Reviews (17)

Basics! Basics! Basics!
I found this book to have quite a different approach to teaching the beginner to ride.The author focus on balance and safety, and not moving the rider forward until a they are proficent in basic skills.
Fabulous!
A fabulous, practical book that addresses a common but "secret" problem of so many horse lovers...fear and anxiety.This is especially distressing to adult riders who used to be able to just jump on and GO!Gincy gives concrete and helpful exercises for us to do on and off the horse.She uses great visualization techniques like Sally Swift.It's great to have a book that addresses riding instead of ground training.Thank you Gincy!

The Best!
Returning to riding after many years away from horses, I was injured just when I was starting to get my confidence back.This added an element of fear that I hadn't ever had to deal with before.
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Subjects:  1. Equestrian Sports    2. Horsemanship    3. Horses - General    4. Horses - Riding    5. Pets    6. Pets / Horses / Riding    7. Riding & horsemanship   

Reviews (29)

Short but insightful
I was expecting a book when I ordered this one but its more a pamplet . What I did find is what it lacked in length it made up for in concise information . It helped greatly in training my puppy.

just such a disapointment
not worth the 10 minutes it takes to read this booklet

Don't put all your eggs in one basket
She has some good points for the beginning dog trainer, however she is not right about pinning dogs down.They do in fact do it in the wild, it is NOT always by choice as she states in her book.When looking at books, be critical as everyone has their own point of view.Stubborn thinking dogs like the livestock guardian breeds need pinning at times, though it's usually through play to maintain your dominant possition.
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Subjects:  1. Dogs - General    2. Pets    3. Pets / Dogs / General    4. Training   

Reviews (127)

Good, clear and highly recommended
I found this book very helpful. It is clear and thorough and a very good resource for owners and trainers. It is also easily accessible, despite covering some fairly technical material. In terms of the content, Culture Clash is first rate.
Easy read, thorough
A huge amount of dog books are a slog to read, preachy and unhelpful. This book on the other hand, gives a simple over view of modern training techniques interspersed with humour. As an experienced dog handler I appreciated some of the basic reminders about our dogs being..just dogs... and I think for a new dog owner it is essential reading. Some areas do become quite technical and I recommend those not into the `dog behaviour' thing to skim those sections and quickly move on. Overall though, the number one book in this area now with practical advice balanced against dog insight.

Preachy, but good
The teacher of my puppy's obedience class recommended this book to me. After I got through the first half, I found that I really liked it. The first half is ridiculously preachy, especially if you already believe in using positive reinforcement in training. The second half, while still peppered with diatribes against owners who use training collars, random moments of near-anthropomorphic descriptions of dog behavior (a bit much from a book that begins by explaining how ridiculous it is to anthropomorphize your dog), and other attempts to make the reader feel guilty, is also filled with exercises that are extremely valuable.
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Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Dogs - Training    3. Pets    4. Pets / Dogs / General    5. Sociology    6. Dogs   

Reviews (26)

Realistic, pragmatic, easy to read
I strongly recommend this book to any conscientious owner of a fearful dog.Our puppy showed fear of many things at an early age and we are lucky to have gotten a trainer - and read this book - as soon as we discovered this problem. The author points out that dealing with a dog's fear is a LOT of work and that the problems don't go away overnight. She is very realistic in explaining the challenges and setting your expectations. The tools she offers are practical and she writes in plain, everyday English that a regular dog owner can understand. Diligently following her advice has made a huge difference for our dog.

Review of "The Cautious Canine"
"The Cautious Canine" presents a clear, step-by-step method for changing the behavior of a dog who is afraid of strange people and/or other strange dogs.It is not as clear on how to change the behavior of a dog who is cautious and anxious about everything new that he encounters.

great insight to dog behavior
This book is clear cut - straight to the point, and extremely helpful. Anyone needing some advice on how to handle their dog's behavior would find this book worthwhile. It's shorter than I thought, but that's ok - no fluff.
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Subjects:  1. Animals / Pets    2. Behavior    3. Dogs - General    4. Pets    5. Pets / Dogs / General    6. Phobias    7. Training   

Reviews (3)

A wonderful book with beautiful photography
The photography in this book is beautiful.Ms. Scott captures the innate beauty and emotions of every dog she photographs.Just by looking at these dog faces, one can get a sense of the hardship, the longing, and the hope of these canines.The stories behind each dog gives them such depth and character.Of course, these stories leave the reader/viewer filled with emotions including sadness and joy, but most importantly, they provide a reminder of just how precious shelter dogs are and just how much they want and deserve to be loved.
Man's best friend, forgotten...
This is a collection of photographs of dogs from various shelters, each with a short description of their situation. These dogs are the unlucky and unwanted, sometimes abondoned by their "best friend", and some are picked up as strays. The photos capture the character of these dogs, and some have such sad looks. It is heartbreaking to read that some of these dogs in this book were euthanized, sometimes simply due to the lack of space in shelters. In those cases, these photos are the only remaining evidence of their short existance. Recommended for anyone who loves dogs. A percentage of proceeds from sales go to shelters.

