Pet Books

This book is an excellent book for anyone involved in tracking with dogs.

This was a great book for theory. Helps you to understanding what you might be seeing when those seemingly unexplainable things happen on the track. It won't teach you to track at all, but it will help you understand the mechanics of your dogs senses and scent. This was the missing link for me.

Thorough and easy to understand explanation of human and vegetative scents, their relevance to search dog training, and the ways their properties affect searches and are affected by influences such as heat and snow. A well researched and presented argument for air searching over tracking and trailing. I'd like to see a similarly clear and easily understood essay by Mr Syrotuck on passive and pro-active narcotic dog training. I found this manual fascinating and full of invaluable information.

Good book that makes it easy to understand the complex nature of tracking human scent. Opened my eyes and gave me a new prespective!

I was first introduced to Scent and the Scenting Dog in 1973 when I went through the Seattle Police K-9 Academy. I found it to be the only text to present the facts of scent and scentwork in a scientific manner. The underlaying source information is footnoted and verifiable.This book presents the facts of scent and avoids simplistic methods. It demonstrates to the practitioner the scent evidence available to the dog under differing circumstances and what methods of application/training are likely to succeed. It also describes the physiology of the dog's olfactory system, giving the reader a factually based understanding of the dog's ability and power to receive scent. It is as accurate and valuable today as when it was written. I relied upon this book as a police dog handler, and retained it as a text when teaching future handlers through a 20 year career.

It is an amazing book. When I get money I will buy the other book from this collection.

This colorful guide book to the reef fish of Florida, the Bahamas, and the Carribean is an excellent reference. Fish are shown in beautiful color pictures with information on size, shape, where to find them,and how they are likely to react to divers.
All the usuals are of coures here but so are many less commonly seen in guide books. Written information also includes descriptions of common variants.
An all around excellent book for the semiserious to serious snorkeler or diver who enjoys identifing what they see.

As book reader and Diver, I just love this book, It gives me all the pictures and characteristics for an accurate evaluation of the creatures I found under water. Great pictures, and outstanding charcterization of fishes.

At one time I was the head of a volunteer organization in WPB, Florida that assisted Palm Beach County with their artifical reef program. Part of the qualification was to get training in a variety of related subjects (like fish identification) sponsored by the Florida Oceanographic Society. This book served as our fish identification "bible." I no longer live in FL, but when I go diving in the Caribbean I stil take this book with me. If you need to (or just want to) know the fish of the Caribbean, buy this book.

This is a reef fish identification book. This sounds obvious, but that really is the focus here. It's not a book to teach you about fish behavior, biogeography, community ecology, or population trends. Author, diver, captain, photographer, and attorney (!) Paul Humann took most of the 670 photographs in this book, a real accomplishment for any diver, since the result of a blurred or indistinct photograph of a fish is to... go get another.

The organization of this ID book is by fish shape. He's got 12 "identification groups":

- disks and ovals (colorful)
- silvery
- sloping head and tapered body
- small ovals
- heavy body and large lips
- swim with pectoral fins, and with obvious scales
- reddish and big eyes
- small, elongated bottom-dwellers
- old-shaped bottom dwellers
- odd-shaped swimmers
- eels
- sharks and rays

Any fish watcher would see the "logic" of this organization, although it could make some ichthyologists squirm with these sets of artificial groupings.

The book is spiral-bound so that the pages, when opened, stay open. And the clay content in the paper makes it more resistant to water dripping from your wetsuit or your hair. Just make sure you wipe it off, pronto.

Now the photos... They are very high quality, and Humann is to be commended for taking, or selecting from other photographers, pictures that really pull out the details of the various fish . For example, the Sergeant Major has the delicate yellow along the base of its dorsal fin, and those frogfish must be viewed in both a camouflaged condition and in a setting where they are contrasted with the background.

Any amateur photographer will soon discover the difficulty in getting a full, close-up and lateral view of a fish. They tend to swim away from you as you get close, giving you a great view of the tail sweeping away. These photos are the result of a truly amazing amount of patience.

In an appendix, he throws in some sea turtles and dolphins or good measure, as well as a checklist for keeping track of the reader's sightings.

My ocean diving has all been in the Pacific, and it was interesting seeing species related to my own "friends." If I get the opportunity to dive in Florida, the Caribbean, or the Bahamas, this will be the book I throw in my dive bag... in a zip-lock bag, of course.

Ken's stories remind me of Dr. James Herriot's awesome tales about his life as a country vet in Britain. (All Creatures Great and Small, and others)

Ken's books are also heartwarming and for anyone who loves animals.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RIJ2ZYSOJDATB This isn't really a review, it's just the only way I could find to share this great video that was created at a party I had for the release of Dogs I Have Met. Among the many dogs who attended: Trap Jack and Dag, both of whom are featured in the book.

and an American Pit Bull Terrier lover in particular, I have a special place in my heart for Ken Foster and his experiences. He is not afraid to stand up for what he believes and take corrective action for injustices he observes. He is a patriot for the APBT breed. This book is very well written and brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. Bravo, Ken!

