Natural History Books

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Book SynopsisThe second volume in his autobiographical quartet based on the seasons, Winter is an achingly beautiful collection of daily meditations and letters addressed directly to Knaugsaard's unborn daughter 2 December - It is strange that you exist, but that you don't know anything about what the world looks like. It's strange that there is a first time to see the sky, a first time to see the sun, a first time to feel the air against one's skin. It's strange that there is a first time to see a face, a tree, a lamp, pajamas, a shoe. In my life it almost never happens anymore. But soon it will. In just a few months, I will see you for the first time. In Winter, we rejoin the great Karl Ove Knausgaard as he waits for the birth of his daughter. In preparation for her arrival, he takes stock of the world, seeing it as if for the first time. In his inimitably sensitive style, he writes about the moon, water, messiness, owls, birthdays--to name just a handf

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Book SynopsisThe grand finale of Karl Ove Knausgaard's masterful and intensely-personal series about the four seasons, illustrated with paintings by the great German artist Anselm KieferThe conclusion to one of the most extraordinary and original literary projects in recent years, Summer once again intersperses short vividly descriptive essays with emotionally-raw diary entries addressed directly to Knausgaard's newborn daughter. Writing more expansively and, if it is possible, even more intimately and unguardedly than in the previous three volumes, he mines with new depth his difficult memories of his childhood and fraught relationship with his own father. Documenting his family's life in rural Sweden and reflecting on a characteristically eclectic array of subjects--mosquitoes, barbeques, cynicism, and skin, to name just a few--he braids the various threads of the previous volumes into a moving conclusion. At his most voluminous since My Struggle, his epic sensational

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Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated collection of fascinating, surprising, and funny facts about extinct animals.In the past, amazing and strange animals roamed the earth, including giant sea scorpions, tiny horses, enormous sloths, and fierce terror birds. These and many more fantastic extinct animals are illustrated in this whimsical collection by Swedish artist Maja Säfström.

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Book SynopsisA humorous and helpful illustrated field guide to avoiding interactions--both dangerous and annoying--with 50 wild animals, including survival techniques, wildlife etiquette, and other essential advice.As humans encroach on wild places, encounters with animals--from bears, bison, mountain lions, and mice to turkeys, ticks, rats, and raccoons--have become increasingly commonplace. But, wait, what are the rules for facing a moose up close? Do you run from a coyote or stand your ground? How deadly, really, are black widow spiders, rattlesnakes, and sharks? Packed with expert tips, fascinating animal facts, and harrowing true tales, Look Big is a must-have survival guide for outdoor, urban, and suburban adventurers alike. If you have ever feared the approach of a grizzly, the spray of a skunk, or an army of cockroaches in the kitchen, this book is for you.

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Book SynopsisA whimsically illustrated collection of fascinating, surprising, and funny facts about baby animals and their parents, from the author of The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts.Who doesn't love baby animals? Amazing Facts About Baby Animals is an adorable celebration of all kinds of fuzzy, fluffy, scaly, and feathery animal babies and their parents. This charming collection by beloved Swedish artist Maja Säfström is full of interesting, weird, and funny facts about animals before they are born (elephants are pregnant for 22 months!), when they are born (whales are born tail-first so they don't drown!), and life as babies (parrots give their offspring names! Baby macaques have snowball fights!). Perfect for art- and nature-loving kids and adults, this sweet book makes a wonderful gift and conversation starter for the whole family.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the world's birds, their homes, and their eggs in this gorgeously illustrated, entertaining, and educational guide.Did you know that the tailorbird sews leaves together to make its nest? Or that hummingbird eggs are the size of jellybeans? Birds are some of the world's most beautiful and interesting creatures, and their nests and eggs are no exception, displaying a stunning diversity of shapes, sizes, functions, and materials. In Nests, Eggs, Birds, celebrated artist and author Kelsey Oseid explores the fascinating ins and outs of where and how dozens of avian species--robins, birds of paradise, crows, owls, penguins, and more--make their homes and lay their eggs. Full of striking naturalistic art and fun scientific facts, Nests, Eggs, Birds will delight bird lovers of all ages.

