Book Description
Lots of people enjoy making or buying treats for their pets, but wouldn't it be wonderful to cook a real meal for the four-legged member of the household? Quirky yet practical, these cookbooks provide recipes that are nutritionally balanced and veterinarian-approved. They even include sections on "tandem" recipes - recipes for humans that, with slight modifications, can also be served to pets.
REAL FOOD FOR DOGS is written by Arden Moore, the first non-veterinarian to write the pet column for Prevention magazine.
Customer Reviews:
Great recipes.......2007-10-01
Good alternative meals for dogs, with ingredients that you already probably have in the fridge. Also has great treat ideas that I didn't have in another treat cookbook.
Fun book.......2007-09-26
This book has great dog treat ideas and a fun format. The recipes are unusual and very simple. I was disappointed that there weren't more recipes for everyday dog food, though. This book is more for special-occasion food.
Good beginner's book. Not for the long haul.......2007-09-18
I picked this up on a whim just after I adopted my dog. I've been feeding my cats a homemade diet using Feline Future for years now. This is a very cute book. A very fun book. But it is NOT a very healthy book. It advocates a lot of highly processed ingredients. Refined white rice and refined white bread. Corn meal. These are not good for your dog.
It says nothing about whole, fresh, organic ingredients. Vitamins. Nutrients.
If you're looking to get started, this book is a good one for beginners. Although some of the recipes are far too ingredient heavy.
NOT WHAT MY VET RECOMMENDS.......2007-07-13
I bought this book because I was scared to death to buy any more dog food from the stores after the poisoned stuff showed up from CHINA...which is a bad place to get ANY food from.
I showed it to my vet. He confirmed what I already felt after reading it...it is NOT a good book to feed your dog from on a regular basis. It is ok for an occasional cooked meal; but not for regular consumption. The recipes do not contain wholesome ingredients, and do contain salt and other things not good, and are too fattening. The treat section is good. I made some treats from the book and my dogs loved them. I made one of the meal recipes and only one of my dogs spit it on the floor...but she spits EVERYTHING on the floor if it isn't to her liking, and being a Shih-Tzu, NOTHING is to her liking,lol.
Anyway, it is an OK book for an occasional cooked meal treat or for making your own treats, but not healthy to give your dog on a regular basis....according to a Vet with degrees lining his walls.
A GREAT starter book for a beginning canine cook..........2007-07-09
I bought about four dog food cookbooks at once, after the big dog food scandal, and this was the simplest and the most clearly understood. It made cooking for the dog fun, which is important, since you will be doing this a LOT! I've learned about all the various things they can and cannot eat from the internet, and I've labored through the charts and graphs in other books, but when the food bowl is empty and I'm getting the *big stare*, this book is where I run to for inspiration. Check in the freezer section of your meat department for ground turkey. Also, throwing a pound or two of hamburger in the slow cooker with a bag of frozen vegetables and some brown rice is a definite time saver, plus much safer than some nasty ground who-know's-what from an unregulated factory. I've been getting complaints that the dog food smells better than the people food. Cooking for your pets will be one of those life-time long learning experiences, but this is a great place to start.
P.S. My dog is healthier now, and knows I love him, as well...
Amazon.com
Fans of the National Geographic Channel's The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan will be grateful for Cesar's Way, an accessible guide to help new and current dog owners better understand the needs of their beloved pets. If you are not yet a fan, try to catch a couple of episodes of the remarkable show--you will be amazed, impressed, and motivated to create a healthier, more fulfilling relationship with your dog. In Cesar's Way, Cesar explains that dogs are not complicated, and despite what various owners think--not human. They rely on three key elements in their lives: exercise, discipline, and affection (in that order). "Problem dogs" can be attributed to "problem owners," owners who don't understand and misinterpret their dog's behavior. Cesar's Way is really a training program for dog owners, with chapters devoted to understanding the "power of the pack," taking responsibility for "how we screw up our dogs," and learning how to manage aggression. Cesar's book (a must-have for new and old dog owners) moves beyond basic obedience school techniques, and teaches owners how to change unwanted behavior by better understanding their "best friends." --Daphne Durham
Exclusive Video from Cesar Millan
Watch the video
|
Watch a Clip from the Show
Watch Cesar in action in this clip of The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, courtesy of the National Geographic Channel. Or, tune in on Friday nights, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Cesar Millan's Top 5 Tips for Going to the Dog Park
1. Make sure your dog is spayed or neutered, has all her shots, and is in good health. Under no circumstances should you bring a sick dog to a dog park!
2. Do not use the dog park as a substitute for the walk! If you drive to the park, leave your car a block away and take your dog on a vigorous walk of at least thirty-five minutes to drain some of her energy. Never take an over-excited dog to the park.
3. While at the park, don't "punch out" on your calm-assertive leadership. Be aware of your dog at all times, and take responsibility for her behavior.
4. A calm-submissive dog will not attract another dog's aggression--but an excited dog, a weak, timid dog, or an aggressive dog can become a fight-magnet.
5. Know your dog! If your dog has poor social skills, is overly fearful or is dog aggressive, or if you have not yet established your calm-assertive leadership with your dog, find a more controlled way to introduce her to the company of other dogs, such as "play dates" with one or two other dog owners.
