Nature and the natural world: general interest Books

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Book SynopsisTravel brings with it many extraordinary moments--from the whimsical to the hilarious to the downright absurd. By following in the footsteps of previous bestselling humour titles such as Mugged by a Moose and A Beaver is Eating My Canoe, we continue to celebrate more of those moments in Moose on the Loose. Join 26 travel and outdoor writers as they relate their wacky tales of misadventure. If there''s one truth that can be pulled from this collection of stories, it''s that while outlandish things can happen on the road less travelled, there''s no such thing as a bad story!

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Book SynopsisLearn about 320 species of Northern California birds in fascinating detail. Descriptions, illustrations and range maps help you identify birds and understand their habits. A checklist helps you keep a list of your birding accomplishments. Perfect for beginner birders and beyond.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating, fun and engaging book on New Zealand's amazing natural world.Table of ContentsWelcome to Zealandia 9 1 Why is our place magic? 11 2 Why are these islands shaky? 21 3 Why are the forests so green? 33 4 Why is that lake so blue? 45 5 What’s happening out at sea? 57 6 What used to live here? 69 7 What happened when people arrived? 79 8 What happens after dark? 91 What can you do to help keep Aotearoa New Zealand magic? 102 What does that word mean? 104 Where will you find it? 107 Who wrote this book? 108 Who helped make this book? 109 What page is that on? 110

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Book SynopsisThe Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa holds over one million items in its vast natural history collection. Award-winning photographer Jane Ussher spent several days capturing their astonishing beauty and power, and the result is a stunningly photographed and beautifully packaged book.Trade Review'People say "stunning" lightly but that's really what it felt like, the first time I opened Nature - Stilled. There is no flicking through. You sit and you look properly and it is a pleasure, to pause like this over images, to be still' - Catherine Woulfe, Spinoff Books; '... awe-inspiring volume.' - North & South; 'Despite having a luminary photographer guiding the project this Nature-Stilled is more than a photography book. This beautifully conceived document is an opportunity to learn about the natural history of New Zealand beyond the museum's displays.' - Design Assembly; 'Ussher, and the Te Papa Press team, have created a true treasure, bringing these pieces of history out into the light' - NZ Booklovers; '... an astonishingly beautiful volume of both great scientific and aesthetic interest' - Scoop; 'An impressive 364 page volume Nature - Stilled is generous and inclusive. Photographs of the various members of ten different species make up the photographic sections which are the bulk of the book, with an introduction by Ussher and a text section at the back where the Te Papa natural history team give a description of each image in non-scientific language. This is clearly a book designed to interest the general public in what Te Papa have behind the scenes. The work put into producing such an impressive tome is clear, and it is obvious that all involved put a great deal of care and love into this book' - Caroline McQuarrie, photoforum. Author feature in Canvas, NZ Herald, 10 October 2020. “A stunning book, with subtle and defining features throughout. Jane Ussher’s careful yet expressive photography has been treated with immaculate production and sensitivity.” - 2021 PANZ Book Design Awards commentTable of Contents007 Introduction 011 Chromatic Plates 313 Species Information 314 Birds, Colin Miskelly 321 Bryozoans, Rick Webber 322 Cnidarians, Rick Webber 325 Crustaceans, Rick Webber 328Echinoderms, Rick Webber 334 Fishes, Andrew Stewart 344 Insects, Phil Sirvid 353 Molluscs, Rodrigo Salvador 358 Plants, Antony Kusabs / Bridget Hatton 364 Collection Ephemera 366 About the Photographer 367 Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The power of nature in children's lives is inextricably linked to the power of story, and David Sobel, one of the pioneering voices in the children and nature movement, is a born storyteller. Wild Play is an invaluable, eloquent, and heartfelt contribution to the movement, and most of all to children and those who love them." Richard Louv , author of Last Child in the Woods : Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisPuppies in sunglasses.  Sleeping kittens.  A hedgehog in a teacup.   If the thought of animals in adorable situations makes you feel just a little bit happier, then Cute Emergency is the book for you.  Based on the popular Twitter feed, it is the antidote to all of life's little annoyances. Not even the coldest curmudgeon could stay frazzled when faced with the heart-melting animals and witty captions contained in these pages.  So fulfill your recommended daily allowance of cuteness and let furry creatures come to your rescue!

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Book SynopsisA new hardcover selection of the best writings of the visionary German naturalist whose ideas changed the way we see the natural world. Selected and introduced by Andrea Wulf.Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) was an intrepid explorer and the most famous scientist of his age. His life was packed with adventure and discovery, whether he was climbing volcanoes in the Andes, racing through anthrax-infected Siberia, or publishing groundbreaking bestsellers. Ahead of his time, he recognized nature as an interdependent whole and he saw before anyone else that humankind was on a path to destroy it. His visits to the Americas led him to argue that the indigenous peoples possessed ancient cultures with sophisticated languages, architecture, and art, and his expedition to Cuba prompted him to denounce slavery as “the greatest evil ever to have afflicted humanity.” To Humboldt, the melody of his prose was as important as its empirical content, and this selection from his most famous works—including Cosmos, Views of Nature, and Views of the Cordilleras and Monuments of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, among others—allows us the pleasure of reading his own accounts of his daring explorations. Humboldt’s writings profoundly influenced naturalists and poets including Darwin, Thoreau, Muir, Goethe, Wordsworth, and Whitman. The Selected Writings is not only a tribute to Humboldt’s important role in environmental history and science, but also to his ability to fashion powerfully poetic narratives out of scientific observations.

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Book SynopsisProvides all you need to know about the safe and humane handling and restraint of animals. Safe Handling and Restraint of Animals takes a holistic approach to the handling of a wide variety of animal species. This comprehensive resource offers a thorough overview of how to safely handle and restrain a number of commonly encountered species including dogs, cats, small mammals, exotic pets, horses and farm animals. Each chapter discusses the behaviour of the species and then outlines the appropriate handling and restraint methods, including any equipment required, multiple explanatory photographs, and useful further reading. Covers a wide range of species commonly encountered by veterinary staff and those working within animal industries Includes key points and self-assessment questions at the end of each chapter, and a glossary of terms Ideal for students of any animal-related degree or diploma programme, including veterinary mediciTable of ContentsContributors xv Acknowledgement xvii 1 Biosecurity and Personal Equipment for Safe Handling and Restraint of Animals 1 Stella J. Chapman 1.1 Transmission of Disease 1 1.1.1 Zoonoses 1 1.1.2 Carriers 3 1.2 Infection Control 3 1.2.1 Biosecurity 3 1.2.2 Effective Cleaning and Disinfection 3 1.3 Assessing the Risk 4 1.3.1 Standard Operating Procedures 5 1.4 Personal Hygiene 5 1.4.1 Handwashing 6 1.4.2 Signs 7 1.5 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 7 1.5.1 General Points 8 1.5.2 Working with Horses 9 Key Points 10 Self-assessment Questions 10 References 11 Further Reading 11 2 Welfare Considerations for the Handling and Restraint of Animals 13 Stella J. Chapman 2.1 The Human–Animal Bond: Domestication as a Consideration of Welfare 13 2.2 Welfare Considerations 14 2.2.1 The Five Needs/Freedoms and Reference to Animal Handling and Restraint 14 2.3 Types of Restraints and Implications for Welfare 15 2.3.1 Dogs 16 2.3.2 Horses 16 2.4 Stress and Implications for Handling and Restraint 17 2.4.1 Fear 17 2.4.2 Novel Events 17 2.4.3 Previous Experience 17 2.4.4 Selection for Behavioural Traits 18 2.4.5 The Importance of Training to Improve Handling and Animal Welfare 18 Key Points 18 Self-assessment Questions 19 References 19 3 Handling and Restraint of Dogs 21 Susan M. Phillips and Stella J. Chapman 3.1 Canine Behaviour 22 3.1.1 Genetic Influences on Behaviour (Nature) 22 3.1.2 Environmental Influences on Behaviour (Nurture) 23 3.1.3 Canine Communication 24 3.1.4 Canine Aggression 25 3.2 Handling and Restraint of Dogs 25 3.2.1 Approaching a Dog 28 3.2.2 Kennelling a Dog 29 3.2.3 Moving Around the Premises 29 3.2.4 Physical Restraint 29 3.2.5 Lifting 34 3.3 Ancillary Equipment 38 3.3.1 Collar and Lead 38 3.3.2 Slip Lead 38 3.3.3 Harness 40 3.3.4 Halters 40 3.3.5 Muzzles 40 3.3.6 Catchers 41 3.3.7 Stretchers, Trolleys and Blankets 42 3.4 Training for Restraint 42 3.5 Special Considerations 43 3.5.1 Handling and Restraint of Puppies 43 3.5.2 The Geriatric Dog 43 3.5.3 Dealing with an Uncooperative or Aggressive Dog 44 Key Points 44 Self-assessment Questions 44 References 45 Further Reading 46 4 Handling and Restraint of Cats 47 Susan M. Phillips and Stella J. Chapman 4.1 Feline Behaviour 48 4.1.1 Social Structure 48 4.1.2 Communication 48 4.1.3 Visual Communication 48 4.1.4 Olfactory Communication 51 4.1.5 Behaviour Responses 52 4.1.6 How this can Affect Handling 52 4.2 Handling and Restraint of Cats 52 4.2.1 Moving around the Premises 53 4.2.2 Removing Cats from Carriers and Cages 53 4.2.3 Placing Cats in Carriers and Cages 54 4.3 Physical Restraint 54 4.3.1 Lifting and Carrying Cats 54 4.3.2 Restraint in Standing Position 55 4.3.3 Restraint in Sitting Position 55 4.3.4 Restraint in Sternal Recumbency 56 4.3.5 Restraint in Lateral Recumbency 57 4.3.6 Restraint for Examination of the Head 57 4.3.7 Scruffing 57 4.4 Ancillary Equipment 57 4.4.1 Towels 58 4.4.2 Muzzles 59 4.4.3 Gloves and Gauntlets 59 4.4.4 Cat Bags 59 4.4.5 Nets 60 4.4.6 Cat Grabber/Snare 61 4.4.7 Crush Cages 61 4.5 Training for Restraint 61 4.6 Special Considerations 62 4.6.1 Handling and Restraint of Kittens: Socialization 62 4.6.2 Behavioural Changes Associated with Ageing 62 4.6.3 Dealing with an Aggressive of Uncooperative Cat 62 Key Points 63 Self-assessment Questions 64 References 64 Further Reading 65 5 Handling and Restraint of Rabbits 67 Bridget Roberts and Stella J. Chapman 5.1 Behaviour of Rabbits 68 5.1.1 Communication 68 5.2 Handling and Restraint of Rabbits 68 5.2.1 Basics 69 5.2.2 Approach and Capture of a Rabbit 69 5.2.3 Lifting a Rabbit into a Basket 71 5.2.4 Restraint of a Rabbit on a Table 73 5.2.5 Restraint for Sexing or Examination of the Abdomen 75 5.2.6 Restraint for Aggressive Rabbits 76 5.2.7 Alternative Restraint Methods for Rabbits 77 5.2.8 Towel Wrap or ‘Bunny Burrito’ 77 5.2.9 Tonic Immobilization 78 5.3 Aggression 79 5.3.1 Aggression as a Normal Behaviour 80 5.3.2 Aggression as an Abnormal Behaviour 81 5.3.3 Preventing and Minimizing Aggressive Behaviour 81 Key Points 82 Self-assessment Questions 82 References 82 Further Reading 83 6 Handling and Restraint of Rodents 85 Bridget Roberts and Stella J. Chapman 6.1 General Species Information 85 6.1.1 Guinea Pigs 85 6.1.2 Rats 86 6.1.3 Mice 86 6.1.4 Hamsters 86 6.1.5 Gerbils 87 6.2 Behaviour of Rodents 87 6.2.1 Anatomical Considerations 87 6.2.2 Social Behaviour 87 6.2.3 Communication 88 6.3 Handling and Restraint of Small Rodents 88 6.3.1 General Guidelines 88 6.3.2 Points to Consider 90 6.3.3 Mice 90 6.3.4 Hamsters and Gerbils 90 6.4 Handling and Restraint of Rats 94 6.4.1 Approach 94 6.4.2 Capture 94 6.4.3 General Table Restraint 94 6.4.4 Restraint for Sexing or Examination of the Abdomen 95 6.4.5 Additional Methods of Restraint 96 6.4.6 Aggression 97 6.5 Handling and Restraint of Guinea Pigs 98 6.5.1 Approach 98 6.5.2 Capture 99 6.5.3 General Table Restraint 100 6.5.4 Restraint for Sexing or Examination of the Abdomen 102 6.5.5 Carrying a Guinea Pig 102 6.5.6 Aggression in Guinea Pigs 102 Key Points 103 Self-assessment Questions 104 References 104 Further Reading 105 7 Handling and Restraint of Ferrets 107 Bridget Roberts and Stella J. Chapman 7.1 Behaviour of Ferrets 107 7.1.1 Communication 108 7.2 Handling and Restraint of Ferrets 108 7.2.1 General points 108 7.2.2 Approach 108 7.2.3 Capture 109 7.2.4 General Table Restraint 110 7.2.5 Restraint for Sexing and Examination of the Abdomen 110 7.2.6 Restraint of Aggressive Ferrets 110 7.2.7 Use of Harnesses 110 Key Points 111 Self-assessment Questions 112 References 112 Further Reading 113 8 Handling and Restraint of Horses and Donkeys 115 Stella J. Chapman and Krista M. McLennan 8.1 Equine Behaviour 116 8.1.1 Temperament 116 8.1.2 Communication 117 8.1.3 Key Differences Between Horses and Donkeys 119 8.1.3.1 In General 119 8.1.3.2 How Donkey Behaviour Can Affect Handling 119 8.1.3.3 How to Use Behavioural Traits to Effect when Handling Donkeys 120 8.2 How to Approach a Horse/Donkey 120 8.3 How to Put on a Head Collar and Lead in Hand 121 8.3.1 How to Put a Head Collar on a Horse in the Stable 121 8.3.2 How to Put a Head Collar on a Donkey in the Field 124 8.3.3 Quick Release Knot 124 8.3.4 How to Lead in Hand 127 8.4 Physical Restraint 130 8.5 Methods and Equipment 130 8.5.1 Head Collar 130 8.5.2 Bridle 131 8.5.3 Chiffney Bit 131 8.5.4 Twitch 131 8.5.5 Stocks 134 8.5.6 Tail Restraint 135 8.5.7 Physical Restraint of Donkeys 137 8.6 Training for Restraint 139 8.6.1 Training Donkeys for Restraint 141 8.7 Handling and Restraint of Foals 144 8.7.1 Development of Behaviour 144 8.7.2 Restraint of Foals 146 8.8 Handling and Restraint of Stallions 149 Key Points 149 Self-assessment Questions 149 References 150 Further Reading 151 9 Handling and Restraint of Cattle 153 Krista M. McLennan and Stella J. Chapman 9.1 Behaviour 153 9.1.1 Dairy and Beef Cattle 153 9.2 How to Use Behavioural Traits to Good Effect When Handling 154 9.2.1 Cattle as a Prey Animal 154 9.2.2 Flight Zone and Point of Balance 155 9.2.3 Cattle as a Social Species 156 9.2.4 Previous Experience 156 9.2.5 Cattle Signals to Look For 157 9.3 How to Approach and Move Cattle 157 9.3.1 Approaching and Moving a Group of Cattle 158 9.3.2 Approaching and Moving the Individual 158 9.3.3 Moving a Calf 160 9.4 Handling Facilities 160 9.4.1 Special Note: Bulls and Calves; Use of Dogs and Vehicles 163 9.5 How to Restrain Cattle 166 9.5.1 Physical Restraint 166 9.5.2 Roping or Casting 173 9.6 Training for Restraint 176 9.7 Special Considerations 176 Key Points 177 Self-assessment Questions 177 References 177 Further Reading 178 10 Handling and Restraint of Small Ruminants 179 Krista M. McLennan and Stella J. Chapman 10.1 Behaviour 180 10.1.1 How to Use Behavioural Traits to Effect when Handling 181 10.1.1.1 The Flocking Instinct 181 10.1.1.2 Follow the Leader 181 10.2 How to Approach and Move Sheep 182 10.2.1 Methods and Equipment 182 10.2.2 Approaching and Moving a Group of Sheep 182 10.2.3 Approaching and Moving an Individual Sheep 184 10.2.4 Handling Facilities 186 10.2.5 Special Note: Rams, Lambs and Pregnant Ewes; Use of Dogs/Vehicles 189 10.3 How to Approach and Move Goats 191 10.3.1 Methods and Equipment 191 10.3.2 Moving a Group 191 10.3.3 Moving an Individual 191 10.3.4 Handling Facilities 191 10.3.5 Special Note: Kids, Pregnant Does and Bucks 192 10.4 How to Restrain a Sheep 193 10.4.1 Methods and Equipment 193 10.4.2 Physical Restraint 193 10.4.3 Training for Restraint 198 10.5 How to Restrain Goats 200 10.5.1 Methods and Equipment 200 10.5.2 Physical Restraint 200 10.5.3 Training for Restraint 204 10.6 Special Considerations 204 Key Points 204 Self-assessment Questions 205 References 205 Further Reading 206 11 Handling and Restraint of Pigs 207 Krista M. McLennan and Stella J. Chapman 11.1 Behaviour 207 11.1.1 How this Can Affect Handling 208 11.1.2 How to Use Behavioural Traits to Effect When Handling 208 11.2 How to Approach and Move Pigs 211 11.2.1 General Methods and Equipment 211 11.2.2 Moving a Group of Pigs 213 11.2.3 Moving the Individual 215 11.2.4 Sows, Boars, Finishers and Piglets 216 11.3 How to Restrain Pigs 217 11.3.1 Methods and Equipment 217 11.3.2 Physical Restraint 218 11.3.3 Training for Restraint 220 11.4 Special Considerations 221 Key Points 221 Self-assessment Questions 221 References 221 Further Reading 222 12 Handling and Restraint of South American Camelids 223 Krista M. McLennan and Stella J. Chapman 12.1 Behaviour 224 12.1.1 Alpacas and Llama 225 12.2 How to Use Behavioural Traits to Effect When Handling 225 12.2.1 Handling Facilities 227 12.3 How to Approach and Halter a Camelid 228 12.3.1 Approaching Adult Camelids 228 12.3.2 Approaching Cria 229 12.3.3 How to Put on a Head Collar/Halter 229 12.3.4 How to Lead a Camelid 230 12.4 How to Restrain a Camelid 231 12.4.1 Methods and Equipment 231 12.4.2 Physical Restraint 232 12.4.3 Training Adult Camelids for Restraint 234 12.5 Training Cria 235 12.6 Special Considerations 235 Key Points 236 Self-assessment Questions 236 References 236 Further Reading 237 13 Handling and Restraint of Poultry and Aviary Birds 239 William S.M. Justice and Stella J. Chapman 13.1 Behavioural Considerations 240 13.1.1 Flight Distance 240 13.1.2 Environment 240 13.2 Anatomical Considerations 240 13.3 How to Restrain Birds 242 13.3.1 Preparation Prior to Handling 242 13.3.2 Visual Assessment of Birds 242 13.4 Handling Techniques for Common Cage and Aviary Species 243 13.4.1 General Points Regarding the Handling of Poultry 243 13.4.2 Handling and Restraint of Chickens 243 13.4.3 Handling and Restraint of Other Poultry 246 13.4.4 Handling and Restraint of Pigeons and Doves 247 13.4.5 Handling and Restraint of Small Passerines 250 13.4.6 Handling and Restraint of Psittacines 251 Key Points 254 Self-assessment Questions 254 References 254 Further Reading 255 14 Handling and Restraint of Reptiles 257 William S.M. Justice and Stella J. Chapman 14.1 Behaviour and Special Considerations 258 14.1.1 Lizards 258 14.1.2 Snakes 258 14.1.3 Chelonians 259 14.2 Restraint and Handling of Snakes 259 14.2.1 Anatomical Considerations 259 14.2.2 Handling Snakes 260 14.2.2.1 Non-venomous Snakes 260 14.2.2.2 Venomous Snakes 262 14.3 Restraint and Handling of Lizards 264 14.3.1 Anatomical Considerations 264 14.3.2 Handling 264 14.4 Restraint and Handling of Chelonians 265 14.4.1 Anatomical Considerations 265 14.4.2 Handling 266 Key Points 267 Self-assessment Questions 268 References 269 Further Reading 269 Glossary 271 Answers to Chapter Questions 273 Index 285

