5 comments about Living With Blind Dogs: A Resource Book and Training Guide for the Owners of Blind and Low-Vision Dogs, Second Edition.

1. Our dog abruptly went blind on Father's Day which is not that uncommon
   for our breed. We subsequently had to have his eyes removed due to irre-
   versible and painful end-stage Glaucoma. We were, of course, devastated
   as our dog just turned 6 last March. Our animal Opthalmologist suggested
   this book as a great source for us and our acceptance of his delemma and
   also some valid suggestions for helping our pet have as normal a life as
   possible. These suggestions have worked well so I highly recommend this
   book for others to read in similar circumstances.
   Mary J. Hathaway



2. The majority of us dog owners love our pets but know little about what happens--or in the present case fails to happen--behind those happy eyes. Caroline Levin's lovingly written guide to living well with and for man's best friend when he can't see is a tremendous resource for such human pack leaders, brimming over as we are with good intentions but a little slim on the science side.
   
   It's telling that so many reviews of Levin's work begin by telling the story of a beloved dog's loss of vision. Few of us come to Levin's instruction out of theoretical knowledge. Rather we desperately need to know what to do.
   
   This reviewer and his family have not seen a dog lose his vision. Rather, we recently adopted an abandoned Rhodesian Ridgeback who is already blind. Sammy joins a home with a seeing Ridgeback who has done extraordinarily well in adjusting to life with the bumptious fellow.
   
   Levin's book helps me understand our new dog's psyche, how to ameliorate his fears, and why he loves our voices and cowers when strangers speak the same words.
   
   Sixteen chapters begin with the basics of how people and dogs grieve, how the canine eye is designed to work, and the reasons why it stops doing so. From there the author expertly leads us through behavior change and how to adjust our lives to that our sight-impaired pets can get on with theirs.
   
   The book is peppered with photos of blind dogs and their owners and affectionate reassurances that living with a blind dog can be as joyful as tragic and often more so.
   
   The book has large print--one wonders whether a nurse of ophthalmology presses her editors for this concession--and wide margins. As such, it reads quickly. In this reviewer's case, it will occupy an easily accessible place on a shelf for quick reference as we help our Sammy rediscover the playful, confident sub-alpha male that bounds playfully in his dreams and behind his happy smile.



3. My vet recommended that I get this book. I am so glad that I did take his advise. What I have read so far has been a big help. Before getting this book, I felt helpless. Now I know that Merlin and I will still have a great life together. Thank you so very much.
   
   Sincerly,
   Peggy Parker



4. This book was such a big help I thought my dog that went blind in three days would never have a good life. But since reading this book and using the information I gained from it I and my dog are enjoying things again and we are doing all the same things but just a little different.



5. I didn't find this book to be very helpful. It seems to be geared to having a pack of dogs as opposed to a single dog.
   
   Either my dog is incredibly bright (okay, he is) or the book implies that dogs need far more training than I have found it to be for my dog.
   
   My dog is completely blind. It happened over a period of a couple of months. He does very well at home and away and does not require all the aids the book suggests a blind dog might need.

4 comments about Cesar's Way Deck: 50 Tips for Training and Understanding Your Dog.

1. As a dog psychologist and being an author myself, the concept behind this book is simply--practicality--and making it easy and fun on the eye. You wouldn't know it unless you are a writer or even better, have your own book published. You'll be amazed how many times I told my clients, "Yes. I have covered it in the book. It is in chapter fifteen, page 217, second paragraph and blah blah blah." Well, you get the idea. Sadly, not everyone reads or can make the time to read. This one won't get you that lost. So I agree the information isn't new, but the concept is. This is because we are lazier and busier than ever and cards sometimes make more sense. You stick it on the fridge and can remind yourself over and over again. Hey Cesar, you owe me one. :-) Kevin "The Dog Prodigy" Author of, "Hidden Secrets Behind Dog Training" - Revealing the Best & Worst Ways to Train Your Dog. (Soon-to-be Available on Amazon)



2. This newest resource, from Cesar Millan, Inc., is an excellent resource for the busy dog owner. Published on a set of playing-sized cards, each card offers helpful tips and hints for solving everyday problems that occur in the course of canine ownership.
   
   Highly recommended for all dog owners - from newbies to the experienced owner, everyone can learn something from Cesar's Way.



3. Can I just start off by saying I love this man!?! Cesar Milan has changed the way I deal with dogs forever! I love the fact that hear is a person who understands completely that a dog is a dog and should be treated as such. There is nothing bad, or cruel, about it. In fact I would challenge anybody who says their dog is happy being treated any other way. This deck of cards gives quick tips for dealing with problem areas. You just pick the card that seems to fit your needs. The information is short, sweet and to the point. And because tt's so easy to read it's a good refresher course for helping you stay on track with your dog.



