5 comments about The Art of Raising a Puppy.

1. This is a very useful and heartwarming book about training your young puppy. Note that "dog whisperer" type books are useless and even harmful when dealing with very young puppies, because young puppies do not understand what you want and are not trying to challenge you when they "disobey." They are another species and must be gently guided toward understanding our complicated demands. It takes a lot of patience, confidence and, time. Repetition. Reassurance. You enter into a different mode of being with a puppy and this book is the perfect guide to that world.



2. The book's contents are 5-star, no doubt about that. Overall the book is rated 3-star because the publisher consistently and very subtly changes font sizes throughout the text and in the same paragraph. The first example is at page 3, paragraph 2, line 2, beginning, "A great deal .... Another example among hundreds is at page 86, line 7 in paragraph titled, "Which Breed is Best for You?" The line begins ...tasks and characteristics.... which is smaller font than the line above or below. At first I thought I needed to have my eyesight or glasses checked. Then I had the font professionally measured by a printer. The font sizes are different and it makes reading disruptive. Surely, the publisher, Little Brown, can print better than this.



3. This will be the second puppy I will train with their method. My first dog died but she was potty trained within weeks using the crate and lots of play time. You will need other training too but it is a way to get off on the right track with a puppy. The advice if followed is GOLD.



4. This book is very informative on general training for a young puppy. I would recommend it to anyone who is considering getting a puppy.



5. This is the best puppy book I've read ... It really gets into the pack mentality and is really helpful in raising a dog or two!! This is my second purchase of this book -- I loaned the book out and never got it back!

5 comments about Because of Winn-Dixie.

1. Because of Winn-Dixie is about a girl that finds a dog in a grocery store she told the manager that the dog was her and told he manager that his name was Winn-Dixie. She went to ask her dad if she can keep the dog he said that they should ask the trailer park manager if they can keep the dog said, yes. One day she went to the pet shop. Winn-Dixie destroyed the store. Then she went to the library where she met the librarian. She tells her stories. Opol is the name of the girl. She met a lady. Some boys made fun of her and called her a witch. One day opal and the lady made a party they invited all their friends. During the party there was a storm but Winn-Dixie is scared of the storms. They started to put the stuff inside. By the time they remembered about Winn-Dixie, he was gone. They looked everywhere but no track of him. Will they find him? You'll have to read the book. My favorite part is when the librarian tells her a story about her and a bear. I recommend this book to ages 7 and up.



2. There are already over 500 five-star reviews - - I don't know who'll read another - - but I rejoice to concur with the majority in this case.
   The book is suitable for adults as well as children, and seems to have the timeless nature that will make it a favorite for many decades to come. My life is better for having read it (twice).



3. From my daughter in 3rd grade:
   The story is caring, sweet, nice, sad and interesting.



4. If you like dogs you should read this This is a story about a girl that finds
   a dog.One day a girl named opal went to a store called Winn-Dixie.So she went into the store and found a dog siting on the floor so she caught it and took it and named it Winn-Dixie and she took it to her house.It is a very good book!You would like it!



5. I listened the book on CD and loved it. It is touching and heartwarming and stars a wonderful dog. If you are a Grandparent like I am, this is a book you will want to listen to or read with your grandkids. Don't miss this one even if there are no children in your life, it is a treasure. Power Path to Love

5 comments about Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish.

1. I absolutely love dogs and stories about dogs. I received "Rescuing Sprite" as a birthday present. What a major disappointment! It is poorly written and boring. The prose is comprised of short, choppy sentences like it was written by 6th grader. The entire book is about the author, not the dog. It almost seemed like the author was trying to prove to the world just how much he loved his dog by going on and on and on about HIS sadness. The book is just an endless litany HIS sadness, HIS pain, HIS anguish, HIS emptiness. I wanted to read about the DOG. It's really bad!



2. This came very promptly and in great shape. It is a good book....some tears and some laughter, but great for animal lovers....cats or dogs!



3. I've ready many books about animals including Marley and Me, Amazing Gracie, Marley and Me, The Dog Who Rescues Cats and Dewey- The Small Town Library Cat... all of these books are fabulously written, almost lyrical in prose and have touched me very personally. I couldn't wait to get home and read this tale about Sprite... however, this book felt contrived at best... As a previous reviewer wrote, this book was entirely about HIM and how miserable he felt that his dog was sick. It is one thing to tell a story that shows how much you love a dog, and another to just write over and over again how much you love your dog and how sad you are that you have to put it to sleep. This didn't spark much emotion out of me and the entire book, especially when he tries to convince the reader what a wistful, ponderous being Rush Limbaugh is... except in doing so proves that the man just likes to hear himself speak... all in all, stay away from this one and go for the books listed above that will truely touch your heart.



