| If you are having trouble coming up with a gift | | | | starting place in the decision making process. |
| for any of the pet lovers on your list, why not | | | | Food Pets Die For by Ann Martin is a |
| consider a book? This article recommends some | | | | no-holds-barred, well-researched book giving the |
| of the best of the best from the many titles on | | | | consumer a unique look into the pet food industry. |
| bookstore shelves this year. | | | | The tells the truth about pet foods - whether we |
| One of my favorite dog-related books is Bones | | | | want to hear it or not. A must read for anyone |
| Would Rain from the Sky by Suzanne Clothier. | | | | feeding grocery-store brand pet foods. |
| The book speaks of the special bonds we have | | | | There are numerous books available to on in |
| with our dogs, sometimes that we are not even | | | | keeping your pets healthy and dealing with health |
| aware of. | | | | concerns. |
| Clothier is a nationally renowned dog trainer. Using | | | | One of the first authors to address holistic healing |
| both her own dogs and dogs she has trained for | | | | for pets is Dr. Richard Pitcairn in his Complete |
| others, she illustrates how dogs think, the nature | | | | Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. It is |
| of their relationship with us, their behavior and | | | | now in its third edition, updated with the latest |
| other lessons. | | | | information and the doctor's own experiences, |
| I found it beautifully written; moving, sweet, funny | | | | and is the first book I turn to when I have a |
| at times, heartbreaking at others. This is a book I | | | | question about an animal's health. |
| recommend not only to dog owners, but to | | | | The only book I have found that specifically |
| anyone thinking about getting a dog. | | | | addresses natural care of cats is The New Natural |
| For lighter stories, there are always James | | | | Cat by Anitra Frazier. The author goes into great |
| Herriot's wonderful books, beginning with All | | | | detail on every aspect of caring for cats, from |
| Creatures Great and Small. His most well-known | | | | feeding to grooming to specific health problems. |
| works are available in a gift set. | | | | When it comes to dog training, there are many |
| My all-time favorite cat book is The Silent Miaow | | | | approaches and many books and videos. Basically |
| by Paul Gallico. Subtitled "a Manual for Kittens, | | | | most books can be placed in one of two schools |
| Strays, and Homeless Cats",it's written in the first | | | | of thought as far as training method, either |
| person-cat. The aim of the book is to teach | | | | traditional negative punishment-based training, or |
| motherless cats how to properly live with humans. | | | | the newer, positive reward-based training. |
| It is a twenty-year old book, but is still available in | | | | I believe that positive training is the way to go, |
| paperback. | | | | even if it is harder for the human to learn. One of |
| The book's narrator explains: "there is no question | | | | the most well-written books on the subject is Pat |
| but that we are quite the most graceful animals in | | | | Miller's The Power of Positive Dog Training. |
| existence, and this you must keep uppermost in | | | | In this book, Miller explains how positive dog |
| your mind in all of your attitudes and poses..." . On | | | | training works and how to use it. There are |
| doors he tell the reader: "..teach them [your | | | | chapters on basic commands as well as common |
| humans] the necessity of dropping whatever they | | | | behavior problems. |
| happen to be doing to open one of them to let | | | | Pat Miller is a dog trainer with over thirty years of |
| you in or out." | | | | experience, and has used many methods and |
| A nice picture book for breed identification and | | | | tools in that time. |
| description is the Eyewitness Handbooks series | | | | There are, of course, plenty of other books on |
| Dogs or Cats. | | | | the subject of pets, from 'how-tos' to |
| Originally written in England, the group discussed in | | | | photographic essays, both humorous and poignant. |
| the book may differ from the American Kennel | | | | Hours can be spent in just one aisle of the |
| Club or the Cat Fanciers Association. They are | | | | bookstores, trying to decide on a title or two. |
| meant to be international in scope. | | | | You might want to pick up a book or two for |
| Descriptions are brief, and will not be enough | | | | your own bookshelf, as well! Happy Holidays and |
| information for choosing a breed to adopt, but it | | | | happy reading! |
| is a great book for simple identification, or as a | | | | |