4. There isn't anything new here. These cards are just excerpts from his books. The information isn't very concise or pointed either.

5 comments about How Your Horse Wants You to Ride: Starting Out, Starting Over.

1. Gincy Self Bucklin is the trainer I wish I had had all these years I've spent riding! I have been training with qualified instructors for 18 years, and I have still learned SO much from this book. I cannot say enough about this book and its sequel. This book is wonderful and it FAR exeeded my expectations. I only wish I had these books when I first began riding - I could have saved so much time, trouble and bad habits!



2. I reccommend this book to everyone who rides and loves horses, whatever level, whatever style. I first bought it because, in my youth having ridden wonderfully kind horses that pretended like I knew how to ride, I wanted to get back into riding when I was in my late fifties. After a year of lessons with a well-qualified instructor, the school horse I was riding got fed up with my mistakes and sent me sailing. Two operations and two years of physiotherapy later, I went back, just to make a point. It took me a year to get back to about where I was before the accident. Then I hit a block. I didn't seem to be making any progress, in spite of two or three lessons a week. That is when i read this book and a lot of lights came on. Gincy's "active hand" transformed an irritated,head-tossing horse to a calm, attentive partner. Once I grasped her explanation of lateral centering, the horses I rode stopped cutting corners. My instructor and the people I ride with started paying me compliments on my position and my progress. I continue to read and reread her books, and the lights are still coming on. Some people may complain about the detail, but if that's the particular problem you're working on, you want all that detail. Someone commented that Gincy writes for instructors, to help them be better teachers, but if you don't have an instructor, or if he knows it all and doesn't think he has to read books, students can learn directly from the book. As Gincy mentions, many instructors know what you should be doing, but don't know how to explain to a student how to do what is an automatic reflex for an advanced rider. It's certainly helped me to understand why my instructor was always saying "shoulders back, heels down!" etc. I reccommend it to my friends, but as someone else mentioned, it's not a book you can lend, because it doesn't come back. And perhaps the best thing about the book is Gincy's wonderful attitude towards horses and understanding their behavior. I found that Gincy accomplishes everything she set out to do in her introduction.



3. How Your Horse Wants You to Ride: Starting Out, Starting Over
   
   If our horses could have a verbal conversation with us, it would be about how they want us to ride on their backs. So, if that is the information you are looking for, this book will do that for you. Coming to horses late in life, with only weekend trail riding and no ownership in my background, learning to train my horse and ride her has, at times, been overwhelming. All bad habits that horses have are from bad training, not from stubbornness or naturally occurring mean spiritedness. Every interaction we have with our horses teaches them something, good or bad. Gincy is a patient person, I know from interacting with her on her Riding with Confidence list group on Yahoo. She has great insights into muscle memory, fear, breathing, etc. and the way those things cause horses to react in one way or another. How Your Horse wants you to ride is not a quick fix answer. It is deep and thoughtful requiring work on the part of the owner/rider. The reward is as great and worth striving for. After all, if you have a horse, you want to have fun with it, not be fearful of it.



4. This book has inspired me to work on bareback exercises this summer to retrain my balance. I'm sure my horse will thank me. Having ridden with the author when I was a teenager (40 years ago), I remember the value of the bareback riding after this book reminded me. I have tried to read Sally Swift's "Centered Riding" but just didn't engage me. This book has and I will be applying the lessons to myself.



5. I started riding quite late in my life and this book has been a great help to me. Whenever I encounter a problem I consult it again and it always gives me new ideas which work. I like especially the mixture of at home, on the ground and on the horse exercises. You can try basics safely first before you mount your horse. I am a Western rider and although its focus is English riding I was able to use it.

5 comments about The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide.

1. This book is so well written and includes everything you need to know in detail, yet remains a very pleasent and easy read. This book is great to both those new to salt water as well as those with exsiting tank,"



2. If you've ever considered buying a saltwater fishtank - this is " THE BOOK " to read first. It covers all the basics you need for a Saltwater Fish tank with Live Rock and Fish.
   
   This book gives a complete soup to nuts blueprint of the basics needed - equiptment needed - and even an option to get started on a smaller scale if need be - although the ideal minimum size would be a 40 gallon for Saltwater Tank - there is a blueprint for a 15 or 20 gallon tank - along with suggestions to get started on a restricted budget.
   