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Book SynopsisGiddy up! Your guide to horseback riding is here! There's nothing quite like the sound of a horse's gallop. Add to that the sight of its mane catching wind as its powerhouse body criss-crosses the boundary of strength and graceful agility. They are majestic creatures to beholdand if you've caught the equine bug, Horseback Riding For Dummies is all you need to get saddled up and started on your journey to riding into the sunset! Inside, riders at the beginner level will discover the differences between Western and English riding styles, get the knowledge to select the best stable and instructor, and so much more! Choose the riding discipline that best suits your interests Find a qualified riding instructor Learn how to enter the competitive riding world Fit and care for the saddle, bridle, and other equipment Once you've fallen for one of these beautiful animals, it's hard to hold your horsesand this guTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Horseback Riding Basics 5 Chapter 1: Giddy Up! Welcome to Horseback Riding 7 Discovering the Horse’s Mind and Body 8 Taking Riding Lessons 8 Getting into Riding Shape 9 Keeping Yourself Safe around Horses 10 Selecting the Right Riding Style and Gear 10 Riding High from the Start 11 Preparing on the ground 12 Mounting and dismounting 12 Getting a grip on gaits 12 Jumping 13 Adjusting to Advanced Riding 13 Stepping up your current riding routine 14 Buying your own horse 14 Looking after your horse 14 Enjoying Fun and Games on Horseback 15 Chapter 2: Head to Hoof: The Mind and Mechanics of a Horse 17 Understanding How Horses Think 18 Getting a grip on equine society 18 Interpreting equine expressions 18 Getting along with horses 20 Examining the Equine Body 22 The parts of a horse 22 The height of a horse 23 The buildup: Horse conformation 24 Stepping out: The gaits of a horse 24 Colors and markings 27 Sifting through Breed Differences 30 Realizing that breed may matter 30 Picking through popular breeds 30 Chapter 3: School’s in Session: Taking Riding Lessons 35 Finding the Best Stable for Your Needs 36 The initial search: Identifying stables in your area 36 Your major: Finding a school that offers your discipline 36 Campus visit: Evaluating stables with a sharp eye 37 Choosing an Instructor or Trainer 38 Deciding between a riding instructor and a horse trainer 39 Understanding what to look for in an instructor or trainer 39 When you strike out with stables: Seeking out a different teacher 40 Getting the Most from Your Lessons 41 Deciding between individual and group lessons 41 Setting up your lesson schedule 42 Working with your instructor or trainer 43 Chapter 4: Mind and Body: Conditioning Yourself for Riding 47 Understanding Why You Need to Condition Yourself 47 Getting into Riding Shape 48 Lightening the load: Shedding those extra pounds 48 Developing endurance with aerobic exercise 50 Building strength 50 Cross-training: Practicing yoga and Pilates for flexibility and strength 53 Stretching yourself: Increasing flexibility just before you mount 53 Preparing Your Mind 57 Knowing your role as the horse’s leader 57 Banishing your fear 58 Chapter 5: Safety First: Protecting Yourself around Horses 61 Dressing the Part with Safe Clothing 62 Covering your head 62 Slipping into the right shirt 64 Protecting your legs 64 These boots are made for riding: Donning the right footwear 65 Removing your jewelry 66 Keeping a Close Eye on Horses When You’re on the Ground 66 Being in close confines with a horse 66 Moving around a tied horse 67 Identifying dangerous horse moves 68 Staying Secure on a Horse 69 Checking your tack before you saddle up 69 Riding with others 70 Hitting the trail by yourself 71 Part 2: Getting Set with the Right Riding Style and Gear 73 Chapter 6: Off into the Sunset: Western Riding 75 Looking at the Nitty-Gritty of Western Riding 75 Uses 76 Tack and apparel 76 The horses 77 The ride 77 Checking Out Western Riding Activities 78 Hitting the trail 78 Horsing around at shows 78 Working with cattle 81 Chapter 7: Not Just for the Brits: English Riding 83 Examining the Basics of English Riding 83 Uses 84 Tack and apparel 84 The horses 85 Brushing Up on the Basic English Styles 86 Jumping in hunt seat and riding on the flat 86 Making moves in dressage 87 Chapter 8: Dressing Up Horses with Saddles 89 Going Over the Basic Makeup of a Saddle 90 The Heavy Hitters: Western Saddles 91 The pleasure saddle 92 The barrel racing saddle 93 The roping saddle 94 The trail saddle 95 On the Smaller Side: English Saddles 96 The all-purpose saddle 97 The close-contact saddle 97 The dressage saddle 99 Setting Yourself Up with Saddle Pads 99 Playing Matchmaker as You Fit Saddles 101 Fitting a horse 101 Fitting yourself 103 Chapter 9: Getting a Heads-Up on Bridles 105 Breaking Down the Basic Parts of a Bridle 105 Gearing Up with Western Bridles and Bits 107 Looking at Western headstalls 107 Gaining leverage with Western bits 108 Nosing around hackamores 110 Examining English Bridles and Bits 111 Discovering English headstalls 111 Directing attention to English bits 112 Chapter 10: Equipping Yourself with Other Important Gear 115 Dressing in High Style 115 Choosing clothes for safety and comfort 116 Following tradition: Western dress 117 Staying conservative: English dress 119 Reviewing Artificial Aids 123 A leg up: Spurs 123 Tap it out: Whips 124 Part 3: Settling into the Saddle and Easing into Riding 127 Chapter 11: Working from the Ground, Saddling, and Bridling 129 Handling Horses from the Ground 130 Play catch: Approaching horses 130 Buckle up: Haltering horses 131 Follow me: Leading horses 133 Take care of loose ends: Tying horses 134 Putting on a Saddle Properly 137 Western saddles 138 English saddles 140 Saving the Bridling for Last 143 Chapter 12: Mounting and Dismounting 147 Get Set: Preparing to Mount 147 Checking tack 148 Choosing a mounting location 148 Get on Up: The Mechanics of Mounting 150 Western mounting 150 English mounting 152 Wrap It Up: Preparing to Dismount 155 Get Down: The Mechanics of Dismounting 155 Western dismounting 156 English dismounting 158 Chapter 13: Enjoying the Walk 161 Body Language: Helping Your Riding with the Natural Aids 162 Your hands 162 Your legs 162 Your seat 163 Your voice 163 Asking a Horse to Go for a Walk 163 Western cues 164 English requests 164 Riding the Walk in Western 164 Positioning your body 165 Trying your hand at holding the reins 166 Putting your legs in position 167 Moving with the Western horse 168 Riding the Walk in Hunt Seat 168 Positioning your body 169 With both hands: Holding the reins 169 Putting your legs in position 169 Moving with the hunt seat horse 170 Riding the Walk in Dressage 170 Positioning your body 170 Get a grip: Holding the reins 171 Putting your legs in position 171 Moving with the dressage horse 172 Maneuvering the Horse at the Walk 172 Pulling out all the stops 172 Turning left and right 173 Circling the horse 176 In reverse: Calling for backup 179 Trying a Couple of Walking Exercises 181 Using barrels in Western riding 181 Crazy eights: Turning a figure eight in English riding 183 Chapter 14: Bumping Up Your Skills with the Jog or Trot 185 Asking the Horse to Pick Up the Pace 186 Western jog requests 186 English trot cues 186 Riding the Jog in Western 187 Positioning your body 187 Holding the reins in Western 188 Putting your legs in position 188 Moving with the Western horse 189 Riding the Trot in Hunt Seat 189 Positioning your body 189 Holding the reins 190 Positioning your legs in hunt seat 190 Moving with the hunt seat horse 190 Riding the Trot in Dressage 193 Positioning your body 193 Holding the reins 193 Putting your legs in dressage position 194 Moving with the dressage horse 194 Maneuvering the Horse at the Jog or Trot 196 Stopping the horse 196 Turning left and right 197 Circling the horse 200 Trying Some Exercises 202 Following a serpentine pattern in Western riding 202 Circling jump poles in English riding 204 Chapter 15: Getting on the Fast Track with the Lope or Canter 207 Cueing the Horse to Lope or Canter 208 Western: Telling your horse you want to lope 208 English: Requesting a canter 208 Riding the Lope in Western 209 Positioning your body for Western 209 Holding the reins 210 Putting your legs in loping position 211 Moving with the Western horse 211 Riding the Canter in Hunt Seat 211 Positioning your body for hunt seat 212 Holding the reins 212 Putting your legs in cantering position 213 Moving with the hunt seat horse 213 Riding the Canter in Dressage 214 Positioning your body for dressage 214 Holding the reins 215 Putting your legs in position 215 Moving with the dressage horse 215 Maneuvering the Horse at the Lope or Canter 216 Whoa, Nelly! Stopping the horse 216 Turning in an L-pattern 217 Circling the horse 220 Trying a Couple of Balancing Exercises 222 Look, Ma, no hands! Western lunge line work 223 One-handed English lunge line work 224 Chapter 16: Making the Leap into Jumping 225 Delving into Different Types of Jumping 226 On the inside: Arena jumping 226 Out there: Cross-country jumping 227 Checking Out Types of Fences 228 X marks the spot: Crossrails 229 Get some air: Verticals 230 Go the distance: Oxers 230 Not as scary as they look: Walls 230 A test of stamina: Cross-country jumps 231 Making Your Way through the Jumping Process 231 Practicing the two-point position 231 Taking the leap 232 Riding over Multiple Jumps 234 Getting on the grid 235 Staying in line 236 Being on course 236 Overcoming Jumping Problems 237 Refusing to jump 238 Running out 239 Rushing 239 Part 4: Riding into Advanced Pastures 241 Chapter 17: Graduating to the Next Level of Riding 243 Finding a New Instructor or Trainer 243 Switching Disciplines 245 Growing Stronger with Advanced Conditioning 245 Improving Your Balance and Timing 246 Chapter 18: Taking the Plunge by Buying a Horse 249 Deciding Whether to Get a Horse of Your Own 249 Understanding ownership realities 250 Totaling costs 250 Figuring Out What Kind of Horse to Buy 254 Recognizing the ideal equine personality type 254 Taking age into account 254 Considering your riding discipline 255 Determining your interest in competition 255 Checking out breeds 256 Thinking about gender 256 Walking through the Horse-Buying Process 257 Finding help upfront 257 Looking in all the right places 258 Having a horse undergo a pre-purchase exam 260 Chapter 19: Exploring Horse Care 263 Gimme Shelter: Proper Horse Housing 263 Getting on board with commercial boarding facilities 264 No place like home: Keeping your horse on your own property 265 Chow Time: Dealing with Your Horse’s Hunger and Thirst 267 Feeding your horse 268 Watering your horse 269 Hey, Good Lookin’: Grooming Your Horse 269 Getting into gear 270 Brushing your horse 271 The horse wash: Scrubbing down 273 A Little TLC: Maintaining Your Horse’s Health 275 Providing preventive care 275 Recognizing signs of illness 279 Checking out common ailments 279 Part 5: Having Fun with Other Styles and Activities 283 Chapter 20: Step Up: Riding Gaited Horses 285 Defining the Four-Beat Gait 285 Checking Out Breeds Who Display Fancy Footwork 287 Riding a Gaited Horse 289 Positioning your body 289 Holding the reins 290 Putting your legs in position 290 Moving with the gaited horse 290 Chapter 21: Don’t Fence Me In: Trail Riding 291 Preparing for a Trail Ride 292 Using the right horse 292 Deciding where to ride 293 Gathering important gear 295 Getting ready for a ride of any length 297 Staying Safe on the Trail 298 Following some important guidelines 298 Handling spooks 299 Happy Trails: Minding Your Manners 300 Following etiquette when trail riding in a group 301 Encountering other riders when you’re out alone 303 Sharing the trail with non-riders 304 Chapter 22: Show Off: Riding in Competition 307 Understanding How Horse Shows Work 308 Looking at the judging system 308 An eye on the prize: Placings and awards 309 Surveying Different Types of Shows 310 Learning the ropes at schooling shows 310 Raising the bar at rated shows 312 Welcoming competition in open shows 313 Focusing on breed shows 313 Exploring specialty shows 314 Gearing Up for a Horse Show 315 Preparing yourself 315 Preparing your horse 317 Displaying Good Manners at Horse Shows 319 Behaving yourself 319 Handling your horse appropriately 320 Chapter 23: Even More Riding Styles and Activities 321 The Road Less Ridden: Trying Other Disciplines 321 Holding on with bareback 322 Getting your kicks in saddle seat 323 Sidesaddle: A feminine tradition 324 Horseplay: Surveying Sports, Exhibitions, and Other Equine Activities 326 Taking part in trail events 326 Playing polo, the sport of kings 329 Vaulting into gymnastics 329 Drilling on horseback 331 Riding in parades 332 Reenacting history 333 Traveling with a Horse 333 Field trips: Exploring faraway trails 334 Vacationing with your mount 334 Moving your horse with a trailer 336 Part 6: The Part of Tens 341 Chapter 24: Ten Rules of Riding Etiquette 343 Tie a Red Ribbon on a Kicker’s Tail 343 Go Slowly after You Mount 344 Communicate with Your Fellow Riders 344 Avoid Hollering 344 Keep a Safe Distance from Others 345 Approach Courteously from the Rear 345 Pass Left Shoulder to Left Shoulder 345 Prepare Your Horse for Trail Riding 346 Be Courteous during Water Breaks on the Trail 346 Help Others during Times of Trouble 347 Chapter 25: Ten Horseback Games to Improve Your Riding 349 Simon Says 349 Ride-a-Buck 350 Treasures on the Trail 350 Magazine Race 350 Ride and Tie 351 Red Light, Green Light 351 Follow the Leader 352 Boot Bucket Race 352 Egg and Spoon Carry 353 Around the World 353 Appendix: Resources for Riders 355 Index 359

