Book Description
A funny, profound book about the enduring wisdom of dogs, from the host of the enormously popular National Dog Show
Charming and hilarious, It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump is more than a mere celebration of man's best friend. In this lighthearted and reflective exploration of how and why dogs have served as some of our most valuable and enlightened teachers, well-known and well- loved actor/show host John O'Hurley (Seinfeld, Dancing with the Stars) shares lessons learned from his life with canine companions, including: Every 15 Minutes Is a New Day; Never Miss a Nap; When One Person Stops Petting You, Move On; A Cold Can of Meat Is Still a Feast; and You're Only as Big as You Think You Are, to name a few.
“Dogs, after all, have pure hearts, trusting natures, a zest for living, noble characters, and an ability to take things in stride,” writes O'Hurley in the book's introduction. “They can be counted on, and are pleasant companions. They know what's important, always. How many humans do you know about which you could say the same?” At once poignantly moving and laugh-out-loud funny, It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump is a book for the dog lover on everyone's holiday shopping list.
Customer Reviews:
Views from a dog's best friend.......2007-08-04
Anyone familiar with Mr. O'Hurley's Seinfeld-game show personality will recognize it immediately from this book. If you have a close friend who's a dog and enjoy humor you can relate to his stories. Makes a great gift. Warning! Do not read this book in public. People may give you strange looks when you burst out laughing, particularly at inappropriate times.
Hilarious.......2007-08-04
I read this book during a very difficult time in my life and it was absolutely the best medicine! I laughed so much that my then husband was ready to send me to the "funny farm". We can definitely learn a lot from our pets. John, since I read your book I take afternoon naps and feel much better! I own a supersized lazy dog, a wonderful Great Pyrenees.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us and thanks for the laughs!
One great book for dog lovers!.......2007-07-28
I haven't read a book that was so much fun to read in a long time. For anyone that has a love of animals, especially dogs, this is a gem.
It brought back memories of my first dog and happy thoughts of the ones I have had since. It is quite obvious that the author has a very special place in his heart for "mans' best friend". I know that in my youth my dog was definately my best friend and one whose company I enjoyed the most!
Very Entertaining.......2007-06-12
Light and humorous. A good read for any dog lover. John O'Hurley has a great sarcastic sense of humor.
For Dog Lovers with Humor and Compassion.......2007-06-04
Absolutely fabulous!! Written and spoken with humor, feeling, compassion, innocense and love. Truly appreciated from a forever dog lover. It made me laugh, cry and brought back wonderful memories. Anyone who has ever loved a dog MUST get It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump...It is a masterpiece to share and 'read' over and over. Thank you Mr. O'Hurley!!
Average customer rating:
- The "Bible" of Discus Health
- a great book for both the beginner and the professional
|
Discus Health: Selection, Care, Diet, Diseases & Treatments for Discus, Angelfish and Other Cichlids
Dieter Untergasser
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Fish & Aquariums
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Veterinary Medicine
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Fisheries & Aquaculture
| Natural Resources
| Nature & Ecology
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Animal Husbandry
| Agricultural Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Hunting & Fishing
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
| Fishing
| General & Anthologies
| Hunting
| Shooting
Reference
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Home & Garden
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Medicine
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Outdoors & Nature
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Discus: A Reference Book
-
Discus Fish (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)
-
Discus Breeding for Beginners
-
Degen Discus Book
-
Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants
ASIN: 0866221700 |
Customer Reviews:
The "Bible" of Discus Health.......2000-07-15
I have had this book since it was published and it is a complete guide to the health and well being of not only discus but other cichlids as well. If I have ever had a problem, a question or a need...this book has had the answer for me! It is, quite simply, the BEST there is...it is that simple.
a great book for both the beginner and the professional.......2000-05-25
this is a really great book with many ideas about the ways to treat discus fish and their diseases it is useful n case of any other soft water fish a famous japanese koi hatchery uses it for reference too. it saved many of my fish and saved me alot of money too.A MUST HAVE book it is now out of stock but i got a promise from the publisher to have it republished soon.
Book Description
Is there a universal language of love, a "kinship with all life" that can open new horizons of experience?
Example after example in this unique classic -- from "Strongheart" the actor-dog to "Freddie" the fly -- resounds with entertaining and inspiring proof that communication with animals is a wonderful, indisputable fact. All that is required is an attitude of openness, friendliness, humility, and a sense of humor to part the curtain and form bonds of real friendship.