Book Description
“I rehabilitate dogs. I train people.” —Cesar Millan
There are at least 68 million dogs in America, and their owners lavish billions of dollars on them every year. So why do so many pampered pets have problems? In this definitive and accessible guide, Cesar Millan—star of National Geographic Channel’s hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan—reveals what dogs truly need to live a happy and fulfilled life.
From his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show to his roster of celebrity clients to his reality television series, Cesar Millan is America’s most sought-after dog-behavior expert. But Cesar is not a trainer in the traditional sense—his expertise lies in his unique ability to comprehend dog psychology. Tracing his own amazing journey from a clay-walled farm in Mexico to the celebrity palaces of Los Angeles, Cesar recounts how he learned what makes dogs tick. In Cesar’s Way, he shares this wisdom, laying the groundwork for you to have stronger, more satisfying relationships with your canine companions.
Cesar’s formula for a contented and balanced dog seems impossibly simple: exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order. Taking readers through the basics of dog psychology and behavior, Cesar shares the inside details of some of his most fascinating cases, using them to illustrate how common behavior issues develop and, more important, how they can be corrected.
Whether you’re having issues with your dog or just want to make a good bond even stronger, this book will give you a deeper appreciation of how your dog sees the world, and it will help make your relationship with your beloved pet a richer and more rewarding one.
Learn what goes on inside your dog’s mind and develop a positive, fulfilling relationship with your best friend
In Cesar’s Way, Cesar Millan—nationally recognized dog expert and star of National Geographic Channel’s hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan—helps you see the world through the eyes of your dog so you can finally eliminate problem behaviors. You’ll learn:
• What your dog really needs may not be what you’re giving him
• Why a dog’s natural pack instincts are the key to your happy relationship
• How to relate to your dog on a canine level
• There are no “problem breeds,” just problem owners
• Why every dog needs a job
• How to choose a dog who’s right for you and your family
• The difference between discipline and punishment
• And much more!
Filled with fascinating anecdotes about Cesar’s longtime clients, and including forewords by the president of the International Association of Canine Professionals and Jada Pinkett Smith, this is the only book you’ll need to forge a new, more rewarding connection with your four-legged companion.
Also available as a Random House AudioBook
Customer Reviews:
great book.......2007-10-07
Very interesting book. I recommend it. It is more in depth than the television show and he also talks about his life in it.
Cesar shows how naive most pet owners are.......2007-10-06
From the sympathetic crocodile lover neighborhood in Florida that got a gardener killed because they passed laws against extracting crocs from their neighborhood to the San Francisco mother that got her child killed by her pitbull, Cesar shows the naive and stupid world of pet lovers and owners that these beasts are still amoral creatures, not moral understanding humans. As Cesar said in the Oprah Winfrey show, the biggest mistake most pet owners make is to humanize their animals and that's what gets them in trouble. According to Cesar, it's not that animals are better or lesser than humans, it's just they are not human.
I love Cesar!.......2007-10-04
This book is an easy read. It gives a fair amount of background as to how Cesar Millan got his start as well as the method behind his madness. Anecdotes and straight-forward advice give the reader some general ideas as to how they might curb certain pet behavior issues. You can agree or disagree with Cesar's training methods, but you have to admit the guy genuinely cares about AND has a way with both dogs and people.
vague.......2007-10-02
Though his basic ideas make sense, the book fails in that it never gets around to specifics. For example, Cesar tells you never to let your dog go in the door first. OK, fine...but how? Never let your dog walk ahead of you on the leash. OK, fine...but how? What can you actually do to stop the dog from going ahead of you? If you are like me, and are having problems with a dog that is physically stronger than you are, this book will not be very helpful. After reading this book I still have no idea how I'm supposed to hold back an exuberant and powerful animal so I can walk ahead of her.
Cesar Milan- the dog Magician.......2007-09-26
Cesar Millan, is THE DOG MAGICIAN!! He has a rare, very gifted way of just knowing what is 'inside a dogs head'! Most of us humans do not have this. The book is excellent and will help many of us dog lovers to understand our wee dog friends better and give them a better life!! By Sheena from Scotland.
Average customer rating:
- A must for any little girl!
- Printed in China XXXXXX
- A very "posh" book!
- MISSTELV
- "I LOVE this book!"
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Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (Fancy Nancy)
Jane O'connor
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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| Literature
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| Ages 4-8
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| Ages 4-8
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ASIN: 0060542136
Release Date: 2007-03-27 |
Book Description
Fancy Nancy is back! And when her family decides to get a dog, she's certain she can be fancier than ever. After all, a papillon—a small, delicate, fluffy dog—is the ultimate accessory. But her family wants a large, plain dog. How unglamorous!
With Fancy Nancy's trademark humor and warmth, Nancy discovers that real fanciness does not depend simply on appearance but more on a genuine joie de vivre, which is a fancy phrase for having lots of fun.
Customer Reviews:
A must for any little girl!.......2007-10-02
I got my daughter her first Fancy Nancy book when she turned 2, and now everything that is girly she calls fancy Nancy, shoes, purses and anything sparkley! Great to read for bedtime too. I can't wait for the next books to come out!
Printed in China XXXXXX .......2007-09-26
I Can't understand why the first book was printed in the USA and this one is printed in CHINA! Is there lead in this book like many of their toys??
