Breeds Books

This small book does a good job covering many relevant topics about Pekes. I was pleased with the contents and would recommend the book to individuals who are considering on buying a Pekingese. The pictures alone will charm you into making the purchase.

I am buying a pekingese and this book is so helpful! I feel more knowledgeable and will be able to purchase with more confidence. I will also be able to get the grooming aids, etc. prior to the puppy coming home.

This does what it says and is a good guide for pet owners who have not had a peke before. You could do worse than sell it with each puppy, if you are a responsible breeder.

Yes, this is a pleasant, short, brief book about the Pekingese. However, it's not any different than any other book about the Pekingese breed. The information is very generic, and if you search around personal sites online or just visit breeder's pages, you'll find the same info. At points, I felt like the book became a generic dog care book, giving advice for any breed of dog. It isn't peke-specific enough. For example, they should've had a chart that listed how many calories of food or vitamins pekes need at different life stages and weather. Pekes may be small dogs, but they are heavier and require different nutrition than other breeds. One would expect a book titled "Pekingese" to be tailored to a Peke's needs but the info that is provided for feeding can also be found in a book for any other dog. Do you think a peke needs the same nutrition as a Dalmation? No. It's a good book for those that have never had a dog before, or don't have the slightest clue about the Pekingese. However, if you are already a peke-companion and were looking for helpful peke-specific info, this book doesn't provide info that you don't already know.

This is an excellent book for a first time Pekingese owner!! For someone who knows the breed(and I truly mean knows- I've had my boy for a year and a half and I still learned things), it might not be as helpful. It's easy to read and at times shows a little humor. It covers everything a responsible pet owner should know. It even included first aid techniques in case of emergencys, some basic training steps, grooming, etc. Definately an A+ book written by someone who knows what they're talking about.

This book has it all; breed history, characteristics, breed staandard, basic care, puppy care, health care, behavior training and showing in dog shows. The color pictures provide excellent detail and there are detailed drawings that provide additional helpful information. I would highly recommend this book to any person that plans to own a Shiba Inu or currently owns one.

I knew nothing of the breed but this book covers allot and has some wonderful photos and info.

This is one of the best books on Shiba Inus out there. It tells you everything you need to know about this amazing breed of dog. It's got everyting from health care, training and showing. It even tells you the shibas best fit for the AKC and Nippo. It's one of the best shiba inu books and no shiba owner should be without it.

I got this book because we were adopting a Shiba Inu pup. We already have one Shiba & they are an interesting breed. I feel that the more knowledge about the breed that you can gain, the better the relationship will be for everyone. This book has a lot of in depth information that should help any potential Shiba Inu owner. It has lots of pictures to go with the topics.

I'm a first time dog owner (and ended up getting a Shiba...ha ha!)
I thought this book was simple & an easy read. I've had my Shiba for 4 months now & still refer to the book for information!

This is a wonderful guide for finding the right dog for you. Most of us have made a choice in a pet that wasn't the best for the dog or ourself and this book gives insight to help us choose the right pet.

i've been wanting to buy a dog for a long time and as i've been making a decision about what kind of dog to buy and when, this book has been really helpful. the format of the book has been great, in that i can look at different breeds side by side. the issues raised about health, diseases, and testing have raised my own awareness of what questions to ask before making such a big decision.
it is obvious in reading Ms.Cook's summary of all the issues she talks about that she has a lot of knowledge and a real heart for dogs. she shows a true desire to increase people's awareness of the issues at hand. i hope this book plays a part in encouraging more breeders to raise healthier dogs.

I found this book to be wonderfully helpful and I am glad I bought it. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to buy a new puppy. I am so glad I bought it.

As a former breeder of German Shepherds, I immediately thought how grateful a new puppy buyer should be to have such a wealth of information at his or her fingertips. Having good information about reputable breeders and health screening is the first step in assuring a happy, healthy companion and avoiding potential heartache. I commend Jeanne Cook for her dedication.