Awesome!!
Traer Scott has done an extraordinary job.The photos of these dogs are mesmerizing. A must have for dog lovers, and especially those of us who have walked into a shelter and fallen in love with a furry stranger who then becomes our best friend on the ride home. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dogs - General    2. Pets    3. Photoessays & Documentaries    4. Photography    5. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    6. Subjects & Themes - Portraits    7. Dogs    8. Gift books    9. Photographs: collections   

Editorial Review

Open the front cover and the first two pages you see contain the Index of Signs and Symptoms, from Abdomen (painful, swollen, distended, and tucked up) to Weight loss, Wheezing, and Whining (continual). There's a comprehensive index in back, of course, running the gamut from Abortion to Zinc-Responsive Dermatosis, which is all very useful, but when your pooch is in pain, it's great to be able to turn, with the minimum of folderol, to the page that says to relax, it's nothing a bit of extra grooming won't fix, or alternatively to hightail it over to the vet hospital. It's a wonderful reference for any dog owner, with chapters on emergencies (such as burns, dehydration, and poisoning), as well as worms, infectious diseases, skin care, and canine eyes, ears, and nose. There are chapters on the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems, the nervous, musculoskeletal, and urinary systems, plus dog sex, whelping, puppy pediatrics, geriatrics, and chapters on cancers and medications. In short, it covers every health dimension a dog owner might want to know more about, identifies the possible causes, helps you determine the severity of the condition, and indicates what treatments or actions to take to best insure your dog's good health.Read more

Reviews (46)

This book saved my dog's life
This is an excellent resource for pet owners because it is logically written, well-organized and goes over broad range of ailments your dog might have. It is set up for quick reference, and information is conveyed succinctly, so the reader is able to retrieve the needed information quickly. This ease of use literally saved my dog's life.
Dog Health Care Bible
Highly informative and very detailed, some may think its too deatiled but its better to know too much about how to care for a dog than too little.I raise a small number of dogs and I might as well not put it on the shelf I use it on a daily basis.

Great Midnight Help
This is a good, well written, and well organized book. There is a whole section on diarreha, including how much Pepto-Bismal to give a dog and other home care. This was invaluable when my dog got into something she shouldn't have eaten. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Diseases    3. Dogs    4. Dogs - Breeds    5. Dogs - Care/Health    6. Dogs - General    7. Handbooks, manuals, etc    8. Pets    9. Pets / Dogs / General   

Reviews (12)

The Aquarist's Modern Day Holy Grail
The price of this book is daunting. As such, I borrowed it from my local Aquarium Club. After I had to return it a month later, I odered a copy. Pound per pound--and it's a hefty book--it is the best value on this subject matter out there.
Comprehensive source for grwoing SPS dominated reefs
I have used this text as a reference and read selected chapters of interest to me as needed since first released. The text is well written and easy to follow. I have been keeping reef aquariums for 8 years and have developed a method that has been succesful in large part to this series of books. It is not essential to have either of the prior volumes to benefit from this book.
great book
This book is fantastic and covers everything you need to know and more!!!!My son could not put it down....once he started reading it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Fish & Aquariums    3. Life Sciences - Biochemistry    4. Pets    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics   

Reviews (3)

Superb!
The book is well-organized and well-written. I was successful using some of the protocols described in the book to modify dog aggression. This is one of the best books out there on aggression.