I think Amazon should list this if this is the case
A very "posh" book!.......2007-09-26
I purchased Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy to go along with the original Fancy Nancy book for my 5 year old granddaughter . . . I had them sent directly to her house while I knew I would be visiting so we could open them together and start reading. My granddaughter loved them and I had to read them several times during our first sitting! The story is very cute and age-appropriate, and the illustrations and colors are perfect for little girls her age. I wish these books had been out when my girls were little! I love the word "posh" because I was born in the country where it's most popularly used.
MISSTELV.......2007-09-25
I bought this for my 4 year old grandaughter. She loves to dress up and play she is Fancy Nancy. The book is simply written and wonderful illustrated. I highly recommend it!
"I LOVE this book!" .......2007-09-15
That title is the opinion of my six-year-old granddaughter. She and her mom re-read it every night.
Book Description
Pitcairn Over 400,000 copies of this treasured classic have been sold since its original publication more than 20 years ago The book that is the definitive guide to a natural lifestyle for dogs and cats is now completely updated and revisedfor the first time in 9 years. Writing with the warmth and compassion that have won them a national following, veterinarian Richard H. Pitcairn and his wife Susan Hubble Pitcairn, noted specialists in chemical-free nutrition and natural healing for pets, show dog and cat owners how to provide the very best in companionship and lifelong care. They now cover environmental matters, including pollutants both inside the home and out, as well as recent hot-button topics, such as Mad Cow disease, Lyme disease, and the West Nile virus. Theyve updated dozens of recipes for delicious and healthful pet food and treats. With a guide to handling emergencies and an in-depth Quick Reference section, they give specific instructions for preventing, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of animal diseases and disorderswith special attention to homeopathic, herbal, and nutritional remedies.
Customer Reviews:
Dr Pitcairns natural health.......2007-10-05
This is absolutely a must book. Giving dogs prescribed medications often involves side affects which shorten their lives. Being able to find out about natural products that can help them is great. It can not only lenghten their lives, but also cost less in the long run. I highly reccomend this book to all dog owners.
great resource.......2007-10-01
this is a great resource book. It has lots of background info on dog foods and so much info on great supplements. It could be made easier with breakdowns or charts to guide you for quicker reference, because I find myself having to flip back and forth a lot. There is definitely lots of info and it has to be read more than once. I think the recipes are sound and easy to make. Although I can't cook for my dogs all the time, at least I can do it whenever they are ill or recovering from some ailment or surgery to ensure that their bodies are strong when they need to heal. This book makes it manageable to do that.
A great resource.......2007-09-23
This book is a great resource for pet owners. I find the health-care section of the book very useful. I have modified the recipes to accomodate the inherited allery issues my dog has. Modifying the recipes is a very involved process as the substituion of products recommended and appropriate amounts required for balanced nutrition can be a hassle to figure out, especially, if one's pet was allergic to multiple products.
This is a great book for pet owners who want to try homemade cooking and alternative medicine for their pets.
Excellent overall but diet not suited for all .......2007-09-01
There is more than one way to feed a healthy, non-commercial diet. I recommend buying both Dr. Pitcairn's book and Andi Brown's book, The Whole Piet Diet, to see which diet your animal(s) prefer. I have three pets, two 13-yr. old cats and one 1 1/2-yr old terrier. The cats had been eating holistic Blue Buffalo dry food along with some canned Friskies. The terrier was eating holistic Blue Buffalo dry food along with some raw meat, veggies, yogurt, etc. I recently learned that dry food is difficult for pets to digest and is terribly drying and causes digestive problems like vomiting, dandruff, etc. The Friskies is just plain junk food so I decided that I was going to feed healthier fare and bought both books (Dr. Pitcairn wrote the foreword in Andi's book). While Dr. Pitcairn promotes primarily raw meats with cooked whole grains, Andi Brown promotes cooked stews (grains included for dogs only, not cats). After experimentation, I found that my dog and one cat prefer Dr. Pitcairn's recipes and my second cat prefers Spot's Stew (from Andi's book). When I made the switch, I only started feeding the recipes without supplements to the cats. It took 15 days for them to eat consistently, then I started adding the supplements in small amounts and gradually built up to the daily recommended amounts. Tip: my cats preferred Andi's supplements over Dr. Pitcairn's (especially the essential fatty acids in the form of oils). All of my pets are doing very well on the diets but only because I was persistent in finding what worked best for each pet. I will never feed dry food again!
It's a shame..........2007-08-29
...that an obviously experienced and well researched vetrinarian would recommend a diet that includes grain as one of the staples of the diet. Anyone who does even a minor amount of research about the special diet needs of a dog would easily find that dogs do not possess the proper enzymes to break down grain properly and can lead to either minor or serious allergic reactions. Dogs should not eat any type of grain at any time. Anyone who reads this book, do not take it as gospel. Please do more in-depth research before you make any solid decisions on your dogs diet.
Besides that fault, there are only a few recipies included in this rather long book. I heard very good things about this book before I bought it and was thoroughly disappointed after I read it. Its hard to give this book anything else but a negative review.
Book Description
The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the
wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life
John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, "Don't hesitate to use these."
And yet Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.
Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.
Download Description
"
The heartwarming and unforgettable
story of a family in the making and the
wondrously neurotic dog who taught
them what really matters in life
John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, ""Don't hesitate to use these.""
And yet Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.
Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.