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Book SynopsisIt''s a doggy-dog world, and this easy-to-use guide will help you navigate it.These days, people''s dogs have become bona fide members of the family. Moving from the kennel to the couch, they share our beds, family rooms, and holidays; and they are recipients of our kindest and utmost concern. A pet partnership is a lifetime commitment. Do it right, and your dog will become an important and valuable part of the family for many years. Do it wrong, and you''ve broken a sacred covenant between humankind and another living being. Dogs For Dummies, 2nd Edition, is for you if you are looking to adopt a dog, trying to improve the relationship with the one you have, or attempting to come up with fun things to do with your canine companion. This book is also for people who want to Choose the right veterinarian Explore the dog-breeding business Find breed-rescue groups Identify canine health problems Look for a Table of ContentsForeword xvii Introduction 1 Part 1: Bringing a Puppy or Adult Dog into Your Life 9 Chapter 1: Considering the Canine Possibilities 11 Chapter 2: Narrowing the Field 27 Chapter 3: Finding Out about Breeders, Shelters, and Other Sources 55 Chapter 4: Choosing and Bringing Home a Puppy 77 Chapter 5: Adopting and Settling In an Adult Dog 91 Part 2: Getting the Relationship Off to the Best Start 103 Chapter 6: All the Right Stuff 105 Chapter 7: Feeding Your Puppy or Dog 123 Chapter 8: House-Training Puppies and Dogs 141 Chapter 9: Early Puppy Training 153 Part 3: Keeping Your Dog Healthy 171 Chapter 10: Good Grooming 173 Chapter 11: Preventive Health Care for Puppies and Dogs 191 Chapter 12: Common Canine Health Problems 215 Chapter 13: Caring for an Aging Dog 227 Part 4: Living Happily with Your Dog 243 Chapter 14: Teaching Your Dog Manners 245 Chapter 15: Problem-Solving 269 Chapter 16: Canine Competitions: Fun Things to Do with Your Dog 289 Chapter 17: To Breed or Not to Breed 305 Chapter 18: Traveling with Your Dog 321 Part 5: The Part of Tens 343 Chapter 19: Ten Dog Myths — Debunked! 345 Chapter 20: Ten Questions to Ask When Buying a Purebred Puppy 353 Chapter 21: Ten Things You Need to Know to Prepare Your Dog for a Disaster 359 Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Have Both a Dog and a Nice Yard 367 Chapter 23: Ten Must-See Dog Sites on the World Wide Web 375 Index 385

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Book SynopsisThe latest information and tips on making housetraining easier for your pet and yourself Did you know that what you feed your dog can effect help or hinder the housetraining process? That''s just one of the valuable tips you''ll find in Housetraining For Dummies 2nd Edition, the authoritative housetraining reference for new and veteran pet owners alike. This new edition features plenty of new and revised material on everything from the latest housetraining equipment to the latest information on diet and nutrition and the crucial role it plays in housetraining. You''ll also find useful tips and techniques for creating environmentally safe cleaners from natural products found in the home and alternatives you can use if you have a sensitive pet. Features the latest findings on how pet nutrition can influence housetraining success Offers proven housetraining strategies Introduces new methods for housetraining multiple pets at once Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 2 What You’re Not to Read 3 Foolish Assumptions 4 How This Book is Organized 4 Part 1: Preparing to Potty Train Your Pooch 5 Part 2: Putting a Plan in Place 5 Part 3: Solving Housetraining Problems 5 Part 4: The Part of Tens 5 Appendix 6 Icons Used in This Book 6 Where to Go from Here 6 Part 1: Preparing to Potty Train Your Pooch 7 Chapter 1: No, Virginia, It’s Not That Hard: Understanding Housetraining Basics 9 What Housetraining is — and Why it Matters 10 Why Your Dog Can’t Be “a Little Bit Housetrained” 11 Exploring Housetraining Methods 12 Location, location, location: Outdoor versus indoor training 12 Looking at lifestyle factors to help you choose your method 14 Surviving Setbacks and Special Situations 15 Understanding the Role You and Your Family Play 15 Chapter 2: Training the Housetrainer: Taking the Right Approach 17 Leaving behind Housetraining Methods of Yesteryear 18 Using Your Pooch’s Instincts to Lay a Foundation 19 The training your dog has already had 19 Learning from his mom 21 Denning dynamics 22 Cleanliness is next to dog-liness 23 Life without guilt 24 Learning by repetition 25 The need for attachment 26 How instincts can be thwarted 26 Taking the 21st-Century Approach to Housetraining 29 Seeing your dog’s point of view 30 Being benevolent 31 Working with your dog’s instincts 31 Creating a schedule 32 Rewarding the good, ignoring the goofs 32 Being consistent 34 Attending to details 35 Chapter 3: Getting Your Home in Housetraining Order 37 Readying Your Dog’s Room: The Crate 37 Understanding why every dog needs (and wants) a crate 38 Finding the right fit: Types of crates 38 Adjusting for size 40 Investing in crate accessories 41 Situating your doggie’s den 42 Gearing Up for Outdoor Training 42 Selecting a potty spot — no matter where you live 42 Securing collars and leashes 43 Containing the situation: Fencing 47 Installing a doggie door 48 Prepping for Indoor Training 49 Exploring types of indoor potties 50 Setting up your dog’s indoor living area and potty spot 50 Doing the Dirty Work: Cleanup Equipment 53 Choosing an outdoor cleanup method 53 Indoor cleaners 55 Other cleaning aids 57 Chapter 4: Feeding Fido: What Goes in Must Come Out 59 Knowing How Feeding and Watering Affect Housetraining 59 Understanding Nutrients: What Dogs Need to Eat 60 Proteins 61 Fats 62 Vitamins and minerals 62 Determining the Diet That’s Best for Your Dog 63 Considering commercial dog foods 64 Making home-prepped dog foods 66 Serving Your Dog 69 Picking the place to feed your dog 69 Setting the canine dining ambience 70 Selecting your dog’s dinnerware 71 Deciding when to feed your dog 72 To Treat or Not to Treat 74 Buying commercial treats 76 Preparing homemade treats 77 Choosing low-calorie treat options 78 Working with Your Dog’s Drinking Habits 80 Part 2: Putting a Plan in Place 81 Chapter 5: Training to Love the Crate 83 Introducing the Crate 84 Tie one on: The open-door policy 84 Encourage exploration 84 Shut the door (but not for long) 86 Leave the room 86 Build up her tolerance 86 Encouraging Appreciation If Your Dog Hates the Crate 88 Limiting Crate Time: How Much is Too Much? 90 Continuing to Use the Crate 92 Keeping the love alive 92 Beyond housetraining: Other uses for the crate 93 Chapter 6: Heading to the Outside: Outdoor Housetraining 95 Understanding How Outdoor Training Works 96 Introducing Puppies to Outdoor Training 96 Getting an early start 97 Taking the first trips outside 97 Responding when your puppy potties 98 A matter of timing: Setting up a puppy potty schedule 100 Scheduling Outdoor Training for Adult Dogs 104 Dealing with Boo-Boos 105 Catching your dog in the act 105 Finding messes: Don’t scold — just clean ’em up! 105 Preventing further accidents 106 Providing Indoor Potty Areas for Outdoor Trainees 107 Chapter 7: Making Some Inside Moves: Indoor Housetraining 111 Understanding How Indoor Training Works 111 Identifying good indoor-training candidates 112 Opting for indoor training only 114 Pick Your Potty: Deciding Which Type to Use 114 Newspapers 115 Puppy training pads 116 Litter boxes 116 Grate/tray potties 118 Introducing Puppies to Indoor Training 119 Deciding where to put the indoor potty 119 Starting out 120 Scheduling bathroom breaks 122 Switching a vaccinated puppy to outdoor training 124 Using Indoor Training for the Adult Dog 125 From outdoors to papers 125 From outdoors to litter box 126 From outdoors to grate/tray combo 127 Responding to Mistakes 128 Chapter 8: Fine-Tuning Housetraining 129 Decoding Pre-Potty Maneuvers 130 Getting Your Dog to Ask to Go Out 132 Encouraging Elimination 135 Peeing on cue 136 Prompting Mr. (or Ms.) Independent 137 Deciding When to Grant More Freedom 139 The age factor: How old is old enough? 140 The responsibility factor: Should she have freedom of the house? 140 Part 3: Solving Housetraining Problems 143 Chapter 9: Accident-Proofing Small Dogs and Other Problem Potty-ers 145 The Teensy-Weensy Tinkler 145 Choose the right potty place 146 Don’t push your luck (or her bladder) 147 Don’t excuse lapses 147 The Dog Who Pees Lying Down 148 Play it cool 148 Get down to her level 149 Don’t stare her down 150 The Dog Who Leaves His Mark 150 Neuter him 150 Remove (or at least contain) the target 150 Remind him who’s top dog 151 Build a peaceable kingdom 151 Start remedial housetraining 152 The Uptight Canine 152 The Dog Who Wants a New Bathroom 155 The Dog Who Gets Distracted 155 The Fair-Weather Piddler 156 The Bedwetter 157 The Dog Who Gets Amnesia 157 The Dog Who Can’t Hold it 158 Rule out other issues 158 Find a holistic vet 158 Consider diapers 159 The Poop Eater 159 The Bleeding Lady, or the Canine Fertility Goddess 160 Chapter 10: Understanding How an Oh-No Can Become a Problem-o 161 A Whiz of a Problem 162 Constant peeing 162 Constant drinking and constant peeing 163 Pee that comes out slowly or not at all 164 Oddly colored pee 165 The Scoop on Poop Problems 165 Poop on the run(s) 165 Soft, stinky poop 167 Oily poop 167 Poop that comes out slowly or not at all 168 Poop that contains other things 169 Gray, black, or red poop 170 Skinny poop 171 Gaseous Emissions 173 Chapter 11: Sorting Out Humans’ Housetraining Challenges 175 Crafting a Family Housetraining Plan 176 Dividing duties: A plan to relieve the primary caregiver 176 Getting the adults on the same page 177 Getting the kids on board 178 Balancing Crate Time 179 Relieving the Home-Alone Dog 180 Getting a pet-sitter or dog walker 181 Bringing your dog to work 181 Going home for lunch 182 Working from home 182 Creating a potty-proof home-alone area 182 Sticking to the Schedule 183 Managing Snacks 184 Messing Up the Cleanup 185 Anticipating Lapses Due to Household Changes 186 Helping the Newly Adopted Housetrainee 187 Hitting the Road with Your Housetraining Graduate 189 Part 4: The Part of Tens 191 Chapter 12: Ten Housetraining Mistakes You Don’t Have to Make 193 Thinking the Crate is Cruel 193 Getting a Crate That’s Too Big 194 Failing to Stick to the Schedule 195 Failing to Clean Up Completely 196 Not Cleaning the Indoor Potty 196 Thinking Your Dog Looks Guilty 197 Scolding Her after the Fact 198 Rubbing His Nose in You-Know-What 198 Changing the Menu Abruptly 199 Declaring Victory Prematurely 200 Chapter 13: Ten Reasons Housetrained Dogs Live in Happier Households 201 The Houses Smell Nicer 201 The Owners Save Money 202 The Owners are Less Cranky 202 The Dogs Aren’t Scared When Their Owners Come Home 202 The Owners Don’t Worry about Stepping in You-Know-What 203 The Dogs Have One Less Way to Embarrass Their Owners 204 The Owners Know Right Away When Their Dogs are Sick 204 The Dogs Have a Great Foundation for Further Training 205 Dogs and Owners Communicate Better with Each Other 205 The Owners are More Likely to Keep Their Dogs 206 Appendix: Other Helpful Pit Stops for Housetrainers 207 Go Online 207 Book ’Em! 209 Flip through These Mags 210 Index 213

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Book SynopsisDiscover how to raise, train, and enjoy your German Shepherd with this fantastic resource. Everybody thinks they know the German Shepherd. Many of us grew up with Rin Tin Tin, or we saw German Shepherds in nightly news reports breaking up riots, or we saw them in neighbors' backyards protecting children. But that only scratches the surface of one of the most fascinating and confusing breeds on earth. Whether it's selection, nutrition, routine health care, training, competition, or just having fun, there's more to it with a German Shepherd than with other breeds. And if you're thinking about adding one to your family, or you already have one, you need to know all you can about this breed. Which is where German Shepherds For Dummies comes in. Is this noble and intelligent breed the right dog for you and your family? German Shepherds For Dummies provides the answer to this and all your questions about getting, caring for, and living with this loveable breed. Lifelong German ShepherdTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Getting to Know German Shepherds 5 Chapter 1: Making the Decision of a Lifetime 7 Chapter 2: Setting the Standard for the Breed 15 Part 2: Finding the German Shepherd for You 25 Chapter 3: Looking for Love in All the Right Places: Breeders and Shelters 27 Chapter 4: Picking the Perfect Puppy 39 Part 3: Bringing Up Baby 51 Chapter 5: Shopping for Dog Stuff 53 Chapter 6: Welcoming Your Dog Home 65 Chapter 7: Feeding Your German Shepherd 77 Chapter 8: Training Your Dog 87 Chapter 9: Dealing with a “Bad Dog” 103 Chapter 10: Grooming Your Dog 119 Part 4: Keeping Your Dog Healthy 131 Chapter 11: Working with Your Dog’s Other Best Friend: His Veterinarian 133 Chapter 12: Dealing with GSD Hereditary Health Problems 147 Chapter 13: Taking Care of a Sick Shepherd 163 Chapter 14: Caring for an Aging Shepherd 179 Part 5: Having Fun with Your German Shepherd 187 Chapter 15: Exercising Your Dog 189 Chapter 16: Showing Off Your Dog 201 Chapter 17: Putting Your Shepherd to Work 217 Part 6: The Part of Tens 225 Chapter 18: Ten (or So) Tips for Traveling with Your Dog 227 Chapter 19: Ten Fun Games You Can Play with Your Shepherd 237 Appendix A: Glossary 243 Appendix B: Resources 249 Appendix C: The Official AKC Breed Standard for the German Shepherd Dog 255 Appendix D: GSD Abbreviations 261 Index 275

