Nowadays, Greyhounds are bred almost exclusively for racing. In the bad old days, prior to the 1980s, dogs that didn't make the grade at the track, and those past their primes, were destroyed. According to official estimates, 60,000 of these noble, mild-mannered dogs were destroyed each year! Fortunately, a number of organizations now exist devoted to rescuing these unwanted dogs and placing them in good homes.Thinking about adopting a retired racing Greyhound? Or maybe you're already sharing your life with one of these charming animals. Either way, this friendly guide tells you everything you need to know to:Understand the Greyhound personality Find a retired racing Greyhound to adopt Choose the right ex-racer for you and your family Educate yourself and your retired racer Give your new pal the diet and exercise it needs Keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come With plenty of good humor and straight-talk, Lee Livingood drawing on her forty-years of experience training adult rescue dogs to cover all the pros and cons of being a retired racing Greyhound owner, and she fills you in on:The amazing 8000-year history of the Greyhound Deciding whether an ex-racer is the right do for you and your family Physical and behavioral characteristics How to get a retired racer used to living in a home and be a companion Dealing with common behavioral and health problems Feeding, grooming, and exercising a Greyhound Fun things to do with your hound Bursting with expert advice on all aspects of living with an ex-racer, Retired Racing Greyhounds For Dummies is must reading for anyone considering adoption or who's already taken the leap.

    I can't recommend him highly enough." —Jeff Probst, host of Survivor"This is basically a 'perfect book'...with this knowledge there should be many more well-adjusted canine companions and far fewer dogs being relinquished to shelters. This book is an admirable accomplishment." —The APDT Chronicle of the Dog (The publication for professional dog trainers)Following the success of his book The Dog Whisperer, Paul Owens turns his attention to puppies. In this book, Owens and his protégé Terence Cranendonk offer a compassionate step-by-step guide to all things puppy, including how to:Evaluate temperamentChoose the right pup personality for your familyMonitor diet, play, and exerciseTrain and problem solveProvide early socialization and positive trainingPotty train, step-by-stepEnsure safety and health care, including the latest on vaccinationsPuppies can be a lot of work, but they can also be a furry bundle of joy. If you're thinking of bringing a puppy into your home, The Puppy Whisperer is your must-have guide.

    Even chimps and bonobos, our closest genetic relatives, are no match for dogs when it comes to social cognition. Jennifer Arnold understands this better than anyone, having spent the past 25 years training service dogs for people with disabilities at Canine Assistants. She is a pioneer in the emerging field of "bond-based" dog training, and her methods have overturned the conventional wisdom which holds that dogs must learn to obey external cues like "sit," "stay," and "heel." In contrast, Arnold's groundbreaking methodology, "Bond-Based Choice Teaching," rests on the belief that dogs are "social learners," and they can be taught to make choices and interpret what we want from them, as opposed to simply following commands.

    Things did not go according to plan in Sleightholm's first years as a police dog handler. The difficulties of finding and keeping the right dog were so great that he was ready to give up. Then Cass came along. The two of them quickly formed a bond, graduated as stars from the training school, and became an outstandingly effective working partnership. Cass became part of the Sleightholm family, too. Car thieves, armed robbers, drug dealers, murderers, burglars—Cassius learned to find them, contain them, intimidate, and attack if he had to. Sometimes it was dangerous for him. Usually it was more dangerous for the criminal. The story of Cassius is by turns thrilling, funny, and moving, and always a fascinating insight into the freemasonry of police dog training.

    From tail wagging to growling, from play bowing to lip licking, this fascinating book explains why your dog behaves the way he does. What Is My Dog Thinking? covers six major aspects of dog behavior: the importance of hierarchy, food and fitness, staying safe, reproduction, social behavior, and people and dogs.