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Book SynopsisI always knew that the rest of my story is gonna be a good one. I don’t know how I knew that, but I always did. Ungow! I am Fester the cat. Welcome to my book, everyone!From when he first ambled into Paul Magrs’s yard—skinny, covered in flea bites, and missing all but one and a half teeth—Fester knew he’d found his family. Paul and his partner, Jeremy, thought it was the ragged black-and-white stray, tired from a rough life on the streets, who was in desperate need of support. But clever Fester knew better. He understood that it was his newfound owners who needed the help.Over the course of seven years, the feisty feline turned the quaint Manchester house into a loving home. Through his fierce spirit, strong will, and calming energy, Fester taught Paul and Jeremy how to listen and breathe, how to appreciate the joys of simply sitting and singing (what Fester’s purrs sounded like to his silly humans), and how to find joy and con

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Book SynopsisFrom world-renowned scientist Jane Goodall, as seen in the new National Geographic documentary Jane, comes an inspiring message about the future of the animal kingdom. With the insatiable curiosity and conversational prose that have made her a bestselling author, Goodall - along with Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard - shares fascinating survival stories about the American Crocodile, the California Condor, the Black-Footed Ferret, and more; all formerly endangered species and species once on the verge of extinction whose populations are now being regenerated.Interweaving her own first-hand experiences in the field with the compelling research of premier scientists, Goodall illuminates the heroic efforts of dedicated environmentalists and the truly critical need to protect the habitats of these beloved species. At once a celebration of the animal kingdom and a passionate call to arms, Hope For Animals Their World presents an uplifting, hopeful message for the future of animal-human coexistence.Praise for Hope For Animals Their WorldGoodall''s intimate writing style and sense of wonder pull the reader into each account...The mix of personal and scientific makes for a compelling read.-BooklistThese accounts of conservation success are inspirational.-Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisGo on a fascinating nature hunt to find the camouflaged turtle, snakes, iguana, and other intriguing reptiles hiding in the brilliantly-painted pages of this book.

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Book SynopsisA leading reporter offers a tour of military working dogs' extraordinary training, heroic accomplishments, and the lasting impacts they have on those who work with them. People all over the world have been riveted by the story of Cairo, the Belgian Malinois who was a part of the Navy SEAL team that led the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. A dog's natural intelligence, physical abilities, and pure loyalty contribute more to our military efforts than ever before. You don't have to be a dog lover to be fascinated by the idea that a dog-the cousin of that furry guy begging for scraps under your table-could be one of the heroes who helped execute the most vital and high-tech military mission of the new millennium.Now Maria Goodavage, editor and featured writer for one of the world's most widely read dog blogs, tells heartwarming stories of modern soldier dogs and the amazing bonds that develop between them and their handlers. Beyond tales of training, operations, re

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Book SynopsisWith a new introduction on Werner Herzog’s film entitled The Grizzly ManTimothy Treadwell, self-styled “bear whisperer” dared to live among the grizzlies, seeking to overturn the perception of them as dangerously aggressive animals. When he and his girlfriend were mauled, it created a media sensation.In The Grizzly Maze, Nick Jans, a seasoned outdoor writer with a quarter century of experience writing about Alaska and bears, traces Treadwell’s rise from unknown waiter in California to celebrity, providing a moving portrait of the man whose controversial ideas and behavior earned him the scorn of hunters, the adoration of animal lovers and the skepticism of naturalists. “Intensely imagistic, artfully controlled prose . . . behind the building tension of Treadwell’s path to oblivion, a stunning landscape looms.”—Newsday

