4 comments about Cat Body, Cat Mind: Exploring Your Cat's Consciousness and Total Well-Being.

1. This author has a weekly column in our newspaper. I look forward to reading it each week, and loved his book. He has a unique way of looking at cat behavior, and cat health issues. He's a well-qualified vet, who is willing to look beyond the typical approach to animal well-being. Great resource book for those who are truy interested in keeping their cats healthy and happy.



2. I bought this book thinking it would clue me more into my cats and their behavior, etc. The author goes off on several tangents and ends up spending time talking about farm animal welfare and his own pet rabbit. Even when he is supposedly writing about cats and examples of their empathic abilities, people being visited by their cats after death, and cats knowing when their owners have died....most of the examples he gives are of dogs, birds and even mice! He also repeats himself a great deal in his off-topic sections and talks a great deal about his mentor and his the "correction" made to his Encyclopedia entry about dogs. I didnt agree with everything he had to say about cats, but I did like some of the information he gave about them when he actually discussed cats.



3. I thought this book was supposed to be all about cats, but it wasnt..it was mostly about all animals. I also did not agree with some of the things the author recommended. I did not like this book at all.



4. It's a terrific book by a person who has dedicated his life to understanding animal behaviors, and although this book mainly confirms the things that I already know about our furry companions, I am learning a few new things, too. I'd like to get Dog Body, Dog Mind: Exploring Canine Consciousness and Total Well-Being, as well, because I find the author's approach to writing both entertaining and, more importantly, informative. It is Fox's goal to help people have better relationships with their animal companions by learning a bit more about their behaviors and how to communicate with them. The writing can be characterized as a mixture of philosophic anecdotes and actual explanations of animal behaviors and conditions which I find to be not unlike one of my most beloved authors, James Herriot.
   
   I highly recommend this book!

No comments about All the Wild Horses: Preserving the Spirit and Beauty of the World's Wild Horses.

5 comments about Nop's Trials: A Novel.

1. I read this book after reading two others by McCaig and was not disappointed; I think this is his best. I love the way his dog characters carry on conversations with each other. McCaig seems to be able to get inside the head of his canines. He brings his personal experience to bear on his fiction and masterfully keeps the reader turning the page with his wonderful ability to keep you in suspense.



2. I found "Nop's Trials" quite by accident. I had been running searches for books on dog behavior and training, and books on sheepdogs, border collies in particular, and "Nop's Trials" popped up. Thinking it was a book on training sheepdogs and trialing, I bought it. It seems like I always find my favorite books by accident. Donald McCaig's writing style is simplistic, but so lovely that it just sucks you into the story completely. I found myself crying, laughing, running the gamut of emotions. Even now, when I think back on it, I get choked up. I've always admired the border collie for its intensity, intelligence and energy and this book has given me an even deeper respect for the breed. It also opened my eyes to realities that we so often choose not to acknowledge. It's a great, great book.



3. Nop's Trials, by Donald McCaig, is a heart-warming story of Lewis Burkholder's prize border collie, who is stolen while wandering a bit to far with the puppy. He is then, of course abused by redneck Grady Gumm, who is later killed in the end of the story. Nop, the main character, is then transported all over the place by dog abusers, dog lovers, dog haters, and dog users. This is a story where you will be happy at some times, be sad, cry, and feel the pain of Lewis' determined journey to find his best friend, Nop. If you havn't read this story, I reccommend you read it now!!



4. If you have or are thinking of getting a border collie this book will give you insight (good and bad) into their head. They aren't like other dogs...but I saw my border collies in "Nop". Excellent way of explaining and describing factual things that sprinkle through this book. If you liked the Lad books of old; Lassie Come Home and others you'll like this book. Highly recommended for dog lovers.



5. Being the dog lover I am, and living with two amazing border collies, I had high HOPES for this book. However, after getting only to page 44, I felt sick and horrified! I couldn't believe I was actually reading this. This is by far the worst book I can remember, and I will not spend anymore time discussing it. My only hope is that I can save someone else from wasting time and dealing with such agony.