    Her revolutionary play-training uses mutual understanding and respect -- and puts an end to outdated methods that rely on physical exhaustion, choke chains, prong collars, dominance rollovers, or stressful aggression of any kind.A former Israeli intelligence officer who witnessed the horrors of military dog training methods, Tamar went on to observe wolves in the wild. She discovered that wolves educate and socialize their cubs with games, bonding, and body language, not dominance or punishment. As a result, she developed teaching systems that address a dog's authentic nature, part wolflike and part toddlerlike. Learning can be a positive experience that dogs enjoy and look forward to, and we can actually make it fun for our dogs to listen to us and behave as we want them to.Tamar's insights have brought dog training into the twenty-first century, and her groundbreaking techniques have won the approval of the Humane Society of the United States, for which she is a longtime advisor. Her celebrity clients include Oprah Winfrey, Ben Affleck, Courteney Cox-Arquette, Owen Wilson, and the Osbournes, and she has appeared as an expert on the Today show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Animal Planet, and more.In "The Loved Dog, " Tamar gives you all the instruction, insights, and tips you need to teach your dog good manners, as well as to troubleshoot specific problems and unwanted behaviors. She helps you and your dog learn a common language, resulting in a loving, respectful relationship that will bring you years of joy and companionship. Tamar's play-training approach is so gentle, even children can get involved.Whether you use Tamar's methods to raise a puppy or teach an old dog new tricks, you'll love "The Loved Dog."

    Critically acclaimed memoirist Wade Rouse has gathered some of America's best known humorists- authors, comedians, and actors-to offer biting commentary on what it means to share a life, and a heart, with a dog. From battling for bed space to trying to transform a pampered NYC pup into a Texas rawhide, and from helping a shelter rescue navigate through her new life to interpreting dog run dynamics (and politics), being a canine companion has challenges as tough as any agility course, but laughter is just a tail-wag away. This collection features uncanny insight and witty prose from...Jen Lancaster Rita Mae Brown Laurie Notaro Jane Green Beth Harbison W. Bruce Cameron and many others, including a Foreword by Chelsea Handler's dog, Chunk

     This also includes two in-depth breeder interviews packed with advice and tips from two of the founders of the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA), President Amy Lane says: "This book will be your go to for all questions related to Goldendoodles. It will assist you in your search for the right breeder all the way through caring for your dog in his/her senior years. It is packed full of information directly from the expert breeders of Goldendoodles. There are a lot of "Goldendoodle" books, but if you must buy just one, this is it!" This one-stop ‘instruction manual’ is the essential companion to your lovable Goldendoodle. Over 176 pages we cover everything you should know from buying a new puppy through to old age and how best to look after your precious Goldendoodle (also known as Groodle, Golden Poos or Goldie Poos). Start off with the right advice so bad behaviors don’t even start, but if they do, we show you how to overcome common problems. We will help you understand your Goldendoodle so you can build an ever stronger loving bond with your best-behaved member of your household. Our experts can also help save you a small fortune by showing the best ways to keep your Goldendoodle healthier and live a longer and more fulfilled life, reducing expensive trips to the vets. The book written in an easy-to-understand style with funny and entertaining stories interspersed with practical, actionable advice and tips from all our qualified expert breeders, most of whom are members of the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA). Order now and you can soon be sitting back, relaxing and enjoying this Goldendoodle owner’s guide. Buy it now either on paperback or instant downloadable e-book. This is the perfect book for you if you love the Goldendoodle, just some of the subjects covered in our owner’s guide include: origins and history, different types such as the miniature (mini) Goldendoodle, keeping your vet bills down, how to help your Goldendoodle live longer, colors, buying a dog or puppy, male or female, rescue, breeders, personality, socialization, spaying, neutering, house/potty training, bringing your puppy home, grooming, combing, bathing, health, vaccinations, training, understanding your Goldendoodle, play and toys, what food and nutrition, old age and what to expect, and much more... "The Goldendoodle breeder where I bought my puppy suggested this book to me as a guide and reference manual. Good to see lots of breed experts were involved in the book." - Kiernon Wagstaff This best-selling book is sold worldwide and is also available in paperback format - this e-book version is identical in content to the paperback.

    They became attached to each other, and Kerasote decided to name the dog Merle and bring him home. There, he realized that Merle's native intelligence would be diminished by living exclusively in the human world. He put a dog door in his house so Merle could live both outside and in.A deeply touching portrait of a remarkable dog and his relationship with the author, Merle's Door explores the issues that all animals and their human companions face as their lives intertwine, bringing to bear the latest research into animal consciousness and behavior as well as insights into the origins and evolution of the human-dog partnership. Merle showed Kerasote how dogs might live if they were allowed to make more of their own decisions, and Kerasote suggests how these lessons can be applied universally.

    Personal and medical details paint a charming picture of the author's love for her patients, respect for their owners and dedication to her profession. America's Veterinarian, Dr. Marty Becker says, "Animal lovers will love this book."