4. Great book. Eventhough Mark is well-known for his political voice, the book is not political at all. a very poignant real-life story of his family.



5. Every Friday night, Mark Levin signs off saying "Good night, Spritey". I always get a lump in my throat, as I'm sure others do, because I think about those special dogs and cats that have shared their time with me. I think about Patches (a Dalmation), Al (a large gray cat), and Bob (a blond tabby).
   
   Rescuing Sprite is a quick, emotional read. I laughed at some points, and cried at many others...especially every time Mr. Levin described Sprite's way of sniffing the breeze off the Potomac. I can just see Sprite, in my minds eye, ears and fur dancing, and an upturned nose catching a faint smell on the wind...maybe of the home he lost, or the people he came from. And, I really think that Mr. Levin memorialized Sprite in a beautiful way.
   
   The Levin's gave him the best end of life a dog could possibly ask for, and I think Sprite knew that. I have always maintained that our animal companions have souls, and we will see them again in Heaven. When my last dog passed away, I kept his leash and collar. When I adopted my current dog, I let her smell the collar of my last dog...and I said 'brother'. If Heaven is as real as I believe it to be, then she will have a friend waiting for her on the other side...of course, she'll have to convince him of that - he was a little cantankerous.
   
   Anyone who has ever adopted a dog with problems can relate to the joy and grief Mr. Levin experienced. I have spent many nights sleeping next to sick animals and tending to their needs, regardless of time. Sometimes it is those who are with us for the briefest of time that leave the most lasting impressions.
   
   Thank you for Rescuing Sprite...both the book, and the home you created for a most special dog. Thank you for allowing those of us who have grieved deeply in private to grieve a little more in the open. This is the type of grief that does better when it is shared.

5 comments about Works of Mark Twain: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Mysterious Stranger, A Dog's Tale, The Innocents Abroad, A ... & more. Published by MobileReference (mobi).

1. I've bought about four or five of these complete works collections from this publisher. They are all exactly what they claim to be: the complete works of the author. For someone who doesn't want to be nickeled and dimed to death, these are a phenomenal value.



2. Complete Works of Mark Twain from MobileReference. Huge collection. (150+ works) FREE Author's biography and stories in the trial version.
   User friendly table of contents. Easy navigation and access. Wireless delivery. Great ebook!



3. The collections put out by this publisher for the Kindle are worth the price. Huge list of Mark Twain's works all in one place, searchable and portable.
   
   Good deal.



4. I've purchased over 10 of these complete author collections from this publisher. These collections work superbly on the Kindle. Take Mark Twain. The collection includes huge number of Mark Twain's works all in one place, searchable and well-organized. If I would have purchased all these books separately, searching for `The Gilded Age' among hundreds of other books on my Kindle would be a nightmare. With Mobile Reference collections, I simply click `Works of Mark Twain', then click Novels> `The Gilded Age'. I can also click `List of works in alphabetical order' > `G' > `Gilded Age'. If I forget the book title but remember that `The Gilded Age' was written by Mark Twain early in his career, I can click on `List of works in chronological order' > (1873) `The Gilded Age'.
   
   If I want another author, say, Charles Dickens, I click `Home' > `Works of Charles Dickens'. If I want Dostoevsky, I click `Works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky'. I think this format is perfect for organizing books on the Kindle.
   
   Inside collections, each book has links to chapters and footnotes. The text is nicely formatted and seems to be complete and accurate - something that cannot always be said about inexpensive ebooks. I think these collections are great bargains both in terms of saved money, time, and book organization!



5. I love having ALL of Mark Twain's work at my fingertips. This version has an active TOC and works great on the Kindle. Reading great literature to the kids has never been easier!

5 comments about Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog . . . and Your Life.

1. Recently, I was required to attend intensely cognitive, masters level leadership coursework. I happened to find "Be the Pack Leader" after the first week and it helped me sort out what's really important to me in leadership, no matter the situation, namely: calm assertive energy. I am calm assertive with my dog. I like calm assertive leaders and I prefer to be in a work environment led with calm assertive energy. The research for "Be the Pack Leader" was well done and was an effective antidote to an overly cognitive, jangling approach to leading groups. If you've had to deal with management that prefers dissonant rather than resonant leadership you'll get new insight from "Be the Pack Leader" that helps you find the more balanced path for you. If you have had encounters with individual leaders who leave you "feeling slimed", Cesar's (and Melissa's) insights into "energy" especially the effects of others' "negative energy" not only validate what an energy-sucking lousy experience an encounter with one of these individuals can be like, but also helps you understand such individuals make choices to stay in the negative, it's not about you and ultimately it's only something they, not you, can change.