"
Customer Reviews:
An incredible tale.......2007-10-05
This book was wonderful - ignore the one star reviews, seriously. It was never intended to be an intellectual story with an incredible plot (or twist), and it certainly wasn't meant to make one feel angry at the author as you read it.
If you can open your mind (and heart), and read this book as a simple tale of such a basic relationship between dog and owner(s), you will be rewarded with such a funny, warm, heart-wrenching, inspiring tale that could well make you a better person.
I ENJOYED the moments of self-indulgence - where we got an understanding about who John was and what was going on in HIS life. I think the book needed that to avoid being entirely about a dog and his experiences - let's face it, no matter how great Marley is (or isn't), he wasn't going to warrant 200 pages of text (or was he?). It's this discussion of family, of growing up, of happiness and anger, that draws so many parallels between the life of a human being, and the life of a dog. It is summarized so brilliantly towards the end of the book and, as you wipe away the tears, you can only feel an incredible sense of optimism and hope well after you turn the last page.
Predictable ending? Well duh. You do know where it's going from the moment you purchase the book - from the moment you purchase a DOG. But HOW Grogan gets there is brilliantly done. His writing style is well-paced, conversational, yet entirely descriptive. I felt the warmth of the South Florida sun as I watched Marley play in the ocean, and I felt everyones shivers in the grey, cold winter in PA. Ultimately, I felt the utter sadness that an entirely family felt, and the power of reminiscence & focusing on those special moments in life.
Here's to you, Grogan. Your book touched my heart; and to Marley - your existence has touched millions of people around the world without you even knowing it. If that's not a successful book, I'm not quite sure what is.
How fast the time goes with Crazy Pups.......2007-10-03
I just finished Marley & Me.
The Best read I have had in a long time. It was like watching a GREAT movie, only better. I have loved and lost 1 best friend recently and the other best friend is now over 10 years....this book makes you think...remember.... and thank the heavens for allowing them to be here with us for their period of time reminding us that we are "only Human".
I loved the book and have 6 people in line to borrow it now that I am finished.
If you like to laugh, love dogs and appreciate terrific writing, buy or borrow this book!
A+ Marley will be with me forever.
Beautiful! Touching!.......2007-09-29
John Grogan brings a great deal of heart to Marley's story. It reminds one of how precious pets can be and how these little ones share so much with us as life goes on.
It's a beautiful, touching, and vivid story, and you'll just fall in love with it.
Thanks, John, for sharing such a great tale :-)
a wonderful story.......2007-09-25
You will laugh and cry. A great story for anyone who has ever loved a dog.
Marley & Me.......2007-09-23
A very Entertaining book, great read. This is a must book for all those that have a dog as a pet or all dog lovers, especially those of us that have had labs in our life. A laugh out loud cry out loud story.
Book Description
Why do dogs speak so profoundly to our inner lives? When Mark Doty decides to adopt a dog as a companion for his dying partner, he finds himself bringing home Beau, a large golden retriever, malnourished and in need of loving care. Beau joins Arden, the black retriever, to complete their family. As Beau bounds back into life, the two dogs become Mark Doty's intimate companions, his solace, and eventually the very life force that keeps him from abandoning all hope during the darkest days. Their tenacity, loyalty, and love inspire him when all else fails.
Dog Years is a remarkable work: a moving and intimate memoir interwoven with profound reflections on our feelings for animals and the lessons they teach us about life, love, and loss. Mark Doty writes about the heart-wrenching vulnerability of dogs, the positive energy and joy they bring, and the gift they bear us of unconditional love. A book unlike any other, Mark Doty's surprising meditation is radiantly unsentimental yet profoundly affecting. Beautifully written, Dog Years is a classic in the making.
Customer Reviews:
Truly beautiful book.......2007-10-02
This book moved me to write a review here, my first. I can hardly express how touching this book was for me. Sad in nature but told with such exquisite elegance it took me months to finish because though I enjoyed it throughly, reading it was an intense emotional experience, not unlike grieving. There are single lines and sections in this book that when thinking of them later, tears snap to my eyes. I am a true dog lover who can relate to the deep devotion and attachment to our dogs as expressed in this book. Mark has used language beautifully to tell his story.
To My Dog Loving Friends: .......2007-09-24
(I read this book and was touched by it enough to write an email to my Dog Loving Friends) Here is what I wrote:
Dear Dog Loving Friends,
Over the past few days I read a book that I checked out of the library called Dog Years written by Mark Doty.
The book moved me so much that I intend to buy a copy for me to keep as my own. (And I never ever buy books to own.)
I recommend it to you (if you will endure the more poetic parts of it and seemingly random diversionary discussions), and I recommend it to Connie's hairdresser given that he owns 14 dogs. Susanne, if you can pass this on to Connie or make mention, I would be grateful.
The book is told in the first person. It is a memoir of sorts - reminds me of a scrapbook in a way - with lots of "photos" (the photos being stories) of dogs, but other "momentoes" stuck in the book such as random musings on poetry and sidebar discussions on such non-dog related topics as Judy Garland, the difference between dispair and depression....and boy does he nail it when he decribes depression. I am not quoting directly but something like: "Depression moves in heavily and sits in the sink as the dirty dishes from yesterday" ....
As strange as all the pieces were, it comes together quite lovely. Like a meal or a recipe in which I would have NEVER thought to combine all those ingredients, but it worked beautifully.
