Books

Healthy Dog
Pet Owner's Guide to the Rottweiler
Versatile Labrador Retriever (Pure-bred S.)
The Guide Dogs Book of Amazing Dog Tales
The Guide Dogs Book of Ultimate Dog Care
The Practical Fishkeeper's Guide to Pufferfish (Practical Fishkeeper's Guide S.)
Beagle Training Basics: The Care, Training and Hunting of the Beagle
Pet Owner's Guide to the Golden Retriever
Canine Source Book: Almost Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Dogs
Pet Owner's Guide to the Border Collie
Ebony and White: Story of the Canine Corps
The Welsh Terrier Leads the Way (The Pure-bred Series)
Pet Owner's Guide to Puppy Care and Training
The Norwegian Elkhound
Ready!: Step-by-step Guide for Training the Search and Rescue Dog
The Basenji: Out of Africa to You - A New Look (The Pure-bred Series)
Utterly Lovable Dogs
Alternative Pets: From Budgies and Yabbies to Rabbits and Rats
Healthy Dogs: A Handbook of Natural Therapies
Every Puppy: Perfect Pet or Perfect Pest?
Training Your Cat
The Dog Book: How to Choose a Dog That Suits Your Personality and Lifestyle
Scenting on the Wind: Scentwork for Hunting Dogs
Photographic Guide to Birds of Southern, Central and East Africa
The Savvy Samoyed

Throw Me a Bone: 50 Healthy, Canine Taste-Tested Recipes for Snacks, Meals, and Treats

Average customer rating:

Lip Smacking and Tail Wagging!!
Beautiful Book
Great Pictures, but skip the recipes
Great recipes
Perfect!!!

Throw Me a Bone: 50 Healthy, Canine Taste-Tested Recipes for Snacks, Meals, and Treats
Sally Sampson , Cooper Gillespie , and Cami Johnson (Photographer)
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Real Food for Dogs: 50 Vet-Approved Recipes to Please the Canine Gastronome
Barker's Grub : Easy, Wholesome Home-Cooking for Dogs
The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs: 50 Home-Cooked Recipes for the Health and Happiness of Your Canine Companion
The Ultimate Dog Treat Cookbook: Homemade Goodies for Man's Best Friend
Better Food for Dogs: A Complete Cookbook and Nutrition Guide

ASIN: 0743255917

Book Description

Cooper Gillespie, an extremely intelligent and handsome Welsh springer spaniel, is a dog of discriminating taste and strong opinions. Now Cooper, with the assistance of cookbook author Sally Sampson and the transcription services of his favorite human, Susan Orlean, has put together 50 delectable recipes for snacks, meals, and treats for your canine companion.

Maybe you're cooking everything because your collie has colitis or your Akita has a wheat allergy or your older dog just isn't thriving on commercial kibble. Maybe you're mixing up the occasional biscuit or treat to help your best fur-bearing friend over that I-just-ate-a-tennis- ball-and-don't-feel-so-good episode. Whatever the reason, the recipes in this book (which have been approved by dog trainer and nutritional consultant Stacy Alldredge) will satisfy the most discerning doggie palate. Many of them, in fact, can be shared with a favorite human (though preferably not from the same dish).

Illustrated with more than 50 endearing black-and-white photographs of Cooper and friends by Cami Johnson, and liberally seasoned with stories, quotes, and nutrition tips, Throw Me a Bone makes a dog's dinner something to look forward to.

Customer Reviews:

Lip Smacking and Tail Wagging!!.......2004-09-08

Of all the home made treats I have cooked up so far, the recipies from this book actually get my little doggy to do commands before being asked in the hopes of getting a tasty morsel. I packed a kong full of little bits and pieces from a couple different recipies and for the first time my little doggy made 'yummy' noises while he worked to get out the treasures. My doggy is very finicky, and has given two paws up for each batch made- I HIGHLY reccommend these recipies!!!

Beautiful Book.......2004-03-08

Cooper Gillespie, an adorable Springer Spaniel, is quite the food connoisseur. With a help from his owner, Sally Sampson, he's put together 50 recipes for dogs, his favorite dog related quotes, and photographs. The book was beautiful and well written, but its recipes are high in fat and are not nutritious to a dog. For a treat served scarcely, these recipes are divine to a dog's taste buds.

Great Pictures, but skip the recipes.......2003-12-28

Though I throughly enjoyed the photographs in the book and the writing style, and highly advise people to take control of their canine's (and feline's, for that matter) diet, I wasn't particularly enthused by the recipes in this book.
Often excessively high in fat, and regardless of the nutritionist involved in the recipes, these foods will improve your dogs mood, but not his overall health. The best diet for a dog is obtained through a balanced diet of phosphorus to calcium (protein to bone) comparable to what dogs would have eaten in the wild. Although certainly heads and tails above kibble (as is almost anything), I felt that this book didn't give enough information or research into the nutrition requirements of dogs.

