Pet Books

very informative. a grey is a very emotional bird, I did not know this. There is alot of things you really need to know before purchasing a grey and this book is a source of the best information of many of books i have read. Mattie sue has been in the business for years and knows the ins and outs of an african grey. a good read.

The book is good. It has detailed information as well as stories that encourage the reader and Grey owner to 'do whats right' with their grey. I did not like how you had to jump back and forth through the book to cover one topic. If you can deal with jumping pages and chapters (at times) then no worries. This book is very thorough and will help both the novice and give great reminders for the breeder.

Although this book has the potential to be useful, it is let down by a number of faults. Firstly, the authors do not explain a number of key terms that they use frequently throughout the books - for example, "Step Ups". The book never describes how exactly to perform this exercise with your bird, despite referencing it frequently as important in its own right, and as a solution to behavioral problems.

Linked to this problem, the glossary is nigh on appalling, with such definitions given as (using step-ups as an example again): "Step-up: practice of giving the step-up command with the expectation that the bird will perform the behavior." This tells you nothing of what step-ups actually are!

Other problems include references in the text to other sections which don't exist, or references to items, on the same page, which don't appear at all on the page, or on any adjourning pages.

I also found the authors' style of writing annoying at best, jumping frequently from overly colloquial to overly "scientistic". I use scientistic in the context that it seems the author is attempting to sound scientific, without actually pulling it off - instead, it comes off as cumbersome and pretentious.

I don't have another book to recommend as an alternative, but if you are considering buying this book, please consider these faults before you buy and are possibly disappointed!

Together with the other parrot-thematic books from the same author it is the hardware of information I have used. I have an african grey for three years now and at the beginning I made a search for every available information about the topic.

So it happens that this books I liked most as they are easy to understand, easy to read and enjoyable illustrated.

African Grey is a parrot which needs time and you have to keep in mind that he may outlive you by years. So what you teach him now will be remembered in 60years when your children will keep him a company.
It is a responsibility but a nice one:)

Yes, I can recommend to you.

Has general good informations, but not sure about some of the writes point of view...

Ian Dunbar's books are the best in positive dog training available. Easy to read, easy to follow instructions. Practical no nonsense solutions. All new dog owners should read this book and Before and After You Get Your Puppy!

I second all the other 5 star reviews! "Ian Dunbar's books are the best in positive dog training available." Simple, straighforward, easy to read and easy to follow instructions. No new dog owner should be without this and his Before and After You Get Your Puppy" books! I've followed his methods and took some classes at Sirius Dog Training, which teach his methods, and couldn't be happier with my two happy dogs! They are a delight to live with.

Don't hesitate for a second before buying this and his other books. If more dog owners tried his methods, which are so humane, the dog populations at shelters would plummet! So many dogs are sent to shelters because the owners don't understand that dogs don't understand from birth what we expect of them - they have to be taught!!! The best way to teach is to understand the animal's nature and why it behaves as it does, which leads to understanding how to teach it what you want. People who tell you their dog is just stubborn or who tell you that you have to dominate the dog and show it who's boss are showing their ignorance about dogs and training. Give them this book!

My dog is a product of Dr. Dunbar's training techniques. He is a dream dog! Consequently, I give his books to all my friends and family who have puppies. These books are easy to read and follow and best of all, they work!

All I can say is that this book should go home with all new dog/puppy owners! It really is a must have, it's exactly what Dr. Dunbar say's "Efficient, Effective, Easy, Efficacious, Enjoyable, and Expedient". It's easy for kids to use too.

This book is written in a way that is down to earth and easy to understand, even for a first time dog owner. Dr. Dunbar's advice actually works! Just follow it and be consistent! It worked for my dog, it can work for yours too! Great pictures and even a training plan. You need this book!

If you, like me, have no idea on what to do with a new puppy, this is the perfect book for you too.

On the subject of raising dogs there are as many opinions as there are, well, dogs. Internet's full of 'em. Several of the negative reviews of this book have one thing in common: The reviewers differ *in opinion* with the scientifically based positions taken by the authors. Example: One reviewer scoffed that the book does not support alternative dog/puppy food alternatives, e.g. raw, or "home cooked". First of all, the book clearly supports their position on that with numerous, significant, fact-based rationale. The critic offers no evidence to support her counter-claims. Advice on socialization requirements and methods are also supported. And so on throughout the book. Perhaps those who rate the book poorly because they have a different opinion should offer a link to some scientific evidence and/or alternative book to back up their claims?