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 2 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Starting to Think Cat 5 Chapter 1: Together, Forever: A History of Cats and People 7 From Humble Beginnings: How Cats Became So Popular 8 Some Common Misconceptions about Cats — and the Facts 11 “All cats are cold fish” 11 “Cats love places, not people” 12 “Cats can take care of themselves” 13 Can You Have a Cat If You Have Allergies? 14 The Indoor versus Outdoor Controversy 15 Chapter 2: Kitten or Adult? Boy or Girl? One Cat or More? 19 Kitten or Cat: Which Is a Better Choice for You? 20 Everyone loves kittens! 20 Adult cat considerations 21 She-Kitty, He-Kitty: Which One’s Better? 23 Let the Fur Fly 24 Should You Consider a Pedigreed Cat? 26 Characteristics by Breed 28 The go-go group 30 A touch of the wild 31 Longhaired beauties 33 The big cats 34 Something different 35 The unCATegorizables 36 The Not-So-Ordinary Everyday Cat 37 Chapter 3: Mixes, Markings, and Pedigrees 39 What You Need to Know about Shelters 41 Animal-control shelters 43 Private nonprofit shelters 43 Volunteer Rescue-and-Placement Groups 45 Breeders: The Reputable, the Ill-Informed, and the Avoid-at-All-Costs 46 Finding the elusive “good breeder” 46 Shopping at the cat show 47 Online shopping 48 Spotting the less-than-ideal breeders 49 Pet Stores: What about Those Kittens in the Window? 51 Your Neighbor’s (Or Coworker’s) Kittens 52 Chapter 4: The Wild Ones: Special Cats, Special Considerations 53 Help for the Wild Ones 54 Finding the solution that isn’t 55 Offering a new way of thinking: Trap, Neuter, Release 55 But aren’t these cats pests? 56 Getting Your Feet Wet: How to Help 58 First, do no harm 58 Helping the helpers 59 Feeding community cats: Help or harm? 60 Learning to Care for Community Cats 60 Setting up a routine 60 Lining up help 61 Trapping cats 63 Spaying and neutering cats 64 Releasing cats 64 Housing considerations 65 Part 2: Getting Off to a Good Start 69 Chapter 5: Choosing a Healthy, Happy Kitten or Cat 71 Evaluating the Environment 72 Getting a read on a kitty’s history 73 Making special considerations 74 Choosing a Kitten 75 Adopting at the ideal age 75 Looking at a litter 76 Personality testing your kitten 77 Considering the Second-Chance Kitty 80 Recognizing Good Health in Kittens and Cats 82 The outer cat 82 The inner cat 84 Taking a Leap of Faith with Your Eyes Open! 85 Chapter 6: One Is Never Enough: The Multicat Household 87 You’re in Good Company 88 Another cat — for your cat 88 Another cat — for you 90 Adding to the Family 91 Understanding territoriality 92 Choosing compatible cats 92 Caring for More than One Cat 94 Litter box strategies 94 Cat trees, cubbies, and hiding places 95 Feeding time at the cat ranch 96 Multicat Medical Concerns 98 Parasite problems 98 Infectious viral diseases 99 Chapter 7: Setting Your Cat up for Success 101 Pre-Cat Preparations 102 Eliminating household hazards 102 Organizing a “safe room” 107 Bringing Your New Pet Home 110 Hello, Kitty! 112 Children 112 Other cats 114 Dogs 117 Other pets 119 Chapter 8: Think Like a Cat to Understand a Cat 121 Making Sense of Cat Senses 122 Smell 122 Hearing 124 Vision 124 Taste 125 Touch 125 Speaking “Cat” 126 Eyes 126 Ears 126 Tail 127 Voice 127 Hair and whiskers 128 Posture 129 Chapter 9: Feline Friendly: From Cat Toys to Catios 133 A New Era for Indoor Kitties 134 A Cat Can’t Have Enough Toys 135 Why toys are even more important to an indoor cat 135 With so many choices, go as crazy as you like 135 Feline Furnishings Cats Adore 137 Why every cat needs a place to scratch 137 Perches, catwalks, and shelves 138 Turn on the fun 139 A Constant Supply of Nibblies 140 Finding food is fun 140 Going green 140 A Whiff of Fresh Air 141 Leashes, strollers, and backpacks 142 The very best in cat remodels: The catio! 142 Some Final Thoughts on Environmental Enrichment 145 Someone to play with 145 The you factor 146 Part 3: Enjoying Life Together 147 Chapter 10: Solving Behavior Problems 149 Understanding “Bad” Behavior 151 Looking at the Root of Unwanted Behavior 152 Strategies for Changing Behavior 153 Yes, kitty! 154 No, kitty! 154 Calm kitty 155 Fairness 155 Attacking Behavior Problems 156 Aggression 156 Counter-cruising 159 Clawing 159 Should you consider declawing? 163 Noisiness 164 Chapter 11: Getting Good Litter Box Behavior 167 Defining the Problem 168 What’s being done, and where? 169 Which cat is the culprit? 171 Is Your Cat Sick? 171 Use the Box, Kitty! 174 Cleanliness is next to catliness 175 Offering alternatives 176 Discouraging misbehavior 178 Stopping Sprayers in Their Tracks 179 Retraining through isolation 180 Chapter 12: Out and About with Your Cat 183 Is Your Cat Up to Travel? 184 Health considerations 186 Temperament considerations 186 Leaving Your Pet Behind 186 Prepare for emergencies 187 Pet-sitters 188 Boarding facilities 189 Taking Your Pet with You 190 Air travel 192 Car travel 195 Moving Your Cat to a New Home 195 Using a safe room for moving 196 Anticipating problems 197 Allowing time for readjustment 198 Chapter 13: Littering: Should Your Cat Become a Parent? 201 The Case Against Breeding 202 Spaying and Neutering: What’s Involved? 203 The Birds and the Bees, Kitty-Style 205 Choosing a mate 206 The “oops” pairing 207 Caring for a Pregnant Cat 207 Happy Birthday, Babies 209 Special delivery! 210 After the birth 211 Kitten Development 212 Birth to two weeks 212 Two weeks to eight weeks 213 Eight weeks to fourteen weeks 214 The adolescent kitten 215 Saying Good-Bye to the Babies 215 Chapter 14: Home Care: Good Grooming and More 219 Fur, the Purrfect Complement 220 Why Cats Groom 220 What’s in It for You? 222 Tools of the Trade 223 Coat-care tools 224 Nail-trim aids 225 The Importance of Patience 226 Keeping Kitty Coats in Shape 227 Combing and brushing 228 Cat + water + soap = Oh, my! 229 Keeping parasites under control 230 Clipping Your Cat’s Claws 236 Dental Care 238 Chapter 15: Feeding Your Cat 241 Convenience at a Price? 242 Maintaining the “Perfect” Cat Diet 243 Fulfilling Basic Nutritional Needs 244 Protein 244 Carbohydrates 245 Fats 245 Vitamins 246 Minerals 246 Water 247 Choosing Foods 248 What type? 250 When to feed? 251 What about veterinarian-prescribed foods? 251 Treat your cat! 253 Curbing Eating Problems 254 The too-much cat 255 The finicky kitty 256 Part 4: The Basics of Good Health 259 Chapter 16: Preventive Healthcare for Your Cat 261 Recognizing Signs of Good Health and Bad 262 The physical cat 263 Vital signs 265 The emotional cat 267 Choosing a Veterinarian 269 Understanding Your Veterinarian’s Role in Preventing Illness 271 The not-so-routine exam 271 Vaccinations 272 Parasite control 274 Recognizing Emergencies 276 Chapter 17: Common Cat Health Problems 279 A Cooperative Approach to Cat Health 280 When Does My Cat Need a Specialist? 281 Some Common Health Problems 283 Abscesses 284 Upper respiratory infection 285 Difficulty breathing 286 Three nasty viruses 287 Urinary tract disease 290 Kidney diseases 291 Diabetes mellitus 293 Heart disease 294 Tumors 296 Giving Your Cat Medication 298 Pilling your pet 298 Liquid medication 299 Ear medication 299 Eye medication 300 Chapter 18: Caring for an Older Cat 303 How Old Is “Old”? 304 Normal Signs of Aging 306 Decline of the senses 306 Changes in appearance 307 Behavior changes 307 Special Care for Kitty Teeth 309 Common Problems 310 Hyperthyroidism 310 Constipation/Obstipation 313 Osteoarthritis 313 Home hospice care 314 Knowing When It’s “Time” 314 Euthanasia options 315 Dealing with loss 316 Part 5: The Part of Tens 319 Chapter 19: Ten Cat Myths Debunked 321 Cats Have Nine Lives 321 Cats Need to Drink Milk 322 Cats Purr Whenever They’re Happy 323 Cats Eat Plants If They’re Sick 324 Cats Are Dangerous around Babies 325 Cats Can Be Kept from Using Their Claws 327 A Well-Fed Cat Doesn’t Hunt 327 Cat Fur Causes Allergies 328 Black Cats Are Bad Luck 329 All Calicoes Are Female 330 Chapter 20: Ten Cool Cat-Related Places To Visit 331 Hemingway House 333 The American Museum of the House Cat 333 Citywide Cat Celebration 334 Purrfectly Pedigreed 334 When in Rome, Help the Cats 335 The Ultimate Destination for Cat Cafes 335 Hello Kitty! 336 Snuggle with a Library Cat (While You Still Can) 336 No, They Don’t Throw Real Cats Anymore 337 Safe Home for Big Cats 337 Chapter 21: Ten Common Household Dangers to Your Cat 339 Strings and Similar Things 340 A Shocking Experience 341 The Warm and Deadly Dryer 341 Pain Medicines That Kill 342 Toxic Plants 343 Garage Dangers 344 Four-Wheeled Menace 345 Towering Danger 345 Parasite Products for Dogs 346 Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Help Your Cat in a Disaster 347 Have a Plan 348 Have a Grab-and-Go Disaster Kit 348 Get Your Cat ID — and Keep It Current 348 Keep Preventive Care Measures and Health Records Current 349 Have Restraints Ready 350 Keep First-Aid Supplies on Hand — with Directions 350 Know the Locations of Nearby Veterinary Hospitals and Other Animal Services 351 Keep a “Lost Kitty” Kit Ready 351 Corral Your Cat 352 Be Prepared to Help Others 352 Chapter 23: Ten Nonprofits Worthy of Your Donations 353 Winn Feline Foundation 354 Alley Cat Allies 354 The Jackson Galaxy Project 355 Morris Animal Foundation 355 Shelter Medicine Programs 356 Help with Spay-Neuter 356 Cat Sanctuaries 357 Big-Box Advocacy 357 Veterinary Schools and Colleges 357 Local Shelters and Rescue Groups 358 Index 359

