|summary=I struggle to resist a book about dogs, but I did wonder why this one was so ''thin'': given that I've never encountered a dog who wasn't interesting or important - and probably both, I was expecting a massive tome. But ''A Dictionary of Interesting and Important Dogs'' is actually ''a rich compendium of the world's most significant and beloved dogs'' and it's certainly a rich treasure trove. We begin with Peter J Conradi's four collies: Cloudy, Sky. Bradley and Max. They're consecutive rather than simultaneous dogs, but what comes over is Conradi's love for each and every one of them. I knew that I was in safe hands.
}}
{{Frontpage{|class-"wikitable" cellpaddingisbn="15"1787112926<!-- |title=Worzel goes for a Walk. Will you come too?|author=Catherine Pickles -->and Chantal Bourgonje|-rating=5| stylegenre="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"For Sharing|[[image:1787112926.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1787112926/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|==summary=When we [[Worzel goes for a Walk. says hello! Will you come toobe my friend? by Catherine Pickles and Chantal Bourgonje|last met Worzel Woolface]]=== [[image:5starhe was a rather frightened dog who had difficulty meeting people. He's a bit better now and something which he really enjoys is going for a walk. It's not just a case of attaching a lead and heading for your favourite spot - there are a lot of other things to think about first.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:For Sharing|For Sharing]], [[:Category:Pets|Pets]]}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Hainsworth_Gina|title=Talking to GinaWhen we [[Worzel says hello! Will you be my friend? by Catherine Pickles and Chantal Bourgonje|last met Worzel Woolface]] he was a rather frightened dog who had difficulty meeting peopleauthor=Ottilie Hainsworth|rating=4. He5|genre=Graphic Novels|summary=''s a bit better now and something which he really enjoys This is going for a walk. what happened.'' It's not just An artist decided she needed a case dog – so drove the length of attaching a lead and heading for your favourite spot - there are a lot of other things to think about firstthe country, Brighton to Grimsby, to pick up an Eastern European immigrant street dog with some mange and one working eye. [[Worzel goes for a Walk. Will you come too Why not? by Catherine Pickles The first night at home, Gina – the dog – eats something she shouldn't and Chantal Bourgonje|Full Review]] <!-- Pickles -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Pickles_Worzelcauses a mess, so it's not a great start, but then begin the tribulations of training, status and behaviour all humans must go through with their dogs.jpg|left|link=https://www And then, the life with Gina begins to feel like too much – ''I felt weird about you because you were always there.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1787111601?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1787111601]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Worzel says hello! Will My thoughts were taken over by you be my friend? by Catherine Pickles , and Chantal Bourgonje]]=== [[image:5starI felt sick, as if I was in love.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:For Sharing|For Sharing]]'' Slowly, however, everyone – our artist/author, [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] I'd like you to meet Worzelher husband, but you'll need two children and two cats – gets to do exactly what I sayform the family they and Gina all would have wanted. Worzel is quite a big dog, but that doesn't mean that he's fierce, or even very brave. In fact, he's frightened, }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Ingram_Kammie|title=Conversations with Kammie|author=Annie Ingram|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=It was something of a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and little as you areher cocker spaniel Kammie. You see, he's frightened of you. He'd like Annie knows something which has been self-evident to meet you thoughme for a long time: can you see that nose dogs are perfectly capable of communicating with humans and not just poking out from the side on a level of the sofa? Now he's peering over the cushion - and finally he's risking leaving that very safe place he's found, behind the sofafood! walk! or play!. [[Worzel says hello! Will You do require extensive training to become fluent, but most dogs will be perfectly willing to give their time to teach you be my friend? by Catherine Pickles and Chantal Bourgonje|Full Review]] <!-- Hainsworth -->all you have to do is listen. Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and the pair have allowed us to share some of their conversations.}}{{Frontpage|-isbn=Mattinson_Puppy| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Choosing the Perfect Puppy|author=Pippa Mattinson[[image:Hainsworth_Gina.jpg|left|linkrating=https://www4.