5 comments about The Only Dog Tricks Book You'll Ever Need: Impress Friends, Family--and Other Dogs!.

1. Book in perfect shape. Arrived in very timely manor. Thank you for your great service.



2. It is definitely for beginners. The authors explains every detail about everything so you will be succesful in teaching which tricks you want and doing it correctly and efficiently. It displays a few pictures of dogs performing the tricks but its not a visual book, but more of a guide book that you have to read most of to understand who to do things properly. All in all its an amazing book if you want to teach your dog great, fun things.



3. I've purchased many dog behavior and trick books over the years. This little gem is definitely the best trick book. My golden and I have had many great times learning some of the tricks. Easy to follow and the progressive technique makes great sense. I'm amazed at how fast he can learn following the simple directions. Patience and consistency as always is the key.



4. This is a very good book. It has may good points about tricks and teaching your dog.



5. This was a great book. Easy to follow steps. Needs more pictures. A DVD to go along with it would be better.

5 comments about Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior.

1. Please do not use this book as a guide to understanding your dog. Dr. Grandin does not appear to know anything about dogs or even like them very much.



2. This is the most fascinating book I have ever read. The amazing Temple Grandin takes two subjects: autism and animal behavior,and draws comparisons with remarkable insight. She brings the world of animal behavior into sharp focus with examples and explanations and makes it easy for the lay reader to understand. She and coauthor, Catherine Johnson, write with a conversational prose that makes even the most difficult concepts easy to grasp. Every chapter elicits a "Wow".
   
   Although the dry title may put some people off because it sounds clinical and cerebral, this absolutely exciting book holds a plethora of facts and wonders about the animals we come into contact with on a daily basis. A real eye-opener!
   
   - C.A. Wulff, author of Born Without a Tail



3. This is a terrific book. I learned about animal behavior and autism. I am a science teacher and I gained understanding of my autistic students and my pets and insight to share with students regarding animal behavior.



4. With all the force of revelation, an autistic scientist offers the rest of us revolutionary insights into the animal mind. It is written in clear, deceptively simple prose. There's so much here that it is hard to keep it in the bounds of a short review:
   
   The first section is about Temple Grandin and her autism, how she has coped with it and used her unique perception to help animals and the people who work with them. This is an inspiring story.
   
   The second section talks about how animals perceive the immediate environment and how people do not. This was literally an eye-opener! Since then, I have become a better observer of my own animals. My horse trusts me more because I can respond to his alerts. My dog has an ability to detect the approach of dangerous weather.
   
   The third section discusses animal feelings in a scientific manner and challenges some modern methods of animal breeding, care or confinement that produce abnormal behaviors. This is a fascinating chapter that covers many aspects of animal behavior and altered my own. After reading this chapter, I started buying only eggs that were labeled "cage-free".
   
   The chapter on animal aggression had a lot of information about dogs and cats, animals of prey that have become our closest companions. A fundamental difference exists between a dog happily killing a squirrel and a dog angrily biting a human.
   
   She makes an equally fundamental point in the following chapter about animals masking pain that suddenly explained why a horse I once had who had just broken a bone suddenly put his head down and started to eat grass as if everything was fine. In following chapters there was food for thought in how animals think and about animal genius.
   
   In short, if you like animals, this is an invaluable book made more useful and effective by its wide-ranging focus on a variety of species.



5. she has several positive points to make about her own autism which is a change form other books i have read,

5 comments about Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale.

1. This is another wonderful story told with a lot of love. Right up there with Marley and Me and Merle's Door. You can read this more than once. I just wish the book was longer because there were so many great tales of this dog and her owners. They really loved their dog.



2. Great story about Gracie and her "family"! Having a German Shepherd who is partially deaf, blind in one eye, and dumped in a trash can at 10 weeks old, I can certainly relate to Dan (and Mark) and their quest to raise a "special needs" dog. It's a wonderful [true] story for anyone who is a dog lover!



3. This book is a really great tribute to Gracie. It also gives me tons of respect for these guys and the lengths they went thru to make her life better.
   I am also impressed by Three Dog Bakery and think it was such a great idea, the American dream for dog lovers. :)



4. The books came in and it was like brand new....in fact if I hadn't known I ordered it used I would never have known. It was a great gift and the seller is another I would use again. The book came sooner than promised and was in even better shape than described.