For anyone who loves animals, for all those who have ever experienced the special devotion only a pet can bring, Kinship With All Life is an unqualified delight. Sample these pages and you will never encounter "just a dog" again, but rather a fellow member of nature's own family.
Customer Reviews:
A Simple Unavoidable Secret.......2006-07-11
I can't count how many copies I've bought of this book because I keep giving it to people. Years ago, it got me to study my cat tracking a cockroach without letting the bug know he was watching. That started my process of becoming more carefully observant of everything around me. It isn't ESP. It is, simply, paying attention. Most importantly, it is love, respect, and appreciation for All Life. By the time you finish reading (no doubt still hungry for more), you'll have gotten the message and probably given it a try. If you're serious about it, you'll find your life changing little by little and you'll discover how you can improve your relationships with others - animals or people - or insects, plants, and the planet itself. Once I chose to be somewhat of a reclusive hermit, but I couldn't do it because I have literally millions of intimate friends. The evidence of long ago that there was harmony among all on earth is still present. In choosing to stand there, we can begin to resolve our differences. We can evolve as humans. We can put an end to war and pestilence unfailingly, "whenever the human does his required part." Written in 1954, Boone's message is more important for us now than ever.
Profound impact.......2006-04-23
I read this book back in the late 50's and still own my original copy. It had that much of an impact on me! I have always been an animal lover, esp. dogs, but this book taught me more respect for all living things. I was fascinated with Boone's experiences and remember way back then trying to control a fly in a similar way. (I don't remember if I were successful.)
Today you can find book after book after DVD about "_________Whisperers" (fill in the blank with a type of animal), many of which are not unique (Cesar Millan IS the REAL thing, however!), but this book was a foundation book for all the rest.
I highly recommend reading it and am delighted to see it's back in print. Now I don't have to loan it out with the fear I'll never be able to replace it--actually, I still won't loan it out. Friends,here it is; buy your own copy!
Simple and Juicy and Right to the Heart!.......2006-02-27
My life has been about animals for so long...I even run a pet-care business! When I was kid, I knew all this stuff. But then I "grew up" and somehow lost track of the wonder of 'being still' and 'knowing.' In this phase of my life I'm finally back on track -- due in large part to the amazing animal teachers in my life. (And some great insight by humans as well!) This book really hits the mark when it comes to understanding the bond among all living things. It's straightforward and thoughtful and full of love. Just like you want all your relationships to be! It's a must have for any animal lover's library.
Kinship With All Life.......2005-09-12
I have made a gift of this book to a number of friends and having ordered another totally enjoyed it all over again. Delightful and sensitive it is a must for all generations regardless of age.
Learning Empathy For All Life.......2005-04-12
Mentally connecting with animals and insects? Boone tells the true story of his quest to understand their world from a totally non-anthropocentric (human superiority) view point by becoming a willing student and admirer of dogs, bugs, etc., in hopes of learning about them.
His open, non-judgmental attitude while attempting mental contact opens up a whole new world of communication and friendship. He bungles along with trial and error, but he soon finds out that non-verbal language of thoughts and feelings is just about all that is necessary to commune with them and this, coupled with true admiration and love for what each critter is and does, gives them the safe comfort zone they need to feel appreciated and open with him.
Boone opens the story with an exceptionally well trained, smart and alert police dog from Germany named "Strongheart". The dog was brought to Hollywood to be groomed for films and he becomes a sensation in several films such as Jack London's "White Fang", et al. London, of course, is one America's most famous writers- especially known for another and even more popular dog story, "Call of the Wild"- both stories a must for all animal lovers. As a note of interest, Strongheart was the first dog to star in film and preceded the popular "Rin Tin Tin" series.
Larry Trimble, the man who trained Strongheart for the movies, had to take a break from Hollywood and go to New York for business, so he asked the screenwriter Boone to "dog watch" for him and here the fascinating tale of their meeting of the mind/spirit and friendship begins.
Boone goes on to tell of other critters he learned to commune with and finishes the book with a fly he befriends and calls "Freddie". I learned about Freddie from a reference in Joanne Elizabeth Lauck's book, "The Voice of the Infinite in the Small"- another beautiful treatment of finding empathy for life in all it's marvelous creations- especially bugs.
If I hadn't had many of the same incredible experience's with critters that Boone writes about, I could easily have dismissed this stuff as interesting, but hard to believe. My experiences did not come close to the intentional, driven need to know that Boone writes about and yet, I still have had some very consciousness awakening experiences of inter-critter, if you will, communication.
