5 comments about Adopting the Racing Greyhound.

1. You need to read this book. It is the most comprehensive book of its kind. You will find all of the information necessary to help you make the right decision. Greys are the greatest breed of dog on the planet!



2. This book is an essential item for any who has or will be adopting a racing greyhound. Practical information presented in a logical, no nonsense way.



3. This book has a lot of important information about caring for your greyhound. I found it to be a great source!



4. I am a first time Greyhound adopter and I'm so glad this is one of the books that was a pre-adoption requirement. I enjoy how Cynthia is so in tune with these wonderful dogs and she gives you the info directly from her heart! They said any book by Cynthia Branigan is worth purchasing, so I'm going to buy her other book on Greyhounds next.



5. This book was such a help as the breed was new to me. I knew nothing about the personality of the breed or what to expect. This book will help any one interested in adopting a Grey through the first months and the life of the pet. The medical information is invaluble as these are things some vets don't know let alone the pet owner. The book not only assists you in knowing the breed before you bring one home, but can greatly assist you in deciding if this is the right pet for you.

No comments about Play With Your Dog (Dogwise Training Manual).

5 comments about The Whelping and Rearing of Puppies: A Complete and Practical Guide.

1. I give this book 5 stars although I have found no book with a much needed "fact chart". I find myself going back through sections over and over again, trying to find out when they hear, etc. I have created my own notes and fact sheet for next time. Having known absolutely nothing, this book is GREAT and I highly recommend it. I always read the negative reviews on books first...I must say I did not find the author remiss with the chapter on sickly puppies. It has to be mentioned and fore armed prepares you. I found myself trusting my instincts and our one little puppy is doing so well at age 2 weeks. With only one in the litter I was a little concerned about delivery of a large puppy and losing our one and only. This book gave a lot of information about the birth and I felt confident in being able to step up and assist our [...] with anything. Turns out I was not needed at all. Reading this book was definitely an asset. Highly recommended!



2. This is a very well planned book. There are numerous examples and references to other breeders and the experiences they have had. This book is a very valuable assett to anyone having puppies or even thinking about it.



3. I thought this book was very helpfull for us, we had our first litter of puppies and reading this book it helped me to see and know what might happen when the puppies come...and the materical I might need for the birthing . Everything went well ..



4. The only thing I can say that this book is missing is the information you may need when you are "tying" your dogs. This is just as important a process to know about as welping. Otherwise this is a great purchase!



5. good, easy to read book for the first timers. Book arrived Saturday morning, puppies arrived Saturday afternoon. I've been around dogs all my life but this is the first litter we have ever assisted in the delivery and the book does a very good job explaining what to do throughout the birth and the different stages of the puppies first 8 weeks. I would definitely recommend this book as did my vet to me.

2 comments about The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship: Intermediate Horsemanship (C Level) (Howell Reference Books).

1. As a begging rider, I was wandering through a local tack shop when I saw the USPCA's Manuals for Horsemanship, D level and C level. I picked up the C level manual and was overwhelmed with the information, so I asked my mom to buy me the D level book. I read the book cover to cover in three days, although I was only ten years old at the time. I was surprised at how much I had been doing wrong (I have a great instructor who doesn't like to overwhelm begginers with directions). Six months later I was capable of completing all the requirments of the D manual, so my mom bought me the C manual. About a year later I joined a local Pony Club, and was very glad that I had read the manuals when I became a D-3 shortly after joining. Three years later, I am still very thankful to Susan E. Harris for writing the manuals. I am now a C-3, and hope to advance to the B level by next spring. I would recommend the manuals to anyone who rides english, however, remember to read them in order, or you will feel as if you are missing information. I have not read the B-A manual yet, but I do think that the C manual is the best of the three for building a sound riding career. P.S. I'm also in 4-H, and have found that Grooming to Win, also by Susan E. Harris, is extremely useful when preparing for Pony Club rallies or inspections, 4-H shows, and just about any other shows. It is also a great guide to daily grooming, trimming, and conditioning of your horse.



2. Like Susan's first volume, this is a marvelous combination of clear language, straight-forward presentation, and logical organization, topped by many wonderful drawings. Once you've read and digested the "D" volume, go on to this one and continue your equestrian education in the most logical way I've found. I'm a long-time riding instructor, especially for the US Pony Clubs, and recommend this book to riders of any age. I also own about 900 horse books and Susan Harris's Manuals are, by far, the ones I consult most often.