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1908434988?ie5|genre=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1908434988]]Home and Family| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Talking If you have ever, for even a fleeting moment, thought about getting a puppy, you really ought to Gina by Ottilie Hainsworth]]=== [[image:4read this book. Too many people are carried away in the heat of the moment and ''must'' have a particular breed and go ahead without any thought about the consequences.5star They then have to live with the problems which ''might'' have been avoided for a decade or more.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] The puppy and the adult dog also has to live with an owner who might not be able to accommodate his needs. [[:Category:Graphic NovelsPippa Mattinson|Graphic NovelsPippa Mattinson]], [[is my go-to author on matters dog related:Category:Pets|Pets]] ''This is what happenedshe talks sense. She doesn'' An artist decided she needed t try to talk you out of getting a dog – so drove the length of particular breed or any puppy: she simply presents the country, Brighton facts and allows you to Grimsby, to pick up an Eastern European immigrant street dog with some mange and one working eyemake your own decisions. Why not}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Pickles_Worzel|title=Worzel says hello! Will you be my friend? The first night at home, Gina – the dog – eats something she shouldn|author=Catherine Pickles and Chantal Bourgonje|rating=5|genre=Pets|summary=I't and causes a messd like you to meet Worzel, so itbut you's not a great start, but then begin the tribulations of training, status and behaviour all humans must go through with their dogsll need to do exactly what I say. And thenWorzel is quite a big dog, the life with Gina begins to feel like too much – but that doesn't mean that he's fierce, or even very brave. In fact, he'I felt weird about s frightened, and little as youare, because he's frightened of you were always there. My thoughts were taken He'd like to meet you though: can you see that nose just poking out from the side of the sofa? Now he's peering over by you, the cushion - and I felt sickfinally, as if I was in love.he's risking leaving that very safe place he' Slowlys found, however, everyone – our artist/author, her husband, two children and two cats – gets to form behind the family they and Gina all would have wantedsofa. [[Talking to Gina by Ottilie Hainsworth|Full Review]]}}<!-- Ingram -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=instagram_dogs| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Dogs on Instagram|author=@dogsofinstagram[[image:Ingram_Kammie.jpg|left|linkrating=https://www.amazon.co3.uk/gp/product/1785451995?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785451995]]5| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Pets|summary===[[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram]]=== [[imageI'm a sucker for dogs:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]]I can't walk past one in the street without stopping and having a conversation, sometimes without bothering to speak to the owners, [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It so a book of pictures of dogs was something of a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammiegoing to be right up my street. You seeThe wildly popular @dogs_of_instagram, Annie knows something which has been self-evident to me for a long time: dogs are perfectly capable of communicating with humans run by Ahmed El Shourbagy and his wife Ashley and not launched just on a level four years ago gives us this book of food!, walk! or play!over four hundred photographs of dogs. You do require extensive training Originally I had no intention of reviewing it: in fact I wasn't even intending to become fluentread the book, but most dogs will be perfectly willing to give their time to teach you and all you just to have to do is listen. Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and a quick flick through, but within five minutes I was showing other people in the office the pair have allowed us to share some picture of their conversationsthe Weimaraner riding a bicycle. [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|Full Review]]}}<!-- Mattinson -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=Prendergast_Digger| styletitle="widthDog on a Digger: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"The Tricky Incident|author=Kate Prendergast[[image:Mattinson_Puppy.jpg|leftrating=5|linkgenre=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785034375?iePets|summary=UTF8&tag=thebookbagI'm going to tell you a story about Dog, Man, Lady and the Pup. They all work on an industrial site -21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785034375]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Choosing in fact, Dog and Man live there in a caravan and Man drives the Perfect Puppy sort of digger which is dreamed about by Pippa Mattinson]]=== [[image:4boys large and small. Lady and the Pup run the snack bar and one day as they're all having something to eat, the Pup goes missing.