This book is a gem and a fast read- too fast, you will want more!
Amazon.com
It's rare for a book's title to say so clearly what the book is about. In the case of Rupert Sheldrake's latest work, the controversial content is right on the front cover. Pet owners will see it and smile in recognition; skeptical scientists will shake their heads and mutter about "maverick scholars." We all know of cases of dogs (and cats) who know when their owners are coming home, who go to wait at the door or window 10 minutes or more before their human arrives. Conditioned by the tight rigor of contemporary scientific thinking, we either look for rational explanations or we file the phenomenon away in our minds as "unexplained" and are careful not to talk about it with our scientist friends.
Sheldrake has shown in the past that he is not afraid to be labeled a rebel, thanks to his theory of morphic resonance, which suggests the following:
Natural systems, or morphic units, at all levels of complexity are animated, organized, and coordinated by morphic fields, which contain an inherent memory. Natural systems inherit this collective memory from all previous things of their kind by a process called morphic resonance, with the result that patterns of development and behavior become increasingly habitual through repetition.
Sheldrake believes that the "telepathy" between pets and humans, or between flocks of birds or schools of fish that move as a single organism, can be explained this theory. Sheldrake is less persuaded by anecdotes that suggest animal clairvoyance--warning of something in the near future--but refuses to disallow the possibility.
He accepts that the case histories he details so thoroughly in this book are anecdotal, but that makes them no less real; and as a scientist himself he sets up experimental conditions for studying this previously ignored phenomenon that show beyond any doubt that the phenomenon exists. He castigates traditional scientists for their refusal to countenance anything that doesn't fit in with their existing paradigms (or prejudices) and challenges them to come up with some more "acceptable" explanation--but none is forthcoming.
This fascinating book is a first attempt at a scientific investigation into a puzzling but quite common occurrence. One hopes that other scientists will follow Sheldrake's brave lead. --David V. Barrett
Book Description
How do cats know when it's time to go to the vet, even before the cat carrier comes out? How do dogs know when their owners are returning home at unexpected times? How can horses find their way back to the stable over completely unfamiliar terrain?
With a scientist's mind and an animal lover's compassion, world-renowned biologist Rupert Sheldrake presents a groundbreaking exploration of animal behavior that will profoundly change the way we think about animals -- and ourselves. After five years of extensive research involving thousands of people who have pets and work with animals, Dr. Sheldrake proves conclusively what many pet owners already know: there is a strong connection between humans and animals that defies present-day scientific understanding. This remarkable book deserves a place next to the most beloved and valuable books on animals, including
When Elephants Weep,
Dogs Never Lie About Love, and
The Hidden Life of Dogs.
Customer Reviews:
questions which are rarely asked - and an attempt to answer.......2007-07-06
In "Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home" Rupert Sheldrake continues his quest for acknowledgement of phenomena neglected, forgotten or brushed aside by modern science. This time he focuses on the unexplained powers of animals.
Starting with the observations of pets, through behavior of wild animals, to humans, Sheldrake examines the connections and bonds between living creatures, which lead them to feel each other's emotional and physical state.
Probably all pet owners and people fond of animals have observed that some animals demonstrate behaviors that cannot be explained by genes or instinct (or, that would be too much simplified by such explanation). Wondering, how the pets know, when their owners are coming home, when some accident or death occurred, how to find a way home from an unfamiliar place even far away, when the owner intends to give them food or go for a walk, or how to recognize an attack of an illness such as diabetic coma or epileptic seizure, or even the natural disasters, like storm or earthquake, probably happened to all pet owners some time or another - and most of the time these thoughts were probably bagatelized and quickly forgotten in the face of more important everyday events.
The book is very well ordered and organized, very much like a scientific publication. After a short, introductory chapter, summarizing the history of animal domestication, Rupert Sheldrake presents the data gathered during his systematic studies, mostly through surveys in different parts of United States and Europe. The data consists of examples of pets, which exhibited behaviors described above, collected and analyzed in impressive amounts (even with statistics). Not only does he report accounts from the owners of dogs and cats, but also gives examples of horses, rabbits, birds and fish, and negative examples of pet reptiles and insects. He proceeds from these examples to the flocking and migratory behaviors of the wild animals (the linking behavior is the return home) and compares the findings to the human abilities, which, in the contemporary, civilized world, seem ridiculously meager.