5. Great book that had me actually laughing out loud, tearing up, and also sobbing. You go on Gracie and Dan's journey and live it with them.

5 comments about Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon.

1. A delightful book showing Dr. Trout's skill with narrative. The ongoing stories, of Sage the dog with the stomach that was literally turned, and Barron, the dog with the difficult and sad diagnosis, gave the book shape and narrative curve. I loved the cautionary story about the cat who had swallowed something stringy. The tangential material, both about Trout's own life (a young man massaging a puppy to life) and weird animal lore (ferrets in one's pants), provided rich and rewarding reading.
   
   I do wish he'd had more cat anecdotes, of course, since I am a cataholic.
   
   One tiny criticism: an ongoing villain in the story is Sage's owner's daughter, who is an engineer and holds a doctorate. If she was truly as unfeeling toward animals as Trout paints her, she no doubt deserves the disdain with which he paints her. (And I wonder if she ever picked up his book and recognized herself). BUT: doctors of engineering with Ph.D.'s are just as much doctors as veterinarians or MDs. They hold lives in their hands as much as do doctors of medicine or veterinary science.
   
   Doctors of Engineering keep airplanes in the air and bridges from collapsing. The degree of doctor was invented before it was assigned by public opinion to medical doctors. So I wish Trout hadn't ended his book with the snarky comment, "Perhaps she {Dr. Hartmann} uses the title . . . to get bumped from coach to business." I have a Ph.D., but it sure never helped me get a better seat on an airplane! As to his supposition that she used the doctorate "to bully her way into our phone system," I have to ask if Angell Animal Medical Center is so elitist that the owners of poor dying animals have to bully receptionists to get information or help.
   
   The length to which I've gone in this screed might suggest I don't like the book, but I did like it, He does anecdote very well, and it's clear he loves both animals and the art and technology of surgery, maybe the latter a bit more than the former. He conveys both loves beautifully.



2. Nick Trout has written a charming "day in the life" account of being a surgeon in Boston's Angell veterinarian hospital. When I started I wondered if this was going to be nothing more than a serialized piece from Dog or Cat Fancy that had been expanded into book form, but my skepticism was quickly dispelled and I found myself charmed by both his sensitive and funny approach to both the pets and their owners. Anyone who owns and cherishes their pet would probably find alot to appreciate and identify with here.



3. This light-hearted memoir recounts a day in the life of a veterinary surgeon via a series of surgical vignettes intermingled with remembrances and reflections. The structure of the book is somewhat choppy, and there's very little momentum moving the story along. Nevertheless, this book is likely to entertain animal lovers or people curious about veterinarians, and it won't demand much of your brain power.



4. This was an enjoyable story, but the errors were like fingernails across a blackboard. The book does not appear to have been copyedited or proofread. One blooper reads: "When I first met Ms. Wicks, I was physically bowled over by her...tricolored silky fur and energy." I think maybe that should read "her dog's." A couple is described as "balling" their eyes out in the waiting room - what a picture that brings to mind! Punctuation is bizarre, and if one word can be confused with another, it is: reign for rein, peak for peek, etc. Of course, these are not the author's fault, but they did detract from the reading experience for me.



5. At first I found the jump-around style of storytelling distracting. I kept wanting it to read like the James Herriot books -- a chapter for this case, a new chapter for that case. Once I understood that the whole book was going to be back and forth, I was good with it and enjoyed the reading immensely. Of course, the back and forth style fits this book since it is one day of following Trout in the hospital. There isn't a definitive chapter between all patients, especially in surgery, what with post-op check-ups and all. And so the narrative is juggled in the same manner that Trout juggles between multiple cases at once.
   
   This was a delightful read. I loved to learn some of the updated methods and options for treatments in the animal world. Medicine is worlds beyond what Herriot practiced in his day! Trout has wonderful insight into the ways of both animals and their humans. Anyone who understands the bond between a person and his pet will enjoy this book.

5 comments about The Beginner's Guide to Dog Agility.

