Breeds Books

This book is pure joy. For those of us who have loved our dogs, the stories tug at your heart strings. Karen Derrico captures each dog's story with a peek into other dog owner's heart and how much they loved their special friend. Thank you for writing a book that has been so long in coming, and so beautifully written. This one is a must for dog lovers, pet lovers, and anyone who has ever had that special bond with their pet.

What a book! What a book! What a book! A tribute to the "mutt"-- God's precious gift to us humans! Their love,intelligence, courage, loyalty ; their precious souls, are a shining tribute to the canine kingdom and to our Father's loving creation. So many times a mutt is a combination of the best of each breed.

The stories in this book are a celebration of these wonderful animals and their relationship to those of us humans who have been lucky enough to share one-- or more. Hopefully this book will inspire many people to adopt from animal shelters.

This reviewer has had the joy of four wonderful, dear small mutts, mainly mixed terrier. They are now in Heaven, and the pain of separation cuts deeply.

But in spite of the hurt of this separation, I know that we will be together again when it is my turn to "cross over".

I would like to share with you my recommendation of three books, all of which can do a great deal to assuage the grief one feels at losing a beloved pet/companion/"child":

The first is The Soul of Your Pet-- this book gives solid, credible evidence of animal afterlife; there are many stories of people's interactions with pets that have passed on; many cannot be "explained away"; an example would be of a vet that is called on to treat a sick horse and sees a ghost horse near it- formerly owned by the people who call her out. She has never been there before. Hardly a "grief-induced hallucination" as the owner don't even see it. They recognize it when the vet describes it to them. A mother and daughter are with their cats in a room; their former pet walks in through the wall; both women see it and the living cats chase it out of the room. The recountings in the book are happy ones; the people are brought great comfort by seeing (hearing or feeling) again their departed pets. It is virtually impossible to be skeptical after reading several of these incidents.The idea of animals having souls is backed up biblically, as well.

The second book, For Every Dog an Angel, will melt your heart. Although written for children it is for everyone. The author wrote it after losing her "forever dog", Martha; she has had experiences that would fit with the above-mentioned Pet Souls book.

When a puppy is born we are told an angel comes to be with it throughout its life; when it bonds with its "forever person" it brings the angel much joy; when it is time for it to go to the "Other Side" its angel becomes its bridge. Sometimes it crosses back over the angel bridge to visit; the child is told to listen for pawsteps when going for a walk, or look for covers rumpling on the bed; the children love it! Finally, when it is our turn to "cross over" our forever pet is waiting to greet us and there is a joyeous reunion. I will not likely tire of re-reading its charmingly-illustrated 32 pages, and I'll bet you won't, either! If your child has lost a pet-- or is likely to--please get this book!

The third book, Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates is a Christian book, wonderfully done; it is truly inspired.

Unforgettable Mutts will bring much pleasure to its readers and will touch the heart deeply; the other three books will bring much comfort and happy anticipation.

A few years ago, there was practically nothing to help those of us grieving over pet loss; now we are finally beginning to get what we need; understanding of how deeply-bonded we can become to our canine (and other companion animal) friends.

In addition to inspiring stories about mutts, the book contains a wealth of reference information including websites and even an organization that "registers" mutts. I highly recommend this book both as a general reader and as a pet columnist for my local newspaper.

As soon as I opened the book, I couldn't put it down. The stories will make you laugh and cry. I can't tell you how many times I've re-read it - it's just that good. If there's a skeptic out there who thinks dogs have no feelings, check this book out - it'll prove you wrong

The title of this book truly says it all. These dogs are unforgettable. The best thing about this book is the memories it brought back to me of my childhood friend and mutt, Pokey. Since adulthood, I have always owned fullbred dogs, one rescued from a shelter, but still not the adorable mutt. After reading this book, I think of all of the love and devotion Pokey gave my family, and I am proud to say that she was a mutt. For those who own mutts, read the book and celebrate their uniqueness. For those who own pedigrees, read it anyway. It is full with stories of the love and joy only a dog can give. My only criticism is that it is too short. I could have read 100 more stories.