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], [[:Category:Home and Family|Home and Family]] If Man and Lady search everywhere but it's Dog's sharp ears which finally track him down - caught in a branch over a fast-flowing stream. And it's Dog who works out how to rescue him. I needed 88 words to tell you have everthat story, for even but Kate Prendergast does it without using a fleeting moment, thought about getting single one - and she tells it in a puppy, you really ought to read this bookfar more engaging way than I could ever manage. Too many people are carried away in the heat of the moment and ''must'' have a particular breed and go ahead without any thought about the consequences}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Strachan_50Cat|title=50 Games to Play With Your Cat|author=Jackie Strachan|rating=5|genre=Pets|summary=Cats love to play. They then have to live with It is written in their DNA. From kittenhood onward, an innate curiosity about the problems which ''might'' have been avoided for world around them spurs cats to view everything as a decade or morepotential plaything. The puppy and the adult dog also has For cats, the desire to play helps them to live with hone their hunting skills. For cat owners, it provides an owner who might not be able opportunity to accommodate his needs. [[:Category:Pippa Mattinson|Pippa Mattinson]] is my gobond with a much-loved pet and create special moments that are entertaining to author on matters dog related: she talks senseboth cat and human alike. She doesn't try If you are stuck for ideas for games to talk you out of getting a particular breed play with your cat, or any puppy: she would simply presents the facts and allows you like to make your own decisionstry something new, then 50 Games To Play With Your Cat provides plenty of inspiration. [[Choosing the Perfect Puppy by Pippa Mattinson|Full Review]]}}<!-- dogsofinstagram -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=Leask_Miracle| styletitle="widthMiracle: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"The extraordinary dog that refused to die|author=Amanda Leask[[image:instagram_dogs.jpg|left|linkrating=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1452151970?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1452151970]] 4| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Dogs on Instagram by @dogsofinstagram]]===Pets[[image:3.5star.jpg|linksummary=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], [[:Category:Art|Art]] I'm a sucker for Amanda Leask has been obsessed with dogs: I canall her life and it't walk past one in s been an obsession which needs the street without stopping world and having a conversation, sometimes without bothering lot of its attitudes to speak dogs to change for the owners, so a book of pictures of better. She's not daunted by the obstacles: she's simply determined to do all that she possibly can to make the world a better place for dogs was going to be right up my street. The wildly popular @dogs_of_instagramAmanda lives with her husband Tobias, run by Ahmed El Shourbagy son Kyle and his wife Ashley more than twenty rescue and launched just four years ago gives us this book of over four hundred photographs of sled dogsnear Inverness. Originally I had no intention of reviewing it: in fact I wasnVery nice, you're probably thinking. Wouldn't even intending to read the book, just we all like to have that sort of lifestyle? But hold on a quick flick through, but within five minutes I was showing other people in the office the picture of the Weimaraner riding a bicycle. [[Dogs on Instagram by @dogsofinstagram|Full Review]]minute.}} <!-- Prendergast -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=Prendergast_Train| styletitle="widthDog on a Train: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"The Special Delivery|author=Kate Prendergast|rating=5[[image:Prendergast_Digger.jpg|leftgenre=Pets|linksummary=httpsIt's one of those mornings for Boy://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1910646148?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbaglate out of bed he grabs at his hat and hurtles out of the house to catch his train -21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1910646148]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[only he drops his hat as he goes through the door and Dog on a Digger: The Tricky Incident by Kate Prendergast]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:For Sharing|For Sharing]]chases after him with the hat in his mouth. They head to the tube station (Dog doesn't forget to wait at the zebra crossing) with boy just twenty or so yards in front, [[:Category:Art|Art]] I'm going but Dog is losing ground as he has to find someone to tell you a story about Dog, Man, Lady and carry him on the Pupescalator. They all work on an industrial site - in fact Dog He misses Boy's train and Man live there in a caravan and Man drives has to wait for the sort of digger which is dreamed about by boys large and small. Lady and the Pup run the snack bar and next one day as they're all having something to eat, the Pup goes missingbut remembers his manners well enough to stand up so that an old lady can have his seat. Man and Lady search everywhere but it's Dog's sharp ears which finally track him down - caught in a branch over a fast-flowing stream. And it's Dog who works out how Will he catch up with boy when he reaches London Kings Cross?