To get the best information, and certianly if you're going to go to the trouble of preparing foods for your dog, then I suggest any of a plethora of books on the subject. "Give your dog a Bone" by Ian Billinghurst, or any of Billinghurst's books, Natural Nutrition for Cats and Dogs by Kymythy R. Schultze, or Raw Meaty Bones Promote Health by Tom Lonsdale. Any of these books will help you plan an effective road to health for your dog without catering to the coffeetable book set. (Although I still LOVED the pictures in this book)

Great recipes.......2003-12-11

I'm giving this dog cookbook the full 5 stars, even though I'm getting rather sick of books "written" by people's pets. The photographs are worth the price alone, but the recipes are fabulous and healthful. There's also a Table of Equivalents included in the back. There are also marvelous quotations sprinkled throughout of famous people's feelings about dogs.

I'm giving this book as a gift, too.

Perfect!!!.......2003-11-27

Between the recipes, photography, quotes and writing, this book is a perfect gift for anyone interested in dogs. I have tried a few recipes, mostly notably Goldies cupcakes and the tuna training treats, both of which my dog LOVED. Even if i never cook anything else (although i will), i love just looking at this book. It makes me laugh.

Before and After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog

Average customer rating:

Very helpful for 1st time puppy owner
Essential Help for You and Your New Puppy
Thinking about getting a puppy, get this book
Pre puppy training guide
2 Great Experiences!

Before and After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog
Dr. Ian Dunbar
Manufacturer: New World Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks
The Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way to Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs
Dog Behavior: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet
The Other End of the Leash
The Power of Positive Dog Training

ASIN: 1577314557

Book Description

Combining two popular titles in one value-priced edition, Before and After Getting Your Puppy is a simple, practical guide for anyone bringing a new puppy into the home. In clear steps, with helpful photos and easy-to-follow training deadlines, Dr. Ian Dunbar, who pioneered puppy classes and a loving style of dog training in the 1970s, presents a structured yet playful and humorous plan for raising a wonderful dog. The guide is based on six developmental deadlines: completing owner education and preparation, assessing a puppy's prior socialization and education, teaching errorless house-training and chewtoy-training, completing a socialization program of meeting strange dogs and people, learning bite inhibition, and continuing a program of ongoing training. In the first half of the book, Dr. Dunbar focuses on what the owner needs to know to select a great puppy. In the second half, he presents the crucial lessons the puppy must be taught during its impressionable early development - using a kind, positive approach that, over time, has been proven the most effective.

Customer Reviews:

Very helpful for 1st time puppy owner.......2007-06-02

I bought this book after reading several recommendations on AMAZON. The book was very informative as to painting a picture of what to expect with a new puppy. Some of Dunbar's recommendations are very unrealistic though. Such has having your dog introduced to many different people every day. Overall, I found it very useful.

Essential Help for You and Your New Puppy.......2007-05-30

I bought this book after reviewing some of the articles on the [...]website, which offers a preview of some of the key points of the book. I did read many of the reviews here and felt that the negative comments were somewhat over-reactive.

From my perspective, the book not only makes sense about how to raise a puppy, but also about how to raise a child! Why waste time trying to teach kids or dogs what is wrong, until they eventually figure out what is right? That seems really inefficient, now that I know the "lure-reward" technique. This technique lets you use the essential nature of the dog to train it to do what you want it to do: pee, chew, and poop where you want it to, for instance. Walk calmly on leash, for another. The trick is to not fall into the trap of thinking that a few weeks of short and long-term confinement is somehow cruel to the dog. Like children, dogs respond quickly to a consistent routine. It DOES require YOU to be consistent and to have discipline, and I definitely figured out where I was being lazy and too lax, and whenever I went back to the tighter crate schedule, things improved immediately. I realized that I confused a few days of successful potty events with "success" in overall training and went from confinement to total lack of restraint, so I referred to the book again and made some corrections.

Here are a couple of tips that helped make this book so useful for me. First, I had a consultation with a pet dog trainer who knew about (and recommended) Dunbar's technique. This really helped me when addressing the issues that I felt were not explained in the book (more on that later). Secondly, while I took Dunbar's stern advice as the kind of advice someone gives to people who might not pay attention...that is, I didn't take him quite so seriously. So, when he says that your dog needs to meet over 100 people in his first month (or whatever), I took that as the general message: socialize your dog as much as you possibly can. We have a really small house and we aren't hugely social, but I was surprised to find that I could make a list of 100 people pretty easily. They haven't all been over to my house, but I've been out and about and exposed my pup to a lot of different people, and I could see the change in about 2 weeks! And, I realized too that this socialization has to continue through adolescence, the difficult stage (again, think of children). I also found that "training" your dog to be OK when you are not around was particularly practical and helpful. It not only reduced my dog's anxiety, but mine as well, since it gave me a method to work with the dog to gradually introduce him to "alone" time, which will definitely be a part of his life. It also helped me to be aware of where I might be inadvertently feeding into the dog's anxious attitude when I returned home (or got him out of his crate).

The sit, lay down trick is a snap and I even successfully tried it on an adult pitbull that wouldn't lay down for its owner!

What I also found interesting was that the tips I learned in the book and shared with my other dog-owning friends helped them when it came to their adult dogs! I think that the Cesar Milan method can be quite effective, but it is based solely on dominance, and the lure-reward method can work wonderfully too in many situations (such as getting your dog to be calm when going on leash and learning to happily sit when greeting people).