The odd focus of the authors makes this the least useful of the books I have on Havanese. The authors are somewhat obsessed with their point of view on health and the Havanese, and while I fully support breeding for health, their conclusions lack credible proof.

On the other hand, their are some useful bits in the book, so I can't say it is a total waste. As the number of books on this breed is limited, I suppose this book is worth reading.

One book I heartily recommend though is The Joyous Havanese, as I find it both more thoughtful and entertaining and repeatedly useful.The Joyous Havanese

Not only does this book have specific insights for the Havanese (including grooming and quirks) but it is very funny. That goes along with the character of the Havanese. Excellent book.

I loved this book. We had a poodle before and I thought I knew all about picky eaters, but I had never seen a dog as picky as my little Havanese. He would love one thing one day (like steak - NEVER dogfood !) and the next day not touch it. The same goes for hamburger, lamb, hotdogs etc. etc. I really worried about it until I read this book and it said that is typical of Havanese. We adore our dog. He is the most affectionate dog we have ever had.

This book is full of interesting and useful information about a wonderful breed of dog. The Havanese is definitely a breed apart and this book covers all of the points needed by an owner, or new owner, of this breed. The author gives excellent information on the temperment and quirks of this little ball of fluff. She also goes into a great deal on the health issues that can affect the Havanese. I would definitely reccomend this book to anyone interested in becoming the mommy or daddy of a Havanese!

This is a great book. The authors provide a plethora of really information that is useful for anyone thinking of getting a Havanese and for anyone who already has one. Great information. Even better, it is fun to read. The descriptions of Havanese idiosyncrasies are hilarious!!! I gave the book to my 87 year old mother to read just for fun and she loved it!!!! And she is not even a dog lover!!Highly recommend!!

What a great book! It's a fast read, and a fun read too! As a Cairn Terrier fan this was a must a read and it was well worth it. I'd recommend it to anyone that's a fan of both the movie and Cairn Terriers(any dog actually) everywhere.

As a child, my favorite movie was THE WIZARD OF OZ. For Chirstmas ,I received this wonderful book that is all about the famous "pet-actress" named "Toto". (Yes, Toto was actually a little female dog named Terry,not a male , as most people would think).

Anyhow, this book is all about the tiny Cairn Terrier "Toto" (Terry) and how she came about becoming one of the principal characters in the movie.

The photos are just amazing also. My favorite photos are the behind-the-scene photos showing Toto "acting" in the actual movie, just as the trainer was in the background giving Toto her directions. Sooo cute!

If you are a dog fan, or a Cairn Terrier fan, or a Wizard of Oz fan, you'll love this book.

I, Toto is a delightfully well written book by Willard Carroll about the life of Terry, a Cairn Terrier who became famous in movies. The book is based on a scrapbook Willard Carroll found that documented the life and movie career of this well trained dog; and the book is primarily set up to look just like a book typed on an old typewriter--written, of course, by the dog itself.

The book starts with the story of how Terry was born, adopted and eventually given up by her owners because of her troubles with housetraining; and we learn how Carl Spitz professionally trained dogs to perform in movies. Spitz, an excellent trainer who worked with many dogs, wound up training Terry professionally. Spitz used both kindness and discipline to train his dogs, including Terry, very well; his talents are obvious when we consider that Terry (aka Toto) appeared in at least fourteen major motion pictures including The Wizard Of Oz.

Carroll cleverly writes the memoirs of Terry, or Toto, in the first person as if the dog herself had written the book. This provides the reader with an extra slice of humor when Carroll writes about things that happened on the sets of pictures or in Carl Spitz's training camp for dogs. Carroll does an excellent job of getting readers to be charmed out of their trees by Terry who eventually becomes renamed Toto for the sake of her career. A movie star dog has to consider Hollywood politics, after all!

The book is filled with wonderful reproductions of ads for the movies Terry was in; and we see numerous publicity shots from movies including Bright Eyes with Shirley Temple and Terry as Rags the dog. Of course, we get plenty of stills from The Wizard Of Oz and there are very nicely done "hand written" asides to the reader that also appear to be written by Terry. The result is a charming look back at the life of Terry, the dog who became Toto and enjoyed great movie fame--and treats along the way!