1. Great book, everything you need to know. How to make obsticals and
   agility speak are great!



2. This book is a great resourse for those who are interested in agility, but don't know where to start, or those beginners looking for some pointers and training tips. I also really enjoyed chapter 21 "Minding Your Agility Manners" which tells you what to expect at competition, and how to avoid doing anything considered faux pas.



3. A bit heavy handed on promoting Ag training, but the enthusiasm is real and the advice and information extensive and invaluable.



4. I thought this book was really a great overview of dog agility training. The author does a really nice job of describing the kind of dog that works best with a agillity along with exact training exercies and other helpful books, clubs, and web sites. I felt this book was a fantastic source for dog lovers whether you want to train for fun or train for competition.



5. We bought this book on the suggestion of an agility dog trainer that we met at an agility trial. This book gives you all the ins and outs to dog agility as well as great training tips. I also loved all the color pictures showing dogs in action. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in getting into dog agility.

5 comments about The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat.

1. A real eyeopener. The chapter on vaccines was good & as stated had my dogs tested & they did not need vaccines . Its a shame the vets don't tell you a titters test is avaiable instead of over vaccinating. Start reading pet food labels in more detail even if it says its organic find out from the manufacturer if they get food from another source and if thats the case they don't have to list the chemicals in that part. A must read if you want a healthy animal.



2. My book had no signs of abuse and was in great shape except some of the pages had yellowing from age. It arrived in a very timely manner. I would order again from this company. I was very pleased with their customer service.



3. If you are looking for more information, as I have been, this is a good book. It was very helpful. I am reading practically everything I can find regarding dog health as my 4 -year old Siberian cross just developed epilepsy. I have discovered that each book I get has an extra bit of information that I did not glean before from other books. (Good for the booksellers, right?) But seriously, it has good information! I recommend it.



4. Within four days of following many of the suggestions in this book, my two huge ailing dogs started smiling abundantly, staying awake more, and enjoying life again! I love knowing I am making a difference in their lives by giving them a healthier and more delicious diet. This book stays on my bedside table for frequent reference, and my friends are buying copies as well. It inspires me to be a better mama for my loving furchildren! Nan Shaw



5. For everyone who lives with dogs and/or cats, this is a must have book. It is comprehensive and full of invaluable information. He discusses everything from diet to cancer to vaccines. He provides rather detailed information, not just skimming the surface of the topics. He includes lots of useful sources as well. I was so excited when I got this book that I immediately ran to the store to implement some of the changes.

5 comments about All Creatures Great and Small.

1. I bought the book for my 11 yo cause it was recommended. i ended up reading and enjoying the book, but how someone can imagine it suitable for youngsers under 18 is beyond me.



2. god blessed james . author/vet herriot wrote one of the most beautiful , loving , detailed and moving books you'd ever have the good fortune of stumbling across . i read a portion in a jr. college reader and then swiftly got the book . james was clearly one of the greatest writer/humans of any time . what a gift his insight and stories are . required reading for all humanity .



3. The classic story based on the real life experience of a veterinarian in Yorkshire, England. James Herriot comes to Darrowby during a time when jobs are scarce and he needs to stay. But he finds he loves the people and the animals.
   
   His associates are a lively bunch. His boss, Siegfried Farnon, is kindhearted, but has an annoying habit of contradicting himself (and then blaming it on James). Siegfried's brother, Tristan Farnon, is the younger almost-vet who is stuck with the worst jobs, loves the ladies and a drink or two. The farmers and neighbors are generally are hardworking lot. Their stories give the true color of the place and time. James also meets Helen Alderson, the beautiful and enchanting daughter of a farmer.
   
   The classic tale was also turned into a BBC series (7 seasons). I would highly recommend both!



4. Mr. James Herriot is an uncommon writer, possessed of extraordinary skill and a mastery of the English language. When speaking of works of fiction, he is my favorite writer. His ability to choose perfectly appropriate and descriptive words, phrases, and metaphors to verbally illustrate unique characteristics, landscapes, feelings, and situations still has me mesmerized.
   
