Pet Books

An accessible and well laid out guide. Easier to read than the Baensch books for example. But I misjudged the number 500. This really means it will not be very usefull for an experienced hobbyist: the book covers to few species! As I opened the newly arrived volume, I was surprised not to find reference to my recently acquired specimens of Acarichtys heckelii for an example. I was also surprised to find 5 (if not more) blank pages (88-89, 92-93, 96), wiping out P. scalare and 3 other references, in a second volume I had unwittingly ordered ([...] ). Thrity days past before I opened the repeated volume and noticed the fault, just before considering passing it on to a friend. So now I am stuck with it !!!!

Yes, an important point. Any reasonable guide, and principally visual references, should give priority to illustrations of native species over varieties that come and go with the season. This was not the case of the angelfish P. scalare. Of the 6 illustrations none are reminiscent of the native form. And the species presentation text, placed under a photograph of a dubiously attractive "Bright Veitail" , reads "This is by the far most known of the angel species. It is also......."

I owm saltwater fish but had gotten rusty on freshwater. I needed to relearn this for my new job so this book helped me get back on track. Information is very clear and pictures are excellent. It gave me a quick primer. I think it also a good beginners book since it is easy to understand.

This book is good for a quick referencing look at fishes of your interest. The information is adequate for a quick look but not enough if you wnat to know more.Nice, big,clear, colorful pictures that is easy to look at and quick and easy to read basic information about the fish is also included like water temp. max. length, aggreesiveness. It's a great book for a beginner like me who wants to compare different fishes and know a little bit about them for now.

This book has many diffent fish in it. It also has the sizes and needs of all the fish. Great pictures!!

Yes, there's probably every bit of 500 fish in this book, but it still lacks on a few of the more common species. It is also a little too vague on descriptions. There is a 4 page spread on Discus and Oscars, but that's not really necessary when all the other fish are given one page with one sentence descriptions.
It's still nifty to have at home, but if you want to see how the fish are going to cohabitate with your other tank mates, this is not your book.

I thought this book was hilarious and I love cats. It was meant to be a humorous parody of the human to human relationship books out there. It does stereotype cat behaviours, similar to the self help-relationship books that stereotype gender behaviors. That was the spirit in which it was intended since many of us view our relationship with our pets, similar to our other human relationships.
I think the reviewers that gave this a low rating need to lighten up.

My cat wrote this review. He says, "What I like most about books is that, if you lay on one, people tend to stop reading and pet you. I plopped down on top of this one and it felt pretty comfortable. Sure enough, my pet human stopped and gave me a great massage. She says the book explains why we cats can be aloof and disdainful. It has many "Dear Abby" type letters, classified ads, advice and definitions.

One classified ad read, "If you're submissive, read on. Upbeat, Rubenesque Maine Coon seeks good home with endlessly giving, insecure owner who'll try to please me even when I'm having a hissy fit. The right owner will never assume he's doing too much for his pet, or experience moral outrage if I "get lucky" with a gopher. Let's have lunch and talk."

This book also offers a peek into a cat's mind and offers other advice that our humans ought to know. Hey, my human is still laughing over it -- so it must be good. Besides, I like to see my pets amused. You might want to educate your pet humans with this book, too."

I thought I was buying a book that would give me insight into my cat's world. What I got was a joke book and the punchline is always "Your cats just not that into you." Ok, I get it. I guess I'll take the author's advice and take her to the spa, and drop this book off in a donation bin along the way.

This book is written from the point of view of someone who doesn't like cats. It's amusing but not laugh-out-loud funny.

This is the book my Dad swore by to train gun dogs with. Five Stars from me!!

Being new to bird dog training I must say that this book is a MUST READ.
If you follow Delmar's methods to the tee or not, it gives a great insight into a dogs mind. Delmar also gives a little insight into the human mind as well. If you want to train a bird dog, Buy this book!!!

This is my first time owning and training a gun dog. I purchased and read this book before I bought my puppy. I was skeptical but Delmar's methods DO work. This book set the basis for what others would try to teach me later-- and I was able to share information with them as well. My dog performed at an early age as a result of Delmar's advice. You have to be able to go along with the writing style -- which I found quite humorous and much more fun to read than a text book. A great addition to any library!