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Book SynopsisThe holistic bible for cat caregivers and a must-have gift for cat lovers—now updated and expanded.The Natural Cat was one of the first books to advocate natural cat care when it was originally published in 1983. Now fully revised and expanded to address the many new discoveries in holistic pet care, this updated edition includes: -A new introduction detailing the latest advances in holistic care for cats -Updated statistics, new diet guidelines, and health care recommendations, including the latest on vaccines -An updated resources section with suggestions for finding a holistic veterinarian and advice on how to deal with conventional veterinarians -A complete overhaul of language to reflect new attitudes toward caregiving Combined with classic and reliable advice on grooming, neutering and spaying, common feline health problems, elder cat care, behavioral problems, and emotional bonding, the latest information makes this editionTrade Review“Empowers the reader with a wealth of practical information. I heartily recommend this very special book.”—Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author—and his dog—more woofs of wisdom In his first book, John O'Hurley wrote of the many life lessons he'd learned from dogs' lessons that carried him from the New England woods of his childhood to his life today as an award-winning actor, composer, and writer amidst the bright lights of Hollywood. Now, in Before Your Dog Can Eat Your Homework, First You Have to Do It, John once again finds himself seeking the wisdom of a canine companion. After years of parenting pets, last December, he became a father to his first child, William. Along with the many new joys of being a dad, John faced a new set of challenges' and it was Scoshi, his wizened white Maltese and faithful confidant for nearly two decades, who, at every turn, pointed the way. At once poignant, profound, and laugh-out-loud funny, this book is a one-of-a-kind celebration of the joys of parenting pets and children alike, and further testamen

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Book SynopsisAs seen on PBS's American Spring Live, one of America's great nature-writers explores the magic and science of feathers Feathers are an evolutionary marvel: aerodynamic, insulating, beguiling. They date back more than 100 million years. Yet their story has never been fully told. In Feathers, biologist Thor Hanson details a sweeping natural history, as feathers have been used to fly, protect, attract, and adorn through time and place. Applying the research of paleontologists, ornithologists, biologists, engineers, and even art historians, Hanson asks: What are feathers? How did they evolve? What do they mean to us? Engineers call feathers the most efficient insulating material ever discovered, and they are at the root of biology's most enduring debate. They silence the flight of owls and keep penguins dry below the ice. They have decorated queens, jesters, and priests. And they have inked documents from the Constitution to the novels of Jane Austen.Feathers is a captivating and beautiful exploration of this most enchanting object.Trade ReviewFrank B. Gill, author of Ornithology "Thor Hanson has captured the wonders of feathers in gripping prose that will likely change forever how you look at birds and their colorful adornments. This is rich and engaging ornithology at its best." Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain "If you feel a sudden need to read about dinosaurs, flyfishing, muttonbirds, and showgirls, this is your book! Absolutely fascinating history, and a terrific read, Feathers is another Thor Hanson classic!" Peter Matthiessen, National Book Award winning author of The Snow Leopard and Shadow Country "A fascinating book about the most remarkable--and beautiful--of all avian evolutionary adaptations, with wonderful accounts of ornithological investigations and the solving of biological quandaries and questions, all of it unusually well-written. Highly recommended." Robert Michael Pyle, author of Wintergreen and Mariposa Road "Feathers is simply a splendid book! Even for one biased toward butterfly scales, their closest competitors in the animal raiment line, feathers in all their glory can only be seen as astonishing. With elegance and wit, Thor Hanson captures not only their awesome esthetics, but also the astonishing evolution, historical and cultural impact, and sheer wonder of avian plumage. Rendered in exquisite detail with delicate touch, like a feather-painting of old, this is the best kind of natural history--quilled by a real field biologist who is also a fine writer." Bernd Heinrich, Emeritus Professor of Biology, University of Vermont; author of Winter World and Mind of the