Now, for some things that come to mind that I found lacking in the book. First, I happen to have a toy poodle who is bizarrely un-food motivated, and Dunbar doesn't mention that at all. I did learn from other poodle owners that this breed isn't the most food motivated one. I wish he would cover that situation in the book. So, for instance, Dunbar recommends putting all of the dog's kibble in Kong toys, yet if I put all of Buck's food in his bowl, he *still* wouldn't eat even half of it. So, if the open dish doesn't work, the Kong toy is like locking it away! And, freeze dried liver didn't work for Buck either. Advice: get those beef jerky sticks for dogs. Or try cheese. And strangely: Wheat Thins (even my cat loves them). Small bits of hot dog too. (I use this for the poop reward). Even so, all of these favorite items stuffed into a Kong toy won't work for my dog. Maybe when he gets a little older/bigger and I can try it out again, but for now I'm mystified about turning him into a chew-toy-aholic.

Secondly, I would have appreciated more information on the puppy interaction when you have a really small dog, or a really large dog. I think the problems you encounter as a dog owner do vary when you have a "non-average" sized breed. How do you keep your little dog from being completely frightened of huge dogs (and then later turning into one of those yappy jerks)? How do you keep your rambunctious, lovey Great Dane from bowling over the chihuaha? And, when you do finally take your dog to the dog park, how can you as an owner to a better job of evaluating other dogs as potential problems? Most people don't even bother to socialize their dogs, so how do you evaluate?

Finally, while I initially started asking people to offer a treat to my dog to get him to sit, I quickly learned that most every person will use a different visual method in asking the dog to sit, while only using the word "sit." So, it's really too onerous in my opinion to try to get every person to get the dog to sit, since the lure/reward technique of holding the treat over the head works, but most people don't know the signal! So, my dog dances on its hind legs while people say "sit!" and give it the treat because he's so cute. This pretty much has de-sensitized "sit" as a keyword so I quickly dropped the idea of asking people to make him "sit." What *does* work is asking people to offer the dog a treat, since then they naturally great the dog with a lowered hand, palm up, which is far less threatening to the dog and not a dominance display. I am really not going to burden every human social interaction with an instruction on the sit technique that is required. Later, when the dog learns the word itself, maybe then. I feel that in this respect, Dunbar's advice is a bit impractical.

Overall, I am very glad that I bought this book, and it's been an essential tool in my working with my puppy and understanding the nature of dogs.

Thinking about getting a puppy, get this book.......2007-05-09

I read this book twice before even getting my puppy it has been a godsend. Right now my puppy is napping quietly in his doggy den. It has great information for new dog owners and for people who have had dogs for years. The training methods are a lot different from when I had my last dog. The lure/reward way is much easier on the dog and owner. My puppy was a little undersocialized, and information in this book has really helped me to build his confidence. I highly recommend this book, get it if you are even thinking about getting a puppy. It prepared me for all the work you have to do to be a dog owner.

Pre puppy training guide.......2007-04-24

I found this book to be a valuable source of information because I am a novice dog owner and needed guidance in caring for a puppy and getting the behaviors I am looking for in my pet. This book helped me learn what to expect in caring for a puppy and to understand the "dog thinking" behind the behaviors I encountered. It also gave me a better framework for raising my dog than those my parents used. I bought the book before I had chosen my pet. The information helped me prepare my purchases before my pet arrived and to cope with the critical first two weeks at home. I did think the book was repetitive and strong in doling our consequences of an owner who lapses in training. However, I now have had my puppy for 5 weeks and I can see the difference in my puppy's behaviors as a result of my more diligent and consistent training efforts verses those I have allowed to lapse. I also keep the book on my coffee table to refer to when things go wrong. So in reflection, I think Dr. Ian Dunbar used the repetition and the serious tone to drive the reader into action that would prevent problems and a poor outcome for the pet. I highly recommend.

2 Great Experiences!.......2007-03-22

What is with the negative reviews? I think there is a little self-promoting going here on among others in the "dog training community."
This was the absolute best "dog training book" I have ever found. I didn't just buy and read this book and then comment on what I "thought" of these techniques - I have USED them!
When I got a Labrador, I got this book from the local library (with SEVERAL other not-so-good books) and took a ton of notes. Then I implemented most of these things that Ian said to do with my lab and now she amazes my friends when she obeys my words with out getting "physical". She is a GREAT dog!
Over the weekend I got a beagle for an early birthday present. The first thing I did was buy his book!!!
I got the dog on Saturday evening. It is Wednesday evening and I just let the dog out to pee. He ran to the door and whimpered to be let out. He played for a little while and we did a little training and then he walked into his crate and went to sleep. He also goes in his crate by himself whenever he is tired. He turned 6 weeks old yesterday. He also "sits" & "lays down" using the food lure techniques Ian talks about.
My lab is loving having the little guy around and because of her bite inibition (from Ian's book), they play and she just kinda mouths him with absolutely no pressure. We don't have to worry about a thing. I have never seen a more gentle giant.
I really have to thank this book & Dr. Dunbar for 2 great companions that fit into our family. We don't have to fit our family around them. People comment all the time to me about how hard it must have been to "train" dogs, but I have to confess, it really wasn't that difficult. It just takes patience and consistancy and a lot of peanut butter & dog food filled Kongs!
My Lab is wonderful. She doesn't chew furniture & settles down when I ask her to. She is also an incredible retreiver! I say "Newspaper!" in the morning and she goes and gets it and brings it to me for a bacon flavored dog treat. We have a good deal worked out for both of us.
I hope you will purchase this book & I hope you will use the training techniques. It really does pay off in the long run. When you get frustrated, just take a breather and think about what it will be like when your pup finally gets it!
Have a great time!!

Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog (Howell Reference Books)

Average customer rating:

Close, but no cigar
Super Reference Book
Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog
Single best Guide for pet owners
If you consider your dog a member of your family

Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog (Howell Reference Books)
Wendy Volhard , and Kerry Brown
Manufacturer: Howell Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
Veterinarians Guide to Natural Remedies for Dogs : Safe and Effective Alternative Treatments and Healing Techniques from the Nations Top Holistic Veterinarians
Raw Dog Food: Make It Easy for You and Your Dog
The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat
Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats

ASIN: 1582451532

Amazon.com

Finding nutritional data for dogs can be a difficult business--and while much of the information in Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog is presented by anecdote, there's still plenty of worthwhile reading here. Aimed at dog owners that are already fairly committed to nonallopathic forms of health care for their pets, much of the book is based around author Wendy Volhard's Natural Diet. The Natural Diet is fairly labor intensive, as Volhard is the first to admit, but she provides page after page of testimonials that credit the diet with improved temperaments, better activity levels, and exemplary physical health. Each ingredient in this diet is discussed in depth, so owners not ready to take the step of providing a complete diet from scratch can still learn about potentially valuable supplements, as well as what ingredients to look for in a commercial diet.

Beyond the dietary information provided, there are several chapters that give solid explanations of different types of health care available, including homeopathy, kinesiology, and the five-element theory. For those who still prefer allopathic care for their dogs, the chapters that cover standard lab tests are extremely useful, finally giving a layman's guide for urinalysis, blood serum, liver function, and thyroid testing. A glossary defines various terms such as acidosis and hepatic, and each description is easily understandable, even by those with no medical background whatsoever. For puppy owners, the chapter discussing vaccinations is informative--Volhard questions the necessity of many we take for granted, and suggests several methods for lowering the required number for your pup.

Ultimately, the majority of this book is geared toward folks who are already committed to providing their pooches with alternative health care and homemade food. No matter how interesting the dietary concepts presented here, if you aren't already a true believer it's not likely that Volhard's anecdotes will provide you with enough statistical proof to completely overhaul your dog's way of life. --Jill Lightner

Book Description

A complete revision of a ground-breaking reference.

Designed to provide updated information found in the original book, as well as lots of new topics, and a new organizationâthis second edition is more user-friendly than ever!

Readers will get the latest on:

Healthful diets for dogs of every age and activity level
How to modify your dog's diet to best meet seasonal needs
Natural ways to keep your dog healthy throughout all stages of life
How to care for a dog in poor health
The vaccine controversyâthe pros, the cons and how to sort them out * Homeopathic remedies
Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, chiropractics and use of medicinal herbs

Customer Reviews:

Close, but no cigar.......2007-05-09

This book is worth its price purely for the information on interpreting blood and urine testing. She also offers some great ideas on supplements for specific health concerns. Thirdly, her recommendations for vaccinations or lack thereof are excellent. That's the good part.

However, by far and large, I couldn't disagree more with Wendy Volhard's dietary recommendations. If she can show me a canine running around the forest looking for oatmeal or any of the other grains she recommends, I might give her recommendations a second look.

Until then, from my experience, BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods a la Ian Billinghurst's recommendations) is the only way to feed dogs. Three dogs, 9 years, no vet bills, says it all. My Keeshond, who died at the age of 16, was diagnosed with terminal pancreatitis at the age of 7 and given 6 months to live. The vet wanted to put her on PID canned food, largely barley based. At that time, we brought our Giant Schnauzer home from Skansen Kennels. The breeder strongly recommended the BARF diet, so I immediately switched the old Keeshond and our 6 month old Rottie to a raw meaty bones/fresh raw veggies and fruits diet, along with the Giant Schnauzer baby. The vet said I'd kill my dog. I told him that she's dead meat in 6 months anyway, so I might as well kill her my way.

Within 3 months, she was a puppy again, and lived to 16. All if this without the silly grain meal Wendy Volhard recommends! The big dogs are closing in on 10. The rottie has already outlived his predicted life span of 7 to 9 years. I love it! Their coats are gorgeous, and their teeth are perfect. No bad breath either. I wouldn't feed any other way.

Please don't get me wrong. I would still buy this book for its reference value, but don't buy into her dietary recommendations!

Super Reference Book.......2007-01-29

I found the Holistic Guide for Healthy Dog just super and full of useful information and other references. It's also very easy to read and divided quite nicely.

Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog.......2006-04-13

This book is the best source for a Raw Diet available. It is very comprehensive. There are lots of sources available with this diet to help you along the way, such as the website (www.volhard.com) and the Volhard Yahoo Group discussions, which provide all the answers to your questions. If you want to provide the best life for your dog, this is definately the way to do it. The research carried out on this diet is extremely comprehensive and a proven success for over 30 years.