2. My son & daughter in law have a new rescued greyhound so I gave them this book. Colby the greyhound now has a fully trained alpha leader to obey and so does my son - hehe. My daughter in law loves the book & we all love Cesar! Worth every penny if you love your dog like family.



3. This book is a really good reminder to all dog owners that dogs are NOT people with fur! If you own a dog it's got to be a balanced relationship between the dog meeting your needs and you meeting your dog's needs. Very easy to read and very good info. I recently adopted a second dog from the shelter. I used Cesar's approach to help Lucky blend into our family, and to help him overcome his fear of strangers and strange dogs. He's not 100% confident yet, but he is acting a lot more like a normal dog.



4. Both the book and the service were EXCELLENT!
   Thank you-- we needed this quick too- to help us work with our new puppy :)



5. THE VERDICT:
   If you're looking for a book to teach you simple, step by step ways to remedy your dog's behavior issues, please look elsewhere.
   
   THE GOOD:
   Well written, with logical organization and lots of example of how awesome Cesar Millan is at rehabilitating dogs. The sections explaining the pros and cons of various training methods were enlightening to say the least.
   
   THE BAD:
   I had high hopes for this book. I've watched the Dog Whisperer a number of times, and was always impressed with the way Cesar can communicate with dogs. I have a 1 year old terrier mix with some major behavior issues: aggression around people food, charging the door when the bell rings, jumping on people, selective hearing, etc. I thought I'd try to train him myself first with the help of some well regarded books. Based on the reviews of Cesars Way lacking step-by-step instruction, I thought I'd give his 2nd book a try. Unfortunately, after reading the book and trying Cesar's methods, my dog's behavior hasn't improved one bit.
   
   I take my dog for 2-3 mile walks or bike rides about 5 days a week. Cesar recommends two 45 minute walks a day, every day. Seriously? That is unreasonable to ask of any working individual, let alone one with kids. If that is required to have a well behaved dog, I'm sorry, but not many people would own dogs.
   
   Be The Pack Leader highlights a number of Cesar's cases, giving examples of why his methods work. I don't doubt that they work for him, I've watched his show. Unfortunately, for the usual dog owner who is trying to get some behavior issues under control, this book and the methods "laid out" simply don't work.
   
   Cesar spends countless pages rebutting criticism from other trainers regarding his methods. He's very defensive of his methods throughout the book, and you get the feeling that he is trying to prove himself to his readers. If he spent half as much energy into laying out a simple step by step training regimen, this book may have been a success.
   
   I'm just glad I got the book from the library and didn't waste my money.

5 comments about Where the Red Fern Grows.

1. Where the Red Fern Grows is a sad novel about a boy that saves to buy his two dogs. I know you are wondering if he saves up enough to get the dogs, but it is up to you to find out! At the end, you would NOT believe what happens, it will leave you in tears and you will be dumbfounded. I would recommend this book to children in middle school because I am in grade 7 and the school I go to has all the students read this book.
   
   The best book I have ever read was Where the Red Fern Grows. Anyone who is seasoned with dogs should read this book. Billy loves his two dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann. This book makes me remember the times I had with my dog. The end of this will make you cry.



2. Anybody who loves dogs will be leashed on this book. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls is about a boy named Billy who trains two redbone hounds how to hunt. The story takes place in the Ozarks. The characters are Billy - a smart boy, Old Dan - a strong dog, and Little Ann - a smart dog. Old Dan is my favorite character because he is brave.
   
   I am like the main characters because I used to have two dogs. That is my text-to-self connection.
   
   I liked this book because it's touching. My favorite part was when Billy won a contest. Boys and girls, ages 8-14, would like this book.



3. I first read this book when I was in the fourth grade. I have since read it about 10 times. I can pick this book up and read it from cover to cover and never be bored. No matter how many times I read it, the book always moves me. I am 26 now and the book still has an impact on me. If you haven't read the book, you must pick it up. Share with your kids, or your parents, or your neighbor. They will thank you later...



4. I grew up loving this book. It is such a great story of love, courage, and determination, and of course the ending always made me cry like a baby. I bought it recently to share with my 10 year old daughter, and we read it together. She loved it too, and we both bawled for pages of the ending. She is dying to share it with our mother-daughter book club, although the moms are already getting out their hankies...