Four Stars for now, with the potential for Five Stars!
This book actually has a lot of very good, practical, and very helpful information for the dog owner who wants to prevent (as I do) or treat agression problems, especially in agression-prone breeds like spaniels and some of the guarding breeds.I debated whether or not to give this book a five star rating.I settled on four stars for now because of my one "complaint" against the book -- it is a very, very COMPLICATED book to read and utilize.The author, apparently through many years of working with problem dogs, has developed a number of complex systems for treating and preventing agression problems which, while I'm sure will be useful and should work well, and just very complicated for the amateur to use.This is definitely NOT the kind of book one can read in bed when tired.It reminds me of some of my college texts -- a challenging and complicated read, and perhaps a bit on the dry side.I know that when I tried to read it recently, my mind often wandered.
Very helpful exercises
This book is terrific for owners of any dog.We actually rescued an dog-aggressive dog and actually went to Brenda Aloff for a few sessions.Her advice and exercises helped turn a stressed out little monster into my little princess.My dog isn't magically cured, but by using this book, we've taught her to look to her humans for guidance in stressful situations, instead of just attacking as she would in the past.She knows the rules and was taught them in a completely positive reinforcement manner.I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Dogs - General    3. Dogs - Training    4. Pets   

Reviews (31)

Colorful and informative
This is a great overview of AKC breeds. There are 2 full color photos (not drawings) of the dogs. I refer to this book all the time. It covers the history of the breeds, statistics, temperment,personality, health isuues, and much more. I bought one for me and one for my sister. I highly recommend this book!

Good breed information, but lacking in presentation
I have an older version of The Encyclopedia of the Dog by Bruce Fogle, and here's how they compare: Dr. Fogle's book has many more breeds, but one complaint I heard was that the information it provided on the breeds was not always accurate (I can't verify this, I'm not a vet). This book here by Dr. Coile is supposedly very accurate, but has fewer breeds (only the AKC it seems); however, I knew that before I bought it so I can't complain. Very few people own or can obtain non-AKC breeds, so reading about them would just be for pleasure for most people. That said, Dr. Coile provides more information for each breed, giving 5-scale ratings for 13 different characteristics (tempermant, grooming, heat/cold tolerance, exercise needs, etc), health concerns, breed history, etc. However, the pictures they provide aren't nearly as professional looking as the ones in Dr. Fogle's book, if that matters to you. Also, the binding is cheaper in this book. One important difference, though, is that this book contains no other information aside of about the breeds. Dr. Fogle's book, in contrast, provides the history and use of types of breeds (such as hounds, herding dogs, hunting dogs, etc, not just a particular breed), anatomy, evolution, care, training, etc. Dr. Coile provides none of that. So, if you just want a book to help you pick out an AKC breed and need accurate, more detailed breed information then this book is the better choice; but for general interest and pleasure, Dr. Fogle's book is better.

A Really Informative Book
Even this book only lists about 150 breeds of dogs and it is based on just dog breeds, it is a pretty good book. I am trying to find the right dog for someone and have used the great overall section of each breed to find that the Havanese fits her best. The breed pages include history, AKC ranking, family, area of origin, date of origin, original function, today's function, other name, temperament, upkeep, health (including major concerns, minor concerns, occasionally seen, suggested tests, life span, and a note for some breeds), energy level, excersize requirements, playfulness, affection level, friendliness toward other dogs/other pets/strangers, training, watchdog, protection, grooming, cold/heat tolerance, weight, height, form and function, and fanally, an illustrated standard. It will help you a lot in picking the right breed of dogs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animal Science (Specific Aspects)    2. Dog breeds    3. Dogs - Breeds    4. Encyclopedias    5. Pets    6. Pictorial works    7. Dogs    8. Pets / Dogs / Breeds    9. Reference works   

Reviews (9)

A Must Have For Every Horse Owner
This Handbook is quick and easy to use.Packed with symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments, its index and contents help horse owners to quickly locate information when its needed most.Although the book only has black and white photos, they clearly demonstrate how tos, anatomy, and display common physically symptoms.The book also has charts and diagrams on every day equine topics such as worms and necessary vaccines.The last few chapters are designated to reproduction and are equipped with useful information for an owner thinking about breeding.
GreatBook
This is a good book to have. It covers everything that you need to know about your horse. I'm sure I will use it many times!

Excellent health reference
I have several books in my library which cover equine health but this is certainly the most comprehensive.The book is set out in chapters which cover the major systems of the horse - respiratory, circulatory, nervous, reproductive etc
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Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Cardiology    3. Diseases    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Horses    6. Horses - General    7. Pets    8. Horses & ponies    9. Pets / Horses / Care    10. Veterinary science: large animals (domestic / farm)   

Reviews (94)

A great book!
I loved this book. I don't get how people thought that Jon Katz acted like he could throw away a dog and get another dog. I think by his writting he sounds like a big dog lover, and any dog lover knows you can not replace a dog in any way. So, anyway I thought the book was written well and very humerous at times. He writes so well, that I can really picture was is going on in my head when Devon the Border Collie misbehaved. I loved this book and all the books Jon Katz has written about his dogs. I think he is a well respected writer in the dog world, and I think he should keep writting about his dogs. Any Dog person should pick up one of his books, this one especially.