_little girl with big dog

The Delmar smith methed is a great way to train a hunting bird dog. One of the best things about this book is knowing what is important to your bird dog. Nine out of ten people now days will tell you to start training on birds before pups learn to run. Not Delmar. If you let them be a pup for the first year you will have twice the dog you would have had!! Very informational. Think like a dog to train a dog...

I used this book 20 years ago to train a Brittany and have now purchased it again for a new dog. The methods and advice are not only unique to Delmar but also highly effective. Not to mention a humorous read.

I'm not much for reviews. I'll just say that while Mr. Backster's writing style is very dry and borders on boring, the content is amazing.

The dry writing style only goes to show that this is a pragmatic man who stumbled across something amazing and had the open mindedness to pursue it.

I HIGHLY recommend it.

This book made me realize, when Mom made us say "grace" before meals as kids, it wasn't for that God guy, it was for us. I recommend this reading for our brains owners manual. Enjoy

I am impressed with the details of the research this author has done.

This book was recommended to me by a friend who had a near death experience. I can't thank him enough for turning me on to it.

Anyone with a background in Eastern philosophies would have thought these experiments would be "no-brainers". But the Western world demands scientific proof. And even when they get it, if it doesn't conform to their paradigm, they shoot the messenger. Yep. Nice legacy.

How refreshing to find someone who wasn't worried about their reputation, but was seeking knowledge. It can't be coincidence that someone with Clive's background would undertake these fascinating experiments and ultimately come up with the information he did.

After I finished this book, I always apologize every time I turn on the hot water in the sink.

I have heard of the work of Cleve Backster in many different places over the years, heard a few radio interviews with him (Art Bell, Jeff Rense, Whitley Streiber, George Noory) and finally, he's written a book explaining it all.

His work does seem to confirm the work of others (who are, to be sure, "newbies" compared to Mr. Backster), such as Lynn McTaggart, as well as some of the late night assertions of Whitley Streiber's strange visitor discussed in his book, "The Key," as well as the Chinese and Japanese concepts of chi and ki, respectively -- or "The Force" to those of us in the Star Wars generation, which apparently borrows liberally from the concepts of chi/ki (see Glen St. John Barclay's excellent book, "Mind Over Matter: Beyond the Bounds of Nature" for a most interesting read as well).

Lots of interesting data in Mr. Backster's book ... quite an ideal method to interest a young mind in the field of science, I'd bet.

This book is a must-have.

Los animales que aparecen son muy pocos y los más conocidos, como el gato, perro, caballo, etc. Esta demasiado aburrido para niños de 1-2 años.
El libro en sí, es de láminas gruesas y duraderas.

I like goats. They are good people, I mean pets. I mean that they are americans, like sheep. I like to refresh my memory about goats, that is why I bought this book. It helped me remember my fun visit with some little boys and girls where I told them about my pet who was a goat. I liked the story, especially the pictures.

If you know how to pronounce the Spanish words correctly, this is a great book for toddlers. I've used it with my Toddler Spanish classes, and even my 4-7 year olds as they are learning to form their own opinions and original sentences in Spanish. I love the simplistic, yet BRIGHT pictures and how wonderfully sturdy the slick pages are.

Use this along with Flip Flop Spanish workbook, and you've got a great combo!

Raising a multilingual child is difficult particularly in our mono-lingual culture. It is all too easy to resort to the English default. As a parent I have to make an extra conscious effort to speak Spanish to my daughter and familiarize her ear with the sounds she will hopefully use one day. In this regard bi-lingual books have been essential in helping me to set aside Spanish-time. I have read this series of board books by Rebecca Emberley to my daughter since she was 3-months old and they are still among her favorites at 15 months. These books are ideal for interacting with your baby and toddler in a multilingual fashion. The illustrations are bright and colorful and the pages withstand repeated vigorous turning by little hands. Each page presents a single word in English and Spanish for added comprehension, yet ideal for short attention spans. Thank you for a wonderful series.

These are a great series of well & simply illustrated books that my son absolutely loves. He knows the spanish words before english (we are primarily english speakers) for so many things, and he learns them here first! My husband has also learned quite a few words from the series as well....

Solid book, but nothing I really didn't find on the internet. I guess you can either buy this book or just search online for a good hour or two on dogs and yorkies.