Raven "Feathers are truly remarkable. In this book Hanson shows how they are the key to many of the most fascinating and diverse aspects of bird biology, how they have affected our understanding of evolution, and how they have and are enriching our everyday lives. This is science written in clear and entertaining prose; a great read." BioScience "From basic research about bird biology and the evolutionary origins of feather to falconry, couture, and bioinspiration in industrial design, the book treats us to a series of engaging essays about feathers, both on and off the bird... Hanson weaves his prior encounters with birds and his experiences as a scientist into the text, offering lively anecdotes about his student days and subsequent life as a professional grant-seeking field biologist. He is particularly adept at portraying how science really works... Hanson's prose is polished, lively, and evocative. The outcome is a book that is easy and entertaining to read, yet one that is able to satisfy our intellectual curiosity... In Feathers, Hanson is remarkably successful at offering something for everyone. Readers from young adults to professional ornithologists and from those interested in nature to those more interested in human culture will enjoy this book... Ultimately, Feathers is a book to read for pleasure, but along the way, we gain knowledge and insight into nature and our relationship with it." Bird Watcher's Digest "To read Feathers is to meet up with an enthusiastic old friend who simply cannot wait to tell you about something he just discovered. Deceptively conversational and fast moving, disguising the true depth of information it conveys with buoyant, good-humored prose, Feathers is a book not only intellectually accessible to anyone with an interest in the subject but also one that should be considered a must-read by bird watchers and naturalists of all levels of interest or experience." Audubon "[C]aptivating... Beginning with the evolution of birds, Hanson, a biologist, explains competing theories with ease, and unfolds the human fascination with feathers in terms of science, commerce, tools, folklore, art, and aerodynamics with panache. Anecdotes infuse the fascinating survey." Montana Outdoors "[A] delight. As the name makes clear, it's all about feathers--their evolution, use by birds, and extremely high value to humans, from quill pens and trout flies to women's hats and Aztec emperor headdresses." Seattle Times "[D]elightful... [A] fascinating inquiry into one of those common things that are easy to overlook until someone shows what a miracle it is... Birds, the only animals with feathers today, wear these magic coats of stunning variety whose forms so perfectly fit their functions. Hanson's book reveals much about that marvelous magic." Library Journal (starred review) "[E]njoyable, wide-ranging, and well-researched... Highly recommended for birders and science buffs." Maclean's "[E]ngaging... For all the intriguing science, what really livens up Hanson's passionate discussion of his 'natural miracle' are the stories he tells." Nature "Thor Hanson's storytelling is enhanced by his infectious excitement... Hanson's tale is comprehensive, accurate, timely and engaging... Feathers is a compelling introduction to one of nature's wonders." Science "Hanson writes in a colorful, conversational, and non-technical manner that conveys his enthusiasm for the subject... The book offers a readable introduction to feathers and what they mean for birds and mankind." Wall Street Journal "[Hanson] has produced a winning book about the extraordinary place of feathers in animal and human history... like all true birdwatchers, Mr. Hanson knows it isn't just the bird at the far end of the binoculars but the human being at the near end that matters, and he is writing as much about the human urge to understand, appreciate and appropriate the wild world as he is writing about feathers, which he calls, in his subtitle, a 'natural miracle.'... Feathers is an earthbound book, but this does not keep the author--or the reader--from looking up in wonder." New York Times "[A] fine book... Mr. Hanson's pleasure in feathers is infectious... [Feathers] is gracious, funny, persuasive and wide ranging. Feathers, Mr. Hanson reminds us, teach a remarkable amount about evolution, insulation, engineering, archaeology and fashion. Better still, as this book shows, they allow not only birds but the human imagination to take flight." New Scientist "[A] sparkling history... Well-written science adds gravity to the more featherweight content of witty anecdotes -- from interviews with feather-clad Las Vegas showgirls to plucking roadkill in the name of biology. The skilful way Hanson combines the two makes this book popular natural history at its best."