The main body of the book consists of these examples and this is its strength (as a scientific argument) and weakness (as a popular book, because the lengthy lists of examples can be boring). The conclusions, however, are not very strong. Sheldrake applies here his famous hypothesis of morphic fields, which, in analogy to magnetic and electrical fields, are created by forces - yet undescribed -which are, in turn, created by social influence between individuals. The existence of morphic fields is an interesting hypothesis, but only a hypothesis. Luckily, Sheldrake admits it himself and does not push his hypothesis as a theory or as a universal truth, like some gurus of fashionable, popular "science" books. I have to give him great credit for being a scientist even though what he does is beyond the scope of contemporary science. The same goes for his explanations of animal behaviors by their ability to precognize certain events or by telepathy. Telepathy, or mind-to-mind-communication, seems especially plausible as an explanation of pets knowing their owners intentions before the owner can communicate them in any other way (body language, any sensory signal). Although telepathy is obviously his favorite explanation of communication between pets and owners, between animals in the group, and, almost lost, between humans, Sheldrake does not give it as the only explanation. He always tries to show other ones and, giving arguments for and against each one (sometimes, admittedly, not very strong) dismisses them or not. His approach reminds me very strongly of the approach of psychologists, which very often are vague as well. That is perhaps why I liked the chapters on the migratory birds most, maybe, because, as a biologist, I see most of the ecological and "harder science" in it?
At the end of the book, the methods for investigation of pet behavior are presented, so that the interested readers can try their own experiments, which are very simple and do not require much skill - only perseverance.
I like Sheldrake for pursuing his goal of presenting to the non-scientific crowd of readers the alternative or once studies, but today neglected, scientific questions, without cheap trick or want for fame. He is doing his job and I admire his work, even though I have my doubts about it. I don't think this book was supposed to convince anybody of anything (as some previous reviews suggest), it rather intends to puzzle and ask questions, making the reader realize they cannot be unequivocally answered with the current state of knowledge. This book is not his best (some are really great), mainly because of endless lists of examples, but it is good and solid.
Convincing Research.......2007-03-02
Starts with many natural case histories for psychic pets, then describes his brilliantly simple experiment. I interviewed Dr. Sheldrake on my Skeptiko Podcast. He's extremely well-spoken and likeable.
Amazing, Enlightening, Thought-Provoking.......2006-03-14
Some dogs seem to know when their owners are coming home. No, not when they are walking up the front steps, but when they are still at the office DECIDING to come home. Some animals know when their owners are in distress or dying, far away. Some animals know when their owners are about to have a seizure, or attempt suicide.
Author Rupert Sheldrake has compiled a database of hundreds of fascinating anecdotal reports, supplemented by simple but clever research studies. He challenges us to consider these unusual but intriguing phenomena, that do not depend on physical distance or any known sensory pathways. He has a healthy respect for scientific method (and uses it when he can) but none at all for scientific dogmatism. To skeptics who discount these remarkable observations as mere "selective recall," he says, do the research and prove it.
This is a fascinating and well-written book. It was hard to put down, and in fact, I may read it again. To be sure, Sheldrake can't explain the phenomena he describes. He invokes the concept of morphic fields but can't really tell us what they are. Further research is needed, and, to his credit, Sheldrake is attempting to recruit people all over the world, to participate in just such research. Why, even you could participate. I recommend this book highly. Run out and buy it today. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.
One of the best books I've read lately.......2005-12-09
This book was well-written, engaging, and thought provoking. The research was very well done, and I am usually quite skeptical. But this opened up a whole line of thought of how our minds may work, for me. I definately recommend it.
Telepathy as a Common Biological Function.......2005-08-12
One Amazon reviewer of DOGS THAT KNOW WHEN THEIR OWNERS ARE COMING HOME wrote "Budiansky's THE TRUTH ABOUT DOGS states that other researchers were unable to replicate Sheldrake's amazing results. I like pets just as much as anyone else, though I don't feel the need to glorify them with powers that their small brains are incapable of possessing."
First of all, Stephen Budiansky--whom I admire--thinks dogs are social parasites (though that's not why I admire him; I like his unique approach to the subject matter). And the truth is, at least one other researcher, who was furiously attempting to discredit Sheldrake's theory (hardly an objective approach), actually ended up replicating his results exactly.