}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Mattinson_Labrador|title=The Labrador Handbook: The definitive guide to rescue himtraining and caring for your Labrador|author=Pippa Mattinson|rating=4. I needed 88 words to tell you that story, but Kate Prendergast does it without using a single one 5|genre=Pets|summary=In 2014 about 16% of all pedigree puppies registered with the Kennel Club were Labradors - and she tells it in a far more engaging way than I could ever managethat's with over 200 breeds to choose from. [[Dog on They're one of the most respected breeds and with good reason - great as gundogs, brilliant in the show ring and a Digger: wonderful part of the family to boot. Author Pippa Mattinson is a zoologist and founder of The Tricky Incident by Kate Prendergast|Full Review <!Gundog Trust. She supports modern, science-based dog training methods - Strachan -->but her passion is about helping people to enjoy their dogs. If you're looking for advice about Labradors, she is going to be difficult to better.}}{{Frontpage|-isbn=Perris_Dogs| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-alignBeautiful Dogs Postcard Book: top; text-align: center;"30 Postcards of Champion Breeds to Keep or Send|author=Andrew Perris[[image:Strachan_50Cat.jpg|linkrating=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782403531/ref4|genre=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Pets| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[50 Games to Play With Your Cat by Jackie Strachan]]=== [[image:5starIf you're looking for a present for a dog lover, Beautiful Dogs might fit the bill.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] Cats love to play. It is written It's a book of thirty postcards, which you can either send or keep in their DNAthe book. From kittenhood onward, an innate curiosity about You might expect to find the world around them spurs cats to view everything as a potential plaything. For catsmore usual breeds - Labradors, Retrievers and the desire to play helps them to hone their hunting skills. For cat ownerslike - but instead, it provides an opportunity to bond with a much-loved pet you'll find more exotic breeds such as the Bedlington Terrier and create special moments that are entertaining to both cat and human alikethe Bolognese. If you are stuck for ideas for games to play with your cat, There's just the one dog or would simply like bitch on each card and Andrew Perris has managed to try something new, then 50 Games To Play With Your Cat provides plenty give us an excellent view of inspirationthe animal whilst allowing it to look completely natural. [[50 Games to Play With Your Cat by Jackie Strachan|Full Review]]}}<!-- Leask -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=Laks_Gentle| styletitle="widthMy Gentle Barn: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"where animals heal and children learn to hope|author=Ellie Laks[[image:Leask_Miracle.jpg|linkrating=http://www4.amazon.co.uk/dp/1785032550/ref5|genre=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Pets| stylesummary="verticalAs a child, Ellie Laks was abused, but not only did she suffer at the hands of her abuser, she also had to endure parental indifference to what was happening to her. Her only relief came through animals -align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Miracle: The extraordinary dog and even then she had to cope when the animals were taken from her. As an adult, she discovered that refused to die by Amanda Leask]]=== [[image:4starshe had a real talent for healing animals - and that they helped her to heal too.