Single best Guide for pet owners.......2005-03-02

If you can only have one book and you own a dog this is the one to have. Wendy Volhard brings decades of research and experience together in easy to follow examples, recipes and some of th emost comprehensive tables you'll find on canine nutrition. Food is the basis of all good health and happiness and this book tells you how to keep your dog healthy naturally, how to recognize if they are out of balance and empowers you with tools to help you dog while working with your vet.

If you consider your dog a member of your family.......2004-05-12

Discovering the Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog is one of the best discoveries I have made in my life! If you consider your dog a member of your family and you want to do everything you can to hlep it have a long, healthy, long life this book is for you. It comes complete with a chat room of wonderful people who can answer most any question you have regarding the diet.

It's a book that you will refer to over and over - the first thing you will consult when you think there might be a problem.
We have used the diet recommended in the book for two for more than 5 years. Our vet applauds our efforts.

Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Healthy Life

Average customer rating:

Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way...
An Important Quality of life issue
Redundant...
Excellent!
The groundbreaking B.A.R.F. book...

Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Healthy Life
Ian Billinghurst
Manufacturer: Ian Billinghurst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Raw Dog Food: Make It Easy for You and Your Dog
The BARF Diet: Raw Feeding for Dogs and Cats Using Evolutionary Principles
Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats
Grow Your Pups with Bones
Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats

ASIN: 0646160281

Customer Reviews:

Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way..........2007-05-15

Good information but very repetitive. The book should include a sample schedule or meal plan for feeding your dog but it doesn't. The author just provides some very broad feeding guidelines. Other than that, the very idea of feeding your dogs the way nature designed them to eat makes perfectly good sense to me. I first experimented with my own dog by giving him a raw chicken wing and my dog devoured it with relish!!! No hesitation there, as there was when I gave him cooked chicken. And indeed, my dog's breath really is sweet after all!!! It's raw from now on for my dog.

An Important Quality of life issue.......2006-08-04

I was introduced to this diet by a relative. I have been personally involved in the rescue of abused dogs for years. I am a rather no-nonsense type of person. I have no interest, normally, in alternative medicine, meditation, accupucture or any other sort of "alternative lifestyle" trends. HOWEVER, this is a book of significance for any who really care about those animals, who by no choice of their own, depend upon human beings for their existance.
Basicly, I see a dog as a dog, not a little, slightly retarded person. If a dog can be saved, save it and give a good life. If a dog can't be saved, give it as much comfort and love as possible in its remaining time. I have found this diet to turn around animals faster and to a more robust state of health than I have often believed possible for my animals. Yes, the book is not going to win any awards for literature, but I read this book for informaion, not to play at being petty editor or a know it all. I consider this to be now a valuable addition to my library. Sure you can get a lot of information off the internet about BARF, but this book is important and the author should be supported by purchasing his extrodinary effort. I know what I know, and I know this information is significant. And, by the by, dogs really are ominvores.

Redundant..........2005-10-14

After reading many websites on the BARf diet, I was rather disappointed in this book. Our dog trainer recommended it so I purchased it(rather expensive). The author repeats over and over what could have been said in a few chapters. Commercial dog food is bad and bones are good pretty much sums it up. It would have been nice to have an index to look up specifics, like the actual diet.If you do a search on the BARf diet on the web you'll get precise, comprehensive information for no cost!

Excellent!.......2004-07-16

I read this book nearly 5 years ago after getting a puppy. It is fantastic. I have been feeding the raw diet to my dog ever since. She is brimming with health, never smells, has a shiney beautiful coat.

The groundbreaking B.A.R.F. book..........2003-10-26

Yes, it is terribly written. It is also confusing - often contradicting information is presented. BUT this is the book that got tens of thousands of people taking a very hard look at how they have been feeding their dogs, and coming to the conclusion that a commercial diet is by far from the best choice, and in fact raw, natural foods are the best choice for dog nutrition.

For those curious about getting started in changing their dogs' diets, I would recommend Kymythy Schultze's "Ultimate Nutrition" and Carina MacDonald's "Raw Dog Food" before recommending Billinghurst's "GYDAB".

But I would buy this little book too, as it's surely the "Grand Daddy of them all."

Average customer rating:

A Great Overview for the Novice
Good Intro to Natural Dog Care but Skip Chapter on Nutrition

Keep Your Dog Healthy the Natural Way
Pat Lazarus
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Naturopathy | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Naturopathy | Alternative & Holistic | Medicine | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Healthy Life
Veterinarians Guide to Natural Remedies for Dogs : Safe and Effective Alternative Treatments and Healing Techniques from the Nations Top Holistic Veterinarians
The BARF Diet: Raw Feeding for Dogs and Cats Using Evolutionary Principles
Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats

Accessories:

RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

ASIN: 0449005143
Release Date: 1999-07-06

Book Description

The best treat you can give your dog is a long and happy life.
Keep Your Dog Healthy the Natural Way tells you how to do it.

Millions of people who use holistic healing techniques on themselves are now discovering they can apply these same powerful practices to their canine companions for a longer, healthier life. Drawing on the clinical experiences of dozens of holistic veterinarians around the country, medical writer Pat Lazarus gives you all the information you need to protect your pet's health and insure his survival to a lively old age. Inside you'll find

- The inexpensive natural diet that every dog needs to maintain a strong immune system
- The startling facts about conventional vaccinations--and the safer alternatives
- Tailor-made diets for pregnant dogs, nursing mothers, and active puppies
- The healing benefits of acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, and food supplements for old and "terminally" ill dogs
- New hope for infectious diseases, cancer, heart trouble and hypertension, arthritis, and problems of the eye, skin, and hair
- The revealing truth about the ingredients in most commercial dog food
And much more!