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Book SynopsisUnlike other barnyard animals, which pull plows, give eggs or milk, or grow wool, a pig produces only one thing: meat. Incredibly efficient at converting almost any organic matter into nourishing, delectable protein, swine are nothing short of a gastronomic godsend,yet their flesh is banned in many cultures, and the animals themselves are maligned as filthy, lazy brutes.As historian Mark Essig reveals in Lesser Beasts , swine have such a bad reputation for precisely the same reasons they are so valuable as a source of food: they are intelligent, self-sufficient, and omnivorous. What''s more, he argues, we ignore our historic partnership with these astonishing animals at our peril. Tracing the interplay of pig biology and human culture from Neolithic villages 10,000 years ago to modern industrial farms, Essig blends culinary and natural history to demonstrate the vast importance of the pig and the tragedy of its modern treatment at the hands of humans. Pork, Essig explains, has long beTrade ReviewPraise for Lesser Beasts: "Broad, well-researched... [An] entertaining study." --Economist "Although history sprawls across countless topics, Essig zeroes in on a long-neglected niche -- the pig. In sprightly prose, he tells why the intelligent animal has filled so many plates for so long in so many parts of the world; like good bacon, his book sizzles." --St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Best Books of 2015 "A witty history of civilization told through our four-legged pork producer." --The Guardian (UK) "Essig's account is fascinating, full of erudition and nuance. He traces societal changes from the pharaohs to Walmart, using the pig. Equally, he uses history to enlarge our understanding of the domestic pig." --New Scientist (UK) "Essig presents the pig in a rich cultural context, weaving natural and social history into an engaging narrative about the lowly beast that has loomed ever so large in our collective experience." --Asheville Citizen-Times "Lesser Beasts offers readers entertainment as well as information ... [some] pages sizzle like bacon, and it's tough to set aside a book about an animal that's so close to people, in locale and in physiology." --St. Louis Post-Dispatch Garden and Gun "Mark Essig's savory history will provide you with hundreds of facts and anecdotes about the remarkable pig, so you'll impress your friends and relatives around the fire pit. Essig--who lives in Asheville--loves his pigs; he just loves them a little bit more with a nice vinegar." PopMatters "Essig offers a compelling look at one of history's most divisive animals... informative, suprising." "[A] solid introduction to swine culture... Highly recommended. All readers." --CHOICE "Essig examines the longstanding yet often overlooked connections between man and swine... You'll finish this read with a new appreciation for the phrase 'bringing home the bacon.'" --The Local Palate Portland Book Review "[Essig's] writing skill is excellent... a good read." "An enlightening culinary history... A lively, informative farm-to-table feast." --Kirkus Reviews "What Mark Kurlansky did for Cod, Essig might just do for swine." --Shelf Awareness "Essig presents an entertaining perspective on pigs, especially as they relate to humans. After you read this book, pigs will never seem quite the same." --Library Journal "A thoughtful book about the fascinating relationship between pigs and people, from Leviticus to Charlotte's Web. I learned something new on every page: Essig has a knack for delivering reams of information with lightness and wit, even as he makes an eloquent plea for a reformed pork industry, one where the bacon we eat comes from 'a pig that lived like a pig.' Whether you eat pork or not, Lesser Beasts is a gripping meditation on the plight of pigs." --Bee Wilson, author of Consider the Fork "Forget the egg. It's the pig that's incredible and edible. And Mark Essig tells the remarkable animal's checkered history with a style and verve that's as irresistible as bacon itself." --John Donohue, editor of Man with a Pan: Culinary Adventures of Fathers who Cook for their Families "Mark Essig tells a fine tale of the unsung exploits of the lowly pig, from the age of the pyramids and the wars of the conquistadors to the awful abattoirs and trendy restaurants of today. With clear prose and careful research, he redeems an animal that has played a seminal role in human history while enduring near universal disdain. This fascinating book provides a marvelous antidote to our unexamined views on the pig." --Andrew Lawler, author of Why Did the Chicken Cross the World? The Epic Saga of the Bird that Powers Civilization "Lesser Beasts is a delightful romp through porcine history from the Neolithic era to the present. Mark Essig offers surprising answers to the question of why humans have had such a love-hate affair with the humble pig, and unveils many other unexpected insights. Well written and well researched, Lesser Beasts is a must for historians, pork lovers, and anyone who just loves a good read." --Andrew F. Smith, editor-in-chief, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America "Pigs are omnivorous. And so is Mark Essig. From a Roman recipe for salt curing and cold smoking hams that Cato favored, to the ignoble efforts of American industrial farmers who have shown neither their pigs nor their customers respect, he has sifted the archival record to write a smart and thoroughly engaging social history of the curious entwinings of pig and man." --John T. Edge, series editor, Southern Foodways Alliance Studies in Culture, People, and PlaceTable of ContentsPrologue. The Magical Animal One. Keep it Simple Two. Out of the Wild Three. "The Pig is Impure" Four. "Of Their Flesh Shall Ye Not Eat" Five. "Monstrosities of Luxury" Six. The Forest Pig Seven. "Swine Eat Things Clean and Unclean" Eight. "The Husbandman's Best Scavenger" Nine. "All the Mountains Swarmed with Them" Ten. "A Great Unkindness for our Swine" Eleven. "The Benevolent Tyranny of the Pig" Twelve. "Twenty Bushels of Corn on Four Legs" Thirteen. "The Republic of Porkdom" Fourteen. "A Swinish Multitude" Fifteen. "A Growing Prejudice Against Pork" Sixteen. "The Other White Meat" Seventeen. Vices Eighteen. "Back to the Start" Epilogue. Virtuous Carnivores