Overall, classic movie buffs will enjoy this book; and people who love The Wizard Of Oz will appreciate this book very much since so little was known about Terry before Willard Carroll wrote this book. The book is well written and a real page turner; it grabs your attention and never lets it go.

Great job, Willard Carroll!

Since my all-time favorite dog star is Toto, this book was easy for me to love. However, once I began to read, I found it to be something extra special. I, Toto is a mood lifter as well as an interesting piece of Hollywood history. Beautifully written in the first person, I, Toto will captivate the heart and mind of any dog lover.

A must read for any Oz fan as well as dog lovers of all kinds. I never knew how many movies Toto was in, and the Oz trivia was really fun, too. It was very cleverly written from Toto's point of view. I actually laughed out loud at some parts. Don't pass by picture captions and comments on the sides of the pages. It's all worth reading! Not bad for a dog no one wanted!

This book's pictures are worth a thousand words.
Such a spendid biography of Maggie. Very characteristic of the basset hound.
A must-have for the Basset owner on any Christmas list.

Harley riders have a saying -- "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand."

Simply put, Bill Stanton has captured the love and wisdom gathered by sharing your world with one of God's true masterpieces.

This is a book so good, it made me angry I didn't have the idea myself!

Bill Stanton has truely captured the spirit of my dog in this wonderful pictorial of Maggie. What a great picture book, it never fails to make me smile. I highly recommend this book to anyone who owns or is considering a basset hound as a family member.

This book is a wonderful look at life from the Basset's perspective. The pictures are delightful and the text perfect. Can't say enough good things about Maggie's Way.

Ok, everytime I see this cover I smile. Genuinely, smile. Maybe it's because I own a bassett/beagle and it's all so familiar. This book is ADORABLE! The pictures are awesome, plentiful and Maggie-nificent. Definate coffee table book for the beagle or bassett lover. Great gift idea too. You cant look at this book and NOT smile. It's contagious.

Great book describes the origin of the breed into the United States and how they came to be the way they are today.

If you are looking to see how the pit bulls used to be then look no further. This book includes pedigrees from some of Colby's greatest dogs like Colby's Pincher. Definately a must have. Lots of pictures.

This is the best book I have read on APBT in a long time.
My earliest memory of reading about pitbulls was in a elementary school library and I was reading a book of dog breeds. As I was flipping through the pages of different breeds I came across a picture of a white pitbull tied the front of a car, the picture if I remember correectly was dated in the 1920's. Under the picture was a caption that read "An old time colby dog before a match". I was hooked as I read the history of the American Pitbull Terrier and the man named J.P. Colby that imported these great animals into the states.
The ONLY thing missing from this book is that picture that I remember so well.
Whether you are for or against the breed and it's rich history this book is still a great read.

This is a fascinating book, although I would prefer if dog fighting had never happened at all. But for someone who is interested in Pit Bulls, they definately ought to read this book (but first read Diane Jessup's The Working Pit Bull!). It will give them insight on why the Pit Bull acts the way he does, and for the most part well-bred Pit Bulls of today haven't changed much from the dogs in the oldest photos! Pit Bulls are truly the greatest dog ever, but they do take a higher degree of responsibility. If you are considering a Pit Bull, go to PBRC.com (Pit Bull Rescue Central) and adopt!! I urge you not to buy from a breeder, a rescued is always the best (my three Pit Bulls are all rescues, one from PBRC)! I DO NOT SUPPORT FIGHTING IN ANY WAY!!

This book has many great pictures of famous pit bulls from the early part of the last century. I enjoyed reading this book for some of the historical aspects of the breed, but felt that the focus on the breed was too narrow. I know that the book is about J.P. Colby and the dogs that he produced. But I would have liked the book to have had some more input about other bloodlines and how the Colby dogs compared to some of the other famous dogs from the other great breeders of that period and the present. A decent read for the pit bull enthusiast, but the book is more factual than enjoyable in the literal sense.

The book was recieved in fine condition took a little longer than I figured on to arrive. It has been informative filled with great Westy advice. I have delt with many breeds working for a veterinarian, and managing kennels, but the Westy is new to me. It is always good to get expert advice. Dee of NY

This book is an excellent resource to the westie fan. You will get something out of it whether you have had westies for years, or are just deciding on getting one. A lot of detail is covered that is easy to understand. Would recommend to anyone.