This book is great. I bought it after already having Logan. I wish I would have bought it before hand. Lots of great info and they are pretty much bang on for everything they say. Please buy this book before buying your Yorkie... it does make life easier.

This book really helped me decide if I wanted to get a Yorkie. I felt it didn't sugar coat them and made them feel real.

I cannot believe there is no chapter on biting as a puppy. It is a thoroughly obnoxious habit--thought this book would have had some words of wisdom.

This book got a lot of great reviews and I tend to like the "Dummies" books. It did follow the traditional format the Dummy books are known for and it was informative and helpful. However, the lack of two stars are for what seemed to be the lean towards AKC snobbery. Come on, a pet Yorkie should never be bred because she isn't show quality? We are getting our Yorkie because we want her to be loved and a member of our family; but this book seemed to written for those who have an allegiance to the AKC and only own Yorkies for strutting in shows. By the way, there are other organizations to register a Yorkie with than the AKC!!
May I recommend the Animal Planet Yorkshire Terriers book instead?.

AFter taking my grandson to see The Waterhorse, which he loved, I promised to get him the book and read it to him. He is only seven and a nascent reader, so the plan was to read one chapter each night before bedtime. WEll, one morphed to two which then morphed to three. The book,very different from the movie in plot line, wonderfully depicts the logistics of caring for an unusual creature and it also subtly addresses the relationships between the brother and sister characters and their grandfather and father. My grandson loved this book--including the whimsical illustrations and the stills from the movie--and now we have a list of books we plan to tackle each night. This is the first longer book I have read to him, and it is perfect. The book can spur discussions between adult and child about the difference between it and the film.

I believe a bit of fantasy is good for growing children in this difficult world, and my grandkids really enjoyed it. A book that holds their interest will promote good reading skills.

I bought this book for my 7 year old niece. She has already read the first 5 chapters and she really enjoys the story! She was somewhat disappointed that the illustrations were not in color, but I explained to her that this was just how the book was printed. Her interest in it now has really peaked since I took her to see the movie that the book is based on! I would recommend this reading for ALL children!!!!!

This is a sweet story, appropriate for young children starting at about age 5. It is very low stress, benign. Just right for parents who are tired of stories about violence and meanness and seek out magical tales full of caring and goodness. Too bad they took this darling tale and turned it into a terrible hollywood movie full of canons, war, a dead father and chase scenes. In saying this I give nothing away about the book, because NONE of this was from the book.

I have to say the advertisements for the movie of The Water Horse prompted me to look to the book it was based on and what a cutie of a book it is -
Set in 1930's Scotland, after a huge storm a family goes to the shore to see what has washed up - and they found something very strange -
maybe something alive? an egg? what is it?
Well the kids take it inside and place it in the tub with water - to their surprise when they go to the tub the next morning, the container is open! And there is a cute creature that 'chirrups' at them - the grandfather tells them it is a water horse - the kind of creature that is of legend in the lochs of Scotland -
They feed the little fella and call him Crusoe and soon he needs to be placed in a pond, then a larger pond and when he is almost too big, the family takes him to a large loch to spend his life -
The family loves him and he loves them and learns that all humans aren't like them -
It is a story of love for the family and love of an innocent animal that has charmed the world with its legendary existence -
I plan to see the movie, but my imagination soared as I imagined the tiny water horse in the bathtub eating sardines...
Charming!!

If you want to read a serious, beautifully written book on this subject, you couldn't do better than to choose this one. The author has an elegant mind and a clear style. The stories he tells, personal and professional, are unforgettable.

I found this book very touching and moving. Sometimes when we think we know so much about animals the fact is we will never know enough. Any opportunity we can learn more about how they live is a gift to all humans. They are so willing to teach us - we just need to open our hearts and minds and accept all that they are willing to give. They can truly change the way we live, this book helps to show you just that.

So you think you know and understand your pets, especially dogs? Not until you read this wonderful and insightful book can one begin to understand the exceptional love and experiences that dogs bring into our lives. This should be required reading in schools!!!

This book is a great primer for people who have an inkling that our relationship with animals runs deep and is often spiritual or even mystical.

Dr. Schoen has given us a one-stop shopping source, with introductions to: alternative medicine for animals, alternatives to commercial pet food, and ways to enrich the human-animal bond through touch, massage, and meditation.