And having a small brain has absolutely nothing to do with what Sheldrake posits to be a common biological function of all social animals. He theorizes that it's a fairly ordinary form of communication that pre-dates human language and which doesn't require any kind of highly developed cognitive architecture.
Granted, Sheldrake focused on the dogs who'd been reported to already show this behavior, but the thrust of the research detailed in this book was not to provide definitive proof that dogs are "telepathic", but to start people thinking in that direction. And some of the data is quite remarkable.
By the way, my dog could care less when I'm coming home. He's always asleep when I get there (though he's always happy to see me). But I've had other experiences that show Sheldrake is on the mark. For instance, I found that if I'm walking my dog and thinking about going into a store up the block and picturing the possible behavior in my mind, he'll give up his usual path and pull me toward that store, even if I've changed my mind in the meantime.
I've also found that when teaching the down/stay at a distance, followed by the recall, if I imagine the dog coming toward me before I give him the release and the recall signal, he'll almost inevitably break the stay and come running.
I'm not a complete moron, so when I first noticed this happening I figured that I must have been doing something with my body language to cause this behavior. So I very carefully monitored and controlled my posture, my facial expressions (even though I was fifty yards away), etc. Nope. It wasn't my body language.
Huh, I thought, could it be these mental pictures I'm creating in my mind? So I trained myself not to create those mental images and whenever I kept my mind blank the dogs inevitably stopped breaking the stay until the release signal was given.
These experiences are far from being scientific proof but they do make you think.
I also recommend THE PRESENCE OF THE PAST for Sheldrake's theories on morphic fields.
Amazon.com
When Eugene Linden was writing The Parrot's Lament--a book subtitled "And Other True Tales of Animal Intrigue, Intelligence, and Ingenuity"--he enjoyed joking around with his 2-year-old daughter Sofia. "Are you a rutabaga?" "I'm not a rutabaga!" she would giggle. "Are you a waterbug?" "I'm not a waterbug!" Soon, Sofia learned to riff off her father's teasing: "I'm not a rutabaga; Daddy is a rutabaga!" or the truly insightful, "I'm not a rutabaga; the baby is a rutabaga. I'm a waterbug!"
As a passionate and accomplished student of animal intelligence since the '70s, Linden--of course--couldn't resist comparing Sofia's reasoning to that of an ape, puzzling over the cognitive cusp upon which she teetered. And it's this affectionate but knowledgeable analysis, the gentle transition from rutabagas to metacognition and emergent symbolic ability, that makes The Parrot's Lament so satisfying, sentimental but still scientifically solid. The science of consciousness and animal intelligence is contentious, but many in the field--Linden included--deeply suspect that animals know more than we can verify. Linden lays down the science with clarity and good humor, but he leaves it to his animal coauthors, the amorous dolphins, escape-artist orangs, enigmatic cats, and lying hyenas that populate the book's scores of anecdotes, to make his argument. --Paul Hughes
Book Description
A gorilla shrewdly sells back a missing key chain to the highest bidder. An orangutan picks a lock to let himself out of his zoo enclosure and two elephants adopt a tag-team strategy to keep their handlers from putting them back into theirs. In The Parrot's Lament, noted environmentalist Eugene Linden offers more than one hundred true anecdotes about animal acts of cooperation, heroism, escape--even tales of deception or manipulation of human beings. Drawing on the first-person experiences of veterinarians, field biologists, researchers, and trainers, Linden has compiled a warmly entertaining and powerfully persuasive argument for animal consciousness that, while not human, far exceeds what humans usually grant animals. Scientifically sound and emotionally compelling, The Parrot's Lament contains remarkable stories that are sure to resonate with animal lovers, turning skeptics everywhere into believers.
"Eugene Linden reveals how animals demonstrate aspects of intelligence as they escape from, cheat, and outfox humans." --Time magazine
"These amazing true stories confirm what many of us always suspected--that animals would make better humans than most humans would." --Carl Hiaasen
Customer Reviews:
They're smarter than you think!.......2006-11-14
This is a wonderful book. Having had companion animals all my life, I've never had any doubt whatsoever that our four-legged and/or feathered friends have a lot more going on in their little heads than some people give them credit for. Just because an animal can't use human words doesn't mean they can't think, feel, or communicate; and this book demonstrates that very well. My only "complaint," such as it is, is that there was no reference whatsoever to a parrot's lament. This rather disappointed me since I have a companion parrot, have read a lot about parrots, and was interested to hear Mr. Linden's story about a lamenting bird. Other than that, it's a great book!