This book all made sense to me (except for some of the poetry..ok, ok, so I admidt I am missing the Emily Dickenson gene along with the cooking gene, but I will go back and carefully re-read some of the poetry.) I especially liked the poem on the wind. See that is the great thing about this book. I just finished it and already I am eager to read it again.
The book starts slowly and gets much better after a few chapters. I was momentarily confused between a dog named Wally and a man named Wally, and I was mildly irritated that the author used the word "fierce" or a very similar word 3 times on the same page. jeeze, picky, picky.
But then on the other hand, I rather LIKED this "flaw" because I felt like he was not a honed pretentious writer following all those rules we learn in English and writing classes, but instead he was really writing from the heart. And I myself, of course, cannot even write one smidgen as well as Doty.
Doty, an artistic insightful angst ridden gay man, recollects his past and how important his dogs were to him. He brilliantly perceptively and precisely captures what I think we see and love in our dogs. I was constantly saying "YES, YES, YES!" outloud to myself while reading. I wept copiously at the end.
The manner in which he desribes his dogs "resonates" with me (I hate to use that overused word, but it really fits here).
Because Doty is a poet, he sees his dogs through poetic artistic eyes.
The book will make you laugh and cry. I hope you take time to read it. See the reader reviews in the link below. (and I copied in the link to Amazon for my friends to click to).
- later -
Absolutely wonderful.......2007-08-16
This book is eloquent, poetic, deep, funny and thoughtful. I have never felt so connected to other 'dog people'. So many things Mark describes about his wonderful friends I found myself saying 'yes, Pukka does that too!' 'I know exactly what he means!'. 'I know exactly how he feels!'
In addition to capturing the bond between human and pet dog, the book is also punctuated by real life events that have effected us all, like 9/11, and the death of a partner. Overall, the story is well written, (although it did go back and forth a bit in time), heart warming, heart wrenching, real, thought provoking and also explores issues of self worth, depression, relationships. And although the story revolves around a gay couple, it transends gender and sexual orientation as anyone can relate to their relationship with each other and with their dogs.
I cried too much at the end though! (Well done)
Unconditional non-judgemental love.......2007-07-07
A dog offers unconditional love and companionship throughout it's life. The unwavering devotion of the golden retriever and labrador is beautifully portrayed in this novel. These recollections are heartfelt and touching. I could not put this book down.
I am the author of-Dreams in August: Life, Love, and Cerebellar Ataxia
Far Exceeded Expectations.......2007-07-03
I picked up Dog Years for my husband, as he liked the Jon Katz books. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. I expected a somewhat sentimental eulogy but this memoir is so much more -- it is really a kind of treatise on the inevitability -- and necessity -- of pain in any fully lived life. Further, it is about the limits of language to express experience, and the capabilities that dogs and humans have to communicate without words. Doty moves back and forth between the mundane and the sublime, from poop to poetry (he cites Emily Dickinson's poetry as language that tries to capture the eneffable, the unsayable). Of course he explores his own sadness but he lets us know early on that he had always had a melancholy bent. An important dimension of this memoir is his own journey down and through depression and his recognition that he was in need of help. I was reminded of other writers as I read -- John Updike, Andrew Solomon, Jane Kenyon and Donald Hall. Much more these than -- Jon Katz. Beautifully written, deeply affecting: a book that is an undeniable pleasure to read even while you're close to tears.
Book Description
Canine Cooking That Will Have Them Begging for More
Which do you think your dog would prefer: dry kibble, mushy canned food, or a nice, nutritionally sound helping of Tuna Togetherness? Not surprisingly, most dogs would be happier -- and healthier -- with the latter, considering the dangerous preservatives, questionable ingredients, and mysterious flavoring agents often used in commercial dog food.
That's why Rudy Edalati cooked up
Barker's Grub, a cookbook filled with wholesome, easy-to-prepare meals for your mutt or your pedigreed pooch -- and you'll find all the necessary ingredients in your fridge or at the local supermarket. She includes not only fun everyday meals, but healing meals for specific health problems, as well as special diets for different life stages, such as:
* Lo Mein Barking Style: the doggie alternative for Chinese takeout
* Beef Puppy Food: just the right mix for a growing dog
* Davie's Juicy Jiggly-Wiggly Anemia Diet: a blood-boosting dish of liver, rice, and spinach
Barker's Grub is informative (there's lots of canine nutritional information to chew on), inspiring, and just plain fun. The recipes are simple and quick -- after all, it's not just about health and longevity, it's about making the most of the time you and your dog spend together.
Customer Reviews:
excellent book.......2007-09-09
this is a great book, it gives you excellent supplements, and nutritional information. i recommended it to my vet. thanks.
Great book.......2007-08-27
Easy to read, all recipes very "do-able", for a non- gourmet chef, but a pet owner who wishes to feed their pets good food.
Not as good as others about the same subject.......2007-06-09
I guess I wanted my scientific and nutritional knowledge in a dog recipe book. This book is just too joky, with no real facts to back anything up.
Why should my dogs eat better than I do?.......2007-06-01
Seriously, this book gives quite a bit of nutritional information, but it seems that the recipes are overly done for the person who just wants to give his dogs an alternative to commercial food. I find the thought of cooking a rather complicated recipe each day (or week) to be daunting. Also, though my dogs are usually anything but finicky, they have turned up their noses at several of the offerings.