5 comments about Stretch Exercises for Your Horse: The Path to Perfect Suppleness.

1. This book will be read over and over as a handy reference guide. The topic is interesting and goes to a lot of trouble to explain in simple english, what problems may occur.



2. Very informative. I learned how to stretch the muscle so that the horse was more supple and less likely be to injury in competition and everyday use



3. One of the greatest mistakes riders make is not preparing their horses to rider. They just jump on and go. They don't warm the horses up or stretch them after they have worked to keep muscles supple. Then they wonder why their horses become lame or injured. The stretches suggested in this book are a great way to treat your horse like the athlete he is.



4. For whoever said there is nothing new in this book you must be a very proficient and contentiousness horse person. I found this book pack full of goodies. Perhaps there is nothing "new" for you, but for most horse owners it is a fantastic book.
   
   It has clear illustrations of all the stretches and explanations about why you do them. I also find this a good book for taking out to the barn and working through with my horses.
   
   They enjoy the change from being ridden and the exercises also make good warm up and cool downs. They are the basic exercises but you don't really need to learn 999 different exercises. Just do the ones in this book well.



5. Learn your horse's anatomy and put your new knowledge to work as you train your horse and develop stretching routines.

2 comments about The Well-Adjusted Dog: Dr. Dodman's Seven Steps to Lifelong Health and Happiness for Your BestFriend.

1. With many dog owners having behavior problems with their 4 footed friends, it's no surprise that the shelters end up with too many dogs. And with the economy struggling, shelters even get more abandoned or "give up" dogs.
   
   Dr. Dodman has authored chapters on understanding your dog, what constitutes proper behavior when on a lead, and how to deal with fear-producing situations. There's also a section on medical problems, that may have an adverse effect on the dog's behavior.
   
   The advice in the Dodman book will aid dog owners in training their dogs, ensure that the dog is getting adequate exercise, and is on the right diet-all of which are crucial to making their pet a "well adjusted dog".



2. I found Dr Dodman's book very helpful in my search for a new puppy and the first weeks of training him. I think every new dog owner should read this book!

5 comments about The Cat Bible: Everything Your Cat Expects You to Know.

1. The Cat Bible reads like a text book and isn't something I see us keeping. I'd rather have a cat guide that was easier to read and proivded information in a cleaner manner.



2. While I've had cats before, this book is incredibly valuable. We just got a new kitten and found great info on training him with techniques we've never considered before. I recommend this for anyone getting a kitten regardless of your history of having cats.



3. I bought this book hoping to find good, practical advice about owning my first cat. Instead, I found the book to be extremely condescending and preachy. Rather than giving truly practical advice about cat-related matters, I was treated to Ms. Hotchner's personal diatribes on issues such as declawing, cat food, spaying/neutering, etc. I would have vastly prefered a more dispassionate discussion of the pros and cons of these issues rather than Ms. Hotchner's one-sided opinions.



4. Good but it lacks some schematic drawings of a cat's anatomy.
   
   Sandra



5. This is a handy-dandy guide to almost everything you need to know about your cat. It covers everything from kitten behavior to most common medical problems. If you're looking for a guide specifically on how to raise a kitten or what to do in a medical emergency, I'd go with something else. This is more of a guide on basic questions you might have for your cat. It covers a lot of areas , but nothing too terribly in depth. I recommend it for general feline questions.

5 comments about All 87 Breed Dog Grooming for the Beginner.

1. Wonderful book if you're trying your hand at dog grooming. I've saved a lot of money in groomer's charges by learning to upkeep my own pets from this book. Easy to read and understand and is a "keeper" if you want to venture out on your own in dog grooming.



2. Ordered this together with a CD on dog grooming. It arrived in a reasonable amount of time in good condition. It was somewhat helpful, but probably could have done without it. The CD, of course, was better at illustrating grooming technique.



3. I bought this book and All-Breed Dog Grooming book. It is word for word the same book. Buy this book if you like both - it is half the price.
   
   I bought this to learn how to groom by Cavalier King Charles and Shih-Tzu after disasterous experience with so called professional groomers. It provided many good basics but greater detail was expected from a book for beginners



4. A very insightful and informative volume of addressing various breeds' grooming expectations. Covered are the types of tools and even suggestions on chemical hair products that would enhance and attain the styles described.
   
   The illustrations should have been more descriptive, using slides of steps, rather than rudimentary colored images of subjects with arrows showing direction of cut. In many cases, the depictions of certain breeds are not very accurate; some are even clumsily drawn.
   