    With her trademark wisdom and humor, Quindlen reflects on how her life has unfolded in tandem with Beau’s, and on the lessons she’s learned by watching him: to roll with the punches, to take things as they come, to measure herself not in terms of the past or the future but of the present, to raise her nose in the air from time to time and, at least metaphorically, holler, “I smell bacon!”Of the dog that once possessed a catcher’s mitt of a mouth, Quindlen reminisces, “there came a time when a scrap thrown in his direction usually bounced unseen off his head. Yet put a pork roast in the oven, and the guy still breathed as audibly as an obscene caller. The eyes and ears may have gone, but the nose was eternal. And the tail. The tail still wagged, albeit at half-staff. When it stops, I thought more than once, then we’ll know.”Heartening and bittersweet, Good Dog. Stay. honors the life of a cherished and loyal friend and offers us a valuable lesson on our four-legged family members: Sometimes an old dog can teach us new tricks.

    Truly you do. You bring home these cute little balls of fur and squeal at its cuteness, declare your life complete because of it,and then get upset when your New Meaning of Life that you treasure poops in the bathtub or hocks a hairball into your shoe. You need to know the rules. You meed to know the truth. Max Thompson, known far and wide as "The Psychokitty" is an expert on all things kitty and has finally decided to share the wisdom of his years of dealing with People, and his in-depth discussions with kitties online. This is his gift to you, the People who are willingly owned by cats. Because that's how generous he is. Complete with paw-drawn illustrations!

    Natural food can enable dogs to live longer, healthier lives, just as it can for humans, and with these meals, treats, and cookies, dogs will never miss commercial kibble.Rick has researched nutrition for dogs and has used the same manuals veterinarians use to develop his recipes. Feed Your Best Friend Better makes the transition to homemade dog food simple, so you can make natural food for your dog every day. From nutritional value to portion sizes, these recipes will help owners know what their dog is eating. The meals are healthy, and dogs love them.Rick Woodford wants dogs in every family to be healthy and happy. His recipes use a variety of herbs and spices for their antioxidant properties but they smell so good everybody in the house will be drooling. Recipes include:* Puppy Pesto* Bacon Yappetizers* Barkscotti* Mutt Loaf* Gingerbread MailmanIn addition to 85 recipes other helpful chapters include:* How to Pick out a Commercial Food; making the ingredient label easy to understand with a breakdown of ingredients that are good for the bowl and those that are best left on the shelf.* Determining Portion Size; information on body type and size help readers understand how much food their dogs need to be in the best shape* Problem Mealtime Behaviors; how to deal with the early morning wake up call, reluctant eaters, counter surfing and more

    From the basics -- housebreaking, feeding, training -- to the latest on doggie day care, traveling with a puppy, and the new designer breeds, you get everything you need to help your puppy grow up to be a healthy, playful, well-mannered dog.Discover how to* Choose the perfect puppy for you* Socialize your puppy* Stimulate your puppy's growing mind* Use the latest training tools* Keep peace between kids and puppies

    But these frisky little dogs aren't for everyone. Consummate lap dogs, they thrive on attention and constant contact with their owners, and are miserable when left alone. As pups they're extremely fragile, although they do outlive bigger breeds by many years. Housebreaking can be a problem with Chihuahuas, but on the other hand, they're very smart, love performing tricks and they never forget what they learn. Some have a tendency to shyness, but a well-socialized Chihuahua can be every bit as bold as a pit bull. Is this plucky little pooch the right dog for you and your family? Chihuahuas For Dummies provides the answer to this and all your questions about getting, caring for and living with this loveable breed. Award-winning breeder, trainer, author and long-time Chihuahua lover, Jacqueline O'Neil Beauchamp gets you up and running with what you need to know to:Find and communicate with reputable breeders Choose the right Chihuahua for you Housebreak and socialize your new puppy Educate yourself and your dog Handle behavioral problems Participate in competitions In friendly, down-to-earth language, Jacqueline provides insights into the Chihuahua temperament and loads of sensible, easy-to-follow advice, along with fun facts and Chihuahua trivia. Discover how to:Decide on whether a male or female is right for you Find and choose your new friend and bring him or her home Understand how to communicate with your Chihuahua Train your little peanut Find a good trainer and attend classes Deal with emotional conflicts Feed and exercise your little amigo Recognize, prevent and treat common health problems Have loyal friend for life The indispensable guide for you and your Chihuahua, Chihuahuas For Dummies is the only book you'll need to help you have the best possible experience with this saucy and affectionate breed of dog.