If you are serious about Westies, you absolutely MUST have this book. Faherty has a writing style that's humorous and informative, and she gives the nitty-gritty on the mysterious art of handstripping. No other resource out there gives this much detail. I've taken the plunge and am stripping my own Westie, and Faherty's comprehensive chapter on grooming has been a tremendous help. This book is really geared for Westie connoisseurs, who have an interest in showing their dogs. In addition to the grooming chapter, several sections are devoted to the art of showing your dog as well as breeding. This may be too dense a book for a general pet owner and the more general Westie books may be more appropriate. However, if you are looking for THE resource on Westies, buy this book!

Westies:From Head to Tail 2nd Edition is a most readible, comprehensive treatment of all topics of concern to both Westie breeders and neophytes to the breed. No serious Westie enthusiast should be without this attractive volume.

Every dog enthusiast, westie lover or not, should read this book, because even though it talks about westies, one can learn a lot about dogs in general. I have more than 15 years of experience in showing dogs and more than 12 years of professional grooming experience and I still learned a lot from this well written, very detailed and comprehensive book.

I bought this book for my brother, who loves dogs as much as I do. When he finished it, he sent it back, so I read it as well, and we both enjoyed it. This is a very sweet book which makes a great gift book for someone who loves dogs, someone who loves Japan and its history, and especially for someone who loves both. I would have liked to see Penguin go the extra mile for Martha Sherrill and spring for glossy pages for the many great photos in the book, but that would be my only criticism.

I had to leave it at the library because i wanted to leave it for my friend who i intended to send right down to check it out. It's about an eccentric in a culture not known for eccentrics. It's about his wife and family. His wife is a stoic and her relationship with her husband is like reading science fiction to a 21st century American. The dogs are great. Great. Please do not go out and buy an Akita though. This is a lot of dog. A whole lot of dog. They almost need a mountain.

This book is a great book for a Akita owner. The author gives you lots of insight into the Akita behavior. Being a Akita owner, I found the book enlightening and a joy to read. This book is a must for any Akita owner or anyone considering a Akita.

I don't own an Akita, but this book caught my eye because it was a different kind of story. The subjects of sexual discrimination, poverty, wartime in Japan, and the Morie's singlemindedness in raising dogs are explored. If you love Akitas, you'll love this book. If you're not a dog person, you'll like this book, but may not go ga-ga over it. I thought the writer jumped around a bit in telling the story, and could have been better with the continuity. But all in all, I recommend this interesting look at a life far different from ours in America.

I have read the other reviews written by Amazon readers and am so impressed with them. For my part, I agree with the others, and then some. I found that Morie and Kitako are elegant and honorable, much as their dogs were. As with any book one reads and thoroughly enjoys, I dreaded that the words would end and I took my time with every story. I found hardship, honesty, love, respect and great adventure within this book's pages. The children that Morie and Kitako raised are also an interesting bunch. Samarai Tiger is my favorite dog, bigger than life. I would like to meet Shiro and would have loved to know Hoku.

This is a book for all the pug lovers out there...I enjoyed all the pictures and stories about people just as obsessed with pugs as I am. Highly Recommended.

Pugs are a unique breed and if you like Pugs or know someone who does they will LOVE this book! It is gorgeous with many great pictures of Pugs all over New York. It doesn't have much information on the breed but that is not the point of it, its a small coffee table book with some lovely anecdotes about Pugs. I am away from home at uni so when I miss my Pug I flip through this book!
I definitely recommend it!

I purchased this book few weeks ago and it is already one of favorite pug books in my personal collection. I am a friend (instead of being called a master or an owner) of several pugs since I was about 8 years old. Now two of them are living with me. Pug is an amazing creature and I have been trying to make others understand why I feel what I feel about pugs. This book is a wonderful way to show others the amazing Pug world!

This book contains pics of pugs. Pugs are perfect. Need I say more??

