6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top of My Must Have Dog Books, January 19, 2003
If I was only going to have one book on how to care for my dog, this would be it, because it encompasses all the essential issues of having a dog in your life. There is a checklist of the basic supplies needed for a new dog. There are descriptions of the many diseases and parasites dogs can contract, and the vaccinations and titers tests that prevent some of them. She explains thyroid disease, pancreatitis, urinary stones, and many other diseases and their treatment. She discusses obesity, and makes the point that in our quick-fix society, many people, when there dog comes to them for attention, throw them a cookie, when playing with them would often be a much wiser choice.
Some of the issues covered in the training section are on introducing dogs to children, and the supervision by adults needed. She explains some of the different dog sports. There are wonderful, detailed instructions on how to teach basic dog manners - leave it, sit, down, stay, come, loose-leash walking, wait, crate training, housetraining, and more.
The first-aid section covers many emergency issues, including a list of poisonous plants, a checklist for a doggie first aid kid, how to take your dog's temperature, what to do if prevent your dog suffering from heat stroke, which can be life-threatening, and what to do if it does happen - most importantly to give the dog a cold bath, wrap them in a cold wet towel, and get them to the nearest vet as quickly as possible.
I love how the book is laid out, with little greyed in area "tricks of the trade" throughout the book, and I love that there are frequent titles over sections so I can quickly find a topic I'm interested in. I also love the quick summaries at the end of each chapter, and that there are lots of point-form checklists, and charts. There are adorable drawings throughout the book, where the teachers, nurses, doctors, etc. are also dogs.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Your Best Friend's Best Friend, July 18, 2004
= Your best friend's best friend
Reviewer: Alan Alford from Marlboro, MA USA
Every loving breeder, who has ever sold a dog, has worried over whether she's given the new buyer everything he needs. This marvelous reference work from Darlene Arden will put to rest the concern of such breeders. The Angell Memorial Animal Book of Wellness is a "must" gift to accompany every puppy to its new home, and deserves a prominent place in every dog owner's library. It certainly has one in mine, where it's kept close enough for instant help each time one of my beloved pets shows the slightest sign of distress. In just the few short weeks since acquiring it it has brought me comfort on two occasions, and caused me instantly to take off to our veterinarian in a third. In 14 well-researched, easily read, heart-warming chapters, from Puppyhood, through the Middle Years, to the Senior years all dog-lovers dread, the author "holds the hand" of the dog owner through every possible medical concern and, in finale, comforts him in the final chapter of every human - canine love bond, "Saying Goodbye." This is one of the rare book investments that will earn, continuously, a return of its cost. I'm glad I found it.
Alan Alford
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent resource for anyone who loves their dog, January 19, 2003
As a breeder of Labrador Retrievers, I am perenially seeking and seldom finding books that I can wholeheartedly recommend to my puppys' new families. Most books have serious flaws, some recommending outdated and questionable ideas or composed in unreadable jargon. This book has none of those flaws. In fact, the author contains inset definitions of terms that will help the reader translate other books. This book contains state-of-the-art veterinary medicine by some of the top specialists in the world. The author doesn't talk down to the reader but still somehow manages to explain the most up-to-date and important issues in caring for dogs.
Most importantly, this book deals with wellness and preventing problems, a concept that has been at the forefront of human medicine and is only now reaching veterinary medicine. Beginning at puppyhood, the book takes the reader through the innovative program designed by Angell Memorial Hospital to enhance canine health into old age.
I was particularly pleased with recommendations related to socializing and training dogs. Not a word of aversive training was mentioned in this book. This positive reinforcement approach will truly mean that the puppy develops into a mentally healthy member of the family.
I loved the illustrations too. Just adorable. I'll be recommending this book to every puppy family I have.
Kate Fulkerson, PhD
HighGarth Labradors
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