Ken Foster has again produced an entertaining look at the people he has encountered in his interesting dog-filled life. His writing style is unique and one to be emulated. The small volume is a quick read. American Pit bulls have a great advocate in him as he gently but forcefully defends them.

I truly appreciated this book specifically because of the strong focus on decriminalizing the american pit bull breed. It is so sad that this wonderful, loving breed of dog has been so persecuted due solely to the inhumanity of humans. Dogs are one of God's greatest creations, and humans have exploited, abused, and mistreated them to such unbelieveable levels. Thanks to the author for his wonderul work. It is a short easy read, but shares valuable insight.

This is the most complete, concise medical handbook for horse owner's I have found on the market today. It details everything from small medical maladies to major sicknesses and illnesses. It walks you through reproduction and everything you need to know for your pregnant mare too! The language was easy to understand and stated in basic layman's terms, so even if you are a first-time horse owner you can understand the terminology used, but it is also detailed enough for the avid, experienced horse owner. This book comes highly recommended!!

This book holds loads of information. It is a very good item for the horse owner to keep handy.

While the authors obviously know their stuff, I found it hard to read given the excessive and slightly archaic verbage; I would've preferred something much more consise, perhaps in a "bullet" fashion, rather than a tome.

No book is a subsitute for a licensed veterinarian. Now having said that...

I've had this book for years and wouldn't be without it. It got me through my first foaling and also caring for that foal (including vaccinations). While I've not read this book front to back, the signs & symptoms section in the front is invaluable. The chapters are easy to read, yet they are informative and allow you to ask intelligent questions of your veterinarian when it becomes necessary for them to be there.

My mother recently bought her first horse and this book was the first thing I told her to go get.

This is a well-organized, easy to undertand book for all horse owners. When I saw the size, I was daunted, but have found it to be helpful in understanding and tending to health issues with our horses. This should be on every horse owners bookshelf!

as an anthro/archaeology major (albeit years ago), history buff, lover of geology/mother earth and tree whisperer, words fail me to adequately express the impact this small book had on me and a small cohort of friends. it is far more than a wakeup call; it is a call to learn from our collective past and take responsibility for our actions so as to safeguard the future of our children and generations to come.

read it; recommend it; give it as a present; make a plan and take action

if not now, when? if not us, who?

I liked it.

I have to agree with the other reviewers that the author repeated himself, showing example after example with the same theme. I'd almost wish he'd summarized more of that part, and expanded more on the soil science in the early chapters - wading through that dense explanation took concentration. I felt more educated on the topic of soil abuse at the end, but really didn't have any handle on What Could Be Done to Fix The Issue. Probably because no one else does either.

I read this shortly after a couple of Micheal Pollan's earlier books, and would recommend the pairing (Omnivore's Dilema and Botany of Desire) for a more holistic view.

This is an important mutidisciplinary book. It is relevant to many areas of civilization studies. Equally, it is relevant to the sciences. If I ran a highschool, it would be required reading, same thing if I ran the US Congress.
For me, it is important on a moral level as well. I think we should help provide for future generations. Factual history is a good place to start that journey.

This should be essential reading for any resource planner, all levels of elected policy makers and anyone that has read Jared Diamond, i. e. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

Though the title says Dirt, it should actually say Soil, as this book is about how numerous civilizations destroyed themselves by adopting unsustainable farming practices that eventually destroyed their land. The author examines the histories of England, Roman Empire, ancient Greece, pre-colonial Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, Pharaoic Egypt, continental Europe, Communist Russia, the antebellum South, Colonial New England, and China. The conclusions he draws from all are the same, agricultural practices driven by short-term profit led to long-term soil erosion and depletion. The latter created poverty, inducing emigrations, which led to civil strife, war, and gradual collapse. So this book does live up to its subtitle, it is a history of human civilization as told from the viewpoint of soil erosion.

As a work of nonfiction, its contents apply well to history, economics, geology, ecology, and anthropology, along with agriculture. As a commentary, it is quite objective and its points are well-conveyed. As reading material; it flows quite nicely and the chapters are easy to digest. A great book overall.

I actually couldn't put this book down. It is so well written. I didn't realize until I had purchased the book that the author is a student of Monty Roberts. She carries forth his message as well as her own experiences in an informative yet entertaining way. I hope she branches out into DVD's, as well.

kind of elementary for what i was expecting, but i suppose it would be helpful to someone at that level - all in all it is a pretty good book

You do not need to be a horse whisperer, or even a cowboy to enjoy this book. With Ms. Marks as my guide, I was able to learn things about these animals I didn't know like: "Sometimes you can foresee a negative pattern starting up; for example, when you braid a horse, he realizes that he's going to a show and goes off his feed. If this is the case, change his routine to avoid any anxiety starting." Did you know this?