Regarding the narrator of the book on tape, yes his voice and reading method are somewhat unusual, however I would not classify him as sounding like "sociopathic killer". That's a little unfair. I don't know if I could necessarily sit down with the intent of just listening to the book from beginning to end, but I have been listening to the book on CD on my commute to and from work and while driving around town and find it's quite pleasant in that venue. After all, this is a textbook, not a novel. The narrator is trying to convey information clearly. The concerns regarding being able to locate content on the CD's are valid. Many times I've wanted to re-hear a part, and had to listen to the entire track again, but my current CD player does not have a fast-forward or reverse option. My previous car did have that and it made short work of those issues.

My wife and I just got a bullmastiff puppy and have found this book to be extremely helpful. It starts out as many such books do, advising you on the commitment required in having a puppy: According to the book 1/2 of all puppies don't make it to their second birthday in the home they started out in. The authors lament this fact and clearly are trying to give you sound advice that will benefit both you and the dog. They move on to describing health care, food requirements (they very clearly spell out what to look for on the dog food packages), socialization, how your dog sees the world (how their senses differ from ours), etc., etc.

Sure, there are some parts on the CD's that you'd skip over if you were reading. Perhaps not. We found it all interesting. If that doesn't appeal to you, get the book not the CD. Better yet, check it out at the library first, and if you like it, then get it here.

This book does not translate at all into audiobook form. If you are interested in the content, purchase the print book. As a very long and thorough reference manual covering many topics, it is near impossible to reference needed information on CD's. Some information is in list format which is tedious to listen to. For example, the book gives detailed information on every single dog breed. This is information you want to look up based on your dog's breed, but you do not want to listen to hundreds of other breed information. The CD's do not have track titles so it is even harder to navigate the information. The narrator also has a monotonous and actually sort of creepy voice. His voice reminded me of what a sociopathic kidnapper might sound like if he was trying to lure a child into his car.

As a longtime breeder of purebred dogs I wanted to like this book but it has too many flaws to recommend it to a new puppy owner. The book is written by a committee of veterinary specialists from Tufts and it clearly suffers from that multiple author approach. Several chapters are well worth reading such as socialization, pet insurance the first aid kit are some that I would recommend but others such as the discussion of puppy nutrition, the Tufts temperament test, young children are not complete or contain incorrect information. It would be nice to have a single book to recommend to puppy owners that would cover all aspects of puppy ownership including veterinary care, training, development, health problems, etc. This is NOT THAT BOOK.

I heard the author speak on NPR and thought it was worth reading his book, since I am buying a new puppy. Being a first time owner, I really wanted to know what I was getting into. The book is quite comprehensive starting from the very first day and extending far beyond. I have been able to fly through it and it is not boring like you might think a manual might be. Chapters are well organized so you can skip over non applicable items and move forward... Really gives you a good idea of all the work, time, and effort that goes into good pet ownership.

I bought this book for my wife and daughter's and they enjoyed it very much, the way it was written and layed out.

Fabulous book, I've bought it several times, makes a great gift for my horse loving friends and for myself.

This book is a great book! The best one I have ever read. It makes you laugh, cry, everything. It was just an all around great book! I am really happy that GaWaNi Pony Boy made this amazing book about the connection of women and horses. Its nice to finally find a book and be able to read it and see that finally their are other women out there that understand the same relationships and love for horses as I do, I couldnt put it down. I HIGHLY reccomend this book to an one who LOVES horses!!

I bought this book as a gift for my youngest daughter who shares the love of horses with me. The photos are gorgeous. The essays of these horse women are beautifully written, full of imagery and delve into the spirit of women's connection with these magnificent animals. I highly recommend this book to collect and cherish.

It's about time, GaWaNi has done it again. I laughed, I cried and felt deeply for many of the women in this incredible book. I first heard about it when I saw him on Larry King Live with Bo Derek, Terry Ventura and Chaia King (the latter two are actually in the book) and thought it might be an interesting read.....I have this on my coffee table and come back to it time and time again. What's nice about the format of this book is you can read one or two of the essays, and come back to it later - a very convenient read, and nice to go with whatever mood I happen to be in - (and ladies, we know we have many) you will find a story to go with every one!
I've had several friends try to make off with it - but told them to get their own! Beautiful artwork and a gorgeous layout make this pleasing to the eye, and the thoughts and words will move your heart.
I heard a rumor that he's put out another one, can't wait!

This is a very informative and helpful book for any beginner who wants to set up a saltwater aquarium!

As usual, I was pleased with Amazon delivering in a timely manner just what I expected. The book was a holiday gift. He was pleased. It's very good in text and illustrations for someone just starting out in the hobby.