Its A Dog's Life
I love Border Collie's and this is the first Katz book I have read. I had to buy just because of the cover page. Katz does a great job of explaining everything from joy to the trials and tribulations that dog owners and lovers experience every day. It gets a little too cute for me at times, but does a great job sharing with us what life is like with a pet. It is definitely a dog's life.

An EXCELLENT book all the way !!
Mr. Katz is an AMAZING author.Wonderfully well written.A hilarious look at the life and actions of a dog with "issues".Proof that with an informed, caring owner can help a canine with issues become a wonderful companion. I read this book last fall, then proceeded to purchase a copy for every dog lover on my Christmas list.I have since purchased every book written by Jon Katz. I look forward to more books by this author. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Behavior    3. Dogs    4. Dogs - General    5. Human-animal relationships    6. Katz, Jon    7. New Jersey    8. Pets    9. Pets / Dogs / General   

Reviews (14)

not a beginner book
This book goes indepth about the anatomy and physiology of mushrooms, soft corals and anemones. Not a great reference guide for choosing specimens for your It tends to generalize by family and/or genus vs species. If you are new to saltwater and are looking for a reference to choose items for your tank this would not be my first choice.

THE reference for that field
Just like the vol. 1, that is a must-have book. Please note that the vol. 3 should be released late Nov. 2005.
One of the best of the best vol.2
This volume of the series covers the soft corals and sea anemones; very important topics indeed for reef aquarium. The two books together are still not complete as� there are many organisms found in a reef aquaria still not covered. In this series. A fine glossary accompanies this book. Much of what I had to gleen by trial and error and by reading arcane publications over the years is covered in this book. Approachable to the beginner yet� a lot of substance for the expert.
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Subjects:  1. Animals / Pets    2. Aquariums    3. Captive marine aquariums    4. Coral reef animals    5. Fish & Aquariums    6. Identification    7. Marine Fauna    8. Marine Life    9. Marine invertebrates    10. Nature    11. Nature/Ecology    12. Pets    13. Tropics    14. Fish    15. Tropical Fish   

Reviews (13)

Great Jumping book for beginners
This book creates a great foundation to train yourself and your horse to excell in jumping no matter what your intentions may be. I personally would recomend this book for all ages and engligh riders even the one's with no intention on jumping.

A Great Book To Keep In Your Tack Room!
I have started to do some of these exercises with my Appaloosa gelding. He is ten, but has gone western the two years he has been trained and is very ignorant of english riding skills.
101 Jumping Exercises for Horse & Rider
I bought the book originally to add some variety to my training sessions and to obtain ideas on different exercises.Now both my trainer and I do not jump without the book close by.The different grid exercises have added so much to our workouts!Not only has it helped our horses become more confident it has helped our equitation tremendously.I would highly recommend this book for both beginers and the more experienced rider! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Equestrian    2. Horsemanship    3. Horses    4. Horses - Riding    5. Horses - Showing/Training    6. Jumping (Horsemanship)    7. Pets    8. Show jumping    9. Training    10. Horses & ponies    11. Pets / Horses / Riding    12. Riding & horsemanship    13. SPORTS & RECREATION / Equestrian   

Reviews (1)

Cute

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Subjects:  1. Calendar    2. Calendars & Diaries    3. Cats - General    4. Non-Classifiable    5. PETS / Cats / General    6. Photography / Nature & Wildlife    7. Stationery items   

Reviews (14)

A God Send
Our 12 year old Lab/Dalmation mix developed insulin dependent diabetes and within 3 months, overnight, was totally blind from cataracts.We were on vacation camping when we realized something was very wrong!How scary for him and us as we watched him bump into things, not be able to find his food bowls, jump in or out of the trailer, etc. We realized we could not move anything once we had it in place and never took our eyes off of him.After the Vet confirmed our fears, she gave us options: surgery (not guarenteed successful), euthanasia (after all, he is 12) or let him live the rest of his life blind.I was determined to become more educated.I immediately went on-line and out of the few books available on animal blindness, this book was by far the most informative.I have read it from cover to cover and keep it on the coffee table.The book made us realize that it was US that needed to be "trained", remembering that our pet is now dependent on us for guidance.Calm talking and constant reasurance have helped Jack adapt to his new environment.This resource is an ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE for the pet owner who accepts their pets blindness as a setback and not a death penalty!

