1 comments about Cruising With Your Four-Footed Friends: The Basics of Travel with Your Cat or Dog.

1. This book is a rare resource for those wanting to know more about the concerns and rewards of having a pet aboard. I found the information contained in this book very useful, especially the hints about port entry requirements for those with a pet. Anyone considering life on the water with their furry friends will appreciate this as a solid reference book.

1 comments about The Well-Mannered Cat: A Practical Guide to Feline Behavior Modification.

1. This slim book is only 135 pages, but it is well illustrated and packed chock full with very useful information on the "what and why of cat behavior". I have had cats my entire life and found this book to be an excellent refresher on how to raise a well-mannered cat. This is an outstanding book for those new to the wonderful world of cats -- or for anyone who would appreciate a good refresher on these lovely, but sometimes-mysterious creatures. For those who truly love their cats, it is a "must read".

5 comments about The Heart of the Matter : Breaking Codes and Making Connections Between You and Your Dog or Your Cat.

1. This book is amazing. I have three dogs. A beagle, a labrador and a rottweiler. They do exactly what I say when I say it and seem to love me all the more. I really understand them now, and see my mistakes in dog rearing in the past. I have never found a book like this. You do what he says, exactly, and it works. Period. No nonsense - a slap on the behind is effective punishment for some offenses. The "throwing technique" is the best. If your dog is doing something wrong, correct him verbally and if he ignores you, throw something at him! It doesn't have to hit him - I use sock balls with pups - and your dog will obey you immediately. This guy is Dr. Doolittle. Got a dog? GET THIS BOOK!



2. I thought I knew all about my children (my Yorkie and my Poodle), but this book was enormously eye-opening! It is easy to read (you won't want to put it down), and so informative that you MUST have this book in your library!!!



3. i trained my first dog with the book "smarter then you think" (also by paul loeb) and got wonderful results so when i got a pyrenees-mastiff puppy that bit my fingers, played the "catch me if you can game",had no respect for me (or my books) i decided i needed to read "the heart of the matter". i trained my dog not to run away not to chew on me and now she respects me and looks up to me (oh yeah she comes when called and shes only 9 weeks old. this book trained this dog in less then an day.) not to mention my mom who does not have to deal with the smell of pee all day. dont even get me started on how much she loves her fresh food. this is a must read for any one with a dog.



4. Great book. Have read numerous dog training books and this one was an easy read that held my attention. It works too. The techniques the authors suggest seem a little different at first but if they end in the desired results, it's worth the effort. Definitely read the nutrition section and you will be shocked to see what goes into commercial dog foods.



5. except in regard to the quality of the writing. The authors' style can best be described as "wretched." I think the content is closer to 4 stars, and the writing should get 2. The style is attempting to be funny and cute (it's not), and the authors seem to think bragging about themselves and putting down other behaviorists will inspire confidence (it doesn't). As other reviewers have noted, the book is at least a third longer than it needs to be.
   
   However, there are some unfair criticisms as well. ALL animal behaviorists are operating out of their own beliefs about dog and cat behaviors, and the ones who cite "studies," aren't necessarily on very solid ground (even if the studies are properly done, and even if they say what the behaviorist thinks they say, they don't usually provide genuinely empirical support for an entire theory of behavior). There's nothing inherently weird about these authors believing that your companion animals should be socialized to humans instead of to other animals. Moreover, just as no theory of teaching works for all children and almost any theory of teaching will work for SOME children, believing that only one behaviorist is "right" is just asking for the universe to send you a pet who will turn your beliefs inside out! The authors think the pet food we buy is bad for our pets and that many of them have behavioral problems due to food allergies. In view of the recent evidence of massive contamination of pet foods, I don't think we can dismiss their concerns out of hand. (And if you'd ever had an animal with food allergies, you'd KNOW they can affect behavior.) I would caution here, though, that they're overly simplistic in their feeding advice and have forgotten to mention some common human foods that can be toxic to animals. There are some excellent books and websites that explain how to make your own pet food and I would consult them before trying it. (Me, I'm still using commercial foods.)
   
   I was amused to see that one reviewer's rather hysterical characterization of "bolting your dog to the floor" was merely the authors' belief that it's better to have your dog on a secure short leash in every room than to use a crate. Gee, people, what do you think owners did before crate training? They used baby gates in the kitchen or laundry room, stuck a short leash over a doorknob, or installed a secure eye bolt to hitch the dog to. I'm an advocate of crate training because I work outside my home, but if I were home most of the day, I think their approach would be perfectly reasonable.
   
   The major strength of this book is the "magic touch" ( yes, it's a ridiculous name). I don't care what the theory is: it's simple, it's harmless, and if it works for your dog, it really will seem like magic. ONE slipper toss cured a barking problem that was driving me mad (and that other training methods weren't touching) and I'm now targeting a few other really irritating behaviors. The emphasis on human language (rather than barking out one or two-word training commands) is also positive from my perspective, and it certainly can't hurt. Some reviewers are aghast at the idea of an occasional quick smack on the rump; please read what the authors actually say about this before leaping to conclusions -- if you don't agree with them, fine, but they are NOT advocating cruel or inhumane treatment.
   