Nice book about and for people who pamper their Pugs. Not intended to be a "useful training tool" (I don't know where the reviewer below got the impression that it was supposed to be..!) but just a cute fluffy book about a select group of upscale NYC pugs and their eccentric owners. Photos and more info of "Pug Hill" in Central Park would have been nice (but perhaps too common?). Makes a good mini-coffee table book or x-mas gift for your uppity Pug pals.

Seriously, if you love dogs, this is the cutest book ever! It really makes me miss the dog I grew up with but haven't seen in like, forever! And its such a great coffee table book because whenever I look at it it makes me feel so much better about everything even if I'm having like a really bad day! I think I'm going to get another one for my Mom for Christmas because she loves dogs too!

Dogfessions is my absolute favorite dog book of the year. It's a great book for all ages, a quick read and really captures every aspect of owning dogs. After visiting the website at www.dogfessions.com, I wish that more of the postcards had been included in the book! I just can't get enough. How about a dogfessions 2?

I LOVE this book! So heartwarming, adorable, silly and laugh out loud funny. Nikki Moustaki pulled off an amazing feat with this book in that she made me love dogs even more than I already do (which I genuinely did not think was possible!)

DOGFESSIONS is a must-read not only for those of us who feel living with dogs makes our life complete, but it is also an eye-opening adventure for anyone who has never experienced the joy of a canine best-friend. Life viewed through the eyes of a dog is life at its simplest and finest, and DOGFESSIONS reminds us to 'take time to smell the flowers" and all those other cliches that really do in fact explain the true meaning of life and love. Life without a dog...I just can't imagine that, and after looking at the soul-filled canine eyes in this great coffee-table book, DOGFESSIONS will touch your heart and make you realize how much greater life is thanks to you four-legged best friend!

i have long been a fan of the website - www.dogfessions.com - and am so excited to have a book of all the hilarious, thoughtful and sweet dogfessions. every time i open this book, it reminds me how wonderful dogs are and that it's their world, we just live in it. (and clean up after them)

This is a sequel to "The Tao of Pug," but in a completely different format. While the prequel dealt with Wilson's philosophy, this is a straight-up Christmas tale that is sure to engage people of all ages. Whether it's the heart-wrenching story of yearning for a home and love, or the adorable and witty accompanying pictures, this book is sure to become a Christmas classic in your house. It's also a great gift idea for anyone from toddlers to grandparents!

I have fallen in love with Wilson as portrayed by Nancy Levine. I think this is another great Wilson book. (If you haven't read the other 3, you must!) Great coffee table book, great gift, great to make you smile on a down day. Heart-warming tale of rescue from a puppy mill but light-hearted with a lot of humor in the photos and Wilson's editorials. Can't miss on this or any of Nancy Levine and Wilson's books!

Homer for the Holidays is a cute book that pug (and Taoism) lovers will enjoy. It injects humor and Taoist wisdom into the story of a puppy who escaped from the puppy mill and Wilson the Pug's effort to find him a home. The photos are adorable. It makes a great holiday gift.

FIRST OF ALL I HAVE 2 GORGEOUS PUGS AND LIVE IN AUSTRALIA. I FIRST READ THE TAO OF PUG AND LOVED IT. I HAD TO THEN BUY HOMER FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THE PHOTOS ARE THE BEST IN BOTH BOOKS AND WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH SO HARD. HOMER FOR THE HOLIDAYS IS A STORY OF HOMER A LOST PUG WHO IS TRYING TO FIND A HOME WITH THE HELP OF WILSON. IT IS MORE OF A STORY THAN THE TAO OF PUG WHICH IS FUNNY INSIGHTS INTO THE LIFE OF WILSON. IT HAS A GOOD THEME BEHIND IT OF CARING FOR ANIMALS OVER PROFITS AND I THINK IT PERFECTLY CATCHES THE PERSONALITY OF THESE LITTLE ANIMALS.

"Homer For The Holidays: The Further Adventures of Wilson the Pug" is a lovable book because of the lovable pugs within this magical story. As a pug lover, of course my face will soften and my spirits will rise at the sight of the pugs in the story, but non-pug adorers will still feel the joy when the read this delightful heartwarming story that can be enjoyed in and out of the holiday season. I recommend.