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Book SynopsisMake your buddy a top dog for life, be your Best Friend's Friend, by training together. Obedience training is one of the most important aspects of raising a dog. In fact, a well-trained dog isa FREE dog! Why? Because a trained dog requires fewer restrictions. The more reliable the dog, the more freedom he is given. Dog Training for Dummies shows dog owners how to select the right training method for their puppy, adult, or seniordog. Whether you want to teach Buddy to sit or master retrieving, thishands-on guideprovides training to ensure a mutually respectful relationship with your four-legged family members. Eliminate unwanted behavior Find step-by-step instruction on basic commands Strengthen your bond with your dog Build communication, understanding, and mutual respect Based on positive reinforcement, trust, and obedience, the tips and tricks inside will help you bring out the very best in your beloTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 3 Icons Used in This Book 3 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: Setting the Stage for Successful Training 5 Chapter 1: Dog Training: The Key to Your Dog’s Safety and Your Sanity 7 Understanding Why You’re Training Buddy: To Do Something or Not to Do Something 8 Identifying a Well-Trained Dog 9 Selecting a Training Model 11 First things first: Considering your dog’s breed 12 Training a dog: What are you really doing? 13 Identifying Six Basic Commands Every Dog Needs to Know 16 Recognizing Factors that Influence Success 16 Having a good relationship with your dog 17 Owning a healthy dog 17 Making training time a priority 17 Oh, the Places You and Your Pooch Can Go: Beyond the Basics 18 The Canine Good Citizen Certificate 19 AKC S.T.A.R puppy program 19 AKC tricks titles 19 More than training: Understanding how dogs help people 19 An Exercise to Get You and Your Pooch Started 20 Chapter 2: Getting to Know Your Dog and How He Perceives the World 23 Determining What Motivates You and Your Dog 24 Being Aware of Your Dog’s Body Language 24 Recognizing Your Dog’s Instinctive Behaviors 25 Prey drive 26 Pack drive 27 Defense drive, fight and flight 28 Understanding how the drives affect training 30 Determining Your Dog’s Personality Profile 31 Deciding How You Want Buddy to Act 35 Bringing out drives 36 Switching drives 37 Applying drives to your training 39 Remembering Who’s Training Whom 43 Chapter 3: Developing Training Savvy 45 Managing the Dog Within 46 Breed-specific behaviors 46 Temperament 47 Mental sensitivity 48 Responses to visual stimuli 48 Sound sensitivity 49 Touch sensitivity – the adrenaline effect 50 Stressing the Effects of Stress 51 Understanding stress 51 Recognizing the symptoms of stress 52 Origins of stress — intrinsic and extrinsic 53 Relating stress to learning 54 Stress and distraction training 54 Managing stress 55 Managing Your Dog’s Environment 55 Starting on the right foot 55 Recognizing your dog’s social needs 56 Identifying your dog’s emotional needs 57 Feeding your dog’s nutritional needs 57 Understanding the “You” Factor 58 Knowing your expectations 58 Knowing your attitude 60 Being consistent with commands and tone of voice 61 Outlasting your dog — be persistent 62 Knowing to avoid “no” 63 Repeating commands 63 Chapter 4: Understanding the Vital Role That Nutrition and Health Play in Training 65 Finding the Right Food for Buddy 66 Deciphering dog food labels 67 Evaluating Buddy’s current food 69 Understanding the Nutrients Your Dog Needs 70 Meeting puppy’s nutritional needs 71 Keeping your dog’s diet rich in protein 72 Going easy on the carbohydrates 74 Knowing the value of fats — in moderation 75 Ensuring that your dog’s diet is fortified with vitamins and minerals 76 Don’t forget to quench his thirst: Keeping fresh water around 77 Paying close attention to preservatives 78 Making Choices about How to Feed Buddy 79 Feeding Buddy commercial dry food 79 Offering beefed-up commercial dry food 80 Trying a raw food or frozen diet 82 Making your own food: Wendy’s Natural Diet 84 Using the Natural Diet Foundation (NDF2) 85 Transferring Buddy to his new diet 86 Sizing up supplements 87 Exploring Common Health Issues That Affect Behavior and Training 87 Here comes that needle again: Examining vaccination issues 89 Uncovering the rise in doggy hypothyroidism 93 The bone crusher: “Oh, my aching back” 96 Quelling fear, anxiety, and other conditions with homeopathy 96 Treating chronic conditions with acupuncture 98 Chapter 5: Gearing Up for Training Success 99 Choosing the Right Training Leash and Collar 100 Deciding on a leash 100 Selecting a collar 102 Readying a Reward: Treats Are Your Training Buddies 107 Picking the ideal tasty treat 108 Opting for toys when food treats don’t work 109 Considering Other Equipment You Can Use 109 Using head halters 110 Going for a body harness 111 Exploring electronic and other training and management equipment 112 Part 2: Performing Puppy Preliminaries 119 Chapter 6: Bringing Your Puppy Home: What You Need to Know 121 Preparing for Puppy’s Arrival 122 Puppy’s home at home: Readying a crate 123 Puppy’s menu: Selecting a proper diet and set of dishes 127 Puppy’s everyday collar, ID, and leash: Preparing Buddy to go outside 128 Puppy’s toys: Playing with Buddy 128 Bringing Puppy Home — Now What? 129 Getting your puppy used to his collar and leash 130 Getting Buddy situated in his new home 132 Introducing puppies and kids 133 Meeting resident pets 134 Tending to his potty needs 135 Deciding where your puppy should sleep 136 Starting Buddy’s Education 136 Training for grooming 137 Spaying and neutering 142 Solving Perplexing Puppy Problems 142 Chapter 7: Surviving Your Puppy’s Critical Growth Periods 145 Understanding Your Puppy’s Early Development 146 Birth to 7 weeks: the Canine Socialization Period 146 Getting to know everyone: Weeks 7–12 the Human Socialization Period 148 Suddenly he’s afraid: Weeks 8–12 the Fear Imprint Period 149 Now he wants to leave home: Beyond 12 weeks: “Been there, done that” 150 The Terrible Twos: Managing the Adolescent from 4 Months to 2 Years 151 Surviving the juvenile flakies 152 Blame it on the hormones: Understanding how hormones affect behavior 153 Meeting the mature adult when your dog finally grows up 154 Spaying or Neutering to Help with Behavior and Training 155 Heeding the advantages 155 Acknowledging the disadvantages 156 Knowing when to spay or neuter 157 Part 3: Tackling Training Basics 159 Chapter 8: The Ins and Outs of Housetraining 161 Helping Buddy Get Used to His Crate 162 Training a Dog to Eliminate Outside 164 Hold elimination when inside the house 164 Know why he’s outside — to eliminate 166 Prove to Buddy that you’re trustworthy to take him outside 167 Establishing a Regular Feeding and Elimination Schedule 168 Designating a Regular Toilet Area 169 When Accidents Happen — Knowing What to Do 171 Avoiding punishment 171 Dealing with the accidents 172 Cleaning accidents 172 Using an Exercise Pen for Housetraining 173 Chapter 9: Focusing on Some Basic Training Commands 175 Training for Attention: Praise Versus Petting 175 Understanding the difference between the two 176 Using Okay to release from work 176 Practice getting your dog’s attention 177 Using the Yes command 177 Practicing Name Recognition 178 Sequence 1: Having Buddy move toward you when he hears his name 178 Sequence 2: Adding Come after his name 179 Sequence 3: Making Sit mandatory 180 Training Your Dog the Touch Command 180 Sequence 1: Getting Buddy to move toward you 180 Sequence 2: Increasing the distance Buddy needs to move toward you 181 Sequence 3: Not offering treat in the flat Touch hand 182 Sequence 4: Moving the touch hand in different positions 182 Sequence 5: Mixing up the hand you offer 183 Greeting with the Hello Command 184 Sequence 1: Focusing on the treat 184 Sequence 2: Greeting and praising 184 Sequence 3: Training Buddy to hold the sitting position longer 185 Sequence 4: Having a friend help 185 Leave It: Getting Your Dog to Leave Stuff Alone 186 Sequence 1: Introducing Leave It 186 Sequence 2: Looking at you 187 Sequence 3: Moving the treat from your hand to the floor 188 Sequence 4: “Leaving” a dropped food item 188 Sequence 5: “Leaving” a found item on the ground outside 189 Understanding other uses for Leave It 190 Chapter 10: Coming and Going: Two Essential Commands to Teach Buddy 191 Understanding the Importance of Leadership: Okay Is the Word 191 Teaching Your Dog to Come When Called 193 Teaching Buddy the Recall Game 193 Remembering what’s important when you use the Come command 196 Training Your Dog to Handle Distractions 198 Teaching Come with first-degree distractions 198 Teaching Come with second-degree distractions 199 Teaching Come with third-degree distractions 200 Focusing on the Opposite of Come — Go 201 Sequence 1: Teaching a target 202 Sequence 2: Add Come after the release 203 Sequence 3: Increase the distance to the target 203 Chapter 11: Mastering Some Fundamentals: Sit, Down, and Stay 205 Understanding Why Sit Is So Important 206 Introducing Down and Its Commands 206 Training Your Dog Sit and Down Simultaneously 207 Sequence 1: Placing and showing 208 Sequence 2: Adding the Down 208 Sequence 3: Luring into the Down 209 Sequence 4: Luring into the Sit 210 Sequence 5: Adding collar pressure 211 Sequence 6: Foregoing the treat 212 Warming Up with the Long-Down Exercise 212 Staying in Place: Sit-Stay and Down-Stay 214 Teaching the Sit-Stay 215 Teaching the Down-Stay 217 Chapter 12: Going for a Pleasant Walk 219 Using the Right Leash and Collar When Walking Your Dog 219 Taking a Pleasure Walk with Your Dog 221 Using a clock face to train your dog to walk 221 Training the pleasure walk 223 Teaching Buddy How to Heel at Your Side 224 Adding Distractions 226 Training with distractions 226 Chapter 13: Going to Bed and All of Its Practical Uses 231 Selecting a Bed for Your Dog 232 Deciphering How You Want to Use the Command 233 Training Buddy the Go to Your Bed Command 234 Sequence 1: Starting with the Bed command 234 Sequence 2: Adding the Go, Bed command 235 Sequence 3: Increasing your distance from the bed 236 Sequence 4: Foregoing the food lure 236 Sequence 5: Increasing the time spent on the bed 237 Sequence 6: Moving around while he’s on the bed 238 Sequence 7: Adding distractions 238 Sequence 8: Finding the bed from another room 239 Chapter 14: Getting In, Out, On, and Off and Mastering Door and Stairs Manners 241 Getting In and Out 242 Sequence 1: Eating the reward 242 Sequence 2: Making Buddy wait for his treat 242 Sequence 3: The rules of the exit begin 243 Getting On and Off 244 Sequence 1: Getting Buddy on something 244 Sequence 2: Getting Buddy off something 245 Training Door Manners 245 Sequence 1: Opening the door 246 Sequence 2: Adding some outside distraction 247 Sequence 3: Leaving Buddy behind at the door 248 Teaching Stairs Manners 249 Chapter 15: Dealing with Common Doggie Don’ts 251 Preventing Bad Habits — The Five General Prescriptions for Good Behavior 252 Good exercise 252 Good company 253 Good health 254 Good nutrition 254 Good training 255 Handling Your Dog’s Objectionable Behavior 255 Tolerating your dog’s behavior problems 256 Trying to solve your dog’s behavior problems 257 When all else fails: Finding a new home for your dog 258 Teaching Buddy to Keep All Four on the Floor 258 Greeting people — Using the Hello command 259 Using Sit and Stay as an alternative to jumping up 260 Putting an End to Counter Surfing — Leave It 261 Quieting the Incessant Barker 262 Barking as a response to a stimulus or distraction 263 Barking for attention 264 Barking when someone comes to the door 264 Contending with Chewing — The Nonfood Variety 265 I’m teething! Examining the physiological need to chew 266 I’m bored! Recognizing the psychological reasons that dogs chew 266 Dealing with a Digger 267 Managing Marking Behavior 268 Part 4: Taking Training to the Next Level 271 Chapter 16: Retrieving: Time to Fetch 273 Introducing the Common Retrieving Commands to Your Natural Retriever 274 Explaining the Basics of Retrieving 274 Sequence 1: Starting with Take It 275 Sequence 2: Working on the Hold It and Give command 276 Sequence 3: Helping your dog retrieve on command 278 Sequence 4: Helping Buddy learn to hold and reach for the object 279 Sequence 4: Teaching Buddy to reach for it 280 Sequence 6: Walking while holding the dumbbell 281 Sequence 7: Training Buddy for the pick-up 281 Sequence 8: Bringing it back 282 Sequence 9: Putting it all together 283 Polishing and Perfecting the Retrieve 284 Wait for it: Testing your dog’s patience 284 Retrieving with distractions 284 Chapter 17: Trick Training for Fun 289 Shake and High Five 290 Sequence 1: Introducing the concept of shaking hands 291 Sequence 2: Lifting his paw 292 Sequence 3: Putting his paw on your palm 292 Sequence 4: Adding the High Five 292 Find the Pea under the Right Cup 293 Sequence 1: Establishing a pattern for the game 293 Sequence 2: Introducing the covered treat 294 Sequence 3: Adding a second cup with no treat 294 Sequence 4: Moving the cups and changing their position 295 Sequence 5: Finishing the trick 295 Hide in a Box 296 Sequence 1: Introducing the box on its side 297 Sequence 2: Standing the box correctly with opening on top 297 Sequence 3: Adding the Hide command 298 Sequence 4: Putting it all together 299 Pick a Hand 300 Sequence 1: Reviewing the Touch command 300 Sequence 2: Touching the back of the treat hand 300 Sequence 3: Offering both hands for dog to choose the loaded hand 301 Sequence 4: Putting your hands behind your back first 302 Play Shy 303 Sequence 1: Putting his head between your legs 303 Sequence 2: Holding your legs closer together 304 Sequence 3: Holding his head pressed between your legs 305 Roll Over 306 Sequence 1: Rolling over with a little help 306 Sequence 2: Rolling over on his own 307 Sequence 3: Rolling over on command 307 Play Dead 307 Sequence 1: Laying down on his side or back 308 Sequence 2: Playing dead from the sitting or standing position 308 Sequence 3: Playing dead at a distance 309 Sequence 4: Presenting the trick to an audience 309 Find Mine 310 Sequence 1: Retrieving something of yours 310 Sequence 2: Helping your dog find your item 310 Sequence 3: Allowing Buddy to find the keys with his nose 311 Sequence 4: Adding identical items and Buddy will find yours 312 Sequence 5: Untying the clean pencils after Buddy is always finding your scented pencil 313 Jump through a Hoop 314 Sequence 1: Walking and jumping through a hoop 314 Sequence 2: Jumping through the hoop off Leash 314 You Have Food on Your Nose 315 Sequence 1: Cupping your hand over your dog’s muzzle 315 Sequence 2: Putting the treat on your dog’s nose 316 Sequence 3: Balancing the treat longer 317 Sequence 4: Balancing the treat without your help 317 Take a Bow 318 Sequence 1: Bowing by using a food lure 318 Sequence 2: Practicing until Buddy bows with little to no help 319 Sequence 3: Taking a bow on command 319 Dog Catcher/Stranger Trick 320 Chapter 18: Training for Fun and Competition 323 Understanding the System: Your Road Map to the Companion Dog Title 324 Requirements for Pre-Novice 326 The Novice class: What’s expected from you and Buddy 328 First Things First: Teaching the Ready! Command 329 Using Control Position 330 Working through the sequences of the Ready! command 331 Heeling Despite Distractions 335 Helping your dog heel in new places 336 Using a distracter while you’re heeling 336 Let’s Dance, Buddy: Heel On and Then Off Leash 337 The halt 338 Changes of pace and turns 338 Putting a Twist on Things: Teaching the Figure 8 340 Sequence 1: Preparing Buddy for the Figure 8 341 Sequence 2: Introducing Buddy to the actual Figure 8 342 Sequence 3: Doing the perfect Figure 8 343 Your Dog Isn’t an Elephant: Reinforcing Training 344 Chapter 19: Completing the Companion Dog Title 347 You’re Getting a Check-Up: Preparing for the Stand for Examination 348 Sequence 1: Introducing the Stand command and Stand Stay 349 Sequence 2: Showing Buddy how to stand still without holding him in position 350 Sequence 3: Working on the Stand-Stay command 350 Sequence 4: Leaving Buddy in a Stand-Stay 351 Sequence 5: Getting Buddy familiar with the Return 351 Sequence 6: Preparing Buddy for the actual examination 352 Heeling Off Leash 353 Transitioning to Heeling Off Leash 354 Successfully getting off leash 356 Mastering the Recall 357 Stay 358 Come with distractions 358 Front 358 Finish 361 Training for the Group Stay Exercises 363 Setting up self-generated distractions 364 Increasing the level of difficulty 364 Part 5: Handling Special Situations 367 Chapter 20: Addressing Aggression 369 Understanding Aggression 369 Examining the link between aggression and drives 370 Looking at the causes of aggression 371 Managing a Dog’s Aggression — Prey, Pack, Defense Drives 374 Dealing with aggression from dogs high in prey drive 375 Handling aggression from dogs high in defense drive 377 Controlling aggression in dogs high in pack drive 382 Coping with Aggression around the Food Bowl 384 Dealing with Fear-Biters 384 Handling Aggression in Different Circumstances 386 Aggression in a multi-dog household 386 Aggression while grooming 387 Aggression at the veterinarian 387 Chapter 21: Helping Buddy Handle Special Situations 389 Reacting to Loud Noises and Thunder 389 Coping with Separation Anxiety 390 Testing the desensitizing approach 391 Trying the DAP approach 392 Looking at some other options 392 Soiling the House 393 Dribbling and Submissive Wetting 394 Taking Buddy on the Road 395 Getting used to entering the vehicle 396 Staying put before exiting the vehicle 396 Getting ready for your road trip 397 Easing carsickness 398 Going to Doggie Daycare 399 Minding Your Manners at the Dog Park 400 Keeping Your Canine Calm at the Vet’s Office 401 Being Patient with the Rescue Dog 402 Chapter 22: Keeping Your Senior Dog Young: Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks 403 Old Gray Muzzle: Exploring the Signs of Aging in Dog Years 404 Teaching Exercises to Keep Buddy’s Mind and Body Sharp 405 Begging 405 Crawling 406 Walking backward 407 Doing neck and head stretches 407 Using the coffee table stretch 408 Walking, sitting, and downing 409 Swimming 410 Applying mental stimulation 411 Taking Care of Your Older Dog’s Health and Nutrition Needs 412 Maintaining Buddy’s slim and trim figure with a satisfying diet 412 Making life easier with supplements 414 Keeping Up with Grooming 416 Bringing Home a Puppy to Help Rejuvenate Buddy 419 Looking Into Dog Beds, Ramps, Wheelchairs, and Carts 420 Making Buddy cozy: Beds 420 Making heights more manageable with ramps 421 Helping the handicapped dog: Wheelchairs and carts 421 Chapter 23: Supplementing Your Training Efforts with Expert Help 425 Going to Obedience Training Class 426 Good obedience training class criteria 427 Puppy classes 429 Advanced classes 430 Hiring a Private Trainer 430 Sending Buddy to a Board and Train 431 Part 6: The Part of Tens 433 Chapter 24: Ten Training Traps and How to Avoid Them 435 Procrastinating on Basic Training 435 Buying into Attention-Seeking Behavior 436 Forgetting to Release Your Dog from a Stay 436 Eliminating Rewards Too Soon 437 Using Your Dog’s Name as a Command 437 Having to Repeat Commands Away from Home 437 Punishing Your Dog When He Comes to You 438 Running After Your Dog 439 Expecting Too Much Too Quickly 439 Ignoring the Principle of Consistency 440 Chapter 25: Ten Fun and Exciting Sporting Activities 441 Agility Events 441 Tracking Titles 443 Barn Hunt AKC 444 Lure Coursing 445 Schutzhund Training 445 Flyball Competitions 446 Freestyle Performances 446 Dock Diving Dogs 446 Detection Dogs or Scent Work 447 Working as a Service Dog 448 Assistance dogs 448 Companions 449 Chapter 26: Ten Reasons Dogs Do What They Do 451 Why Do Dogs Insist on Jumping on People? 451 Why Do Dogs Sniff Parts of Your Anatomy That You’d Prefer They Didn’t? 452 Why Do Male Dogs Lift Their Legs So Often? 452 Why Do Dogs Mount Each Other? 453 Why Do Dogs Like to Chase Things? 453 Why Do Dogs Roll in Disgusting Things? 454 Why Do Dogs Eat Weeds or Grass? 454 Why Do Dogs Hump Humans’ Legs? 455 Why Do Dogs Scoot on Their Rear Ends? 455 Why Do Dogs Circle Before Lying Down? 455 Index 457