   "All Creatures Great and Small" is autobiographical in that Mr. Herriot is the central character of the book, though James Herriot is the pen name of the real author, Jim Wight. However, since the work is defined as a novel, then one may assume that Mr. Herriot took certain liberties in relating many of the tales he unfolds. Mr. Herriot is a veterinary surgeon, and much of his novel specifically involves dealing with particular cases of sick livestock and ailing house pets. One should not quickly conclude, however, that this story is merely about the ramblings of a country animal doctor who at times finds himself in interesting situations, as some reviewers would suggest.
   
   Instead, my feeling is that Mr. Herriot utilized his visits to multiple and varied farms and residences in the British countryside to highlight the individual conditions, attitudes, and distinctive persons he discovered at each location. The book becomes absolutely delightful and poignant, for instance, when Mr. Herriot kindly sits at an aging woman's bedside and tenderly comforts her with his voiced belief that her devoted, loving dogs and cats are indeed possessed of souls and that she need not fear that they will again be her companions in the afterlife.
   
   And I do not believe I have laughed out loud so frequently while reading one book. Some of my personal favorites are when his brakes go out on his car and he must navigate a steep and winding descent to the bottom of a low valley, where his next veterinary visit is scheduled, and when he finds himself on his first date with the woman he is destined to marry and the only respectable dress suit he owns is several years out of fashion and far too tight-fitting, which is partly why he becomes far too nervous and a bout of awkward conversation and actions follow. Additionally, much might be said here about the quirky relationship Mr. Herriot has with his unpredictable and explosive yet perfectly harmless and generous employer, a Mr. Siegfried Farnon, and Siegfried's younger brother, Tristan. Farnon's demanding attitude regarding his veterinary business affairs, especially in the face of Tristan's irresponsibility in mishandling assignments and responsibilities, is often the basis for much of the hilarity in the book.
   
   In speaking of his relationships with those to whom he is closest on a personal level and the frequently visited owners of his animal patients, Mr. Herriot has an especially profound gift when it comes to praising the best characteristics that are found in the human race. He speaks with eloquent fondness when describing the beautiful traits he sees in his lovely Helen, his soon-to-be wife. And when he stumbles upon a man or woman who he feels is in ownership of certain admirable exceptionality, such as industry or thrift or honesty or discipline or gentleness, his written accolades of such persons is heartwarming and deeply inspiring.
   
   Thus I would say that this book has everything. It touches upon the topics of death, faith, humor, love, devotion, stewardship, human strengths and frailties, prosperity and poverty, work and idleness, occupation, and the list goes on. Given that these interesting topics are handled so capably by Mr. Herriot's writing talent, I doubt that any sensitive reader would find this book to be anything but delightful and praiseworthy.



5. One of the best books I've read in my life. A must read. Very well written. Makes you want to write like him.
   
   I remember seeing my high school biology teacher reading this book at her desk while she had some time to herself, while we did our thing with dissections, etc. It seemed that she couldn't get her hands off this book. And I'd wonder what the book was about. Something about creatures. Maybe it was about GOD and church and religion.
   
   Now that I've had a chance to read this book, twenty years later, I can say that it is a wonderful book! You don't want this book to end. And now I understand why my biology teacher was so hooked on it.
   
   This is a nonfictional book about an English veterinarian writing about his funny and sometimes dramatic profession. From how he started, to his everyday events in a small town (away from the big city such as London) to how he meets his future wife, and his gradual establishment of his veterinary life. This book is filled with funny moments that makes you pause with a smile on your face. And has its poignant moments that makes you realize its wonderful writing.
   
   This book gives you a glimpse of what the veterinary world is like on his side, on the countryside of life, with real people and real stories, and of course, with real animals. Animals and people and veterinary work that you will come to love.

5 comments about My Smart Puppy: Fun, Effective, and Easy Puppy Training (Book & 60min DVD).

1. Great ideas - good techniques. It's a shame there isn't some way to get folks to read this book "before" bringing that new puppy home. That way all your instruction to the pup will be correctly done and the poor pup won't have to "unlearn" some home-spun ideas you used before you read the book. Worth the read.



2. The book is well organized. I didn't think a specific topic was going to be covered, but looked it up anyway -- there it was! This is a good reference book as well as a good step-by-step introduction to puppy training. Though we also took our Basenji puppy to Puppy Kindergarten, this is a valuable tool to use when we need it.