We have waited long enough for a compendium of facts such as this that will enhance an intelligent buyers ability to make a better choice, and therby avoid the pitfalls for many wonderful dogs that were picked out by someone handing a puppy to a prospective buyer and they fall in love.It also encourages buyers to research good sources of puppies from competent AKC hobby breeders. Many puppies picked out on the spur of the moment or from an incompetent breeder (just out for the bucks)ultimately suffer a future that is sad due to the poor match that made between buyer and pup. Good breeders are doing all that can be done to eliminate many genetic disorders such as Hip Dysplasia, eye problems, etc, and this book makes that evident. Anyone can fall in love with an adorable pup, but buyers remorse can set in shortly due simply to the fact that not every dog is for every person or family, and the results are sometimes horrendous, with the dog getting the short end of the stick.
Jeanne has performed a teriffic service to enlightened buyers.
Her data is current, effective and thorough. We have read many pet books, but this job is A #1 Professional, and hopefully will make better matches for those willing to read it. Good Job, Jeanne.

Nice book. I chose the book because of the Amazon.com reviews. It appeared to be what my Grandson had requested and he seemed pleased to get it as a Christmas present. We will have to wait to see if the information in the book helped him with the training.

This book is absolutely fantastic. After reading numerous other training books and still having difficulty with my young dog I stumbled onto this book by accident. Spencer covers every aspect of training the puppy right through to advanced blinds and marks. His style of writing is very clear and his use of anecdotes helps to illustrate the real life ramifications of various techniques. Until I read this book I had great difficulty training consistent blind retrieves. Spencer's explanation of the correct use of conditioning flags has made it so much easier. I have read this book at least ten times and learn something new every time. I can't recommend it enough.

James B. Spencer's Training Retrievers For Marshes And Meadows will hold a specific appeal for hunters who use retriever dogs in their work. Beginners are taught how to gain rapport and train dogs, from basic obedience to training for the hunt - and receive instructions particular not only to retrieving in general, but to the breed.

Before, during and continuing with the training of my current yellow Lab, I have read quite a few books on the subject. I wish I would have had this one sooner! Easy to read and great instruction all in one book.

I found out about this book in 1991 shortly after I had gotten a Lab puppy that I wanted to train to be a working dog.

I had read all the popular books at the time, but none made it clear to me - what I needed to make clear to my dog !!

I met a man on Compuserve who raised and trained working retrievers in the Midwest. He highly recommended this book, but it was difficult to find, and in those days we did not have "AMAZON.COM".

Anyhow, I finally got the book and my dog Molly became the best working dog I have ever had the pleasure to hunt with. She was nothing short of amazing at spotting birds down, and she could easily blind retrieve the ones she did not see fall (almost always a double).

This book also taught me the concept and importance of teaching "force training" for retrieving, and it indeed works.

Molly is 15 yrs old now and is "retired", but if she was physically able she would hunt with me tomorrow.

So my strong advice here is get this book if you have a young dog that you want to be well trained and a pleasure to hunt with. Also, well trained dogs make MUCH better and happier pets!!

-- Cain

The dog has been man's best friend at least since the stone age. History is full of evidence of man's love for his dog and the dog's love for his master. There is good evidence that all the dogs in the world have originated from the wolf. There is evidence that wolves started to become domesticated about 135,000 years ago. The present-day dog has been domesticated for at least 14,000 years. Today there are about 132 different breeds of dogs. Dogs come in many different shapes and sizes and with varying degrees of intelligence. This book tells the story of 50 really smart dogs. The author is a veterinarian. Enjoy!

Not recommended for those who don't wish to be seen crying over a book. Especially those who own and love their dogs very much.

I started reading this on a train. Sometimes I wouldn't help smiling and laughing out loud at some of the stories, and other times, I had to stop reading in order to stop the tears from flowing out of my eyes.

I think this is a wonderful book that the whole family can enjoy. It has humorous stories for those who like a laugh, rescue stories for the adventuresum, and of course the sad ending stories that always grip your heart. Overall I think this book has all the basic ingredients to make it enjoyable for the whole family.

Adrian Broderick, grandaughter of Dr. Jules Silver, wrote a delightful story about her brilliant Austrailian Sherpard, Wally. Although she was 10, when written, it was a marvelous revelation of a dog manifesting human qualities.

