Customer Reviews

The Australian Shepherd: An Owner's Guide toa Happy Healthy Pet

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Indeed,this book is about the best I've read on the subject thus far and is well balanced. I would have given FIVE stars however one thing perturbed me no end! This book contains the SAME information as THE ESSENTIAL AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD and is mostly verbatim! The two books have entirely different titles,the author of one is not listed on the cover of the other,the publishers seem to be different and the dates of publication are different. Any reasonably intelligent ,trusting person would assume they were different books! Caveat emptor. I purchased both books,paid twice and about the only difference between them was one was hardcover and one was paperback...oh,and though the content inside was almost exactly the same,the covers were very different for some odd reason. I would search the library next time.

A wonderful guide to feeding, grooming and keeping your Australian Shepherd dog healthy. This is a very informative book. It really probes deep into the responsibilities of ownership. This book is a must for any Aussie owners.

You cannot go wrong reading this book but do not expect to go train your Aussie to be a model dog citizen afterwards. There is not enough detail or practical advice on rewarding or motivating your dog, understanding individual temperments, or picking a trainer to work with. Indeed, much of the book reads like a template where the primary difference, besides the photos and breed history, between this book and any other dog-training guide would be the words "insert breed name here."

If you are interested in owning and training an Aussie, please first review the material at Aussierescue.org. Aussie are clever, playful, and engaging. If you own one, you know what it is like to have your dog watch you and to have an silent furry shadow underfoot.

This book is a handy manual because it is concise, pretty cheap..and tells you almost everything that the other books do - plus, the front photo is a masterpiece - that is the weirdest looking Australian Shepherd ever! Most are black & tan (the 'Tri' color) or white/grey/black spotted (the 'merle' color) but I haven't seen many that are both! A book like this is a lifesave if you aren't very familiar with the breed. Explains their intense energy level and need for 'a job' to do..and why many people are too stupid and lazy to own an Aussie..or any dog really. But seriously, don't get an Aussie unless you can absolutely promise to go on a minimum of 3 walks a day. Book also explains their need to herd things..their desire for an orderly existence and why crows and seagulls and livestock and other disorderly animals annoy them. And why, if you can provide the energy packed environment that they need, the Aussie is a great animal to own.

This is a wonderful book about Australian Shepherds. It has almost anything an owner or soon to be owner could want: A short history of the breed, the ASCA and AKC standard, feeding, grooming, health & care, and more. Liz does a very good job of explaining everything like how an Aussie makes a good family pet, but it wants a job and plenty of excersize. It also has nice color photographs and a section a baisic training by Ian Dunbar. Liz's other book, "Australian Shepherds, Champions of Versitility" is also a great book. If you are looking into getting an Aussie, or already own one, this is a must read!

This is a great book for Aussie owners or owners-to-be. It tells you everything you need to know about these beautiful dogs. If your looking for a good book on Aussie's, this is the one.