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Book SynopsisGet the most out of this Golden breed Man's best friend doesn't get any better than the Golden Retriever. Originally bred as hunting companions who retrieved birds and hares and delivered them to hand, the breed today is much more than just a hunting dog. Highly intelligent and eager-to-please, Golden Retrievers have a history as working dogs that makes them easy to train. Attired in a luxurious fur coat and blessed with a gentle and affectionate nature, they are the third most popular breed in the United States and a favorite for families with young children. Written in a friendly style by Retriever-owner Nona Kilgore Bauer, the 2nd edition of Golden Retrievers For Dummies puts everything you need to know about your furry friend right in your hand. You'll learn how to care for a Golden Retriever from puppyhood to its stately golden years and how to communicate with them better. You'll also learn about grooming and training, as well as how to deal with common ailments and behaviors.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Finding Your Soul Mate 5 Chapter 1: Are You Meant for Each Other? 7 Chapter 2: What to Look for in the Breed 17 Chapter 3: Finding a Golden Breeder 27 Chapter 4: Selecting Your Special Puppy 43 Part 2: Welcome Home! 53 Chapter 5: Setting Out the Welcome Mat 55 Chapter 6: Welcoming Your Puppy Home 67 Chapter 7: Crate Training and Housetraining 81 Chapter 8: Canine Communication and Growing Pains 91 Chapter 9: Homeschooling Your Golden Puppy 107 Part 3: Keeping Your Pal Healthy and Happy 123 Chapter 10: Healthy Habits: Nutrition and Exercise 125 Chapter 11: Golden Health Care 101 139 Chapter 12: The Ins and Outs of Bugs and Worms 165 Chapter 13: Golden Grooming Basics 179 Chapter 14: Caring for Your Senior Golden 189 Chapter 15: Hereditary Disease 199 Chapter 16: Problem Behaviors and Aggression 207 Part 4: The Part of Tens 227 Chapter 17: Ten Great Games to Play with Your Puppy 229 Chapter 18: Ten Websites for the Golden Retriever Believer 235 Chapter 19: Ten Things in Your Golden Retriever’s Bag of Tricks 239 Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Help Your Golden Live a Longer and More Golden Life 251 Index 257

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Deciding Whether a Turtle or Tortoise Is Right for You 7 Chapter 1: Understanding Chelonians 9 Chapter 2: Understanding What Turtle and Tortoise Ownership Requires of You 19 Chapter 3: Choosing the Right Turtle or Tortoise for You 35 Chapter 4: Finding Your Turtle or Tortoise 49 Part 2: The Who’s Who of Turtles and Tortoises 57 Chapter 5: Aquatic Turtles 59 Chapter 6: Semi-Aquatic Turtles 73 Chapter 7: Semi-Terrestrial and Terrestrial Turtles 87 Chapter 8: North American Box Turtles 101 Chapter 9: Small Tortoises 115 Chapter 10: Medium-Sized to Large Tortoises 127 Chapter 11: Really Big Tortoises 137 Chapter 12: Special Tortoises 145 Part 3: Welcome Home! Creating a Safe and Healthy Environment 153 Chapter 13: Making a Home for an Aquatic or Semi-Aquatic Turtle 155 Chapter 14: Making an Indoor Home for a Terrestrial Turtle or Small Tortoise 165 Chapter 15: Keeping a Turtle or Tortoise Outdoors 173 Chapter 16: Lighting Up Your Chelonian’s World 181 Chapter 17: Keeping Your Turtle or Tortoise Warm and Toasty 187 Chapter 18: Water: The Magic Liquid 195 Part 4: Open Wide! Turtle and Tortoise Health 201 Chapter 19: Making Sure Your Pet Eats the Right Things 203 Chapter 20: Monitoring Your Turtle’s or Tortoise’s Health 225 Chapter 21: Breeding Your Chelonians 243 Chapter 22: Sleeping the Winter Away 263 Part 5: The Part of Tens 269 Chapter 23: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That Make Great Pets 271 Chapter 24: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That May Be Difficult to Care For 275 Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Keep Your Pet Healthy 281 Chapter 26: Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid 287 Appendix A: Chelonian Terms and Scientific Names 293 Appendix B: Sources of Things Chelonian 303 Index 307

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsForeword xvii Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 3 Icons Used in This Book 4 Beyond the Book 4 Where to Go from Here 5 Part 1: Taking Flight with Beekeeping 7 Chapter 1: To Bee, or Not to Bee? 9 Discovering the Benefits of Beekeeping 10 Harvesting liquid gold: Honey 11 Bees as pollinators: Their vital role to our food supply 11 Being part of the bigger picture: Save the bees! 13 Getting an education: And passing it on! 13 Improving your health: Bee therapies and stress relief 15 Determining Your Beekeeping Potential 16 Environmental considerations 16 Zoning and legal restrictions 16 Costs and equipment 17 Time and commitment 18 Beekeeper personality traits 18 Allergies 19 Deciding Which Beekeeping Approach to Follow 19 Medicated beekeeping 20 Natural beekeeping 20 Organic beekeeping 21 Combining approaches 21 Chapter 2: Getting to Know Your Honey Bees 23 Basic Body Parts 24 Skeleton 24 Head 25 Thorax 26 Abdomen 27 The Amazing Language of Bees 27 Pheromones 27 Shall we dance? 28 Getting to Know the Male and the Two Female Castes 29 Her majesty, the queen 29 The industrious little worker bee 32 House bees 33 Field bees 36 The woeful drone 37 The Honey Bee Life Cycle 39 Egg 39 Larva 41 Pupa 42 Other Stinging Insects 43 Bumblebee 44 Carpenter bee 44 Mason bee 45 Wasp 45 Yellow jacket 46 Bald-faced hornet 47 Part 2: Starting Your Adventure 49 Chapter 3: Alleviating Apprehensions and Making Decisions 51 Overcoming Sting Phobia 52 Knowing what to do if you’re stung 53 Watching for allergic reactions 54 Building up a tolerance 54 Understanding Local Laws and Ordinances 55 Easing the Minds of Family and Neighbors 55 Location, Location, Location: Where to Keep Your Hives 57 Knowing what makes a perfect bee yard 57 Urban considerations 59 Understanding the correlation between geographical area and honey flavors 64 Knowing When to Start Your Adventure 64 Chapter 4: Selecting a Hive That’s Perfect for You 67 The Langstroth Hive 68 The Kenyan Top Bar Hive 70 The Apimaye Insulated Hive 73 The Flow Hive 75 The Warré (People’s) Hive 78 The Five-Frame Nuc Hive 81 The Observation Hive 83 Make a Beeline to the Best Beehive 86 Hives for harvesting honey 87 Hives for pollinating your garden 87 A hive for learning and teaching 88 Chapter 5: Basic Equipment for Beekeepers 91 Starting Out with the Langstroth Hive 92 Knowing the Basic Woodenware Parts of the Langstroth Hive 92 Hive stand 93 Bottom board 93 Entrance reducer 95 Deep-hive body 96 Queen excluder 97 Shallow or medium honey super 98 Frames 100 Foundation 103 Inner cover 106 Outer cover 106 Knowing the Basic Parts of a Top Bar Hive 108 The top bar 108 Everything else 109 Ordering Hive Parts 110 Startup hive kits 110 Setting up shop 111 Adding on Feeders 112 Hive-top feeder 112 Entrance feeder 114 Pail feeder 115 Baggie feeder 116 Frame feeder 117 Top Bar hive feeders 118 Fundamental Tools 118 Smoker 119 Hive tool and frame lifter 119 Bee-Proof Clothing 120 Veils 120 Gloves 122 Really Helpful Accessories 123 Elevated hive stand 123 Frame rest 125 Bee brush 125 Slatted rack 126 Screened bottom board 126 Beekeeper’s toolbox 128 Chapter 6: Obtaining and Installing Your Bees 131 Determining the Kind of Bee You Want 132 Deciding How to Obtain Your Initial Bee Colony 135 Ordering package bees 135 Buying a “nuc” colony 136 Purchasing an established colony 138 Capturing a wild swarm of bees 138 Picking a Reputable Bee Supplier 139 Deciding When to Place Your Order 141 The Day Your Girls Arrive 142 Bringing home your bees 142 Recipe for sugar syrup 143 Putting Your Bees into the Hive 144 Hiving steps for Langstroth type hives and Steps 1–7 for Top Bar hives 144 Hiving Steps 8–14 for Top Bar hives 150 Watching your bees come and go from their new home 151 Part 3: Time for a Peek 153 Chapter 7: Opening Your Hive 155 Establishing Visiting Hours 156 Setting an Inspection Schedule 156 Preparing to Visit Your Langstroth or Top Bar Hive 157 Making “non-scents” a part of personal hygiene 157 Getting dressed up and ready to go 158 Lighting Your Smoker 159 Opening a Langstroth Hive 161 Removing the hive-top feeder 164 Removing the inner cover 165 Opening a Top Bar Hive 166 The Hive’s Open! Now What? 168 Chapter 8: What to Expect When You’re Inspecting 169 Keeping a Journal 170 Inspecting a Langstroth Hive 171 Removing the first frame of your Langstroth hive 171 Working your way through the Langstroth hive 173 Holding up frames for inspection 174 Knowing when it’s time for more smoke 175 Replacing Langstroth frames 175 Closing the Langstroth hive 176 Inspecting a Top Bar Hive 177 Working your way through the Top Bar hive 177 Top Bar comb management 179 Looking into Top Bar cells 180 Replacing the top bars and closing the hive 181 Understanding What to Always Look For 181 Checking for your queen 181 Storing food; raising brood 182 Inspecting the brood pattern 182 Recognizing foodstuffs 183 Your New Colony’s First Eight Weeks 183 Checking in: A week after hiving your bees 183 The second and third weeks 186 Weeks four through eight 188 Chapter 9: Different Seasons, Different Activities 193 Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer 194 Your summer to-do list 195 Your summertime commitment 195 Falling Leaves Point to Autumn Chores 196 Your autumn to-do list 196 Your autumn time commitment 200 Clustering in a Winter Wonderland 201 Your winter to-do list 202 Your wintertime commitment 203 Spring is in the Air (Starting Your Second Season) 203 Your spring to-do list 204 Your springtime commitment 205 Administering spring medication 205 Reversing hive bodies 207 Managing Top Bar Hives in the Spring 208 Finding the cluster 208 Preventing the urge to swarm 209 Expanding the brood nest 209 The Beekeeper’s Calendar 210 Part 4: Common Problems and Simple Solutions 213 Chapter 10: Anticipating and Preventing Potential Problems 215 Running Away (to Join the Circus?) 216 Swarming 216 Absconding 227 Where Did the Queen Go? 227 Letting nature take its course 228 Ordering a replacement queen 228 Introducing a new queen to the hive 229 Avoiding Chilled Brood 230 Dealing with the Dreaded Robbing Frenzies 231 Knowing the difference between normal and abnormal (robbing) behavior 231 Putting a stop to a robbing attack 232 Preventing robbing in the first place 232 Ridding Your Hive of the Laying Worker Phenomenon 234 How to know if you have laying workers 234 Getting rid of laying workers 235 Preventing Pesticide Poisoning 237 The “Killer Bee” Phenomenon 237 What are “killer bees”? 238 Bee prepared! 239 Chapter 11: Colony Collapse Disorder 241 What is CCD? 242 What to Do If You Suspect CCD 243 Why All the Fuss? 243 What’s Causing CCD? 244 The cellphone theory 244 It may be the perfect storm 244 Answers to FAQs 248 What You Can Do to Help 248 Chapter 12: Keeping Your Bees Healthy 251 Understanding the Importance of Good Nutrition 252 What bees eat 252 The need for good gut health 253 Taking steps to ensure good nutrition 253 Medicating or Not? 254 Knowing the Big-Six Bee Diseases 254 American foulbrood (AFB) 255 European foulbrood (EFB) 256 Chalkbrood 257 Sacbrood 258 Stonebrood 258 Nosema 259 A handy chart 260 Chapter 13: Heading Off Honey-Bee Pests 263 Parasitic Problems 263 Varroa mites 264 Tracheal mites 271 Zombie (Phonid) flies 276 Other Unwelcome Pests 276 Wax moths 277 Small hive beetle 278 Ants, ants, and more ants 279 Bear alert! 280 Raccoons and skunks 281 Keeping out Mrs Mouse 282 Some birds have a taste for bees 283 Pest Control at a Glance 283 Chapter 14: Raising Your Own Queens 285 Why Raising Queens is the Bee’s Knees 286 Understanding Genetics 287 Dominant and recessive genes 287 Inbreeding versus outcrossing 288 Accentuate the positive 289 What Makes a Queen a Queen 291 Talking about the Birds and Bees for Honey Bees 292 Creating Demand: Making a Queenless Nuc 293 Queen-Rearing Method 1: Go with the Flow 294 If the queen cells are capped 294 If the queen cells are open 294 Mind the timeline 295 Queen-Rearing Method 2: The Miller Method 296 Queen-Rearing Method 3: The Doolittle Method, also Known as Grafting 298 Tools and equipment 298 How it’s done 301 Providing nuptial housing 303 Finding Homes for Your Queens 304 Evaluating the Results 305 The Queen Rearer’s Calendar 306 Marking Your Queens 307 Part 5: Sweet Rewards 309 Chapter 15: Honey, I Love You 311 Appreciating the History of Honey 311 Understanding the Composition of Honey 313 Healing with Honey 314 Honey and diabetes 314 Honey’s nutritional value 315 Honey and children 315 Choosing Extracted, Comb, Chunk, or Whipped Honey 315 Extracted honey 316 Comb honey 317 Chunk honey 317 Whipped honey 317 Honeydew honey 318 Taking the Terror out of Terroir 318 Customizing your honey 319 Honey from around the world 320 The Commercialization of Honey 324 Is it the real deal? 324 Raw versus regular honey 325 Organic or not? 325 Your own honey is the best 325 Appreciating the Culinary Side of Honey 326 The nose knows 326 Practice makes perfect 327 Recognizing defects in honey 328 Pairing Honey with Food 328 Infusing Honey with Flavors 329 Judging Honey 329 Honey Trivia 330 Chapter 16: Getting Ready for the Golden Harvest 333 Having Realistic Expectations 334 What Flavor Do You Want? 334 Assembling the Right Equipment to Extract Honey 335 Honey extractors 335 Uncapping knife 336 Honey strainer 336 Other handy gadgets for extracting honey 337 Honey containers 340 Planning Your Extracted Honey Harvest Setup 340 Gathering Comb Honey Equipment 342 Section comb cartridges 342 Cut comb 342 Branding and Selling Your Honey 342 Creating an attractive label 343 Finding places to market your honey 346 Selling your honey on the web 346 Chapter 17: Honey Harvest Day 347 Knowing When to Harvest 348 Bad things come to those who wait! 349 A few pointers to keep in mind when harvesting liquid gold 350 Getting the Bees out of the Honey Supers 351 Shakin’ ’em out 352 Blowin’ ’em out 353 Using a bee escape board 353 Fume board and bee repellent 354 Honey Extraction from a Langstroth Frame 356 Harvesting honey using an extractor 357 Cleaning frames after extracting 359 Harvesting Honey from Your Top Bar Hive 360 Selecting the comb to harvest 360 Getting the bees off Top Bar comb 362 Harvesting using the crush-and-strain method 362 Harvesting honey using a honey press 363 Harvesting cut-comb honey 365 Harvesting Wax 365 Part 6: The Part of Tens 367 Chapter 18: More than Ten Fun Things to Do with Bees 369 Making Two Langstroth Hives from One 369 Making One Langstroth Hive from Two 371 Dividing a Top Bar Hive into Two Colonies 373 Combining Two Top Bar Hive Colonies 375 Building an Elevated Hive Stand 376 Building materials list 377 Cut list 377 Planting Flowers for Your Bees 378 Asters (aster/callistephus) 379 Bachelor’s buttons (Centaurea) 380 Bee balm (Monarda) 380 Hyssop (Agastache) 380 Malva (Malvaceae) 381 Mint (Mentha) 381 Nasturtium (Tropaeolum minus) 381 Poppy (Papaver/Eschscholzia) 381 Salvia (Salvia/farinacea-strata/ splendens/officinalis) 382 Sunflowers (Helianthus/Tithonia) 382 Brewing Mead: The Nectar of the Gods 382 Create Cool Stuff with Propolis 385 Propolis tincture 386 Propolis ointment 386 Propolis varnish 387 Making Gifts from Beeswax 387 Beeswax candles 388 Beeswax furniture polish 389 Beauty and the Bees 389 Use your cappings 390 Equipment 390 The recipes 391 Packaging and labeling 396 Chapter 19: More than Ten Frequently Asked Questions about Bee Behavior 397 Chapter 20: My Ten Favorite Honey Recipes 403 Honey Curry Vegetable Dip 405 Golden Cornbread 406 Honey Picante Chicken Wings 407 Apricot Honey Bread 408 Asian Honey-Tea Grilled Prawns 409 Broiled Scallops with Honey-Lime Marinade 410 A Honey of a Chili 411 Beef and Potato Tzimmes 412 Chewy Honey Oatmeal Cookies 413 Apple Honey Tart 414 Part 7: Appendixes 415 Appendix A: Helpful Resources 417 Honey Bee Information Websites 417 Apiservices — Virtual beekeeping gallery 417 The Barefoot Beekeeper 418 Beemaster Forum 418 Bee-Source.com 418 Facebook — Top Bar Beekeeping 418 Honey Bee Health Coalition 418 Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium (MAARAC) 419 National Honey Board 419 Bee Organizations and Conferences 419 The American Apitherapy Society Inc 420 American Beekeeping Federation 420 American Honey Producers 420 Apiary Inspectors of America 420 Apimondia: International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations 421 Eastern Apiculture Society 421 Heartland Apicultural Society Inc 422 International Bee Research Association 422 USDA Agricultural Research Service 422 The Western Apiculture Society 423 Bee Journals and Magazines 423 American Bee Journal 423 Bee Culture 424 Bee World 425 Beekeeping Supplies and Equipment 425 Apimaye Insulated Hives 425 Barnyard Bees 426 Bastin Bees 426 Bee-commerce.com 427 BeeInventive 427 Bee Vital 428 Betterbee 428 Blue Sky Bee Supply 428 Dadant & Sons, Inc 429 Glorybee Inc 429 Healthy Bee 430 Hive Butler 430 Hive Tracks 430 Hungry Bear Farms 431 Kelley Beekeeping 431 Mann Lake 431 Miller Bee Supply 432 Oliverez 432 Pierco 433 Pigeon Mountain Trading Company 433 Rossman Apiaries 433 Sacramento Beekeeping Supplies 434 Swienty Beekeeping Equipment (EU) 434 Thorne Beekeeping Supply (UK) 435 Western Bee Supplies 435 State Bee Inspectors (United States) 436 Appendix B: Beekeeper’s Checklist 437 Appendix C: Glossary 441 Index 449