Real life stories, useful for science, and life skills. Touchuing, humorus, and delightful and a must for every teachers classroom library.

This book is great reading for someone who is or will be a first-time APBT puppy owner. It explains the special needs of these great dogs and why they've developed a bad reputation. If you are looking for more extensive info on training and activities for you and your dog, i recommend another book.

The book is excellent and provides a usefull information for raise and American Pitbull Terrier

This book was helpful when I first got my APT a few years back. Besides teaching you the basics of taking care of him/her, it also goes into how the breed has been abused and misinterpreted. American Pitbull Terriers can be the most loyal and friendliest of dogs, if taken care of properly. (I can attest to that, being a former owner).

This book gives a truthful picture of APBT's. It also has exclent information on caring for this breed through it's life. I purchased it for my mother, who was nervous about the breed, before I adopted my dog. After reading the book she was looking forward to having the adition to the family come and was sharing her new found info with friends and family who had negitive reactions when hearing I was getting an APBT. An exclent book to have on hand and share with those intrested in the breed, who own the breed, and who don't know the breed.

Even though I knew that this dog wasn't as "mean and aggressive" as people made it seem, this book was extremely interesting and i learned many new facts. Besides being a great care-guide, it explains the breed's character and history.Everything that you would ever want to know about the American Pit Bull Terrier can be found in this book, accuratly portrayed.The book is clear on how to prevent accidental fights and that this great dog should only be owned by responsible people. Hopefully the APBT will one day gain the respect they deserve and people will know the truth about them.

Interested in breeding? This book should be the first thing you purchase and study it good! It is amazing! It packed with so much information on breeding, kennels, showing, picking puppies, raising puppies, behavior and I could go on and on. I have a lot of books on breeding and showing and I know I could have this book only and a book on canine genetics and would be just fine! Study this book, your breed standard and genetics and you will be WAY ahead of the rest of the pack!

Of note,the print is small (and pages are filled top to bottom-there is that much info), but if it is hard for you to read small print, then just bear that in mind when purchasing.

Laymans genetics is a good term for this book. I am 4 years new to the dog world and this book laid out important information in a way that kept me interested! Most books are either so complicated as to be boring or so simple that you come away with nothing but verification of something you've already read. Not this book - it is perfect and the advice is invaluable. I will keep this book forever!

A magnificent source of history, technique, philosophy and guidance for the serious dog breeder and exhibitor. Examines history and trends in many breeds. Acquaints you with the greats on four legs as well as two. Not a light read, but definitely worth the effort.

This book has taught me and has had me understand just what it takes to be BORN TO WIN :BREED TO SUCSEED a must read for all dog people of all experiences.The way Mrs. Trotter has wrote this book anyone can understand just how to get the job done.

Patricia Craige, who ranges from top Norweigan Elkhound breeder to top dog show competitor, shares her insights in the canine field to a new audience eager to eat her every word. Why do I give this author such high acclaim? For three simple reasons:

a). Mrs. Craige shows the reader many examples of dogs who have succeeded inm both the show ring and the whelping box. Many dogs, ranging from the top-producing dog of all time to the dog with the most Best-In-Shows (the highest honor at any dog show), are shown, with in-depth study on how the greatest of dogs made their way to the top.

b). The book is very well understood thanks to the authors' personal experience. Mrs. Craige is an owner-handler, the lowest on the totem pole in the canine realm. However, one of her glorious Elkhounds became the top dog all breeds in the year 1970. This astounding tribute to the hard work and dedication she put into breeding and raising top dogs is followed up with a string of top dogs of any breed. She also bred, owned, and handled the top Elkhound of all-time and one of the top winning hounds of all-time with sixty-six all-breed Best-In-Shows. Her last big winner was shown from 1993-1995, daughter of the top winning Elkhound and two-time Westminster Hound Group winner (Winning at Westminster is the highest honor any owner, handler, or breeder can aspire to). Despite all of this, the author's down-to-earth writing style solaces the reader, allowing the reader to thoroughly enjoy the book.

c). Why don't you tell me? THere are so many reasons to applaud this book. I am sure that if you were to add it to your collection, you'd find your own reasons to back up the notion that this book truly is BORN (err, published) TO WIN!!