   I'm a huge fan of Carol Lea Benjamin, and her training approach is, overall, the one I like best. (She can write, too, and her mystery fiction is excellent.) However, with my current dog, some things just weren't working. I adopted a young dog who really was socialized to dogs more than humans (his litter had been abandoned near people who do vacation kenneling, so he was raised with a large and constantly changing group of dogs). He is sweet, intelligent, and loving -- and adding the "magic touch" to the training repertoire is rapidly making him fun to live with, too. We're both a lot happier now!

No comments about Cat Owner's Manual.

1 comments about Adopting Cats and Kittens: A Care and Training Guide.

1. i liked this epic adventure of *Space Cat* and friends. SACK the samurai agent cat kitten. i like kittys!

No comments about Problem Cats and Their Owners: A Behavior and Training Handbook.

5 comments about Cats on the Counter: Therapy and Training for Your Cat.

1. I have already bought extra copies of this wonderful book for pet lovers I care about. Dr. Lachman covers every possible scenerio and explains in understandable language, ways to correct every day problems as well as unusual problems. His sense of humor makes the book "reader friendly" and his background in clinical psychology adds a different dimension, involving the whole family. Both Dr. Lachman and journalist, Frank Mickadeit, have successfully put together a delightful teaching guide for cat owners, from the novice to the pro.



2. A well organized book that explains what is going through your cat's mind. Too often we believe that the cats in our lives think the same way we do and this book has a great way of getting the humans to think like their cats. I currently share my home with two Russian Blue kittens and this book has explained most of their antics. It also helped solve a problem that was frustrating them and me. Get the book, your cat will thank you.



3. I bought this book because I was having some problems with my cat.I ended up learning more about myself.There isnt anything I can put in this review that people have not already said.If you want to learn more about your feline,and a little about what makes you both tick then purchase this book.You wont be sorry..



4. Finally, a book that acknowledges and addresses the most common of all cat problems, especially in multiple-feline households: Tabitha's (and Sylvester's and Eliot's) "uncivilized" avoidance of the litter box. The author addresses both physical and psychological problems (both the cats' and owners') and gives much helpful advice (put tin foil over the scene of the crime, spray it with citrus scents, put Cleopatra's food dish close by (since's she's far too civilized to want her dining table next to the "men's room"), and address Morris' attacks of anxiety with generous doses of reassuring countermeasures.

   Admittedly, much of the information I had sort of intuited. But this is no novelty book about problems that to cat lovers are no laughing matter. It's both eminently readable and practical. I only wish I'd had a copy earlier to give to a friend who brought his adorable little stray to the pound when she began soiling his carpet.




5. Cats on the Counter takes a serious approach to Cat Therapy. There are many topics discussed here that many a cat owner will want to read about and find how these 'cat psychologists' helped fix problematic or 'bad behaviour' of many a house cat.

   If you never owned a cat before this book would be very insightful, but not as an end-all to any confusion or problem you are having with your cat. If you ARE a long-time cat owner, there are just a few gems here and after quickly reading the book you may set it down and decide like I did, that you really didn't find any amazing revelations...

   Or you may decide that you've become paranoid with worry over something they say in the book which is quite normal behavior for a cat and they just don't seem to get that across.

   Read it? Yes. Believe it all?? No.

2 comments about Why Do Cats Do That?: Real Answers to the Curious Things Cats Do...with training tips.

1. "Why Do Cats Do That" is an informative book. It tells why cats do the things they do! For instance, why their eyes glow, why they purr, why the flop down on their sides when they are happy...and so on. However, this book is a bit on the dull side, and not one to really get into.



2. Part of the fun of living with cats lies in pondering their mysterious ways. Top pet writer Kim Thornton has written a charming book with answers to a few of the common questions that arise. She knows her subject, and in 20 short chapters covers such mysteries as why cats purr, like catnip, and sleep so much. Behavior problems such as scratching and spraying are discussed, with common sense suggestions about how to correct such behaviors. Illustrated with color cartoons by Keith Robinson, this is an amusing, practical, and useful book to keep on hand for those times when Fuzzy puzzles you.

2 comments about You Can Train Your Cat.

1. I purchased this book awhile ago and can say the techniques used in this book are not ones you want to use with your cat.
   
   For instance, the author stresses you should train your cat not to purr, by telling it "No" everytime it begins to purr. I followed their advice and now have a harder time telling when my cat is happy as he doesn't purr anymore.
   
   Also, when disciplining your cat not to chew on wires behind a multimedia cabinet, the author mentions putting Tabasco brand sauce on the wires so the cat stays away. Again, this backfired as my cat developed permanent stomach problem that, after $800 worth of vetrinary tests, I can only link to the Tabasco "training" he recieved.
   
   Obviously, if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't. Please don't ruin your cat!!!



2. It tells you how to keep your cat from doing bad things such as scratching, jumping on place and pooping outside of its litter box. It tells you step by step how to train your cat to do tricks too. I thought this book was very useful. The person who had the Tabasco sauce problem probably fed their cat too much hot sauce. Everything depends on how smart the owner is. The book even said that! This book has a few black and white pictures of the author's cat doing tricks.

1 comments about The Purrfect Companion: Learning About Life from Our Feline Friends.

1. This is a great book, lots of neat things to read about cats, and some of the very best cat paintings, done by Sueellen Ross ! It is a great book all the way around !