   Lastly, each breed's coat and classification has a purpose, regardless of the dog being a pet or an active service, hunting, working, herding, pulling, or performing animal; the history of grooming cuts should have been rationalized and justified beyond the standards of the show ring.



5. My order came when I was told it would, and it arrived in great shape. I will order from this company again when I need another book.

5 comments about Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants.

1. I loved this book! It has very in-depth information. I've always had problems with algae in my planted aquarium and this book explains several reasons why this occurs and how to prevent it. It explains, in detail, nutrient requirements, lighting options, ways that fish and invertebrates interact with plants, and which plants are best for beginners. It explains complicated information with clear diagrams. Finally, there is a great list of plants with photos and info.
   
   The only negative thing I can say is that this book is probably not the best for someone who only wants one or two plants in their aquarium and is looking for a simple introduction. This book isn't very simple, but it does offer clear explanations of many topics relating to growing plants in your aquarium.



2. I found this book very informative when I was setting up my 75 gallon Discus aquarium. Thanks to the information, pictures and various expamples it gave, I gained the knowledge to pick the way I wanted to set up my aquarium and what plants would be the better choices for the lower ph, higher temp. water used for Discus. Very good read.



3. Don't purchase this book unless you are a botanist. It is very difficult to understand and the layout impossible to follow.



4. This is a beautiful book with many high quality pictures of the plants. Overall it has well organized content but some informations are just not specific enough. For example, how much CO2 to dose to your tank is appropriate? How much Gh is a water soft or hard? How much time it normally takes to "cycle" a tank? No introduction on the pros and cons of different CO2 reactors types. Some answers may not be trivial but at least general guide line should be provided to be any useful.



5. This is a very good all round book for aquatic plants from the substrata , to light requirments etc etc. This book even give basic gardening requirments and arranging to have a healthy and attractice garden in your aquarium .

5 comments about Way of the Horse: Equine Archetypes for Self-Discovery - A Book of Exploration and 40 Cards.

1. Linda's books open up a new world to many readers. Her insights and experiences are (for want of a better word) deep and thought provoking. I love her work and encourage anyone to explore it.



2. This is an awesome book with beautifuly illustrated cards, all with horses. If you love horses and want to investigate some ideas about healing yourself and get insight into yourself this is a must have. I love it!



3. This is an excellent tool that I use in Psychotherapy. You do not have to enjoy horses to use the 40 beautifully illistrated cards and explore the short chapter associated with the card. I have used it in career counseling as well as groups for people with conflictual self and relationships. This book has also assisted me in discovering what"gifts" that I bring in my life as well as what "challenges" I may have within me. This book is in a nicely done case in order to keep everything together. It is highly recommended as a reference tool for self or others. I have had all my friends pick their cards and I copied the pages for them to refer back to. I have now purchased as many books as I can find from this author and I will continue to explore her scope of self discovery using the horse as our guide.



4. These cards and the book make a great option for Tarot readers who want to branch out into different forms of reading for clients that are turned off by the old witchy reputation of the traditional tarot. The archetypes are well thought out. I have yet to master the different meanings and it will take study but I really welcome it. Many people are more open to horses than they are to other people!



5. I ordered these cards because I was planning to buy a set for a friend who is a horse-lover. This is not a traditional tarot deck, but instead a deck defining different aspects of life and offering a unique lens for looking at these aspects. There isn't any skill involved in using these cards (just pick a card in the morning or lay out 3 if asking a particular question) but they seem to offer insights at first use. The first question I asked this deck involved a relationship and I pulled card 6, "Rivalry" which described two people in a partnership wanting to dominate when it could be a more cordial relationship. I was able to discuss this insight with my partner. This deck lends itself to meditation, and is definitely the kind of deck you can use for deeper insights about a situation. It is not the kind of deck for "yes or no" answers. Also, the explanatory chapters on each card goes for several pages so be prepared to sit and read a while when you pull your card, as there are no quick answers in this deck. The book makes interesting reading on its own. The cards are beautifully drawn and perfect for any horse lover. If you want a deck of "wisdom" cards to look at daily, these are very suitable. There is so much wisdom to be drawn from horses, and with evocative cards such as "Kairos," "Merlin's Spirit," "Keeper of the Mysteries," "Maste of Sadness," and others, these cards and book allow a deeper look at any issue you might be facing. These cards will not tell you what to do. They will give you a new view of your situation with alot of food for thought.