With the easy, natural care detailed in this book--including an essential directory of holistic veterinarians nationwide--your dog can enjoy the good health he deserves, from puppyhood to ripe old age.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Overview for the Novice.......2000-03-30

I found the previous review interesting and educational; the reviewer sounds experienced and practiced in the field of canine nutrition. I, however, was not and found Pat's overview informative. She is suggestive about topics controversial in natural dog care, but responsibly cites that it is controversial. Note that many well-written vets such as Schoen and Pitcairn recommend her book in theirs. Because little has been done in the way of vetrinary nutritional research (I am a former medical researcher), much of any of this information is largely assumptive. I thank the previous reviewer for his/her insight and congratulate Pat Lazarus in her attempt to give (as a good journalist and researcher would) a comprehensive picture with varying opinions and, as an author is licensed to do, give her opinion and deliver her experience to benefit others.

Good Intro to Natural Dog Care but Skip Chapter on Nutrition.......1999-09-13

This is a new, completely revised edition of Lazarus' "Keep Your Pet Healthy the Natural Way" except that she has chosen to write a separate book on natural cat care this time around. As with her first book which was published 15+ years ago, Lazarus did the research for this book by sending questionnaires to a number of holistic vets. As a result, we get the views and treatment approaches of a number of different vets (including Dr. Martin Goldstein, Dr. John Fudens, Dr. Carvel Tiekert, etc.). Unfortunately not all of the advice has been updated (some of it appeared in her first book), and she does not point out which recommendations were given by the vets 15 years ago and which ones are current.

The first part of the book deals with preventing disease. It starts with a chapter on the problems with commercial foods which should be interesting to those not already familiar with Ann Martin's, Dr. Goldstein's, or Dr. Pitcairn's books. Then Lazarus goes into feeding a natural diet, and this is definitely the worst part of the book, since the diet she recommends is dangerously unbalanced. It does not contain nearly enough calcium to balance out the high phosphorous levels in the meats and grains she recommends feeding. Also, a diet consisting of just 33% - 50% raw meat is not really optimal for a healthy canine. Dogs, after all, are carnivores, and our long experience with natural rearing and feeding indicates that they tend to do best on a diet that consists of 75% raw meat and bones. Unfortunately Lazarus does not really approve of feeding bones. She says that of the 10 holistic vets she questioned on this subject, 7 said not to give any bones, 2 said that only a specific type of bone was okay (e.g., ox tails), and only one vet was completely in favor of feeding bones. Feeding bones remains a controversial subject and many vets are only now coming around to the idea that bones are an important part of the canine diet (see Dr. Goldstein's recent book). Not only do they supply the calcium that is necessary to balance out the high phosphorous content of the meat, but they also supply numerous other valuable minerals and trace minerals. Most importantly perhaps, feeding soft, raw bones (stay away from those big beef femur bones as they can wear down and even break teeth and never feed cooked bones which are dangerous since they are dry and brittle and splinter easily in addition to being difficult to digest) will prevent your dogs from developing tooth or gum problems which present an enormous health hazard. Your dogs will never have to be put under to have their teeth cleaned. Our dogs have been eating raw bones (along with other foods) for almost thirty years and their health could not be any better. It's really best to skip the chapter on nutrition and go straight to the chapter on vaccinations. Lazarus covers the potential dangers of vaccinating, nosodes, making vaccination decisions, and minimizing the harmful effects of vaccines. IMO, she is a little too enthusiastic about using homeopathic nosodes instead of vaccines. Not only does it violate the principles of classical homeopathy to use nosodes as routine preventatives the same way one would use a vaccine, but it's my experience that nosodes simply aren't very effective when used in this manner in hopes of preventing the most dangerous viral diseases (i.e., parvo and distemper). This is not to say that vaccinations are always effective or that one should definitely vaccinate, but I've often seen nosodes give people a false sense of security which is not a good thing.

The second part of Lazarus' book deals with natural therapies for skeletal disease, eye problems, skin and coat problems, infectious diseases, cancer, diabetes, cystitis, parasites, kidney disorders, heart problems, etc. This is definitely the best part of the book, since it's interesting to read how holistic vets across the country treat these problems. The book also contains a nationwide directory of holistic vets which will be helpful to those looking for a holistic vet in their area.

All in all, this would have made a pretty good introduction to holistic health care for dogs if it wasn't for the terrible chapter on nutrition. That makes it suitable as an introductory book only if it's purchased along with a good book on feeding a natural diet (check out books by Juliette de Bairacli Levy, Wendy Volhard, Dr. Pitcairn, and Dr. Billinghurst on this topic).