Barkers Grub book made my dog happy!.......2007-05-28
I was amazed to learn that commercial pet food products are a recent happening in this country which came about in the early 1900's. Prior to that, people fed their dogs what they ate. Due to the latest scare of pet food recall I tried the recommendations found in this book, starting my dog on the road to better nutrition. At first I was skeptical but now I can't say enough about this book. My dog's coat is shiny, her stools are small, she looks great. Best of all she eats EVERYTHING I put in front of her. With commercial dog foods, there was always something left in her bowl. She doesn't have any flatuence which is amazing. I thought she wouldn't eat the vegetables that were recommended, but VOILA!, she eats the vegetables, too. I did have some rough periods where during the transition from commercial pet food to natural food, there were bouts of diarrhea which the book said would happen. But I pressed on and now that the transition period is over, the diarrhea has stopped completely. Yes, the task at first is daunting trying to cook for your pet but anything new that we start out with does take some effort but it is well worth it. I cook for an entire month then store the food in plastic containers in the freezer. I take them out as needed. I wish I knew about this book when I got her as a puppy. I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about their pets! Good health and long life to our pets!
Book Description
We are an animal-loving population, with consumers in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom spending top dollar on their pets. This trend indicates that pet owners want the best for their dogs and cats. Scientific research shows that home-cooked meals are better for your pets -- especially dogs and cats -- than store-brand food. Feeding pets all-natural homemade food and treats not only provides nutritional and health benefits, but allows pet owners to meet their pet's taste preferences and special needs, and gives them the opportunity to nurture their dog or cat as they would any other member of the family.
The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs is full of information on nutrition for your pet and dozens of stories and recipes from real animal lovers and pet owners that give an intimate, personal voice to the book.
Customer Reviews:
Dog Food.......2007-09-20
This book is not worth buying. You could do as well by just cooking anything yourself and giving it to your dog. This has no special recipes that are dog specific and evaluated for their nutritional content. (which is what I expected)
The good food cook book for dogs.......2007-09-17
I would not buy this item if I had saw it first. Not what I was looking for.
My frenchie gives it a big "paw up!".......2007-09-04
My frenchie puppy loves the Chicken n' Rice stew mixed with a little kibble. He's growing like crazy. I can't wait until his first birthday to make the doggie cake!
Good, but needs further research and adjusting.......2007-07-17
This book is good, but by no means the perfect book of recipes. I have had it for probably 6 months now and did further research before using the recipes in the book. A lot of the "stew" recipes call for pasta (which we all know is a simple carb, not found in nature) and only a small amount of meat compared to the rest of the ingredients. What I've done is adjust the recipes I choose to use by upping the meat amount by 3-4 times and eliminating all pasta from the recipes. I include all the veggies/legumes/brown rice as suggested as these add essential vitamins/minerals/antioxidents. I also feed this as my dog's PRIMARY diet, without the kibble that the book suggests. For breakfast, my dog (16lb bichon frise) receives 1/2 c. of stew and for dinner he receives 1/2 c. of stew plus 1/2tsp a powdered dog vitamin supplement that I mix in. He loves it and is healthy by all accounts!
Bad Recipe.......2007-07-13
I have a recipe that was printed in Woman's Day with Donna's recipe for Oatmeal Apple Cookies for dogs. It is horrible to make. Dryer than a bone(no pun intended) to roll out; the dough would not stick together. They also did not take but 18 minutes to bake and not her 30-35 minutes.
I followed the directions and know how to bake so I don't know what was so wrong. I have tried to find her through search and there is nowhere to contact her.
The recipe needed more oil and more water to make the dough pliable. Really, to be able to just roll out. At least my dog like them but I will never make then again!
Book Description
This book will help pet-lovers enable their dogs and cats to enjoy an ideal quality of life though a species appropriate diet of raw, natural foods.
Customer Reviews:
DANGEROUS!.......2007-08-06
I agree 100% with feeding dogs and cats all natural, whole food diets and am very open-minded, always looking to learn new things about how to feed my crew. My endless research and quest for knowledge led me to this book and, after reading it, left me shaking my head in disbelief, fearing for the safety of the dogs who will be fed this diet by well-intentioned guardians.
First of all, dogs are NOT wolves - they are distant decendents thereof, and there's a big difference. You don't have to look far at all to find many tragic, heart-wrenching incidences of dogs dying after eating raw bones or getting sick from raw meat. The idea that dogs can not get sick from bacteria is ridiculous, and the assertion that food loses its nutritional value when cooked is false. Foods do not have to be raw to be nutritious!
My husband and I rescue dogs, and thereby have the opportunity to experience the joys and trials of helping sick, abused and elderly dogs heal on a regular basis. We currently care for a beagle/rottweiler mix with terrible allergy issues, and after much research and trial, we found that when he is fed an all natural diet of meat, fish, veggies, essential oils, the necessary nutritional supplements, Prozyme, a little fruit and a little plain nonfat yogurt, he is at his optimum condition. In fact, all of our dogs eat this diet in rotation with Wellness and Innova and are all gleaming, energetic pictures of magnificent health who never get fleas (and get no chemical flea treatments) - even our oldest seniors and sickest abuse survivors. No dangerous, questionable bones or raw meat required.