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] Amanda Leask has been obsessed with dogs all In a brilliant leap of intuition, she realised that if the animals could help her life and it's been an obsession which needs to heal they could do the world same for others and so the Gentle Barn was born - a place where animals were brought as a lot place of it's attitudes to dogs to change for the bettersafety and where disadvantaged children and special needs groups could use as therapy. She's not daunted by the obstacles}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Mattinson_Happy|title=The Happy Puppy Handbook: she's simply determined Your Definitive Guide to do all that she possibly can to make the world a better place for dogsPuppy Care and Early Training|author=Pippa Mattinson|rating=4. Amanda lives with her husband Tobias, son Kyle and more than twenty rescue and sled dogs near Inverness5|genre=Pets|summary=Unfortunately far too many people acquire puppies because of the aww... factor. Very niceThey look gorgeous, you're probably thinking. Wouldn't we all cuddly, cute - rather like an animated soft toy - and there are people who have to have that sort of lifestyle? But hold on a minuteone. Now. [[Miracle: The extraordinary dog reality is that refused to die by Amanda Leask|Full Review]] <!bringing a puppy into your home -into your life - Prendergast -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Prendergast_Trainrequires about the same level of planning as moving home and the best guide which I've seen to preparing for a puppy and the early stages of living with one is Pippa Mattinson's The Happy Puppy Handbook.jpg|link=http://wwwDo get it well in advance.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910646083/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbagIf you're only thinking about getting a puppy it might even put you off -21]] but then it will be well worth the cover price if it saves you a great deal of expense and even more heartache.}}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Rosenfelt_Puppy|title===[[Dog on a Train: The Special Delivery by Kate Prendergast]]Puppy Express: On the road with 25 rescue dogs . . . what could go wrong?|author=David Rosenfelt|rating=4.5|genre=Pets [[image:5star.jpg|linksummary=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] ItIf you's one of those mornings for Boy: late out of bed he grabs at his hat and hurtles out of the house to catch his train re moving home from Southern California with twenty- only he drops his hat as he goes through the door five rescue dogs how, exactly, do you do it? Add in that these are mostly elderly dogs who've already had too much change and Dog chases after him with the hat trauma in his mouth. They head to the tube station (Dog doesntheir lives and it's obvious that crating them and flying them across the country isn't forget going to wait at work. They couldn't all go together and the zebra crossing) trip would take about twenty-four hours with boy just twenty or so yards in front, but Dog is losing ground as he has to find someone to carry him on all the escalator. He misses Boychanges - and that's train and has before you even begin to wait for think about the next oneprohibitive cost. In the end, the answer was a convoy of three motorhomes, but remembers his manners well enough to stand up so that an old lady can have his seat. Will he catch up with boy when he reaches London Kings Crossthe addition of nine helpers and just about non-stop driving across the continent. Fun, eh? [[Dog on a Train: The Special Delivery by Kate Prendergast|Full Review]]}}<!-- Mattinson -->{{Frontpage|isbn=Morris_Iamcat|-title=I am Cat (mini edition)| styleauthor="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Jackie Morris|rating=4[[image:Mattinson_Labrador.jpg|linkgenre=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1785030914/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Pets| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Labrador Handbook: The definitive guide You're always supposed to training and caring for your Labrador by Pippa Mattinson]]=== [[image:4tell when a dog is dreaming – the twitching limbs and jerking joints allegedly proving the sleeping Fido is imagining himself on the chase.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] In 2014 about 16% of all pedigree puppies registered with Cats are, as always, a bit more secretive, but Jackie Morris offers evidence here that they are more or less thinking the same thing – even the Kennel Club were Labradors - domestic moggy, curled up and that's with over 200 breeds to choose from. They're closed in, is picturing a different self – one of the most respected breeds and with good reason - great as gundogssleeking through snows, brilliant in relaxing on the show ring and savannah or alertly moving through its territory. It's a wonderful part of very pleasant view into the family to boot. Author Pippa Mattinson is a zoologist and founder mindset of The Gundog Trustcats. She supports modern, science-based dog training methods - but her passion is about helping people to enjoy their dogs. If you're looking for advice about Labradors, she is going to be difficult to better. [[The Labrador Handbook: The definitive guide to training and caring for your Labrador by Pippa Mattinson}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Katz_Dog|title=The Dog Nobody Loved|author=Jon Katz|rating=4|Full Review]]genre=Pets <!-- Perris -->|-| style="width|summary=When we first meet Jon Katz he's not in a good place: 10%; verticalhis marriage of thirty-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Perris_Dogsfive years was breaking up and he was close to a nervous breakdown.jpg|link=http://www He didn't need any more problems.