What do you see when you see a horse? When I see a horse, I see an animal whose ancestors time and time again were the only creatures on earth standing between my ancestors and certain death. And I realize that I might not even be here if it were not for these majestic animals. I do what I can for them knowing that it is enough that I am of value to somebody today. Please support your local SPCA and Equine Rescue Services. Author, Bob Miller

I myself am a beginner, and have found this book to be extremely helpful. Aside from boosting your confidence, Kelly Marks gives clear, consise intructions on how to best solve any given situation, granted that it is that kind of a problem. The illustrations are wonderful, and are very helpful if you are a visual learner. I very much appreciate this book.

I like this book and it has some interesting stories, but if you already participate in a program like Parelli, etc. (as I do) then there isn't really any new information. Buying the book is cheaper, but buying the Parelli DVD program gives you a lot more.

If I wasn't doing Parelli, then this book would be a good start. It would be helpful if there was more trouble-shooting.

In this book Henry and his big dog, Mudge, enjoy the escapades of fall. They shake together as Henry's mom tells scary Halloween stories and together they endure the Thanksgiving visit from Aunt Sally. These books are a favorite for my reluctant reader. The love between Henry and his dog Mudge is heart-warming.

For a species dubbed Man's best friend, canines are sadly horribly abused by their so-called friends. "Dogtown: A Sanctuary for Rescued Dogs" is the story of the country's biggest no kill animal sanctuary. The sanctuary focuses on keeping animals in loving homes and off the streets and away from cruel masters. An uplifting tale that dog lovers will relish, "Dogtown" is enhanced with more than eighty full color photos, earning it an enthusiastic recommendation.

All the things in it that best friends does, but just not long enough . Left me hungry for more.

This book has wonderful photos of rescued dogs and heart warming stories of dog rescues. I really appreciate the hard work of Best Friends Animal Society and all the awareness they bring to the needs of homeless animals.

What's not to love about Carl? This is the best of the Carl books, save the original Good Dog Carl. In this book, Carl has to watch the baby and a new puppy in the park. The illustrations are multi-layer -- adults will pick up on things that kids won't (like the different art schools of the painters in the park). Adding the puppy is a fun twist. I was really glad to see this story in a board book for toddlers.

These are fanatastic books for any child (or adult!) who loves dogs. The illustrations are beautiful, and since the stories are told only in pictures, there is plenty of room for creativity when reading the book with your child(ren).

This is a book for very young children, but the illustrations are so lovely and detailed, and the situations depicted so full of wit and little hidden jokes, that I never get bored with it, even after "reading" it over and over and over again with my toddler. This is my very favorite of the Carl books, because the activities are totally non-materialistic and wholesome (riding a merry-go-round and a train, sharing an ice cream cone, getting sprayed by a hose), and because the park is recognizably inspired by beautiful Balboa Park in my native San Diego, where Alexandra Day lives. It's worth it to get both the board book and regular hardcover editions, just to appreciate the greater detail of the images in the larger format.

And I have to add just one more, mildly tongue-in-cheek comment: as for the "lesbian couple" alluded to in a veiled way by a previous reviewer -- well, I just have to giggle. Yes, there are two young, attractive women having a picnic on the grass as Carl and his charges go by. But it never would have occurred to me to impute homosexuality (or any kind of sexuality) to them. They're fully clothed (albeit in pants), and they're just sitting there -- hardly a lascivious scene no matter what your prejudices. Now if Tinky-Winky were pictured sitting with them, well, that would be a whole different story. I guess this just proves what everyone says is so wonderful about the Carl books -- you can interpret the images however you like.

I justed picked this book up at the library. I think it's great to have the majority of the book with no words, just gorgeous, colorful pictures. The more detail in the pictures, the better, as my almost-two year old loves to "find things" in them. With no words, he and I can make up our own story, it lets him decide whats happening. I plan to buy a few of the series to have around all the time.

Carl is such a great dog, and the pictures are just beautiful.

There is "no" story line with words so you can talk all about what Carl does or you can say as little as you like to.

Great series books!

This book was interesting and easy to read. Good ideas for training a tracking dog.

Well worth the needed concentration assuming you are a tracking dog enthusiast/wannabe. Detailed descriptions and instructions from A to Z. I wish there were more text books like this one.

For those of you looking to train a serious working dog, this is the book for you.

I have a police service K-9 and utilized the training found here to help my dog (German Shepherd).

But not all dogs can do this so, the selection tests at the begining of the book were a great help.

This book is an excellent resource and a very interesting read. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in tracking.

This book was writtten by the guru himself.All thruout the book which is easy to understand the writer is very confident and shares his knowledge and expieriences.This book is very informative and great for the beginner to the expert.