3. This book is chalk full of great techniques and ideas! Overall, the two authors are brilliant and the book has been very helpful in training our pup some basic commands. However, it's not perfect and some points seems impractical, flawed, or idealized. Another somewhat minor annoying thing is that there are a lot of cross-references to other sections of the books and I find myself frequently thinking "couldn't there be a better way for formatting the book so that there weren't so many cross references?" Anyway, I still think the book is very helpful for training -- especially when used with Cesar Millan's approach to pack leadership.



4. I found this book very informative and helpful, However, it did not come from Amazon with the Bonus DVD as advertised.
   
   The authors encourage their readers to e-mail them with any questions that one may have, but an e-mailed question has gone unanswered for a considerable period of time.



5. Hiroki is the epitome of this book. She so smart! You can any dog really with this book. Hiro knows sit and down within a week! It's a must-have in training. I tell everybody about it. She's very well behaved compared to most dogs her age. People are amazed how much she's learned in such a short period of time.

5 comments about Puppy Whisperer: A Compassionate, Non Violent Guide to Early Training and Care.

1. I recently got a new puppy after not having one for many years. I thought I'd brush up on new training techniques and "non-violent" sounded good. I read the book before I brought her home and everything has worked beautifully! All the advice, techniques and training have been fantastik and I would highly recommend this book. I've had my pup now for a little over 2 weeks and there has been 1 accident in the house - really! It has made puppy ownership a joy instead of a pain. Thanks Paul!



2. Very useful book. Wish I would have had it before I got our puppy.



3. I used Paul's book to train my puppy and it has been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done! His methods are completely reward based and compassion driven so there's no using pinch or choke collars, something I am very opposed to. I have have had great success overcoming all the normal puppy issues such as potty training, nipping, separation anxiety, and digging by using Paul's methods.
   
   All in all I can't say enough good things about this book!



4. I loved this book. It is very helpful and easy to read. I highly recommend it!



5. This book is it! Five stars quality!
   We got "The Puppy Whisperer" with the hope of getting an overall guide to training our new puppy full of energy. We were amazed at how detailed and full of great advice this book is. Paul Owens explains the bare bones of dog training technique while maintaining a style full of warmth and compassion which makes for a perfect combination helping to train the puppy to be an obedient and loving companion.
   Definitely recommended for people who want an easy to use tool and a serious method.
   Ruy Folguera

5 comments about The Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way to Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs.

1. This is the most significant dog book ever written -- yes, it's that good. Everyone who owns a dog should read it. I'll let you read the other reviews to hear why. But you should know that there is a revised edition (with 11,000 more words) available, though for some reason Amazon isn't selling it.



2. 
   
   Ms. Donaldson takes a judgemental moralistic view of owners (like me)who like that their dogs do not bolt through doors before them, or like to eat before their dogs, and like to be their dog's leader. She even goes as far as to call us *stupid*. Okay, I draw the line when I spend $15.00 to buy a book then the author calls me stupid in the first chapter.
   
   I train in AKC competition obedience so I am all for reward based training. Dogs do learn faster when rewarded for doing the right behavior as opposed to being corrected for the wrong behavior. However, it is incomplete advice when Ms. Donaldson tells people that dogs should never receive any corrections. Maybe those highly skilled behaviorists and professional dog trainers have the talent, time, experience to only train with rewards but the average pet owner will never be able to accomplish this without years of trial and error. I am sorry, but I do not want to spend 5 years just to train my dog to not bolt out the door or decide to chase a squirrel and possibly get hit by a car.
   
   She is far to extreme in one direction. Like everythig in life, there needs to be a balance. And by the way, I am not in Cesar's camp either with his flooding methods and overly simplistic dominance fix-all solution either. Like I said, you've got to have balance and adjust with each dog.
   
   If you interested in dog training and learning theory I liked Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor much better. The author uses easy to understand human analagies to illustrate learning theory. I am a very literal and visual person so if I could understand it, anyone can.