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Book SynopsisThe astonishing richness of birdsong is both an aesthetic and a scientific mystery. Evolutionists have never been able to completely explain why birdsong is so inventive and why many species devote so many hours to singing. The standard explanations of defending territories and attracting mates don''t begin to account for the variety and energy that the commonest birds exhibit. Is it possible that birds sing because they like to? This seemingly naive explanation is starting to look more and more like the truth. Why Birds Sing is a lyric exploration of birdsong that blends the latest scientific research with a deep understanding of musical beauty and form. Drawing on conversations with neuroscientists, ecologists, and composers, it is the first book to investigate the elusive question of why birds sing and what their song means to both avian and human ears. Whether playing his clarinet with the whitecrested laughing thrush in Pittsburgh, or jamming in the Australian winter breeding gr

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Book SynopsisThe Poodle is known for her keen intelligence, excellent trainability, and, most notably, those signature curly locks. But there's more to the Poodle than meets the eye (like, say, those expensive grooming bills). So, to Poodle or not to Poodle? That is the question.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 2 What You’re Not to Read 3 Foolish Assumptions 3 How This Book Is Organized 4 Part I: Picking the Poodle of Your Dreams 4 Part II: Living Happily with Your Poodle 4 Part III: Training and Having Fun with Your Poodle Pal 5 Part IV: Maintaining Your Poodle’s Health 5 Part V: The Part of Tens 5 Icons Used in This Book 5 Where to Go from Here 6 Part I: Picking the Poodle of Your Dreams 7 Chapter 1: Making a Match with a Poodle 9 Understanding the Poodle Breed 9 Strolling through a brief history 9 Reviewing sizes and personality traits 10 Considering breed standards 11 To Poodle or Not to Poodle: Is One the Best Dog for You? 11 Selecting the Perfect Poodle for You 12 Adjusting to Life with a Poodle 12 Training and Enjoying Your Poodle 13 Keeping Your Poodle Healthy 14 Chapter 2: Unwrapping the Whole Poodle Package 15 Walking through the History of the Breed 15 In the beginning, there was dog 15 The appearance of Poodle varieties 17 The Poodle’s modern rise in popularity 17 Picturing a Poodle’s Physical Traits and Personality 19 Measuring up sizes 19 Scoping out a Poodle’s anatomy 20 Taking a look at temperament 22 Surveying Breed Standards 22 The American Kennel Club 23 The United Kennel Club 26 Chapter 3: Deciding Whether a Poodle Is Right for You 29 Asking Yourself a Few Important Questions Upfront 29 Does a Poodle fit in with your lifestyle? 30 Do you have room for a Poodle? 30 How will a Poodle respond to your children and other pets? 30 Considering the Costs of Poodle Ownership 31 How much is that doggy? Money matters 31 The clock’s ticking: Time issues 32 Chapter 4: Choosing the Best Poodle for You 33 Selecting the Traits You Want in a Poodle 33 Puppy or adult? 33 Toy, Miniature, or Standard? 35 Male or female? 35 Which color? 36 Deciding Where to Find Your Poodle 36 Beginning with breeders 36 Considering shelters and rescue groups 42 Wondering about pet shops 44 Choosing a Healthy Poodle 45 Registering Your Poodle 46 American Kennel Club registration 46 United Kennel Club registration 47 Perusing a pedigree after you register your Poodle 47 Part II: Living Happily with Your Poodle 49 Chapter 5: Preparing for Your Poodle’s Homecoming 51 Outfitting Your Home with Crates, Gates, and Ex-pens 51 Crates 52 Gates 54 Ex-pens 56 Buying Comfortable Bedding 56 Staying Attached with Collars and Leads 57 Shopping for collars 57 Looking at leads 59 Securing Proper ID for Your Poodle 60 Beautifying Your Poodle with the Right Grooming Tools 61 Hair care 61 Nail care 62 Self-grooming considerations 62 Savoring the Details of