   This book is a great reference book - but doesn't attempt to cover more advanced topics such as corals / refugium tanks ( I wish this would have been included ). I'd highly recommend this book as a first read compared to the other 4 books I've read. After reading this book - I'd suggest joining an online community like Reef Central or one of many other online saltwater forums. These sites can fill in the gaps for any questions taht may arise while getting started - or more advanced issues you may experience while upkeeping your tank.



3. i started a marine aquarium from scratch and with no knowledge. it was very confusing but without this book i don't know what i would have done. it covers all the basics, got me up and running and with no problems.



4. This is a great book and perhaps the best one I have read for a newbie who wants to set up a marine aquarium



5. I would recommend this to anyone interested in starting a marine aquarium. The author provides a to the point and practical guide to setting up your first or next tank. You do not need a biology degree to enjoy it.

5 comments about A Beginner's Guide to Short-Term Trading: How to Maximize Profits in 3 Days to 3 Weeks.

1. Look no further than this book if you are just getting started trading. This book condenses a wealth of knowledge from the super pros into a very understandable read. Better than the Dummies Series books.



2. Excellent book - fast shipping - excellent condition - will buy from you again. Thanks very much



3. this book is good for beginner but i think if it has more real life example that will be more easy to understand.Should have specific rather then histroy.helal for sydney australia



4. Learning to trade confidently & profitably was probably the most daunting endeavor I've ever taken up. As a former novice trader, I recall having the feeling that I was paralyzed by uncertainty and self-doubt about my trades. It seemed then that there was drastically more information than a person could take in. Everything I heard or read made me believe that it was so critical and important. Yet I never seemed to understand how I should use what I was learning. I was always a step behind the market, chasing the crowd and loosing money. The more I traded the more frustrated I became. I thought I'd never understand how to trade. I'd lost so much money and enthusiasm that I considered quitting trading and leaving it up to smarter people than myself. I was beaten and embarrassed.
   
   That was all before I read this book. Toni showed me step by step what I needed to know in order to get a firm grasp of trading successfully and profitably. What made this book so special to me is that Toni has an easy style that describes everything in really plain language. She takes nothing for granted when she explains how to read charts and when to buy and sell. She rounds out every chapter with some words of wisdom that guide the novice and expert trader alike toward having the knowledge, attitude and confidence to succeed. It's akin to having a "market mentor" showing you the ropes in a very thoughtful and intuitive way. She's a great teacher and what I've learned from her has been the foundation for all of the knowledge I've acquired since reading this book.
   
   In short, this book helped me see the beauty and simplicity of trading for profit & I'll never give it up (I do it for a living).



5. This book taught me a great deal in a short time. It was not only easy to read, but informative and encouraging. She explains concepts in a very straightforward manner plus and was very positive about trading in general. I would recommend this book to anybody just starting out and want to learn more about trading stocks using technical analysis.

5 comments about Training People: How to Bring Out the Best in Your Human.

1. I was totally disappointed with the context of this book. Misled by five star reviews. There are only a few funny lines in the book paired with cute dog photos. If not for the information about human sexuality this would be read by a seven year old child. I am sorry I spent my money on this worthless book.



2. If you own a dog, you must get this book... I have never laughed so hard reading a "non-fiction" book...Run don't walk to get this.



3. it is the funniest book written from a dog's perspective. If you love dogs it is just hilarious and you can see the logic



4. Very funny book, and unique perspective on the dog-human relationship. Had me laughing out loud in several sections, especially as my own dog has trained me on some of Tess's same lessons. Also insightful to many human quirks, and how our habits are viewed from the dogs' perspective. Great gift for dog lovers, and keep one for yourself.



5. This book is a tell all. Tess, a lab owned by Brian Kahn exposes the way she shamefully manipulates him. She shares all the well know secrets and some not so well known about how dogs, under the guise of being pleasers in fact run the homes they live in.
   
   I must concede she does so with wit and charm. This is a fun book.

5 comments about Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs And Cats.

1. Any pet lovers should purchase this book as guide line to cook for their pets. I cook for my dog since he was a puppy, he is 16 months old now and he looks great and healthy.The recipes are easy to follow and make.



2. Hello,
   
   I was reading the reviews and noticed that everyone was writing their individual experiences with their new product (which is fine). However, I think if you want to help the consumer, please also state what you WERE USING to begin with! That would help so much with people trying to figure out allergy issues, etc. LIST BEFORE ISSUES!!!
   
   I haven't purchased this book yet, but I have many bichons. I just switched to "Natures Organic" and will see how they do. I have had two bichons for a very long time that were on Hill's Science Diet (before all the Hoop La). They BOTH have lived over 14 YEARS on this food from DAY ONE. I cannot see how all of a sudden this is 'not that great' food. If it treats a specific issue, fine. Dont' knock it until you've tried it. Snicky's 14th birthday is tomorrow and she is still going strong. :o) My Sophie is having 'nipping' issues.
   