Living with Blind Dogs
All vets should know about this book & let their clients know about it when they have a pet that goes blind over time or especially immediately due to trauma. So many helpful hints. It's comforting to know there is "help" available.

Great book!
This was recommended by my dog's eye vet and on numerous sites. Very informative and helps out a lot with dealing with the loss of vision in a pet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Pets    3. Dogs   

Subjects:  1. Architectural & Industrial    2. Architecture    3. Architecture Of Specific Structures    4. Equestrian    5. Equestrian Sports    6. General    7. History - Specific Styles    8. Horses - General    9. Architecture / General    10. Equestrian & animal sports   

Reviews (3)

Makes Having a Puppy Even More Fun!
Having a puppy is a ton of fun, but with this book it's even MORE fun!The authors of this book really know what they're talking about when it comes to puppies, how to train them, how to handle them so they feel secure, and how to get that tiny bundle of love fully integrated into your new pack.The real beauty of this book is that by using the systems taught and explained so well in this book, we were able to get our new puppy housebroken in less than two weeks!Caesar's book is a beauty if you have a full-grown or young dog.This one is the CHOICE for the little tykes.A real gem.

An invaluable resource for new puppy owners
I love all the books by Brian & Sarah, but I think this one is my new favorite.It's clear that the authors "speak dog," and the use of space games to communicate clearly with your pooch is, to me, revolutionary.It's such a simple concept, one of those things where you smack yourself in the forehead and say, "Duh!Why didn't I realize that?"
An essential guide for training a dog of any age
As with all of Brian and Sarah's books, My Smart Puppy is a delight to read. Easy to follow, personable, and full of helpful suggestions, this book is both motivating and encouraging. While reading it, I kept wanting to stop and do the various exercises with my dogs. Packed with information, this is an easy-to-apply, practical, and FUN book on dog training. The stories about Pip, the authors' puppy, are engaging, and the many photos illustrate the principles and training games beautifully. The space games are a new and much needed addition to the world of dog training, as they teach owners of both puppies and adult dogs how to communicate easily, effectively, and clearly with their dogs in an enjoyable and non-confrontational manner. Through them, a strong, positive relationship is established as the foundation of all training, so that your dog learns built in habits of trust, respect, and obedience. I highly recommend this book for anyone with a puppy or dog of any age. It will help you and your dog understand each other better and have a lifetime of fun together.
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Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Behavior    3. Dogs - Care/Health    4. Dogs - General    5. Pets    6. Puppies    7. Training    8. Pets / General   

Subjects:  1. Calendar    2. Calendars & Diaries    3. Dogs - General    4. Non-Classifiable    5. Pets / Dogs / General   

Reviews (26)

Great resource for newbies.
While there is not piles of detail about each fish, there are important specific descriptions about the different fish within thefamily. (i.e. They don't always say the same thing about all the small angelfish like some websites I have visited.) I really like the rating about how easy or difficult each fish is to keep in captivity.
Don't go Fish shopping without it!
This book and also the 500+ Invertebrates are great books for all reef tank enthusiasts.It is so useful when you go into your LFS and see some gorgeous new fish,as you can determine how suitable it is to you. You know whether they are compatable with other tank occupants, how large they will grow, what kind of food it requires etc. Can help to save you $ in the LFS! I have steered clear of a few species that would not survive with the help of this book.

Marine Fishes: 500+
Great reference for determining which fish will fit well into your aquarium, ease of keeping, feeding, and compatability with others. A must have reference for looking up those fish at the LFS. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fish    2. Fish & Aquariums    3. Marine Life    4. Marine aquarium fishes    5. Marine aquariums    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Pets    9. Fishes & aquaria   

Reviews (10)

Pocket Guide to Marine Invertebrates 500+ Essential to know
Easy to use and good information.Well explained and Best photos I have seen.

A pocketexpert guide to marine invertebrates: 500+
An excellent reference for looking up invertebrates. Lists feeding, lighting,and compatability traits, good information however does not have the 1-5 ease of keeping scale like the fish book does.

Magnifico
Este libro es simplemente magnifico, completisimo teniendo en cuenta su tama�o y muy facil de entender, la verdad es que es una compra muy pero que muy acertada y recomendada. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fish & Aquariums    2. Pets    3. Reference    4. Fishes & aquaria    5. Sea & seashore life