Food and Bowls 64 Getting the Scoop on Cleanup Tools 65 Finding Toys for Toys (And, Yes, Miniatures and Standards) 66 Following a few toy guidelines 66 Gnawing on chew toys 66 Rollicking with retrieving toys 67 Settling on squeaky toys 68 Getting creative with homemade toys 68 Poodle-Proofing Your Home 69 On the inside 69 Out in the yard 70 Choosing Special Spaces for Your Poodle 72 The eating spot 73 The sleeping spot 73 The potty spot 74 Scheduling a Checkup with Your Vet 74 Chapter 6: Welcoming Your Poodle Home 75 Picking Up Your Poodle 75 Selecting the right day and the right time 75 Taking home other items besides the Poodle 76 Traveling home safely 77 Giving Your Poodle the Grand Tour 78 Meeting Other Family Members 79 Kids in the house 79 Other pets 80 Surviving the First Night 82 Anticipating Possible Problems and Planning Sensible Solutions 82 Avoiding bad habits from the outset 83 Handling food issues 83 Getting used to grooming 84 Chapter 7: Providing Your Poodle with a Nutritious Diet 85 Knowing the Nutrients that Your Poodle Needs 85 Dishing Out Main Meals 87 Choosing among dry, canned, and semi-moist foods 87 Doing some home cooking 89 Getting the scoop on raw foods 90 Steering clear of table scraps 91 Keeping water, water everywhere 91 Giving Snacks and Treats Smartly 92 Giving out snacks 92 Trying treats 92 Establishing a Feeding Routine 93 Feeding at set times 93 Having food available all the time 94 Knowing how much food to feed 94 Changing Your Poodle’s Diet as He Grows 95 Avoiding Certain Foods 95 Chapter 8: Keeping Your Poodle Clean and Attractive 97 Drawing Up a Grooming Schedule 97 Deciding between Professional and Personal Grooming 99 Grooming in your personal Poodle salon 99 Ushering your Poodle to a groomer 101 Getting to the Root of Hair Care 102 Brushing and combing 102 Bathing and drying 104 Clipping Your Poodle 107 Keeping it simple with pet clips 107 Showing off with show clips 109 Fresh from Head to Toe: Tackling Other Grooming Tasks 113 Trimming your Poodle’s nails 113 Keeping an eye on your Poodle’s eyes 115 Examining the ears 116 Doing some dental work 118 Part III: Training and Having Fun with Your Poodle Pal 121 Chapter 9: Housetraining Made Easy 123 Littering Your Brain with Housetraining Basics 123 Setting up a housetraining schedule for your Poodle 124 Staying consistent (yet flexible) in your training routine 126 Speeding up the training process 126 Recognizing the telltale “I gotta go!” signs 127 Mastering Effective Housetraining Methods 128 Sleeping the day away: Crate training 128 Putting pee to paper: Paper training 129 Scratch and sprinkle: Litter training 131 Surveying additional indoor training options 132 Getting the Scoop on Cleanup Duty 134 Cleaning up inside 134 Cleaning up in the great outdoors 136 Chapter 10: Instilling Good Manners in Your Poodle 137 Getting a Grip on Some Disciplinary Basics 137 Handling a Collar and Lead 138 Collaring your Poodle 139 Leading on 141 Training Your Poodle with Basic Commands 142 Come! 143 Sit! 145 Down! 146 Stay! 147 Leave it! 148 Heel! 148 Overcoming Common Canine Behavior Problems 149 Barking at the mailman, at neighbors, at squirrels, at 150 I beg you — no begging! 152 Chewing on everything 152 Nipping and mouthing 153 Digging up some trouble 154 Jump, jumping around 155 Aggression against others 155 Finding Professional Help 156 Attending classes 156 Taking private lessons 157 Seeking out animal behaviorists 158 Chapter 11: Socializing Your Poodle 159 Acclimating Your Poodle to New Faces 159 Meeting the neighbors 159 Setting up play dates 160 Enrolling in puppy kindergarten or other classes 161 Handling Strange Situations, Objects, and Noises 162 Going for car rides 162 Adjusting to unfamiliar situations and objects 163 Easing a fear of loud noises 164 Chapter 12: Hitting the Road with Your Poodle 165 Checking Out Your Traveling Options 165 By car 165 By air 167 Taking Care of Other Trip Details 170 Packing it in 170 Carrying the proper ID 171 Staying at a Poodle-friendly place 172 Leaving Your Poodle at Home 173 Boarding your Poodle 173 Picking a pet sitter 175 Chapter 13: Showing Off and Enjoying Your Poodle’s Talents 177 Passing the Canine Good Citizen Test 177 Preparing for the test 178 Taking the test 178 Looking Good: Conformation Shows 179 How can you and your Poodle get ready for conformation shows? 