Every dog is different and has different needs, just as people do, so no food plan will ever be the one-size-fits-all 'right' way to do things, and anyone who says it is is full of themselves. Variety is the key to getting all the nutrients needed, just as it is for us. If dogs can enjoy optimum health without the use of risky items such as bones and uncooked meat, why use them? This book offers very little information and absolutely no evidence that the benefit of this diet is worth the potentially devastating risks.
good place to start.......2007-06-10
Having been encouraged for over 10 years to try a "natural" diet for my dogs, I finally succumbed to the pressure, and read this little book before beginning the raw regimen.
I must say, that while it is somewhat more expensive and time consuming, my dogs have never looked better. The diet requires a commitment on the part of the owner, and a little planning when traveling. However, my dogs and I have traveled across the country with no issues.
My Corgis (age 5 months to 9 years) have been on the diet since being having been weaned, and have never had to have their teeth cleaned, show no signs of skin problems, have gorgeous coats, have no "doggy" breath or body odor.
Suffice it to say that I am convinced, and will not go back to conventional processed food for them.
If highly processed food is not good for ME, how can it be good for them???
don't believe everything that you read.......2007-06-01
I picked up this book at a natural food store thinking it would be a good source of information to improve my pets' health. The book contained very little information, it was very one-sided only giving (non-referenced/non-published) success stories and not mentioning any of the many illnesses and deaths that the raw food diet has caused in many peoples beloved pets.
The book sounded good to me and I was considering giving my pets some raw bones as the book suggested, but I decided to do a little internet searching and to my horror found the stories of many peoples whose pets had died after only being on this diet for a few days. I'm so glad that I don't believe everything I read - it may have saved my pets lives.
Easy to follow, good info.......2007-05-31
I was a vet tech for a holistic vet a few years ago and she recommended this book to every client.
I followed it to make food for my own dog and cat and never had a problem. They loved it! I think the best thing about this diet is they produce less waste, A LOT less; it's amazing.
I whole-heartily recommend it to anyone with dogs and/or cats!
Not enough hands on information........2007-05-21
The book was not what I expected. A lot of redundant information on nutrients and bioavailability, a lot of lists, and a whole appendix on references and resources. The list of three diets by weight, a ten pound, fifty pound, and a hundred pound animal was not very useful. My dog is seventy pounds. I was looking for something much more basic in the how to and where to get it. I wanted to know more about chicken necks and turkey necks and not the vitamin or nutrient components of them. The large number of antidotal stores running for many pages may have been interesting if your pet had that specific problem but they are not definitive as to cause and effect or anything else. I wasted my money.
Amazon.com
Mark Haddon's bitterly funny debut novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is a murder mystery of sorts--one told by an autistic version of Adrian Mole. Fifteen-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone is mathematically gifted and socially hopeless, raised in a working-class home by parents who can barely cope with their child's quirks. He takes everything that he sees (or is told) at face value, and is unable to sort out the strange behavior of his elders and peers.
Late one night, Christopher comes across his neighbor's poodle, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork. Wellington's owner finds him cradling her dead dog in his arms, and has him arrested. After spending a night in jail, Christopher resolves--against the objection of his father and neighbors--to discover just who has murdered Wellington. He is encouraged by Siobhan, a social worker at his school, to write a book about his investigations, and the result--quirkily illustrated, with each chapter given its own prime number--is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Haddon's novel is a startling performance. This is the sort of book that could turn condescending, or exploitative, or overly sentimental, or grossly tasteless very easily, but Haddon navigates those dangers with a sureness of touch that is extremely rare among first-time novelists. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is original, clever, and genuinely moving: this one is a must-read. --Jack Illingworth, Amazon.ca
Book Description
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.
This improbable story of Christopher’s quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.
Download Description
Narrated by a fifteen-year-old autistic savant obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, this dazzling novel weaves together an old-fashioned mystery, a contemporary coming-of-age story, and a fascinating excursion into a mind incapable of processing emotions.
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order, and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher's carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor's dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.
Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents' marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher's mind.
And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon's choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one of the freshest debuts in years: a comedy, a heartbreaker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.
"Mark Haddon's portrayal of an emotionally dissociated mind is a superb achievement. He is a wise and bleakly funny writer with rare gifts of empathy."
IAN McEWAN, AUTHOR OF
ATONEMENT AND AMSTERDAM
"I have never read anything quite like Mark Haddon's funny and agonizingly honest book, or encountered a narrator more vivid and memorable. I advise you to buy two copies; you won't want to lend yours out."
ARTHUR GOLDEN, AUTHOR OF
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
"The Curious Incident brims with imagination, empathy, and vision -- plus it's a lot of fun to read."
MYLA GOLDBERG, AUTHOR OF
BEE SEASON
Customer Reviews:
Light read.......2007-10-10
Light, pretty easy ready. Mark does a great job of narrating from an autistic teen's POV. However, that was about it for me. Didn't get too wrapped up in the actual story line, I just enjoyed the frame of reference.
Awesome book!.......2007-10-09
Mark Haddon is skilled at narrating from the point of view of Christopher, an autistic boy. The story of Christopher's investigation weaves in math and numbers. Personally, I love math, and I finished this book in 2 days during a busy weekend! This book is great for all readers: light and amusing.