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782401660/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Beautiful Dogs Postcard Book: 30 Postcards He particularly ''didn't'' need a young rescue dog, a Rottweiler/Shepherd mix, who'd been living wild, to contend with and to upset the fragile equilibrium of Champion Breeds the life he lived with his animals on Bedlam Farm. Frieda was near feral but devoted to Keep or Send by Andrew Perris]]=== [[image:4starher rescuer, Maria Wulf and it was Maria who was at the centre of this conundrum.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating} Katz was spectacularly disconnected from the world - and Maria was the only person to whom he seemed able to talk, but to connect with Maria he had to connect with Frieda too.}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets{{Frontpage|Pets]]isbn=Coren_Dogs|title=Do Dogs Dream?: Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know|author=Stanley Coren|rating=4.5|genre=Pets|summary=If you're looking for a present for a dog lover, Beautiful Dogs might fit the billlove dogs this book is an absolute gem. It's a book of thirty postcards, which not going to explain to you can either send how to feed or keep in the book. You might expect to find the more usual breeds - Labradors, Retrievers and the like - but instead you'll find more exotic breeds such as the Bedlington Terrier and the Bolognesetrain your dog. There's just no advice on first aid or when you should seek advice from the one vet. What you get are seventy-two essays on subjects which dog or bitch lovers ponder on , each card one just two or three pages long and Andrew Perris has managed to give us an excellent view of written in terms which the animal whilst allowing it to look completely naturallayman can understand. [[Beautiful I've opened the book at random and found ''Why Do Dogs Postcard Book: 30 Postcards of Champion Breeds to Keep or Send by Andrew Perris|Full Review]] <!-- Laks -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Laks_Gentle.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0099584883/ref=nosimTouch Noses?'', ''Do Dogs Recognize Themselves in a Mirror?'' and ''Why Do Puppies Sleep in a Pile?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[My Gentle Barn: where animals heal and children learn to hope '' There's nothing there that you absolutely ''have'' to know so that you can keep a dog as he should be kept but by Ellie Laks]]===the time that you've finished you will know him a lot better.[[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] Move on to [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] As a child Ellie Laks was abused, but not only did she suffer at the hands of her abuser, she also had to endure parental indifference to what was happening to her. Her only relief came through animals - and even then she had to cope when the animals were taken from her. As an adult she discovered that she had a real talent for healing animals - and that they helped her to heal too. In a brilliant leap of intuition she realised that if the animals could help her to heal they could do the same for others and so the Gentle Barn was born - a place where animals were brought as a place of safety and where disadvantaged children and special needs groups could use as therapy. [[My Gentle Barn: where animals heal and children learn to hope by Ellie Laks|Full Review]] <!-- Mattinson -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Mattinson_Happy.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0091957265/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Happy Puppy Handbook: Your Definitive Guide to Puppy Care and Early Training by Pippa Mattinson]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] Unfortunately far too many people acquire puppies because of the aww... factor. They look gorgeous, cuddly, cute - rather like an animated soft toy - and there are people who have to have one. Now. The reality is that bringing a puppy into your home - into your life - requires about the same level of planning as moving home and the best guide which I've seen to preparing for a puppy and the early stages of living with one is Pippa Mattinson's The Happy Puppy Handbook. Do get it well in advance. If you're only thinking about getting a puppy it might even put you off - but then it will be well worth the cover price if it saves you a great deal of expense and even more heartache. [[The Happy Puppy Handbook: Your Definitive Guide to Puppy Care and Early Training by Pippa Mattinson|Full Review]] <!-- Rosenfelt -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Rosenfelt_Puppy.