5. The book was in pretty bad shape, worse than I thought. But my son had lost his school's version. I either had to replace it or pay way more money. School didn't seem to mind this copy and it wasn't much worse than the one we had already.

5 comments about Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems.

1. If you are an avid watcher of dog whisperer and 'get it' then this book won't be much more helpful to you. And a lot of it is a biography so it depends if that is what you are looking for.
   
   Pros -
   
   But I did quite enjoy it - a lot of it is a biography of Cesar which of itself it really interesting. It helps to know his background and where he is coming from.
   
   Cons -
   
   Repeats itself though this is the fault of the editor.
   
   The biography could be a con to some!
   
   No quick tools or solutions
   
   Any few tips he gives (emphasize few!)is hard to get to - no quick find of it.
   
   And like any of his books he is not a dog trainer so don't expect this to be a step - by -step dog training book!
   
   But this is helpful if no one has watched many shows as it does condense all his repeated thoughts on the show to a book.
   
   Overall I would suggest you pick up a copy of it at the library. I didn't buy this book but borrowed it. I would put this under the category of not one to own but a pleasant read if you borrow it.



2. My daughter's new friend has 6 pugs, and she has a 13yo small mix. I've learned so much from Cesar's way that I know this would come in handy!



3. This book was wonderful. It's not simply a book about how to train a dog. This book is both a great autobiography about Cesar Millan, and a book that shows how to have companionship with a dog. Cesar not only explains his methods he uses when rehabilitating animals, but shows the origins of where he developed his methods through years of observation. Overall a very wonderful and informative read. A definite buy for any dog lover out there.



4. We just got a 6-month old puppy and are training her. I got the unabridged CDs of this book to listen to during a week-long car trip. After 4 hours of listening, I have very little practical information on how to deal with my pup, other than doing something with my "energy."
   
   Cesar must have a sore arm from patting himself on the back. He came to this country as an illegal alien, which doesn't impress me. I have no doubt he's good with dogs. His experience doesn't help me, though. I have a bad back and can't run, with or without a pack. Cesar repeats himself a lot in this book, and has a lot of unhelpful digressions and unnecessary analogies. I don't particularly disagree with his philosophy, but I still don't understand how he's applying it.
   
   I ordered Good Owners, Great Dogs from Amazon a few weeks ago, and have found it to be a much better dog training guide. http://www.amazon.com/Good-Owners-Great-Brian-Kilcommons/dp/0446516759



5. The book is a good read. It answered some of my question regarding my dog

5 comments about 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog.

1. Its really a good book, Also has lots of pictures, very good instructions. My dog knows a few tricks thanks to this book.



2. ASIN:1592533256 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog]]
   The book is very easy to follow each step. Has new tricks that I didn't know how to teach!



3. I had already taken a basic obedience class with my dog where we learned simple commands like sit, stay, down, leave it, and come. I used this book to teach my dog other tricks, and I found it very easy to use. My dog was able to learn a new trick in just a short amount of time in one day. I would recommend this to any dog owner wanting to teach their dog new tricks. It really does help you bond with your dog, and they love to learn!



4. This is simple to understand and do and my dog LOVES doing it. Great for playtime as well as teaching fun tricks.



5. If you're bored with having your dog do the same old tricks and eager for something new, 1001 Dog Tricks is a great resource for adding some new tricks to your repertoire. Each trick is demonstrated with wonderful photos that make each step clear. Tricks for smaller breeds are also included. Unfortunately, a number of the tricks are slight variations on the same basic trick, but there are still dozens of unique tricks to keep you and your dog entertained for a long time. Dawn A. Marcus, MD [...]

5 comments about The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: A Novel.

1. The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-time is a book that gives the reader a lot of perspective about a child with autism. Christopher Boone explains his daily struggles with his disability in an inspiring way by telling the reader about his worries and habits. His way of thinking may seem strange because he numbers the chapters only using prime numbers, among other things, but I still found myself turning the pages. This is a book that will leave you on edge and wanting more.



2. What initially drew me to this book was the fact that the narrator is an Autistic teen and I have experience working with a similar population of students at my school. Mark Haddon's depiction of Christopher, the story's protagonist, is sympathetic, honest, and in my experience true to life. The social delays, violent outbursts, and need for an ordered, structured environment are all characteristics which are associated with many autism-spectrum disorders. I also felt that Haddon did an excellent job of portraying the chaos and over-stimulation that many autistic individuals can experience in loud crowded settings. All this aside, the story left something to be desired. What was billed as a quirky whodunit on the dustcover turned out to be much more about a broken dysfunctional family and a young man's struggle to make sense of it all. One of the saving graces of the book was that is was a very quick read. Overall, this was a nice book to pick up between larger, longer books and it had some good insights into individuals who struggle with autism and into life in general. Recommended.