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

1. The subject of Cichlids is a study in complex social behaviors. Although this reference didn't have anything new to say about Cichlids, it is an accurate primer of the most popular varieties from the African Rift Lakes and Central America.
   
   Curiously, what caught my eye is the term "Pet Owner". Cichlids are indeed very much like pets. Strange though it may sound, this species of fishes goes through a bonding stage very early on and the bond continues to develop through the years, so they may watch what's going on outside of their tank and respond to familiarities.
   
   This is a good book for anyone considering the purchase of a Cichlid. It treats the species appropriately so that the reader comes away with a good understanding of the social structure that is so highly evolved within the Cichlid society, without the expense of a more detailed book the reader may not need before they commit to the fish.
   
   The book does not offer much to the advanced aquarist, but it does cover the basics of diet, disease, compatibility and behaviors. The authors are experienced with the species, but offered little by the way of expert advice.



2. I purchased this book awhile back when I was first getting into Cichlids. It has alot of useful info, and it's easy to follow and refer back to. It gives good tips, and informative basic overveiw. If you're looking for more detailed and/or species/region specific info, this isn't the right book for you. If you are just getting into the hobby, this is a fabulous choice!



3. This books gives someone wanting to learn about Cichlids a good starting point. It covers several varieties, explaining their origins, behavior, breeding habbits and so on. It also gives some pointers on what varieties can coexist and some that shouldn't be mixed. Not all-ecompassiing by any means, but gives a person a good beginning overview to to Cichlids and to help you decide if this is the type of fish you want to put in your aquarium. I've read it to completion, am still interested and now am looking for more detailed information.

4 comments about Training Your Pit Bull (Training Your Dog Series).

1. I guess I was mistakenly expecting the book to impart some great wisdom upon me or something, but 90 percent of it is about the history of pitbulls, where they came from, and the bad image they have received. there's a partial chapter about actual dog training, which basically just says that repitition is the key to success...kinda already knew that...so it was a complete waste of money, I let my kids take scissors to the book and they made a poster with the pictures that were in it, since that was the best part of the entire thing anyways.



2. Excellent item... however it does not state what is the best age to start your training. So far i think i have a good buy



3. I bought this book AFTER I got a pitbull. The book even teaches you how to choose a pitbull, so a small part of it was not useful for me. I didn't finish it yet, I bought it recently, but I must say I already learned a lot from it. Stuff normal people told me to do, were not allowed. Like putting my dog with its nose in its "dirt" if he does it on the carpet, or playing tug of war with it. Well, A LOT! I truly recommend it.



4. I was able to follow the instructions for the training in this book step by step. I have been training my dogs in a more old fashion way. But my dogs and I seem to enjoy the fun and results. I have 5 Pit bulls they learn quickly already had the Basics down, but now im getting into the cool tricks and the dogs get a treat now I didn't give one before. I rate this book 4 out of 5 its a must read.

3 comments about 101 Uses for a Dog.

1. A TRUE DOG LOVER'S DELIGHT! Charming, fun, cute, adorable are all words which can be used to describe this wonderful little book. It is a collection of 101 well-chosen pictures of dogs with a descriptive word or phrase as the title of each picture. The book is divided into four loosely grouped themes. First is titled "in and around the house" and is composed of 24 pictures. Second is "as playmates", 22 pictures. Next is "as tireless helper", 28 pictures, Last is "and specialty uses", 27 pictures.

   There are a myriad of breeds, but not surprisingly given their popularity and photogenic qualities, golden retreivers and black labs are most heavily represented. (This was fine with me, since we own one of each.) All different sizes and ages appear, and in fact one of the really nice pairings is the juxtaposition of "someone to grow up with" followed by "someone to grow old with". Some of the other entries familiar to any dog owner or fan are "gardener" (and the related "landscaper"), "exercise partner" and not surprisingly the classic "rescuer". (Guess which breed?) There are also such clever poses as the "weathervane" and the "water quality specialist". It is hard to choose a favorite, but I would probably chose "surrogate sister" although the "lookout" , the "bellhops", the "partners-in-crime " and "playing hide and seek' are close runnersup.

