not just studying theories. It is well written, clear cut and straight to the point, it's filled from start to finish with useful information.



2. Great information for novices and experts alike. Excellent section on reading canine body language and influencing the dog's perception of you by using your body language. I have read and re-read this book many times and have found valuable information every time. This book is essential for all novice decoys, trainers and for anyone who handles dogs that can be aggressive. Get this book, it may save you from being bitten or seriously injured.

1 comments about How to Have an Ill-Behaved Dog (Self-Hurt).

1. I've always thought I wanted a dog and after reading this book I couldn't be happier that I don't. Acral lick dermatitis...gross, no thank you!

5 comments about Canine Colorado: Where to Go and What to Do with Your Dog.

1. It not only tells you all the places you can take your pup, but it also tells you where you can NOT. Keeps you from having to wonder about places. List which 14ers dogs can handle, also info on having them on or off leash, does the hike have water or not. This book isn't just about taking your dog with you, its about having your dog be very happy and comfortable. Everything you need to know is here!



2. This is a really great book detailing all the various canine activities you and your dog can do while in Colorado. I really like it! thanks!



3. Sense of humor comes through and it is informative. Details of trails are mentioned in here that may not be mentioned anywhere else and are good to know so you are not surprised my them once you are out on the trail. I have not been able to hike any of the trails in the book yet but have a good idea where I am gonna start after reading.



4. we are planning a trip to CO with our dog this summer, this book was helpful in picking out trails to hike on.
   the location of the trails were hard to determine by this book alone but we managed to figure it out. all in all if you are going hiking with your dog in CO.- this book is helpful!



5. This book is a MUST when traveling with your dog in Colorado. It gives you a great list of places to stay with your dog, according to the area you are in. If you don't want to take your pet along on a day trip it gives you places to drop your dog off.
   If you are into hiking, then you will really love the trails she describes and points out in this book... if you're rather the kind of person who only goes on strolls, then that section won't help you a lot, though.

5 comments about Rex and the City: A Memoir of a Woman, a Man, and a Dysfunctional Dog.

1. This book is great!!!!!!!! If you love dogs you must read this book. Wonderfully written.



2. This book is great. I read it in just a couple of days, I could barely put it down. I carried it with me everywhere I went and would sneak in a few pages every chance I got.
   If you love dogs, New York City or just want a few good laughs, this book is for you. The love and humor that Rex brings into Lee and Ted's lives is heartwarming. As an owner of two rescue dogs living in a major city, I can relate to a lot of their experiences.
   Rex reall showed Lee and Ted how to give and receive love.



3. I cannot recommend this book enough! From the first page, I was immediately involved with these great characters. The book is non-stop laughs and sprinkled with endearing, heart-warming moments. I truly couldn't put it down! I was eager to see what would come to Rex and his "parents." It is simply wonderful!!!



4. OMG this was hilarious! but also tender and loving and wise and true. This woman is a terrific prose writer, and I would definately read other books by her. This is the story about rescuing an abused dog and bringing him into a teensy apartment in a bad neighborhood in New York City! who would have thought such a tough beginning (for the dog) would have such a happy ending. bravo! viva rex!



5. I had read excerpts of this in Bark magazine (yes I'm one of those dog nerds) and was charmed then, and after reading the entire book, remain so. The things I think I like best are, 1) its a really accurate depiction of the trials and tribulations of getting a shelter dog and that transition, 2)as well as how complicated dog ownership can be in an urban area. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's not heavy or serious, but it struck a chord in me- someone who has experienced both of those situations. It's not all sunshine and roses the first day, and no one warns you about that. But that is also where some good comedy comes from. I enjoyed this book very much and would definitely recommend it.

5 comments about How to Train Your Poodle (How To...(T.F.H. Publications)).

1. Good book...next time I probably would have just rented from library...but not that expensive....so, up to you.



2. This Book is fantastic!!!!!!!!! It's explained in an understandable way. It's an easy read book with everything you need to know to keep your Poodle happy. It definitely kept mine extremely happy!!!
   
   Buy This Book!! It's Great!!!!!!!!!!



3. Great Book!!! Great Information. I highly recommend this book for any poodle owner needing information on how to take care of it.



4. The book contains the usual material about dogs in general and nothing that pertains specifically to poodles. It's just the same old stuff re-packaged with the word "poodle." The German shepherd version probably just substitutes one name for another--an exercise in selling books, not helping the reader. You would do better with a good book about dogs, like the books by the Monks of Skete (The Art of Raising a Puppy) or Karen Pyror's Don't Shoot the Dog!



5. This book does not really have an in debth discussion about about dog behavior, dog training and the relationship between man and dog, but it is an easy to read book with useful information and ideas of how to prevent bad behavior and keep your poodle happy.