Buy it as a gift for someone whose eyes are opening to the reality that we are all connected and responsible for each other.

Allen M. Schoen, D.V.M., M.S., author of "Kindred Spirits" has written a sensitive book that pulled me in from the beginning. I have to confess that I am a person who feels more in touch with animals than than I do with most people. I have enjoyed reading this book so far and would recommend it to any adult who enjoys understanding the complex relationship between man and the animals around us. It is easy to read and full of wonderful anecdotes from the author's experience as a vet.

I love this book, it has helped me post on a trot. (Seemed impossible at first :)

It gives lots of good tips from basics to jumping. Learn how to keep yourself safe. Learn good technique. If you're taking riding lessons, this is a definite must-read.

Riding lessons are expensive, so it's important to get the most bang for the buck. This book will help. Mike Smith explains the basics of riding clearly, and offers some classic "what to do if...?" scenarios one is certain to encounter while interacting with horses. In addition, the photographs are very helpful in illustrating topics like posting the trot and dismounting properly and safely. I have found that this book helps me review specific material covered in an actual lesson, and also gives me ideas for further discussion with my teacher. Mike Smith's writing style is straightforward and enthusiastic. Highly recommended for beginning riders of all ages, and one of the best books I've seen for a riding student. This book covers English riding only.

I love this book, I have been taking lessons for about a year and a half, and I bought this book after about 6months of lessons. It clearly explains so many things, I constantly refer to it. I think that all new riders should read this book before even going to their first lesson, to give a clear explaination of horse lingo, positions and care. I think this has been the most constant resource that I have used to explain things that my instructor and I are having trouble with.

Mike taught me to ride as an adult student at Woodland Horse Center in Maryland back in the 1980's. I'll never forget his patience, humor, and innate "horse sense." I've since moved to Wellington, Florida (a major equestrian and polo center), for reasons I thought were mostly unrelated to horses. I haven't ridden in many years. So there I was in a store looking for a book to help my son Will Tedesco, who at [...] and maybe 40 pounds is just beginning to ride. Imagine my surprise to come across this book, which I hadn't known existed! At 50, I'm once again feeling that old tug to get back on a horse, and I'm sure Mike's sensible advice will again stand me in good stead. Unlike most of his readers, however, I'll be able to hear his voice inside my head reminding me to "steer!"

I realize many techniques of English riding are transferable to Western, but, as a Western rider trying to improve my seat and aids, I found this book frustrating and unhelpful.

Dr. Marty Becker knows the bond between animal and human better than anyone! He knows what the mere touch of human hand to animal can do for the health and stress levels of both. And now he and his co-writers have extended this phenomenon to the written word. I finally started this book to get away from a miserable stress filled morning, and in no time at all I could actually feel the blood pressure go down, the heart rate recede. I gathered up the book, a bottle of water, and my favorite canine and slipped quietly away from my study leaving my cell phone purposely on the kitchen counter so when Kathleen tried to find me she'd hear it ring and know I wasn't wearing it. I dropped into the hammock hidden behind the tack room and had the best time I've had in months. This is one exceptional book. If you really want to feel good, at any time or any place, just open it to any page and start reading. Or do like I did. Soak up about half of it in one sitting. I highly recommend The Ultimate Dog Lover.

I'm not normally a fan of books of tips and short stories. You'd think they'd work well for someone with my short attention span, but usually I flip through and put the book away forever.

That didn't happen with "The Ultimate Dog Lover," because this book has heart. Tons of it. While it's full of good advice, the single word that describes it is, as other reviews here have demonstrated, "heartwarming." Which means it will make you happy (even if it also makes you cry).

Yes, as others have said, this is a great gift book. But it's one you might want to give yourself, too.

Here are very helpful tips on caring for the family dog and a collection of heart-warming stories about our furry best friends. This librarian recommends "The Ultimate Dog Lover" for the bookshelf of all dog-lovers and public libraries.

Wow! Sums up this book. Working in the Veterinary field for many years, I have seen many books about pets, pet care, and pet photos. To have one that combines all three that is catchy and appealing, yet chock full of great information and stories is wonderful! Kudos on yet another great book definately worth adding to your collection!

What a great read - heartwarming stories full of smiles and laughs! Another 5 star hit for Dr. Becker! Plus that cover dog might be the cutest thing EVER!