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0751553522/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Puppy Express: On the road with 25 rescue dogs . . . what could go wrong? by David Rosenfelt]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] If you're moving home from Southern California with twenty five rescue dogs how, exactly do you do it? Add in that these are mostly elderly dogs who've already had too much change and trauma in their lives and it's obvious that crating them and flying them across country isn't going to work. They couldn't all go together and the trip would take about twenty four hours with all the changes - and that's before you even begin to think about the prohibitive cost. In the end the answer was a convoy of three motorhomes, the addition of nine helpers and just about non-stop driving across the continent. Fun, eh? [[The Puppy Express: On the road with 25 rescue dogs . . . what could go wrong? by David Rosenfelt|Full Review]] <!-- Morris -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Morris_Iamcat.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1847805078/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[I am Cat (mini edition) by Jackie Morris]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] You're always supposed to tell when a dog is dreaming – the twitching limbs and jerking joints allegedly proving the sleeping Fido is imagining himself on the chase. Cats are, as always, a bit more secretive, but Jackie Morris offers evidence here that they are more or less thinking the same thing – even the domestic moggy, curled up and closed in, is picturing a different self – one sleeking through snows, relaxing on the savannah or alertly moving through its territory. It's a very pleasant view into the mindset of cats. [[I am Cat (mini edition) by Jackie Morris|Full Review]] <!-- Katz -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Katz_Dog.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0091957443/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Dog Nobody Loved by Jon Katz]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] When we first meet Jon Katz he's not in a good place: his marriage of thirty-five years was breaking up and he was close to a nervous breakdown. He didn't need any more problems. He particularly ''didn't'' need a young rescue dog, a Rottweiler/Shepherd mix, who'd been living wild, to contend with and to upset the fragile equilibrium of the life he lived with his animals on Bedlam Farm. Frieda was near feral but devoted to her rescuer, Maria Wulf and it was Maria who was at the centre of this conundrum. Katz was spectacularly disconnected from the world - and Maria was the only person to whom he seemed able to talk, but to connect with Maria he had to connect with Frieda too. [[The Dog Nobody Loved by Jon Katz|Full Review]] <!-- Coren -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Coren_Dogs.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0393338126/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Do Dogs Dream?: Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know by Stanley Coren]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] If you love dogs this book is an absolute gem. It's not going to explain to you how to feed or train your dog. There's no advice on first aid or when you should seek advice from the vet. What you get are seventy two essays on subjects which dog lovers ponder on, each one just two or three pages long and written in terms which the layman can understand. I've opened the book at random and found ''Why Do Dogs Touch Noses?'', ''Do Dogs Recognize Themselves in a Mirror?'' and ''Why Do Puppies Sleep in a Pile?'' There's nothing there that you absolutely ''have'' to know so that you can keep a dog as he should be kept but by the time that you've finished you will know him a lot better. [[Do Dogs Dream?: Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know by Stanley Coren|Full Review]] <!-- Price -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Price_Buffy.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1780883722/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Goodnight Buffy: Loving a Lakeland Terrier by Thomasina Price]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]] Most dog owners will confess that even after a lifetime of ownership there is one dog who holds their heart. Often the close bond has been forged because of the dog’s ill health, although it never seems to be completely one-sided: an interdependence develops and dog and human seem to exist as one. The dog who stole my heart was a Rhodesian Ridgeback - for Thomasina Price it was Buffy the Lakeland Terrier. She had a traumatic start to life, found hiding in a shop doorway in Blackpool she was taken in by a young woman, but she, in turn contracted ovarian cancer and at the age of two Buffy came to what was at least her third home when she was fostered by Thomasina Price’s sister. [[Goodnight Buffy: Loving a Lakeland Terrier by Thomasina Price|Full ReviewNewest Politics and Society Reviews]] <!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->|}