How the mind works.......2007-10-07
"It was 7 minutes after midnight." Every detail matters in the solution of the mystery of the neighbor's murdered dog, which is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. That's partly because the detective on the case is Christopher John Francis Boone, a 15-year-old boy with autism, a penchant for numbers, a genius for math, and a determination to solve the mystery and write a book.
Clues abound, but Christopher's strictly literal view of the world prevents him from seeing or understanding them, even as he records them. In his mind, metaphors are "lies," and phrases like "raining cats and dogs" and "you'll catch your death from cold" are incomprehensible nonsense. As the story behind Wellington's death unfolds, Haddon masterfully gives the reader the clues that escape Christopher while allowing him to pursue the more logical details he does understand and to get help with the more subtle ones.
Along the way, Christopher offers insight into the autistic mind and people's reaction to it. While he cannot read emotions or pick up on verbal cues and body language (unless they are explained to him; for example, he knows that a raised voice may indicate anger), his mind processes details the average person would miss. While we might see cows and some flowers in a field, he knows how many cows, he can draw each of their individual patterns, and he can name the species of flowers.
Just as Christopher doesn't understand why everyone won't or can't notice these important details, the people he encounters, while quickly picking up that he is different, can't figure out how and adjust themselves. His working-class father tries to, but his understanding of his son seems limited to an intellectual rather than an emotional one. He knows that Christopher hates to be touched and is wise enough to develop a hand signal that signifies love in lieu of a hug, but he doesn't understand at an emotional level the pain that touch causes his son. Not surprisingly, he can become frustrated when Christopher can't behave in the normal way. If Christopher's perception is limited by autism, his father's is limited to what he knows and can see. He cannot feel what it's like to be Christopher any more than Christopher can figure out that his father's quiet, slow speech indicated tightly controlled anger.
As Christopher works on the mystery and his book, he learns how to do things he may not have thought possible; for example, he survives the ordeal of going to a crowded train station and traveling alone. More significantly, he learns how to twist and withhold the truth when necessary. When his father makes him promise not to do something, Christopher rationally determines what he can and cannot do within the very literal sense of the promise, thereby breaking it in spirit. As he pursues his investigation, he seems to grasp that he is on questionable ground according to his own standards, even as he senses that the mystery is important enough to justify his rationalizations. By the end, he can say with pride and with some truth, "I can do anything."
Haddon uses a simple technique to convey the linear, mathematical nature of Christopher's mind and thought process; as the story builds, Christopher begins many if not most of his sentences with "and." "And I bent down . . . And I walked after him . . . And someone said . . . And I said . . . And the man . . . And then I heard . . ." The use of "and" not only sounds genuine, but it is also additive--that is, mathematical. For someone who squares numbers in his head to stay calm, "and" is one way to manage the sensory and emotional overload he encounters in his quest to determine the killer.
Only someone who is autistic can say whether Haddon has captured the thought process and emotions accurately. Even if The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is not a complete insight into the autistic mind, it is a valuable one, and a reminder that not everyone sees the world we see in exactly the same way we do.
©Diane L. Schirf
7 October 2007
Inside a Different Kind of Head.......2007-09-30
"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" is a fascinating novel about an autistic teenager who runs away from home. The story is narrated by the disabled teen himself, so the reader is immersed in a world of bizarre obsessions and pointless details, where other human beings are question marks and math problems are a safe haven from the onslaught of unfiltered perceptions. The book is unsentimental -- the narrator never "outgrows" his autism and his parents are hapless and selfish -- yet it succeeds in expanding our minds and deepening our conception of humanity. It does so by giving a vivid human voice to a mentally disabled person. No one who takes the message to heart will ever dismiss a lost soul holding his hands over his ears and groaning in a crowded public place as a "freak."
That said, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" is not a conventional novel. Since the narrator is autistic, all of the descriptions are flat, the characters are undeveloped, and the dialogue is stenographic. There are long passages like this:
"Then I imagined a red line on the floor and I walked over to the wall where there was a poster which was a list of places to go and it was alphabetical and I saw 'Willesden Green' and it said '$2.20' and then I went to one of the machines and there was a little screen which said 'Press Ticket Type' and I pressed the button that most people had pressed, which was 'Adult Single' and '$2.20,' and the screen said 'Insert $2.20' and I put three '$1 coins ' into the slot and there was a clinking noise and the screen said 'Take a Ticket and Change' and there was a ticket in a little hole at the bottom of the machine and a $.50 coin and a $.20 coin and a $.10 coin and I put the coins in my pocket and I went up to one of the gray gates and I put my ticket into the slot and it sucked it in and it came out on the other side of the gate." ['$' has been substituted for the 'Pound' sign.]
I'm sure this monotonous passage, so filled with meaningless literal details, faithfully recreates the way autistic people perceive the world. But while writing like this can be justified as verisimiltude, it started to eat into my enjoyment of the book after 100 pages or so. The bottomline is that "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" probably works better as phenomenology than as fiction. But it should definitely be read.
An insightful novel........2007-09-26
Mark Haddon does a good job of writing as an autistic child. You really feel like you know what it is like to be in Christopher's mind. A few parts were a little boring, they went into a lot of description about nothing interesting, but that's Christopher's mind at work. You can forgive the boring parts because it's all part of how Christopher thinks. Well done!
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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
Better Food for Dogs: A Complete Cookbook and Nutrition Guide
Real Food for Cats: 50 Vet-Approved Recipes to Please the Feline Gastronome
Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