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Getting Started with Mixed Breeds 5 Chapter 1: Mixing It Up: Introducing the Mixed Breed 7 A Mutt by Any Other Name: Defining Mixed Breeds 8 A Tale of Two Dogs: How Mixed-Breed Dogs Come to Be 9 Even Toy Dogs Aren’t Toys 10 They Don’t Call ’Em Man’s Best Friend for Nothin’ 11 Chapter 2: Designer Dogs: Not Your Mother’s Mutt 13 The Pros and Cons of Designer Dogs 14 The pros 14 The cons 14 The Major “Labels” in the Designer-Dog World 15 Oodles of Poodles 15 A basket of Toys 20 Intelligent perceptions: Border Collie hybrids 25 Chapter 3: A Little of This, a Little of That: Deciding Which Mixed Breed is Right for You 27 Asking Yourself the Right Questions 27 Do you have enough time for a dog? 28 Do you have enough money for a dog? 28 Are you ready to give your heart to a dog? 29 Looking at the Different Breeds 29 On the hunt: The Sporting Group 29 Ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog: The Hound Group 30 Workin’ like a dog: The Working Group 31 Tenacious terriers: The Terrier Group 33 Big personalities in small packages: The Toy Group 34 All shapes and sizes: The Non-Sporting Group 35 Round ’em up: The Herding Group 36 Considering Age: Puppy or Adult? 37 Gender Bender: Male or Female? 39 Adding It Up: The Right Dog for You 39 Chapter 4: Choosing Your New Best Friend 41 Finding Your Very Own Mixed-Breed Dog 41 Breeders 42 Shelters 43 Rescue groups 43 Knowing Which Questions to Ask 44 Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match: Temperament Testing 45 Be gentle: Testing for touch sensitivity 45 What’s that? Testing for movement and object sensitivity 47 Who’s the boss? Testing for dominance and submission 49 I’ll get that! Testing for possessiveness and retrieval ability 52 Follow the leader: Testing for social skills 53 Part 2: Living with Your Mixed-Breed Dog 55 Chapter 5: Getting Ready for Your Dog’s Arrival 57 Dog-Proofing Your House 57 Removing chewing hazards 58 Protecting your furniture 59 Pushing up daisies: Giving your dog a place to dig 60 Born to run: Making sure your dog can’t escape 61 Your Mixed-Breed Dog’s Bedroom 62 Crate or pen? Your dog’s first place to sleep 62 Thinking outside the box: Letting your dog sleep outside a crate or pen 63 Bedding 63 Giving Your Dog a Place to Eat 64 Stocking Up on Supplies 64 Collars and leashes 64 Dishes and bowls 65 Toys 66 Chapter 6: Bringing Home Your Mixed Breed 69 Giving Your Dog the Guided Tour 70 Walking her in and showing her around 70 Greeting the family 70 Meeting other pets 71 Taking her out to do her business 74 Showing the dog her sleeping area 75 Fighting Those First-Night Blues 76 Scheduling Time for Your New Dog 77 Exercise and playtime 77 Feeding time 78 Potty time 79 Chapter 7: Chasing the Chuckwagon: The Basics of Feeding 81 The Basics of Nutrition 82 Types of Dog Food 83 Commercial dog food 84 Homemade food 86 Raw diet 86 Don’t touch! Foods and plants that are poisonous to dogs 87 How Much to Feed 89 Feeding according to your dog’s age 90 Feeding according to your dog’s size 91 Special Dietary Needs 91 It’s My Treat: Giving Your Dog a Little Something Extra 92 Chapter 8: Grooming Your Mixed Breed 95 Why Grooming Matters: Inside and Out 96 Brushing Your Dog 96 Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears 98 Look, Ma — No Cavities! Brushing Your Canine’s Choppers 99 The Eyes Have It: Caring for Your Mixed Breed’s Eyes 100 Mani/Pedi Time: Clipping Your Dog’s Nails 101 Bathing Your Dog 104 Checking for Parasites 106 Preventing parasites 106 Curing parasites 107 The Daily Once-Over: Checking Your Dog for Problems 108 Chapter 9: Exercising Your Dog 111 Knowing How Much Exercise Your Dog Needs 112 Puppies 112 Adult dogs 113 Older dogs 115 Finding an Activity Your Dog Enjoys 116 Walking 116 Jogging and running 116 Biking 117 Fetch 117 Hiking 118 Swimming 119 Horse and hound 121 Part 3: Training Your Dog 123 Chapter 10: Housetraining 125 When You Gotta Go: Looking for Your Dog’s Warning Signs 126 Scheduling Potty Breaks 127 If you work away from home all day 128 If you work out of your house 129 If your schedule changes frequently 129 Crate-Training to Prevent Accidents 130 How the crate works 130 Introducing your dog to the crate 131 Teaching your dog to go in a specific area 133 Teaching your dog to get it done faster 134 Other Training Methods 135 Paper training 136 Using a litter pan 136 Watching for Success 136 Observing your dog 137 Giving freedom only when she earns it 137 Working on Some Advanced Housetraining Techniques 138 Training your dog to potty on command 139 You rang? Getting your dog to ring a bell when she has to go 139 Chapter 11: Hup, Two, Three, Four: Good Manners and Basic Training 141 Preparing for Training 141 Targeting: The first step in training 142 Using a marker: The second step in training 142 Buying the right training tools 143 Making your voice and body work for you 145 Training the Basic Commands 147 Come 147 Heel 148 Getting started: The basics of Heel 149 Handling a dog who pulls 152 Trying the Heel off-leash 153 Sit 154 Down 156 Stay 158 Time 159 Movement 160 Distance 162 Getting your dog to come from a Stay 162 Dealing with Distractions 165 Looking at the different levels of distraction 166 Introducing distractions to your dog 167 Helping your dog be reliable off-leash 168 Finding a Trainer 168 Chapter 12: Tackling Mixed-Breed Training Challenges 173 Unpacking the Mental Baggage: Helping a Dog Who’s Been Abused or Neglected 174 Alone and Frightened: Separation Anxiety 174 Recognizing the symptoms 175 Knowing what to do about it 177 Severe anxiety: When to seek outside help 183 No More Mr Nice Guy: The Aggressive Dog 184 Recognizing the types of aggression 184 Knowing what to do about it 186 Jumping for Joy 187 Knowing why dogs jump 187 Keeping your dog’s feet on the ground 188 Curing the insistent jumper 189 Chewing Your Dog Out for Chewing 190 Understanding why dogs chew 190 Solving the problem 191 From Beggar to Chooser: Getting Your Dog to Stop Begging at the Table 195 Nipping and Mouthing 196 Understanding why dogs nip and mouth 196 Preventing the problem 196 Curing the problem 197 Digging to the Center of the Earth 197 Knowing why dogs dig 197 Giving your dog a place to dig 198 Part 4: Keeping Your Dog Healthy 201 Chapter 13: Finding and Working with a Vet 203 Choosing a Veterinarian 203 Spaying or Neutering Your Pet 206 Microchipping or Tattooing: Keeping Your Dog Safe 207 Keeping Up with Regular Healthcare 208 Regular checkups and yearly vaccinations 209 Baseline tests 210 Controlling parasites 210 Addressing Special Health Problems 211 Skin allergies 211 Food allergies 212 Appetite issues 212 Skeletal disorders 213 Chapter 14: First Aid: Dealing with Emergencies 215 Gathering Emergency Contact Information 215 Assembling Your Canine First-Aid Kit 217 First-Aid Basics 218 Allergies 218 Bloat 219 Broken bones or dislocations 219 Burns 220 Choking 220 Cuts 220 Diarrhea 220 Heat stroke 221 Hypothermia 221 Insect bites 222 Poisoning 222 Puncture wounds 222 Run-ins with wild animals 223 Seizures 223 Shallow wounds 224 Shock 224 Snake bites 224 Vomiting 224 If You Lose Your Dog 225 Before your dog is lost: Getting proper identification 225 What to do when your dog is lost 226 Chapter 15: The Special Needs of Senior Dogs 227 How Old is Old: Knowing When Your Dog Has Earned Senior Status 227 The Early-Bird Special: Feeding Your Senior Dog 229 Use It or Lose It: Exercising Your Senior Dog 230 Social time with other dogs 230 Walks with you 231 Identifying Health Problems Common to Seniors 231 Hearing loss 231 Blindness 232 Arthritis 232 Digestive disorders 233 Cancer 233 Dementia 233 Depression 234 Recognizing Behavior Problems That Sometimes Come with Age 235 Saying Goodbye 236 Part 5: Having Fun with Your Dog 239 Chapter 16: Not Just for Purebreds: Showing Off with Your Mixed Breed 241 Participating in a Mixed-Breed Dog Club 241 Competing in obedience matches and dog shows 242 Competing in agility 244 Competing in Rally 245 Media Hound: Getting Your Dog on Camera 246 Knowing what animal agents look for 247 Preparing for work 247 What to expect when your dog performs in front of the camera 248 Chapter 17: Traveling with Charley 249 Deciding Whether to Bring Your Dog with You 250 Finding Pet-Friendly Places to Stay 251 Packing for Your Trip 251 Traveling by Car 253 Flying with Your Dog 254 What to do before you leave 254 Caring for your dog before and after the flight 256 Leaving Your Dog Behind 256 Finding an in-home sitter 256 Knowing what to look for in a kennel 257 Part 6: The Part of Tens 259 Chapter 18: Ten Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Dog 261 It Doesn’t Cost Much — and It May Be Free! 262 Breeding is Time-Consuming and Expensive 262 You Reduce Your Dog’s Risk of Cancer 263 You Help Control the Number of Unwanted Dogs in the World 264 Your Dog Won’t Be as Likely to Stray from Home 264 Your Dog Will Be on Her Best Behavior 265 Your Dog Will Be Easier to Housetrain 265 Reproduction Can Be Risky 265 Your Dog Will Be a Better Watchdog 266 Your Dog Isn’t You 266 Chapter 19: Ten (or So) Fun Activities You and Your Mixed Breed Can Enjoy Together 267 Competing with Your Dog at American Kennel Club Events 268 Participating in United Kennel Club Events 268 Training Your Dog to Dive 268 Joining the Fun at the American Treibball Association 269 Camping and Hiking: Finding Fun Outdoor Activities 270 Helping Your Dog Become a Good Citizen 270 Help Your Dog Help Other People 271 Dancing with Your Mixed Breed 272 Flying High with Flyball 272 Index 273