This is an extra-ordianary book. Very detailed but very readable. It encouraged me to experiement and provided answers for past results.

I bought the earlier edition of this book for someone else...had no intention of reading it (or keeping it) but started to browse and got hooked!

This book reads like a novel--all the characters are my near and dear friends, the garden fruits and veggies. Mouth-watering detail sets the stage for getting your imagination started. What would you like to grow that you haven't seen in the seed catalogues? A watermellon that can ripen in your northern climate? Greens that won't be mowed down by slugs in your wet, costal garden? Perhaps a juicy, sweet tomato just like your favorite slicer, but in a convenient cherry size?

Just when you have all these images of the yummy possibilities dancing through your head, the story turns dark...Unfortunately, the professional plant breeders are not looking for the same things you are. Professional plant breeders want thick-skinned tomatoes that can be machine harvested, that ripen all at once, and that store and ship easily. (at this point, I want to yell, NOOO!!! Not THAT tomato!!!)

But sadly, past market forces have inadvertantly destroyed so much of the lovely work of our ancestors to produce flavor, long harvest periods, plants that survive organically, open pollination, and most of all, variety.

But wait! All is not lost! Remember how all those wonderful things came to be in the first place? Amateur plant breeders! And guess what? It doesn't have to take a lot of time, or even much space, to start tweaking and experimenting with what you can get to grow in your own garden. You don't even need experience, let alone a degree. And she's got lots of stories and examples to prove it.

Then she starts throwing out possibilities I never would have thought of...why stick to things we already grow as vegetables? Why not domesticate one of the thousands of edible plants that no one else is even working on? Or how about experimenting with ways to use food that weren't available when it all started, like developing something that microwaves conveniently?

I think Carol Deppe is a creative genius with the rare ability to communicate her passion and knowlege for her favorite subject. After reading this book, really after reading just the first few chapters, I felt like this is something that I really could do, and can't believe I hadn't thought of it before. People have been saving seed for thousands of years, it's not rocket science.

For an idea of Deppe's writing style, she's written an interesting article about parching corn that you can find if you google "carol deppe and parching corn."

The author has a PhD from Harvard in biology and is a geneticist. Yet she has written her easy-to-understand book as if she has a teaching degree from Ashland University. Her premise is that all our major food crops were originally developed by amateurs. Until recently, all gardeners and farmers saved their own seed and hence, all gardeners and farmers were automatically amateur plant breeders - and amateur plant breeding was the only kind of plant breeding there was.

Deppe's book has two major purposes: 1) to encourage all of us gardeners and farmers to rediscover the excitement and rewards of developing your very own vegetable variety, and 2) to show amateurs how to breed plants more easily. As Deppe says "Any gardener can do them". This book is for all gardeners everywhere. It's for the gardener who has been told that "you can't grow that here", but who wants to anyway (such as artichokes in Ohio). This book is for growers who like white and purple carrots, and other crosses. This book is for seed savers, which is the first step in plant breeding. This book is for organic gardeners who want to develop powdery mildew-resistant varieties, by breeding them yourself.

Deppe's chapters cover amateur vegetable breeding, space and time; roles and goals such as breeding for flavor, size, shape, earliness, cold or heat resistance, disease resistance, or yield; finding germplasm where she explains about the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System; evaluating germplasm and conducting and evaluating garden trials; genetics and plant parenthood; sex and the single gene; modern genes; hybrids; plant-breeding stories; breeding with established polyploids; fun with wide crosses; happy accidental crosses; domesticating wild plants; and expanding horizons along with many appendices that list plants, vegetables, germplasm collections, seed saver organizations, supplies, and how-to information sources.

This is the best introduction to seed saving and breeding your own vegetable varieties you'll find and invaluable to those interested in creating a unique vegetable variety.

I was looking for a book on seed saving. This book sounded like it had information on that topic, plus the topic of breeding your own plant varieties; a 2 for 1!. I was a little disappointed that there weren't any pictures in the book. I would have liked to have seen some visual examples of hand breeding, different flower types, pictures of plant parents and their offspring, and of course a few concerning seed saving. But the vast amounts of information in this book more than make up for the lack of a few pictures. Overall a good book and a great resource for the home gardener.