   This is a wonderful book to keep on a coffee table or in a reading basket. Your guests will enjoy perusing it and you will want to just pick it up from time to time when you want to look at something that will quickly elict a smile. Note that is very small, but the size is appropriate for the format. As noted above, my only complaint is that it is overpriced if you pay full price. It is clearly meant to appeal to people as an impulse purchase or small gift item; I picked it up next to a cash register at a gift shop while on vacation, and I was entranced enough that I decided to buy it but felt as if I was being overcharged (similar to many other items in the store). However, I am glad that I purchased it - the pictures have been a source of frequent joy since then. It would certainly make a wonderful gift for any dog lover who you know, it is appropriate for all ages.

   Tucker Andersen




2. This is a cute picture book that features dogs doing what they do best, being man's best friend. Every page features a different picture with a different dog and a one or two word description. Uses range from the fun (pillow and secret sharer) to the more useful (paper boy) with a few serious thrown in for good measure (search and rescue). The pictures are so cute that any person who loves a dog will smile the entire way through.



3. I bought this book as a gift, but being a dog lover, read it first. I was disappointed because, the book is small and just "okay"--it was mildly humorous, but certainly nothing laugh out loud. I'd pay (less) for a book like this, so I'm returning this one to put my money to better use...

5 comments about The Ultimate Pet Food Guide: Everything You Need to Know about Feeding Your Dog or Cat.

1. An eye opener. I've already cured my German Shepherd's allergies by feeding her a grain free diet. Author is also a great dog obedience instructor.



2. This book is a great place to start if you are considering feeding your dog homemade food. It has many recipes and suggestions so you don't have to search several different books.



3. I have tried some of the meals and gotten a lot of great ideas . My girls were already eating cooked chicken, this gives them some variety.



4. I found the information in Ms. Palika's book has helped me a lot in looking at the labels of my cat's and my dog's foods. I appreciate the recipes for home made diets, both raw and cooked, but I don't cook that much for myself. But at least after reading this book I understand what to look for when buying a commercial food--and I even found a safe, easy to feed raw food brand for my pets. Thanks!



5. This book presents an easily understandable, yet comprehensive review of the options available to feed your pet. The book covers the complete range of pet foods, from kibble you can get at almost any store, through specialized dehydrated natural pet foods, and finally to raw or cooked foods you can prepare at home (too much effort for me!) Being a dedicated dog owner, I focused on that part of the book, although there is also lots of information on cat foods.
   
   Although the book provides a few examples of good and bad pet foods, its real value is that it taught me how to become an educated pet owner, so that I can provide my dogs with healthy meals that meet their nutritional needs. Understanding the nutritional needs of dogs is not obvious to the typical consumer - for example, it turns out that there is "good" kibble and "bad" kibble. Good kibble tries to mimic what dogs and wolves evolved to eat in the wild, while bad kibble mostly consists of grains and whatever meat byproducts that pet food conglomerates can put together at a cheap price. (You don't often see wolves, which are closely related to dogs, out cooking up a batch of rice or wheat for dinner....) I found this book to be a tremendous source of information on this subject. As another example, ground corn (the first ingredient in some dog foods) includes the entire ear of corn - not just the corn kernels, but also the corn cob, all ground up together. Yuck - but it's a lot cheaper than meat! Care to guess how much of that ingredient nourishes your best friend and how much passes straight through, for you to clean up later?
   
   In summary, this book really makes you think about what you are feeding your pet, and gives you the information to make better decisions. As Ms. Palika writes, the old adage that states "we are what we eat" also applies to our pets. Taking the time to understand that can pay benefits in healthier pets that are likely to live happier, longer lives. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Puppy Preschool, Revised Edition: Raising Your Puppy Right---Right from the Start!.