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Getting to Know Your Siberian Husky 5 Chapter 1: The Lowdown on Siberian Huskies, Just the Basics 7 Knowing What to Look for: A Husky’s Breed Standard 7 Understanding Why Huskies Make Great Pets 10 Picking a Husky: Where to Go and Where to Avoid 11 Introducing Your Husky to His New Home 12 Ensuring you have the right supplies 13 Listening to your Husky 13 Helping your Husky make new friends 14 Incorporating some discipline and training 15 Keeping an eye open for behavior issues 16 Caring for Your Husky 17 Making sure your Husky has proper nutrition 17 Giving your Siberian a spa treatment 18 Ensuring your Husky is healthy 18 Noting any changes in your Husky’s health 19 Chapter 2: Recognizing What a Siberian Husky Is (and Isn’t) 23 Examining the Siberian Husky Breed Standard 23 Size 24 Body 25 Front view 25 Back view 26 Neck 26 Skull 26 Teeth 26 Expression 26 Eyes 26 Ears 28 Feet 28 Tail 28 Coat texture 28 Color 29 Nose 31 Gait 32 Temperament 32 Comparing the Lookalikes and Imposters 32 Alaskan Malamutes 33 Samoyeds 33 “Alaskan Huskies” 33 “Miniature Huskies” 34 Alaskan Klee Kai 34 Northern Inuit Dog 34 Wolves and wolf-hybrids 34 Part 2: Looking for Your Soul Mate 37 Chapter 3: Selecting a Siberian Husky 39 Determining Whether a Husky Is Right for You 40 A Husky’s heritage 40 Children 41 Financial considerations 42 Your house 42 Climate 43 Time and exercise 43 Legal considerations 44 Commitment 44 Finding Your Dog 44 Your first option: The breeder route 45 Your second option: The shelter/rescue route 50 Avoiding pet stores 51 Choosing the Right Puppy 52 General condition 53 Size 53 Sex 53 Color 54 Eyes 54 Ears 54 Temperament 54 Age 55 Recognizing When Your Husky Puppy Matures 56 Chapter 4: Outfitting Your New Husky 57 Selecting the Right Collars, Leashes, and Harnesses 57 Collars 58 Taking your friend on a walk: A leash 60 Protecting your dog’s neck: Harnesses 60 Using ID Tags 61 Choosing Food and Water Dishes 62 Focusing on Grooming Tools 63 Picking a Place for Your Husky to Sleep 64 Finding the Right Crate 65 Understanding when to use a crate 65 Considering your options 66 Getting Chew Toys 67 Considering great toy choices 68 Steering clear of certain toys 68 Considering Pet Doors 69 Considering an Outdoor Kennel 70 Adding a Dog Gate 70 Part 3: Living with a Siberian Husky 71 Chapter 5: Welcoming Home Your Husky 73 Choosing a Veterinary Practice 74 Naming or Renaming Your New Dog 76 Surviving the First Day and Night 76 Feeding your new dog his first meal 77 Helping your dog adapt to his new family 77 Reassuring your dog on his first night 77 Determining Whether Dog Is an Indoor or Outdoor Dog 78 Securing your Husky outdoors 78 Keeping your Husky hydrated outside or inside 79 Wintertime fun: Keeping your Husky outdoors 79 Summertime blues: Helping your Husky avoid heat stress 80 Giving Your Pup the Love, Exercise, and Discipline He Needs 81 Knowing when your Husky needs exercise 81 Rewarding your dog 82 Housetraining Your Husky 82 Using crates to help housetrain 83 Getting the basics of housetraining 84 Figuring out what’s behind the accidents your Husky has 86 Cleaning Up: Siberian Housekeeping 87 Taking care of the yard 88 Getting rid of urine stains 89 Dealing with vomit 90 Cleaning up blood 90 Chapter 6: Figuring Out What Your Husky Is Telling You 91 Picking Up on What Your Dog Is Saying: Audible Cues 92 Barking 92 Howling 92 Wooing 94 Whining 94 Growling 94 Yelping 94 Soundless chattering 94 Interpreting Your Husky’s Body Language: Visual Cues 95 Circling and sniffing 95 Mounting behavior 95 Pawing 96 Bowing 96 Nudging or punching 96 Wanting a belly rub 96 Hand-holding 97 Mouth-licking 97 Constant licking or tail-chewing 97 Reading Your Dog’s Facial Gestures 98 Watching Your Husky’s Tail 99 Making Sense of Weird Behavior 99 Rolling in nasty stuff 100 Scooting 100 Eating grass 100 Rock eating 101 Eating feces 101 Noticing Your Siberian’s Sleeping Style 102 Chapter 7: Socializing Your Siberian 105 Interacting with Your Puppy 105 Visiting with your Siberian 106 Staying safe: No dog kisses 107 Enrolling in puppy kindergarten 107 Introducing Your Siberian to Children 107 Training the children to be pet-friendly 108 Dealing with toddlers and your dog 108 Getting your Husky ready for a baby 109 Helping your Husky welcome a baby into your family 110 Introducing Your Husky to Other Animals 110 Other dogs 111 Cats 111 Birds 112 Livestock 112 Small pets 112 Chapter 8: Training Your Husky 113 Training the Family before You Train Your Dog 114 Setting Your Training Goals 115 Agreeing on Commands 116 Commanding without words 116 Paying attention to your tone of voice 117 Using your dog’s name 117 Teaching Your Husky the Basics 117 Watch Me! 117 Come 118 No! 119 Sit 120 Stay 120 Down 121 Leave or Get Out 121 Off 122 Give It and Drop It 122 Heel 122 Correcting forging in your Husky 123 Taking Advantage of Formal Obedience Training 125 Chapter 9: Solving Bad Behavior 127 Coping with Separation Anxiety 128 Sensitize yourself 129 Desensitize the dog 130 Medicate the dog when necessary 131 Coping with the Thunder Phobia 132 Addressing the Vocalist 132 Dealing with Holes: The Digger 133 Stay observant 134 Discourage digging 134 Chomping on Everything: The Chewer 135 Understanding why dogs chew 135 Curing chewing 136 Preventing chair chomping 137 Stealing Set-Out Food: The Counter-Cruiser 137 Dumping Trash: The Trashman 138 Running Off: The Escape Artist 139 Hunting Other Animals: The Big (or Small) Game Hunter 140 Heading for the Door: The Charger 140 Being Playful: The Nipper 141 Getting Your Attention: The Jumper 141 Chapter 10: Dealing with Aggression 143 Establishing Your Leadership 143 Handling Aggression 144 Relative dominance among dogs 145 Predatory aggression 147 Aggression toward people 147 Understanding Types of Aggressive Behavior 149 Fear-induced aggression 149 Territorial aggression 150 Food or toy guarding 150 Pain-induced aggression 151 Irritable aggression 151 Maternal protectiveness 152 Genetically based aggression 152 Environmental aggression 152 Hiring a Professional 153 Avoiding Dog Bites 153 Part 4: Keeping Your Husky Healthy 155 Chapter 11: Feeding Your Husky 157 Knowing Your Husky’s Nutritional Needs 157 Protein 158 Fat 159 Minerals 160 Water 160 Carbohydrates 161 Reading the Labels 161 Taking a Look at the Main Types of Dog Food 163 Dry food 163 Canned food 164 Semi-moist food 164 People food 164 Considering Supplements 166 Figuring Out How Much to Feed Your Dog 166 Looking at Performance, Maintenance, and Low-Calorie Foods 167 Feeding your puppy 168 Feeding your senior dog 168 Chapter 12: Grooming Your Siberian 169 Brushing and Combing Your Husky 169 Basic grooming 101: Important points to remember 170 Combing and brushing: Easy-peasy 171 Bathing Your Husky 173 Dealing with Shedding 174 Paying Attention to Your Husky’s Entire Body 176 Feet 176 Nails 176 Teeth 177 Eyes 179 Ears 179 Anal sacs 179 Finding a Professional Groomer 180 Chapter 13: Focusing on Your Husky’s Health and Wellbeing 181 Knowing What to Expect on the First Vet Checkup 182 Neutering and Spaying: The Biggest Decision 182 Eyeing why you’d want to spay your Husky 183 Considering why not to spay your Husky 183 Eyeing why you’d want to neuter your Husky 184 Choosing not to neuter your Husky 185 Examining Vaccines in Plain English 185 Looking closer at vaccines 186 Considering key points about vaccines 187 Focusing on the Different Viruses That Can Afflict Your Husky 188 Canine parvovirus 188 Canine distemper 189 Infectious canine hepatitis 189 Rabies 189 Kennel cough 190 Canine coronavirus 190 Avoiding Heartworm 191 Knowing How to Prevent Leptospirosis 191 Being Aware of Canine Hip Dysplasia 192 Being Aware of Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) 193 Tackling Arthritis 194 Eyeing Eye Problems 194 Recognizing common eye problems 194 Testing your Husky’s vision 198 Identifying Cushing’s Disease 199 Concentrating on Epilepsy 199 Attending to Diabetes 199 Watching Out for Fleas and Ticks 200 Fighting fleas 200 Preventing fleas 201 Tackling ticks 202 Getting the Lowdown on Hypothyroidism 204 Keeping an Eye Out for Cancer 205 Dealing with Zinc Malabsorption Disorder 205 Achoo! Controlling Your Husky’s Allergies 206 Treating allergies 206 Food allergies 207 Inhalant allergies 207 Flea allergies 208 Biting into Dental Problems 208 Addressing Bloat 208 Understanding Aging Issues in Your Husky 209 Chapter 14: Responding to Emergencies 211 Staying on Top of Your Dog’s Vital Signs 212 Assembling the Complete Pet First-Aid Kit for Your Husky 213 Administering Meds 214 Handling Accidents 215 Dealing with Bites 216 Snakebite 216 Spider bites 217 Stopping External (Wound) Bleeding 217 Keeping a Lookout for Bloat 217 Addressing Breathing Difficulties 218 Stabilizing Broken Bones 218 Paying Attention to Coughing 218 Tackling Digestive Issues 218 Diarrhea 218 Constipation 219 Vomiting 219 Attending to Choking 220 Cooling Down Heat Stress 220 Treating Poisonings 221 Antifreeze poisoning 221 Chocolate poisoning 222 Onion and garlic poisoning 222 Rat poison 222 Taking Care of Porcupine Quills 223 Managing Seizures 223 Aiding Wounds 223 Part 5: Bringing Out the Sled Dog in Your Siberian 225 Chapter 15: Sledding with Your Siberian 227 Sledding 101: The Basics of the Sport 227 Identifying a sledding team’s makeup 228 Examining today’s racing world 229 Watching a sled race 231 Understanding some mushing lexicon 231 Recognizing basic mushing equipment 233 Getting a Sled Dog 233 Sledding for Fun 234 Chapter 16: The Last Great Race: The Iditarod 235 Understanding How It Began: The Start of the Iditarod 235 Following the Trail 236 Looking at the Iditarod Today 237 Entering the race 237 Following the race rules 239 Running the race 240 Finishing and even winning the race 241 Part 6: The Part of Tens 243 Chapter 17: Ten (or So) Tips for Traveling with (or without) Your Husky 245 Go for a Walk 245 Include Your Husky on Your Bike Rides 246 Travel in Your Vehicle 247 Fastening your Husky’s seat belt 247 Dealing with a nervous Siberian 248 Find a Pet-Friendly Hotel 249 Take Public Transportation 250 Fly with Your Husky: Yes or No? 250 Find a Reputable Pet-Sitter 252 Locate a Good Boarding Kennel 252 Chapter 18: Ten Hazards for a Husky (and How to Avoid Them) 255 Electricity 255 Rat and Mouse Poison (Rodenticides) 256 Household Cleaning Agents 256 Medicine Chest Menace 257 Hazardous Plants 258 Holiday Hazards 259 Garage Doors 260 Antifreeze 260 Lawn Chemicals 261 Swimming Pools 261 Chapter 19: Ten Great Dog Activities for Your Husky (besides Sledding) 263 Agility 263 Bikejoring 264 Canicross 266 Carting (with a Cart or with Equipment) 266 Conformation 268 Diving Dog 269 Obedience 269 Rally 270 Skijoring 271 Therapy Dog 272 Tracking 273 Chapter 20: Ten Reasons to Have a Siberian Husky 275 Huskies Always Smile 275 Huskies Make Terrific Exercise Partners 276 A Siberian Husky Can Pull You Wherever You Want to Go 276 Siberians Have No Doggie Odor 277 Huskies Are Educational 277 Huskies Provide Social Mobility 277 Huskies Are Great with Children 278 Huskies Will Make You a Better Citizen 278 Siberians Remind You What Really Matters in Life 279 Huskies Love You Unconditionally 279 Appendix A: Glossary 281 Appendix B: Siberian Husky Resources 287 The Siberian Husky Club of America 287 International Sled Dog Racing Association 287 American Kennel Club (AKC) 288 International Siberian Husky Club 288 Mushing/Sledding Equipment 288 Sled Dog Central 288 National Association of Professional Pet Sitters 289 Pet Poison Helplines 289 Index 291

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Getting Started with Pit Bulls 7 Chapter 1: Pitting and Petting: The Pit Bull’s Past 9 Creating Canine Gladiators 9 Showing Off 12 Becoming America’s Sweetheart 15 Overcoming Pride and Prejudice 17 Growing in Popularity 18 The Michael Vick influence 19 The consequences of no-kill shelters 19 Breed-specific legislation 20 Finding the Middle Ground 21 Chapter 2: Sizing Up the Pit Bull 23 Toughing It Out 23 Building a Better Bulldog 24 The American Dog Breeders Association standard 25 The United Kennel Club standard 30 The American Kennel Club standard for the American Staffordshire Terrier 31 Strutting His Stuff 33 UKC conformation shows 34 AKC conformation shows 36 Chapter 3: Deciding whether a Pit Bull is Right for You 39 Making a Commitment 40 Making the Match 42 Getting to the Heart of the Matter (or Your Pit Bull) 43 Facing the Facts 45 Chapter 4: Shopping the Bull Market 53 Avoiding Bad Blood 53 Searching High and Low 54 Checking the classifieds 55 Buying from a breeder 55 Getting a dog from a shelter or rescue group 58 Checking the Bona Fidos 64 ADBA registration 65 UKC registration 65 AKC registration 66 Picking Your Pit 67 Part 2: Giving Your Pit Bull a Good Home 71 Chapter 5: Bringing Home Your New Best Friend 73 Puppy-proofing Your Home 74 Fencing In Your Pit Bull 75 Providing a Cozy Doghouse 77 Giving Your Dog a Comfortable Place to Sleep 77 Crates 78 Exercise pens 79 Shopping for Your Pit Bull 80 Toys 80 Food and water bowls 83 Collars 83 Leashes 85 Grooming supplies 86 Poop bags 87 Travel supplies 87 Chapter 6: Living with Your Pit Bull 89 Acting Like a Pit Bull in a China Shop: House Rules 89 Taking the Pit Stop Outside 90 When the Plumbing’s Broken 91 Trying Your Patience 92 Understanding Pit Talk 93 Becoming a Social Animal 95 Going to Kindergarten 97 Meeting the Children 98 Going for a Bull Run 100 Making a Splash 102 Hitting the Road 103 Finding a Pit-Sitter 107 Finding a Lost Love 108 Part 3: Training and Having Fun with Your Pit 111 Chapter 7: Coping with a Pit Bull Terrorist 113 Saving Your Home 113 Fighting Like Cats and Dogs 114 Cats 114 Dogs 115 Avoiding DogFights 117 Breaking Up a DogFight 119 Calming the Raging Bull 122 All in good fun? 122 Biting the hand that feeds 123 Dealing with Pit Bull Aggression 124 Plucking Up Courage 126 Corralling the Escape Artist 127 Digging Up Some Dirt 127 Tales from the Bark Side 128 Chapter 8: Training the Teacher’s Pit 129 Training Your Pit to Wag Her Tail 130 Working for food 131 Making ideas click quick 132 Getting the Timing Right 133 Following the Ten Commandments 134 1 Thou shalt not live in the past 134 2 Thou shalt not train your dog to be bad 134 3 Thou shalt not confuse 134 4 Thou shalt not speak in tongues 134 5 Thou shalt not use excessive force 135 6 Thou shalt not hurt thy friend 135 7 Thou shalt not beat a dead horse 135 8 Thou shalt not end on a low note 135 9 Thou shalt not go crazy 136 10 Thou shalt not lose your patience 136 Going to School 136 Getting the Right Stuff 137 Starting Basic Training 138 Coming to terms 138 Sitting bull 140 Staying power 141 Learning ups and downs 141 Walking well-heeled 141 Trying Every Trick in the Book 143 Chapter 9: Going Out to the Bull Games 145 Pulling His Weight and More 146 Training to pull 146 Becoming a S.T.A.R. 148 Being a Good Citizen 149 Staying in Step with Obedience and Rally 149 Overcoming Obstacles 151 Following His Nose 152 Getting a Grip on Schutzhund 152 Rounding Up a Herding Title 153 Taking a Flying Leap 154 Racing the Clock 154 Part 4: Keeping Your Pit Bull Healthy 155 Chapter 10: Feeding a Bottomless Pit 157 Starting with Dry or Moist Foods 158 Considering Raw 160 Boning Up on Nutrition 161 Eschewing the fat 162 Skin and bones 163 Feeding Time 164 Keeping Your Dog Hydrated 164 Chapter 11: Primping Your Pit Bull 165 Taking Your Pit to the Cleaners 165 Smelling Like a Rose 167 Debugging Your Dog 168 Making fleas flee 168 Ticking off ticks 168 Managing mange 169 Losing those lousy lice 170 Saving Your Dog’s Skin 170 Scratching the surface of allergic itching 170 Pyoderma and impetigo 171 Cooling down hot spots 171 Nailing Down Nail Care 172 Going in One Ear and Cleaning Out the Other 172 Keeping an Eye on the Bull’s Eye 174 Keeping Your Dog Armed to the Teeth 176 Chapter 12: A Clean Bull of Health 179 Examining Your Pit Bull 179 Gums 181 Body temperature 182 Pulse, heartbeat, and breathing rate 182 Establishing a Relationship with a Vet You Trust 183 Making Sense of Blood Tests 184 Giving Your Dog Medicine 185 Staying Up to Date on Your Dog’s Vaccinations 187 Puppy vaccinations 187 Rabies 188 Distemper 188 Hepatitis 188 Leptospirosis 189 Parvovirus 189 Coronavirus 189 Tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) 189 Lyme disease 190 Keeping Your Pit Free of Worms 190 Ascarids 191 Hookworms 191 Whipworms 192 Tapeworms 192 More worms 192 Dealing with Intestinal Parasites 193 Coccidia 193 Giardia 193 Preventing Heartworm 194 Chapter 13: Sick as a Dog 195 When Your Dog Just Isn’t Himself 195 Dealing with Diarrhea 196 Saying Vamoose to Vomiting 197 Coping with Coughing 198 Helping Your Dog with Urinary Problems 199 Understanding Endocrine Disorders 200 Hypothyroidism 200 Cushing’s syndrome 200 Investigating Immunological Problems 200 Banishing Blood Parasites 201 Ehrlichiosis 201 Babesia 201 Coping with Cancer 202 Looking into Lameness 202 An arm and a leg 203 From the hip 204 Doctoring Your Dog 206 Holistic medicine 206 Homeopathic medicine 206 Herbology 206 Chiropractic medicine 207 Acupuncture 207 Trying Home Remedies 207 Chapter 14: Pit Bull First Aid 209 ABCs of First Aid 211 Artificial respiration 211 CPR 212 Specific Emergencies 213 Poisoning 213 Seizures 215 Heat stroke 216 Hypothermia 216 Bleeding 217 Limb fractures 217 Bloat (gastric torsion, gastric dilatation-volvulus) 218 Insect stings and allergic reactions 218 Snakebite 219 Burns 219 Electrical shock 219 Chapter 15: Helping Your Dog Age Well 221 Eat and Run 222 Act Your Age 223 When You’ve Done Everything 225 Eternally in Your Heart 226 Part 5: The Part of Tens 227 Chapter 16: Ten Pit Bull Resources 229 Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Help the Pit Bull’s Reputation 233 Index 237

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