I got the hint from his wife and in 5 minutes online picked out what I wanted and off it went. I always look in Amazon first before making any purchase.

Great book. Fast shipment.

This book was pretty good for general information. If I was going to buy just one book, however I would buy Versatile Vizsla by Marion Coffman. It is very detailed and full of good information. It does cost a little more but it is well worth it. This book is also good for general info if you dont have the money to spend on Versatile Vizsla.

This book is a very accurate, helpful tool for anyone getting or looking at getting a vizsla. Talks about the history of the breed, personality, training and care. We give it to all our new puppy owners.

This is a well conceived and well written book. It is concise but contains more than ample expert information and opinion on raising and owning this breed of dog. I have compared it with other "dog-advice" works and recommend it highly.

This is a good book for someone who wants to learn more about the breed! It may seem to be small, but it's packed with information-a great value for the price. If you want to learn more about training your dog, then you may want to purchase another book for more specifics.

I have a ton of books and unfortunately, this isn't what I expected. Though the exercises are well illustrated and clearly defined, I was looking for a really good "fitness" book for my well trained animals! I wanted something different, unique. All of theses exercises can be found in any well written dressage book.

Webb's book is a necessary read for any individual seriously involved in horsemanship. Her gymnastic exercises are both concise and effective.
Her insight and discipline are contagious and makes you want to ride better and both help and support the horse. While I own plenty of Dressage Books, this is THE book to go to in order to really make it happen. Kudos to both Webb and Practical Horseman Magazine for putting this series together.

What a great surprise. Here is an inexpensive manual with clear definitions, excellent photographs and diagrams as well as sections on what not to do, what can go wrong and how to fix it. The exercises build from basic to more advanced. I found her half-halt method to be simple and subtle but worked to stabilize even my NASCAR-minded mare. She suggests multiple methods to determine the correct timing to apply the aides. This book was recommended by a friend and I believe it is the most user-friendly, helpful book in my library. I'll pass the recommendation along to you wholeheartedly.

"A Dazzle of Dragonflies" is precisely what it claims to be: a dazzling, spectacular dragonfly extravaganza. Forrest Mitchell and James Laswell have written a book sure to captivate any budding entomologist, insect collector, or dragonfly-watcher. The book is filled with *really* good, large photos of dragonflies in different environments, situations and life-stages. The authors have also developed a new scanning technique, making many of their pictures extra fascinating (and almost scary).

The book starts off with a chapter on dragonfly tales, dealing with myths, folklore and urban legends about dragonflies. It turns out that dragonflies are universally hated or feared in Western cultures, even in the modern US, while many Native and East Asian cultures considered them beautiful and near-divine. In Japan, the dragonflies were a constant inspiration for poets!

The book then deals with dragonfly fossils, dragonfly larvae, adult dragonfly behavior, and a survey of North American dragonfly families, to aid identification. (If it's well-camouflaged, lives in a dense forest, and fly right at you, it's a Petaltail.) Finally, there are chapters on dragonfly collection, how to breed dragonflies, and watergardening for dragonflies. Attracting dragonflies to your backyard garden isn't difficult, it seems. If you have a small artificial pond, they will come whether you like it or not!

Naturally, the authors have also included a chapter on their scanning technology. They also share some trade secrets of nature photographers. It turns out that these often paralyze captured dragonflies by throwing them in the freezer for half an hour or so, and then place the unconscious insect on a suitable perch, with the best ligh conditions, all to get a clean shot!

There is one problem with this book, however. It's a "nerd book", written by one pair of enthusiasts for another enthusiasts. As a general reader, you need to be *very* interested in the subject to appreciate it. The book is very unevenly written. Some chapters are popularized, others are extremely technical. The authors often loose themselves in details that only interest the specialist. Part of the first chapter sounds like a college lecture on Chinese and Japanese poetry, and another section sounds like a dissertation on the exact methods of propulsion used by larvae. The inclusion of information on how to breed dragonflies, or attract them to your fishpond, also shows that the intended audience are dragonfly buffs.

I understand why the enthusiasts on this product page gave this book five stars. But as a naughty little general reader, I only give it three stars. But yes, the photos (and scans) are worth ten stars at least.

Incidentally, British readers should note that the term "dragonfly" in American English only refers to the "true" or "large" dragonflies, those belonging to the sub-order Anisoptera. Thus, the book doesn't deal with damselflies, except in passing.

PS. I discovered a factual error in the book. It claims that the Swedish word for damselfly, "jungfruslända" means "fairy spinning needle". Actually, it means "virgin spinning needle".