179 How does a conformation show work? 181 Testing Skills: Rally Events 182 Oh, Behave! Obedience Events 183 Staying on Course: Agility Events 185 Surveying an agility course 185 Looking at rules and levels 186 On the Prowl: Hunt Tests 187 Equipping yourself and training 187 Hunting at different levels 188 Earning qualifying scores 188 The Nose Knows: Tracking Tests 189 Sharing the Love: Therapy Poodles 189 How a therapy dog helps 189 How to become certified (and other considerations) 190 Part IV: Maintaining Your Poodle’s Health 191 Chapter 14: Taking Basic Care of Your Poodle’s Health 193 Choosing the Right Veterinarian and Setting a Schedule 193 Knowing what to look for in a vet 194 Asking a potential vet important questions 195 Setting up regular checkups 196 Surveying Alternative Healthcare Choices 197 On pins and needles: Acupuncture 197 Back to basics: Chiropractic medicine 199 Doggie day spa: Massage treatment 199 All-natural: Herbal treatments 200 Homeopathy 202 Taking a Shot at Good Health with Vaccinations 202 Checking out available vaccines 202 Scheduling shots 204 Nip and Tuck: The Basics of Spaying and Neutering 205 What happens during spaying and neutering? 206 When should you spay or neuter your Poodle? 207 Keeping an Eye on Your Poodle’s Health at Home 208 Exercising your Poodle 208 Checking your Poodle regularly 210 Giving medications 210 Chapter 15: Considering Common Poodle Conditions 213 Ouch! Treating Everyday Illnesses and Injuries 213 Cuts and scrapes 213 Lumps and bumps 214 Skin problems 214 Tummy aches 215 Ear issues 215 Internal parasites 216 External parasites 217 Limping 219 Surveying Other Common Poodle Health Issues 220 Bloat 220 Epilepsy 220 Hormonal problems 221 Orthopedic issues 222 Vision conditions 223 Von Willebrand’s Disease 224 Chapter 16: Staying Prepared with First-Aid Basics 225 Stocking the Essentials in Your Canine First-Aid Kit 225 Traditional medicines 226 Holistic medicines 228 Performing Basic First-Aid Techniques on Your Poodle 228 Taking your Poodle’s temperature and pulse 229 Muzzling your Poodle 229 Moving your Poodle safely 230 Giving artificial respiration 230 Treating shock 231 Coming to Your Poodle’s Rescue in Specific Emergencies 232 Lacerations and bleeding 233 Different types of wounds 233 Broken bones 234 Heatstroke 235 Frostbite 236 Choking 236 Poisoning (including insect bites and stings) 237 Electrocution 238 Chapter 17: Easing Your Senior Poodle into the Golden Years 239 Instituting a Sensible Senior Diet 239 Exercising Your Senior Poodle 240 Handling Senior Health Issues 241 Potty problems 241 Arthritis 242 Hearing problems 243 Fading eyesight 244 Saying Goodbye to Your Beloved Poodle 245 Knowing when the time has come 245 Deciding whether to be with your Poodle at the end 247 Memorializing your Poodle 247 Dealing with your grief 248 Part V: The Part of Tens 249 Chapter 18: Ten (or So) Great Sets of Poodle Resources 251 Kennel and Poodle Clubs 251 Rescue Groups 252 Grooming 252 Training 252 Travel 253 Performance Events and Other Fun Activities 253 Therapy Dogs 253 Healthcare 254 Memorials 254 Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Help Your Poodle if Disaster Strikes 255 Stock and Store Necessary Supplies 255 A crate 255 Food and water 256 Medications and vaccination records 256 Identification 256 An extra lead 256 Make a List of What You Need 257 Consider Places Where You Can Go 257 Examine Your Transportation Options 257 Plan to Leave Your Poodle with Other Folks if Necessary 258 Succumb to Your Last Resort: Turn Your Poodle Loose 258 Index 259

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