3. When I read this book the first time, I really enjoyed it and felt that it had changed most of my ideas about dog training. Everything Donaldson says is correct and works for most behaviors, because she uses basic principles that can be applied to any animal. Basically, if you understand positive and negative reinforcement/punishment, there is no need to read this book. Her main point is that you can get dogs to do whatever you wish using positive reinforcement alone, and the use of aversives is unnecessary and a result of expecting our dogs to be smarter than they really are.
   
   She also gives some good insight into the behavior of dogs, such as bite thresholds, and it's very useful for people to know that just because a dog bites doesn't mean it is evil and should be put down - it's NORMAL dog behavior.
   
   Unfortunately, I could only give it one star because her theory is very limited and basic. It is helpful for someone with no knowledge of canine behavior, thought process, or pack mentality, and for the many people who misuse aversives and think it is normal for you to be able to punch a dog in the face and not have him bite you. It is a good starting place, and nothing more.
   
   But for the rest of us who wish to understand the true behavior and potential of dogs, her book is of little value. Clicker training and an endless supply of treats works great for training specific behaviors, but not for achieving harmony and balance in the bigger picture. Not to mention the many breeds who are not food or play motivated, which she never addresses. Also, for those true problem dogs who are aggressive or have other serious behavior issues, she never says how to address these problems, and instead recommends other books!
   
   There are countless better books out there that are much more in depth and educational. This book only detracted from my knowledge of dog behavior and training.



4. I have to begin by saying that when I first started reading the book I was very put off by a writing style that initially came across as a bit choppy, curt, rude and precociously academic... then suddenly, light began to shine and Jean Donaldson began tossing one brilliant idea, suggestion/method after another. - - My guess is that the book probably came about as a result of cutting and pasting previous writings of hers together... writings geared towards various audiences and appropriate to various situations... however, after this was done, the writings were simply never edited so they'd represent a cohesive whole... As a result, I have to agree with other critics that the book really needs to be edited and organized... still, I give it a 5 star rating... Why? Because as I said, it challenges you to think differently... and many of the pages are gushing with ideas and suggestions for problems facing all dogs... Whether or not you agree with everything, the book gets you thinking - - its not just a rehash of old dog training cliches (as many books are.)
   
   As for Jean Donaldson's basic approach- - basically its text book behaviorism, but with a compassionate twist. The central premise is that people expect their dogs to think and behave in the Walt Disney mold... and fail to take into account that dog's brains are the size of lemons... and further, wired different than people... in particular, dogs are masters at reading their environment... but don't have the abstract and logical thinking abilities of humans. In failing to recognize this, we often expect unreasonable things of dogs... and even worse, punish - - even summarily execute them for this. (Jean Donaldson specifically uses the word "execute" as opposed to euthanize in the case of many dogs who are put to sleep for aggressive behavior, when they were simply being dogs and their humans simply failed to socialize them.) -- - She uses this argument to poignantly argue the importance of socialization and repeatedly says, "Dogs are animals and animals bite..." Dogs who are not properly socialized bite not because they're abnormal... but simply because they were never trained to adapt to a human environment where biting, no matter how tempered can be considered a capital offense..... hence the dog remained dogs... ergo biting when seeing strange humans engage in behavior that any canine would have seen threatening. (Donaldson points out that in the wildnerness "fear of the novel" would have been understanding, as no adult dog would be able to live long enough to pass on its genes if it was programmed to simply walk up to explore anything new and novel. Dogs survive by running away from things that spook them... or making the thing that's spooking them run away... either/or...)
   
   The book covers a wide variety of behaviors which most humans find extremely annoying (barking, chewing and urinating) but Donaldson assures us are NORMAL, however, can be dealt with through proper socialization (and if the window is missed) conditioning. - - Methods typically involve exposure to situations, and reward for desired behavior... no alpha rolls, no choke collars, and no alpha wolf lead or be eaten/hang 'em by the choke collar babble... just time and patience... and a clicker and some treats.
   
   All in all, like some other reviewers, I think it needs rewriting... but that said, there's so much in it, I'd say its worth every buck and then some whether or not you agree with each and every one of her theories or suggestions. To sum it up: this book definitely belongs in your library if you're serious about dog training or behavior...



5. I liked the book but it really seems more like a text book. I think it could be simplified to turn it in to an easier read.