1. After we decided to adopt a puppy we went to the library to check out books in order to prepare for our new arrival. I sorted through many different books, and started reading a bunch of them once I got about 8 of them home. Out of all the books I checked out from the library this was the one that was the most readable and most useful. I'm online now to purchase it so I can mark it up, add tabs, as well as hold onto it for future reference. There's a lot of useful information on what to do from day one--handling, wearing collar, using a leash, stop mouthing, house training, etc. A great book to build a good foundation before formal puppy training begins around 4 mo. I highly recommend it--we're so glad we found this book before we brought our puppy home.



2. Before we got our puppy I went to the library to do research on how best to train a puppy. I checked out numerous books trying to figure out which was the best book. I got to Puppy Preschool and it was, by far, the best resource I found. It had a lot of useful information and I immediately bought the book after reading the library's version. I can now proudly say I have a puppy who is very well trained and always responds to commands.



3. This is the only book that needs to be printed on puppy training. I used it 11 years ago when I trained our two Maltese puppies, and gave out a copy with each of the 12 baby maltese that our two eventually had over the next 3 years, when each puppy left with their new owner. I was so happy to find it still available when we added another Maltese puppy to our family 5 months ago. Train with kindness and love is the underlying message of this book and it works.



4. These guys really know what they are talking about and have helped us immensley with our new puppy. We have even gone back and had to re-read several of the sections because they were so useful.



5. I have read 5 different dog / puppy books and several magazines. I think this is definately the best I've read so far. It teaches you how to be the pack leader ... too many books gloss over that completely. The books I've read before haven't really addressed the fact that dogs don't think the way people do. For some reason, Americans are always trying to humanize their pets... they treat them like little people, thinking dogs understand or think the way we do. Wrong! The result - most 'American' dogs are badly behaved - and end up unwanted. I've noticed that Germans have very well behaved dogs and people don't get rid of / or give up their pets like Americans do. I think it's because Germans treat their dogs like dogs, not like little people. Get this book BEFORE you get a puppy and study it!!! You will be happy and your puppy will be happy. Remember, if you aren't the pack leader - your dog will assume the role (whether he wants to or not... someone MUST be the pack leader, even if it has to be the dog). If it isn't you, you'll end up miserable (because your dog is out of control) and so will the dog... because you just might end up getting rid of him. And you'll be missing out on a great relationship with your canine companion. Read this book to get you off on the right start, ... then follow up with Dog Talk.

4 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Horses (The Complete Idiot's Guide).

1. This is simply the best book on the subject for anyone thinking of owning or learning to ride a horse, period. Any beginner should start here, and if you buy only one book, make it this one. Yet anyone can benefit from the accumulated wisdom.

   The sidebars and boxes are particularly great. 5 Stars!




2. This is a well-organized, comprehensive, and engagingly written introduction to all aspects of horse lore and horse ownership. The authors are as friendly as they are entertaining. It's worth a read just to see what the next clever heading will be! Fortunately the text is also succinct and clear. All topics are presented in straightforward, highly readable prose. A detailed contents list provides easy topic-specific access, and there are appendixes to guide readers to information from other sources. A thoroughly enjoyable read, and a great gift for all age groups and interest levels.



3. This treasure is jam-packed with basic info as well as trivia tidbits, such as "From the Horse's Mouth" and "Horse Lore" highlights. Covers everything from "accessories" to "zoning," and is easy, informative and entertaining reading.



4. Here is a book that gives a broad overview of everything "horses". The information is concise and written with a touch of humor. Be sure to check out the color photo section in the middle of the book to see pictures of different breeds of horses ranging from Arabians to Miniature horses. The resource section is extensive and allows the reader to pursue interesting topics in greater detail. It is a must for those new to horses and would also be very useful to those who already own horses.

2 comments about Track Finder (Nature Study Guides).

1. This is a quick and dirty field guide. It's good for what it is. It simply covers prints/tracks. Its a great beginner book, or pocket guide. Don't expect a telephone book with hundreds of color photos. It's a good guide for the price.



2. This pamphlet is not what I expected. It was better than most in helping a novice in identifying tracks. Would recommend it to anyone interested in identifying animal tracks throughout the U.S.