3. This book was great! It's a quick and easy read. There are cute little diagrams and pictures sprinkled through the book, as the main character, Christopher, explains some of the things he is talking about. I have never read a book written like this. It really gives you an inside look into the mind of a child who has autism. Have you ever wondered why a boy might listen to the white noise between radio stations? Or why he finds repetitive actions so darn comforting? Or why he doesn't like to be touched? This book made me laugh and understand a lot more of what it must be like to be a special needs child. As Christopher tries to detect who killed his neighbor's dog, the story unfolds to reveal a delightful adventure he has, heartbreaking moments he suffers through, and scary social situations he must somehow make it through. I give this book FIVE STARS! It was great. I wish the author would write many more books like this. It is definitely one of my all time favorites, and one I will easily remember, simply for the interesting perspective it was written in. Seeing life through Christopher's eyes has made me understand life a little bit better!



4. Wow, I really enjoyed this novel. If the point of a novel is to let the reader experience somebody else's life for a little while, to see what it would be like being inside a different head, then Mark Haddon has succeeded wonderfully. Christopher Boone is an autistic teenager, with most of the characteristics we associate with autism yet Haddon manages to make a reliable narrator out of him and to make his story compelling and compassionate.
   
   Like Jonathan Lethem's novels this debut novel from Haddon has a gimmick, but he doesn't let the gimmick get in the way of telling a good story.
   
   Like Daniel Tammet's real-life memoir "Born on a Blue Day," Haddon's novel gives the reader a very good understanding of what it means to be autistic.
   
   All-in-all an entertaining read, with the added bonus of learning something useful about autism.



5. This was a good story. I never knew what was going to happen to Christopher next, especially when he was on his way to London.
   Very well written.

5 comments about Road Dogs.

1. This was a good read. Not as good as "The Hot Kid" or "Get Shorty" but worth it.
   TFCity of Fire



2. This is not an Elmore Leonard excellent work.
   Too many gaps and neatly packaged solutions. When they turn this into a script the dialogue will need lots of work and the characters refreshed.



3. Not as good as early work like Swag or Split Images or even as much fun as Up in Honey's Room, although other reviewers disagree. Dialogue is great but SOME plot is necessary. I've read every E.L. novel, including the westerns, except Hombre because I still picture Paul Newman from when I was a kid. I recently discovered John D. MacDonald and as much as I love E.L., I honestly don't understand how he can be considered the top crime writer of his or any generation. Many other crime writers seem to be better writers with more intense and interesting characters, and far more complex plots. Try James Ellroy or Walter Mosley as two completely different alternatives. I still love E.L., however, and hope he writes for at least another ten years.



4. There's a macho swagger to an Elmore Leonard novel that can't be denied. A cool vibe drifts off the page and there's a natural rhythm to his dialogue that never sounds forced or fake. Elmore Leonard has been writing novels for over 50 years but he still has the touch. His story-lines rarely follow a conventional path and he creates memorable characters that never fail to entertain. His characters range from low life losers, to gorgeous babes working the angles, to cool cons who know the score. Road Dogs delivers a healthy mix of new characters and familiar ones (from Out of Sight, Riding the Rap, and La Brava, with references to characters from Maximum Bob).
   
   OK, so Road Dogs may not completely measure up to vintage Leonard (my personal favorite is Rum Punch). Some readers may feel it takes a while for the novel to kick into full gear (and even then it's still a pretty simple story) but even a middling Leonard effort is far better than most of what's out there.
   
   Road Dogs plays itself out as a kind of cat-and-mouse game in a dog-eat-dog world. There's plenty of great banter and positioning before the players make their moves (and counter-moves) and the violence begins. The banter is great and the plot plays itself out in very entertaining fashion.
   
   It's hard for me to imagine any fan of Elmore Leonard being disappointed with this one. Road Dogs is a quick, enjoyable read. I don't expect it will be long before George Clooney is back on the silver screen reprising his role as Jack Foley. It's very easy to picture this novel being turned into a movie. One thing is for sure. They won't need to change a word of dialogue. It's pitch perfect, just the way it is.



5. You can feel the fun Dutch had writing this one. You will have as much fun reading ROAD DOGS.