I'm a gardener but not a seed saver; I'd like to, but it's a
somewhat confusing and overwelming subject. This book really
explained the issues of cross breeding and pollination, so I
could see why those seed saving instructions are so inconsistent.
And it is very inspiring about why I'd want to save seeds and
improved the variety, and why local seeds are so valuable,
and a number of great ideas on the mechanics both that I can use
(spacing isn't so important when you're testing for flavor) and
not so useful to me (I'll probably not get forceps and remove
the stamens from unopened tomato flowers)

She is a plant genetists applying techiques to her own garden
for her own food, and I really liked how she describes her
though processes as well as what she does and how she does it.

I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining to know the history and science behind my silly cat's colors.

This is a book about genetics, from the point of view of a cat owner and her rare male calico cat. As the author unravels the mystery of her male calico, the reader learns about the history and science of genetics.

This book is perfect for anyone looking for a beginners approach to genetics and who also likes cats! I'm thrilled to see it back in print.

A male calico so rare that most veterinarians have never seen one - "Cats are Not Peas: A Calico History of Genetics" is an examination of the strange and off biology of the feline species which work apparently quite a bit differently than that of the common pea. In a second edition, the first published sixteen years ago, is newly enhanced with a lengthy addendum covering all the new discoveries and advances in the study of feline genetics and so much more. "Cats are Not Peas: A Calico History of Genetics" is highly recommended to community library pets/wildlife shelves with a focus on animal biology and for anyone who may be interested in breeding cats or just a plain interest in cats period.

If you love cats, you will love this book, and want to share it with others. Laura Gould has written the charming, witty, delightful story of her male calico cat, George, and his feline pal Max in their California home. That alone would have been a wonderful book. But aren't all calico cats female? The vet turned pale upon seeing George, obviously male and obviously calico. Gould intersperses George's' life story with her own investigation into how he could have come to exist. This makes a gentle, funny, and accurate introduction to genetics, including side trips to libraries with insane librarians preventing the books from being used, to theories of sex before the discovery of genes and DNA, and to rare Japanese sources. Cat lore, history and science are beautifully balanced in this book. The second edition brings the genetics up to date, while keeping all the charm of George. A superb read!

Best explanation of the calico phenomenon I have ever read. SHe explains the basics and the history behind the rare male calico in a clear and enertaining way. The lessons on basic genetics as you go is a unique way of presenting things.

This is an excellent book for cat lovers, filled with short stories both happy and sad.

This book is simply wonderful for any animal lover, but purr-fect for cat lovers. Each story, there are 50, is enjoyable and there is not one among them that won't touch you in some way. Each tale is unique but carries a common heart-warming thread. You could reasonably read a complete story in small snatches of stolen time, or you may find you must keep reading. :-)

You will laugh and cry and you will FEEL. The stories in this book are short in duration but long on feeling. The reader comes away with a better understanding of just how much they will never wholly understand the depth of soul held by our feline friends. I have 2 kitties myself and have always had cats in my life. I have long held the belief that cats have personalities and spirits and a greater intelligence and sense of empathy they are usually given credit for. This book proves the point many times over.

I loved reading this medley from the first story to the last. What a fantastic collection.

I bought this book from the recommendation of my mother who is also the mommy to two Tonkinese cats. My kids adore her cats, and although we have a dog in our household, after reading this book, I can see why so many are touched by cats, and how individual they really are. This book definitely had a warm and wonderful touch that brought smiles and tears to my eyes!

The best book I have ever read about our feline friends.Each author shows its love of cats.I highly recommen this book to anybody who has or does not have a cat."The Power of the Purr"was one of the best of the short stories.The compasson showen by both the author and our animal friends makes you feel good inside. Thanks Gail.

You can't meet the mysterious eyes of a cat and not think about what she's been up to. Now we know.

Cup of Comfort for Cat Lovers is a delightful anthology that includes 50 kitty-inspired tales guaranteed to charm any feline fan. Whether you're in the mood for a laugh or a tug of the heartstrings, this satisfying volume delivers.