Shock to the System: The Facts About Animal Vaccination, Pet Food And How to Keep Your Pets Healthy

Average customer rating:

A Shock To My Senses!!!
Are we over vaccinating our pets? Yes!
Strongly recommended reading to all pet owners

Shock to the System: The Facts About Animal Vaccination, Pet Food And How to Keep Your Pets Healthy
Catherine M. O'Driscoll
Manufacturer: Dogwise Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1929242298

Customer Reviews:

A Shock To My Senses!!!.......2007-03-12

I was able to get my hands on Ms. O'Driscolls other book which is out of print now,"What Vets Don't Tell You About Vaccines" and I found it admirable she openly admits in this book she doesn't blame vaccinations only for the illness of her pets. She now is factoring in other possibilities. "Shock To The System" is full of information but I did not find it an easy read. I have read many many books on this topic and consider myself well informed. However it was hard to break down this book in layman's terms for easy understanding and comprehension. I did "get it" but I had to re read many topics over again. I do like that she factors in other reasons as to why our pets are dying horrible deaths at such young ages! Such as pet foods, stress and genetics. I'm a firm believer that vaccines are harmful to our pets and any responsible pet owner really needs to research this before handing over their pet to a veterinarian to decide what is best for them. Ms. O'Driscoll does point this out. Maybe your vet doesn't have your pets best interest at heart but rather their pocketbook !! The more I read the more I understand this. This is a good book to have but please do not stop with it. Protect your pet and read on!!!

Are we over vaccinating our pets? Yes!.......2006-05-03

Catherine goes into details with research from vets on the effects of vaccinations on our pets. Do they need annual vaccinations or are they causing our pets to become ill? Are vaccinations a moneymaker? Yes, pets should be examined yearly to insure good health, but vaccinations should not be the reason for this yearly health check. Catherine also encourages the reader to do more research on their own.

Catherine talks about food and stress and their effect on your animal's health. Catherine used to feed exclusively a raw diet, but has since modified that stance to allow that it can be too much 'energy' for some animals and that a cooked or prepared diet may be more appropriate. Rare for those who have made the conversion to admit that it may not be the 'best' for all dogs.

Shock to the System will make you think - not a bad thing!

I'm looking forward to her visit in May 2006 on CSDogBookReview and learning more from her.

Strongly recommended reading to all pet owners .......2006-04-03

Catherine O'Driscoll presents Shock To The System: The Facts About Animal Vaccination, Pet Food And How To Keep Your Pets Healthy as an informed and informative study of the truths of stress and vaccinations and how such things may actually be the cause of illness in our pets. Readers will be enlightened as Shock To The System is one of the greatest analysis of modern realizations in pertinence to animal health. Shock To The System is very strongly recommended reading to all pet owners for its informational and "user friendly" information on all the elements of basic pet care.

The French Bulldog: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet

Average customer rating:

The French Bulldog : An Owner's Guide
Comprehensive and easy to follow.
WONDERFUL RESOURCE!
Great Book For Anyone Considering A French Bulldog
Very Helpful Book With Lots Of Accurate Info.

The French Bulldog: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet
Kathy Dannel
Manufacturer: Howell Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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French Bulldogs (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)
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ASIN: 158245163X

Book Description

Adorable! Spelled the same in French and English, this word sums up the petite French Bulldog. Similar in build to the very popular Pug, the French Bulldog is a roly-poly lotta-lovin' dog -- avec un attitude! While still ranked in the middle of the AKC registrations list at #76, the Frenchie is becoming trés popular.

Customer Reviews:

The French Bulldog : An Owner's Guide .......2007-03-26

I only gave this book one star as this book seems geared strictly towards new dog owners. The Frenchie photos are cute, but not much info that I could use.

Comprehensive and easy to follow........2005-05-22

This is a great book for any Frenchie owner. Unlike some books which claim to be breed specific but aren't this book contains lots of information on French Bulldogs. It covers housebreaking, Feeding, Grooming, Health and so much more. There are lots of great photos as well. I got this book shortly before getting my Frenchie, and it was so helpful. It's written in a way that someone new to the breed like me, or someone that is intreseted in a pet rather then a showdog can understand. This is a book written by a true Frenchie lover, for Frenchie lovers and newbies.

WONDERFUL RESOURCE!.......2005-04-07

I have read and reread this book numerous times. I have owned Frenchies for nearly ten years and this is hands down the single best overall basics on the breed. The author presents important information in an engaging, straight forward manner and is a world renowned expert in Frenchies. If you are considering a frenchie or have recently added one to your family, this book will be an invaluable resource.

Great Book For Anyone Considering A French Bulldog.......2005-03-30

I bought this book when we were leaning towards getting a French Bulldog and wanted more in-depth information. The author is a well-respected breeder of Frenchies with many years of experience. She knows what she is talking about first-hand. This is a great book for anyone considering adding a Frenchie to their family. It is full of all the information you need without excessive information that would overwhelm someone trying to decide if this is the right breed for them. Read this book and you will be well prepared for your flat-faced family member on arrival!

Very Helpful Book With Lots Of Accurate Info........2005-03-27

After aquiring my first Frenchie puppy a few months ago, I read this book cover to cover. Now I use it almost daily as a resource--I even quote this book at my vet's office. I would definitely recommend this book to any future Frenchie owner as it has really been a lifesaver for me.