I'm flying off, cheers...

;-)

Fantastic pictures! But even better, they describe exactly how to get them yourself, if so motivated. The excellent pictures are used to show diagnostic characteristics, better than any others I've seen. But historical and life cycle information is provided, too. Whether you're a chairside nature enthusiast or prefer the field, you'll find value in this book. The author loves dragonflies and it's fun to share the excitement.

I have enjoyed this book very much. It is a beautiful picture book and also has quite a bit of good information if one is looking for such a book. I would recommend it for sure.

An amnazingly beautiful pictorial review of dragonflies. The information provided in this book is perfect for someone who appreciates the beauty and serenity the presence of dragonflies brings to the soul.

Forrest Mitchell and James Laswell's labor of love, "A Dazzle of Dragonflies", accomplishes a feat that any science exhibit hopes to do: hook the viewer with visual flair, and then pique their interest with previously mundane data. This method of exhibition is applicable for exotic or esoteric subjects, such as Himalayan vistas or microscopic bacteria activity, but it also holds well for specimens more acquainted with the viewer's scope of life. In Mitchell and Laswell's case, the elusive but omnipresent dragonfly is given the runway treatment.
"Dazzle" aims to give the reader a comprehensive introduction to dragonfly study; their place in folklore, the fossil record, their internal mechanisms, their behavior. But "Dazzle" is not just a study book for aspiring entomologists- Mitchell and Laswell also offer advice on capturing, luring, and photographing the famously elusive Odonata.
Photographic advice from the authors should certainly be heeded, as it is apparent from the first page that the photos of dragonflies are simply stunning. Every color of the abdomen, the compound eye, even the vein system of the wing are rendered with remarkable clarity. A perusal of the pictures in the hardcover edition justifies the hefty price tag.
The pictures may be intended to be the visual hook that snares the reader, but the excellent introductory chapters assure the reader's attention. After a brief introductory chapter, "Dazzle" veers to a sociological aside and studies the myths and folklore of several different cultures regarding dragonflies. This is a humanistic quality that is absent from many science books. The knowledge that some cultures have alternately hated (the Romanian dubbed "devil's horse") and revered (an ancient name of Japan was Akitsu-shima, or "Island of the Dragonfly") these insects is fascinating, revelatory reading (28-30). Not surprisingly, the folklore section is the best writing in the book, as it allows the authors to let their passion and emotion shine.
Equally interesting is the section that covers the fossil record. Dragonflies have left behind well-preserved fossils that give the reader insight to their evolution. Though this section is short, and gives a brief rundown of the various eras in which dragonflies were prominent, the photography of the fossils is a little sparse. There is a very nice shot of the Tupus permianus, but it would have been nice to see a picture of the massive Meganeuropsis permiana, the largest fossilized insect yet discovered (47). The lack of fossil pictures, which is the gateway into an evolution discussion, gives the impression that the majority of photography in this book is meant to be live action shots or scans of captured specimens.
It is this devotion to photography style that causes the next two sections of the book to falter. Devoted to the life cycle and natural history of dragonflies, the authors offer a fine primer, but the data load becomes quite heavy. In such cases, tables or graphics, so as to reinforce visually what the reader has mentally ingested, can lighten dense subject matter. The authors attempt to do this with their photography, and the result is unsatisfactory. Particularly, when shifting to dragonfly anatomy and physiology, a graphic with the dragonfly's inner structures and pathways would have been an excellent aide in comprehension. The life cycle of the dragonfly is reduced to a convoluted mess by the absence of a comprehensive table. While the pictures of the larvae molting to its adult life were fantastic, it would have been nice to have a better grasp of the inner workings of the dragonfly.
The concluding chapters regarding dragonfly watching, collecting, and photographing redeem this deficiency. The authors are experts in this department, as evidenced throughout the entire book. For those who are interested in dragonfly collection and further study, these sections are invaluable. There is also an appendix with ideas on how to properly document dragonfly finds, and a protocol for responsible bug hunting. A list of references and websites for further learning conclude the book.
"Dazzle" was surely aimed at the casual hobbyist and the curious, and its mark is hit clearly. A book that is scientific without being overly empirical will appeal to this broad audience, and the photography will cause even the most jaded National Geographic reader to do an about face. If the sections regarding anatomy and life cycle leave you wanting more, the authors have provided enough references and further reading suggestions to slake your thirst. "A Dazzle of Dragonflies" is an excellent first read for anyone who is interested in learning about dragonflies, and considering the scarcity of any such literature, it may well be essential.