   Thank you.
   
   Best regards.



3. This book was WONDERFUL! Wow, I had no idea how to feed my dogs...now I feel so educated. Both of my dogs had horrible allergies and now they are completely GONE!! It is amazing. I highly recommend this book :)



4. The book was good. I used the chicken stew to get my dog bag on track when she was sick. A couple of things to be aware of are that there are different schools of thought regarding garlic for dogs. Also if you decide to use supplements be very careful about the measurements. Just like humans some animals may not tollerate them well.



5. This book is an excellent introduction into home cooked food for your pet. It provides a basic education, some recipes to start with, and a wonderful perspective.
   
   Could you feed your dog forever with onyl this book? Yes. Is it likely to be the only book on canine nutrition you ever want to read? No, not if you're like me and want to balance your sources of information.
   
   Get this book, get started. Track your progress with the journal and see what happens at the end of 8 weeks. If your dog is responding well, keep going! Keep reading, try new recipes from other trusted sources like Pitcairn and Strombeck.
   
   Canine nutrition shouldn't be rocket science. Nor should it be a secret collection of data available only to the folks who make commercial dog food.

5 comments about Christmas Is Good!: Trixie Treats & Holiday Wisdom.

1. Got this book today and loved it. Was reading it over breakfast to my husband and my Mum. We were all laughing - the perfect was to start a way! Think I'll be getting more to give as presents.



2. Bought this a couple years ago as a Christmas gift for my father, although I must have read through it myself 20 times. We have a Golden also. This book is exceptionally funny as well as touches on the true meaning of the Christmas holiday. A great "stocking stuffer" for everyone!



3. This is a Christmas book written by editor Dean Koontz' dog Trixie. Cute, is about the best word to use here with this book. It's a children's book focusing on how a dog perceives Christmas. Some of it's funny, and being a dog lover I could relate. But really, there is not a lot of substance to this book. Koontz has done much better children's books.



4. This book is cute, funny, and so "goldenish", I could swear my own dog (a Golden) wrote it. Trixie is a goddess!



5. As the mom of two Golden Retrievers I am biased in favor of Trixie. I received this book as a gift at the same time that I found that my cat of 13 years had terminal cancer. The warm, sweet tone of this book was a great comfort to me; I kept it at my desk and read it when I needed a distraction. I also gave five copies of this book as Christmas gifts, with great feedback.
   
   This book is about Christmas, and does have some Christian overtones, such as a couple of specific mentions of Jesus, which might make it inappropriate for some. With that single caveat, very highly recommended.

5 comments about Old Yeller (Perennial Classics).

1. The book is about a wonderful dog named Old Yeller. The book is a little too violent with things such as: bull fights, hog attacks, etc., but the good deeds of the dog Old Yeller make this story seem special. In the beginning the dog did not seem so good. He did things like bark, yell, and steal meat, but then the good part comes out when he saves lives. I feel some of the really violent things could have been eliminated because they make this story scary. At the chapter before the last, a mad loafer wolf wants to attack Travis's family, so Old Yeller goes and fights the wolf. The sad thing is that poor Old Yeller catches rabies from this wolf. It turns out that Old Yeller sacrifices his life for his owners.
   This part really does make you feel sad, but if you like stories about kind animal acts, and you do not get scared easily, then this is the book for you.



2. I read this book about three times as a child. It's a book that any dog lover can relate to, and presents it in such a way that children have loved it for decades. Must read for young (and old!) dog lovers!



3. I am a little irritated with Amazon. I ordered two books at once and received one but the other went to a different town and then was sent back. I could not find anywhere on the web site that I could contact anyone. I think customer service should be reviewed.