The Boston Terrier: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet

Average customer rating:

Informative
Great book about Bostons!
Great Guide
Great Book to Learn About Bostons
Incomplete

The Boston Terrier: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet
Scottee Meade
Manufacturer: Howell Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Guide to Owning a Boston Terrier (Re-335)
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ASIN: 1582451591

Book Description

Another little dog on the up-and-up is the all-American Boston Terrier. Currently ranked 19th among the AKC's 146 recognized breeds, the Boston wins admirers with his short, easy-to-care-for coat, conveniently portable size, and distinctive tuxedo markings.

Customer Reviews:

Informative.......2006-11-04

This book gives you insight into the breed and how to care for it.

Great book about Bostons!.......2006-02-08

We just got a Boston puppy a couple months ago & we were looking for a good book to summarize their care & general things about a Boston. This book is great! I use it as a reference guide when I have questions.

Great Guide.......2003-04-18

I'm no expert on the Boston Terrier, which is why I like this book. We're planning on adopting one this summer, and I've been hunting for good, user-friendly BT books. This one covers everything, it's to the point, and the last four chapters are full of good advice for any dog owner, regardless of the breed. I wanted a manual I could refer to over and over again ~ this one fits the bill. :o)

Great Book to Learn About Bostons.......2002-07-05

I bought this book after it being recommended by a breeder. It was exactly the kind of book that I was wanting. It provides specifics on the health problems, grooming tactics, and eating habits of the dog, which were the most important subjects I was looking for. The latter part of the book discusses how to enjoy your dog, though it isn't specifically directed toward the Boston. This is a great book and a must-have for any Boston Terrier owner.

Incomplete.......2001-03-16

I bought this book hoping to learn more about the breed and their special needs. However only the first half of the book was breed specific. The shopping lists and breed history was interesting, but I still have many unanswered questions about basic care. The second half had basic training tips that applies to all breeds. This may be a good book for someone who is looking for a general overview of the breed, but if you're looking for a detailed manual about how to care for and train a puppy, adult, and senior Boston Terrier, this book isn't it.

Homemade Treats for Happy, Healthy Dogs (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin, a-258)

Average customer rating:

not as expected

Homemade Treats for Happy, Healthy Dogs (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin, a-258)
Cheryl Gianfrancesco
Manufacturer: Storey Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1580173233

Customer Reviews:

not as expected.......2006-03-01

This book is advertised as good for food allergic dogs. The top allergen for dogs is wheat. The main ingredient in most of the recipes is whole wheat flour. Unfortunately, not helpful to someone with a food allergic dog.

Dog Behavior: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet

Average customer rating:

happy pet
Want to understand your dog better?
Informative and entertaining
A MUST BUY For Any Dog/Puppy Owner!
A must-read for all dog owners.

Dog Behavior: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet
Ian Dunbar
Manufacturer: Howell Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Before and After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog
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ASIN: 0876052367

Book Description

Dr. Ian Dunbar, renowned dog trainer and behaviorist, explains how dogs think, how dogs learn, and why they act the way they do. Dog owners who understand these issues can better train their dogs and develop a closer relationship with their pets.

Customer Reviews:

happy pet.......2007-01-19

I have yet to receive this book !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Would be difficult to review it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ann Kramer
p.o. box 1824
Wrangell, Alaska 99929

Want to understand your dog better?.......2001-06-20

Many dog behavior books seem to focus more on dog obedience/training rather than on dog 'behavior.' As the owner of 2 chihuahuas, I'm interested in dog obedience to some extent, but I've always wanted to know more about why my dogs behave a certain way. What do they really mean when they do certain things? So, I was pleasantly surprised to find this wonderful little book!

The author explains such behaviors as why dogs wag their tails... why dogs know how long to continue to view another dog as still being a puppy... how dogs develop their hierarchies... and yet, the author doesn't overgeneralize about these behaviors either. He describes the stages of a dog's development from puppy to adult, and he dispels some myths about dog intelligence and dog training.

I found the author's attitude very refreshing and I think this is another reason that I enjoyed this book so much. He genuinely likes dogs and he portrays them as the intelligent, emotional, and social creatures that they are.

Informative and entertaining.......2000-02-23

This is a very thin book, but it is just packed with insight and information. The author clearly loves dogs and understands them. My favorite thing about the book is the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) humor that he uses to make his points. I loved his turns of phrase and his abhorence for cruelty in any of its disguised forms. It is a fact that often what we think we are training the dog to do is the opposite of what we are really teaching. Dr. Dunbar is not afraid to point this out.

A MUST BUY For Any Dog/Puppy Owner!.......2000-01-18

This is an EXCELLENT book to help you understand your dog and how to head off any behavior problems that may occur as the dog matures. I would suggest reading it BEFORE you get a puppy/dog and learn how and why it is SOOO important to properly socialize it at a very early age. Dunbar makes total sense and his recommendations have always worked with my dogs and others whom I have loaned my book to. It is fun and easy to read.

A must-read for all dog owners........1999-02-10

Ian Dunbar wrote a book called "Dog Behavior, Why Dogs Do What They Do" in 1979. He has now written a book called "Dog Behavior, An Owner's Guide To A Happy Healthy Pet". His clear, intelligent, witty writing has not changed. It is evident that he continues to learn more about dogs, people and writing clearly! If you are thinking about getting a dog or puppy, if you own a dog or puppy or you are just interested in dogs and puppies, you need to read this book.

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