4. I know that this was made into a movie but I am not sure that I have seen it. I have some vague recollection that it's a Disney movie (so it must therefore be heartwarming, and also be the topic of a ride somewhere), and the actor who plays the protagonist Travis looks goofy. Most folks know the story already or will know it well enough after reading one or two of these reviews. Yes, it's about a boy and an unattractive yellow dog, and yes it has a sad turn of events. I can't say that this story or the storytelling is masterful, but there is a style of delivery in this book that is quite intriguing and no one comments on it. The circumstances of the story are quite rough. A young boy is left in charge of his mother and little brother in the wild Texas hill country while his father, relunctantly, must pursue a little gain on a cattle drive to Kansas. This is no small task, and long before the book is over, we see that at least two or maybe all three of the mother and kids would have died but for the happenstance appearance of said yellow dog (also noteworthy is the generosity and insight of the cowpoke who actually owned the dog but let Travis keep him). The life is hard and matter-of-fact, and the writing reflects it. The animals live in a practically different world, where life depends on instincts, species hate and kill other species and sometimes their own, and even bloodborne diseases have a scent that only dogs can detect. It's brutal. Old Yeller, our hero, bridges this world, and willingly devotes all of his animal kingdom powers for the protection of the humans that he inexplicably adopts and serves. The relationship between boy and dog is always a bit beyond the reader's reach. We never see these two playing fetch or lounging around under a tree. Their bond is one that is forged in combat and hard labor, and this hard practicality might ultimately explain Travis' ability to rationally and quickly make the hard decision to kill his pet. I don't think that it's a spoiler to state here that Travis must, in the end, destroy this animal - Gipson reveals that ending in the very first page of the book (and it is at the point of that destruction where the four great characters of this book - boy, dog, gun, and disease - collide). So, this is a world where the animals are the most cunning, strong, and fearsome, but it's a world that is dominated by Man, and in the end the loyal Old Yeller doesn't even know what hits him. That scene is revealed without sentiment or unnecessary drama.
   One other thing. I wonder if it is this book, printed in the late 1950's, that "taught" popular culture everything that it knows about the dreaded hydrophobia. Growing up in the 1970's, I thought that rabies was everywhere, and that the only thing between you and going mad with foaming thirst was the time it would take for any old squirrel to drop on your head and dig in. Of course I also thought that finding a dead Bigfoot was only a matter of time, and that eating Pop-Rocks and drinking a Coke would make your abdomen explode. There must have been some other sources of this rabies phobia though, as this book did not go into any detail about some three week regimine of shots to the belly button in order to cure the disease once afflicted.
   Anyway, good book. Read it to my three pre-teens and they loved it.



5. I actually got a few chuckles out of this book as well as quite a few tears at the end (who DOESN'T know what happens in the end?) of coarse. From what I can remember about this book, is that you can actually UNDERSTAND the speaking and of their way of life [to a certain extent(thanks Mr. Rayburn)] which makes reading it a whole lot easier. A must-read. For all ages (I think).

5 comments about Real Food for Dogs: 50 Vet-Approved Recipes to Please the Canine Gastronome.

1. I'm not sure that these recipes are really meant for as a complete diet rather than just as treats, but they were written with the help of Dr. Lowell Ackerman (a vet who has written a canine nutrition book) and Rebecca Remillard DVM, Ph.D (a board-certified veterinary nutritionist at Angell Animal Medical Center).



2. I was very excited to get a cook book that I could start making my own fresh dog food. But in speaking with my vet, I now understood what type of research goes into Dog Cookbooks. It was actually scary that really not much research has been done. In fact we may cook dog food, but it is not balanced. These books do not show that dogs need bone meal, or vitamins. The Dog food cooks books are more for human enjoyment than actual nutrition for our canine loves.



3. Ok, a few of these recipes are good and very healthy for dogs.
   But others contain ingredients that will certainly make your dogs sick. Another reviewer already pointed out that some recipes contain rice. While rice isn't something dogs would eat in the wild, most commercial dog foods contain rice and it's not harmful.
   However, dogs are lactose-intolerant once they are adults, so any recipe calling for cheese is a no-no.
   Also, some recipes call for onions or garlic. Alliums are poisonous to dogs. Do not put onions or garlic or anything that is related to onions or garlic into a dog's bowl. The effect might not be immediate, but alliums will damage their red blood cells and make your pets anemic.



4. My dog has ulcerative colitis and even with the most expensive commercial dog foods, she was having trouble. I bought several cook books for dogs and most had a lot of info that I didn't want to buy, I just needed some good recipes. I found a couple in this book that work great. She loves the food and it's obvious she feels better since I began cooking for her. Yeah, it's more expensive than buying canned, but the lesser cost for vet bills override any extra expense.



5. I love this book too! Four months before the commercial dog food scare last year, I had begun to make my two boys' food at home. I read the ingredients in a popular bag of dry and canned dog food and was disgusted with all of the chemical/additives that they contained. I went online to find safe recipes for homemade dog food, making sure that my dogs received the correct portions and nutrients. I decided I needed some cook books for my boys, so I bought two from Amazon. This one has vegetarian style and meat filled recipes. It also has recipes for treats and special meals. 90% of the recipes are grocery items that you already have at home, "real food" as the title suggests. One of the best parts in the book are the nuggets of helpful hints about care, dangerous foods, and nutritional info etc. found scattered throughout. My boys can't wait for me to try these new recipes on them.