My Goats Bedevil Me!.......2005-05-31
I suspect that my goats have me figured and are now trying to outsmart me. Apparently they don't think it's very hard. Because of the steep hills, hollows and giant boulders here at Flying Goat Ranch, the goats' territory is not securely fenced. Down by the road, where there's little to entice a hungry goat, there's just a wire to let them know their boundary. If I appear when they are outside this line, they crawl back under the wire and scoot up the hill. On the other hand, at the upper end of the ranch, the neighbor's fence is more substantial, but quite old and full of holes. I've tried to patch them, but the goats always find a new outlet so they can explore those greener pastures. If I confront them outside of this fence, they play dumb and wander back down along the fence line toward the front of our place, as if they don't know how to get back inside. Even if I approach them sounding the dinner bell (in response to which which they normally fly straight to their food area), they will still take this indirect and ineffective route, rather than take the quickest way to the food--through the opening of the fence. I suspect they don't want me to know their secret outlet, So I hide while I ring the bell and trick them into taking the quickest way back--the fence hole they came through--and from my hideout I discover their secret opening.
A recent book has collected many stories better than to demonstrate that animals possess several aspects of intelligent awareness, including a sense of humor as well as the ability to deceive. The Parrot's Lament and other true tales of animal intrigue, intelligence, and ingenuity (Dutton) gets its title from a story about a African Grey parrot, Bongo Marie. Its owner had a number of birds at her house, including an Amazon parrot, Paco, that Bongo Marie especially disliked. One day, the owner was removing a roast Cornish game hen from her oven when Bongo Marie flew over and shouted, "Oh no! Paco!" in an excited tone. When the owner produced Paco to show he was still alive, Bongo Marie responded in a disappointed tone, "Oh, no!" and then broke out into raucous laughter. The author of the book, Eugene Linden, an award winning science writer, has collected many of his stories from professional animal handlers (zoo keepers, animal researchers, etc.) and has included research studies, both of which provide a factual and intellectually curious tone to balance the natural sentimentality.
Escape stories involve not only animal cleverness, but also deception. In one case, for example, Fu Manchu, a male orangutan, baffled zoo keepers by his ability to open a door that allowed regular escape. Surreptitious observation revealed that he kept hidden in his cheek a secret tool: a wire he used to pick the lock.
A story of double deception among the animals themselves comes from an observation station created by Jane Goodall in the wilds of Tanzania. Just at the moment that one chimpanzee found a cache of food, a more dominant chimp appeared on the scene. The first chimp walked away from the cache and acted nonchalantly until the second chimp left the scene. When the coast was clear, the first chimp went over to the food and began to eat. However, the second chimp had only appeared to have left. He was observed to have hidden himself in the bushes and spied on the first chimp to learn of its deception. When the secret was exposed, the dominant chimp returned to the scene and claimed the food for himself.
Pet owners often attribute to their animals more intelligence, awareness and cunning than psychologists think they deserve. In the academic community, animal awareness is still as much an anathema as ESP. I don't think the church is as against animal awareness as much as is the university, even though it was the church who invented animal dumbness to create a spiritual gap between them and us. But evidence is mounting to force a conclusion that animals do think, have feelings, and are creative. Some animals, such as chimps and parrots, are even able to learn how to use symbolic language intelligently. Their ability to deceive, as cute or unattractive as it may be, is a quite important clue about their minds. The act of deception shows an awareness of the mental states of others and an understanding of how those mental states can be misled. My goats seem to assume that as long as I don't see them walk through the fence, I won't know there's a hole in it, so they seem to act so as to plant a false belief in my mind.
At a time when threats to the welfare of animals abound, it's good to hear stories that speak to us about their recognizably human qualities. When we empathize with them, it helps us connect to them as beings like us. In that way they become as our teachers, inspiring us to develop a more sensitive and caring relationship with the critters with whom we share this planet.
A good book, with some unsettling errors..........2004-04-01
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this exploration of animal intelligence. Linden writes clearly and succinctly, and does a great job of weaving his stories together to support the points he makes. He has taken examples from both his personal experience, and from numerous print sources and interviews with other people. Most of the stories revolve around captive animals (as pets and in zoos - primarily because these are more easily observed), though some examples from the wild are included. In addition, an overwhelming number of these case studies involve the great apes (particularly orangutans and gorillas) and dolphins. This is to be expected, as these species are generally considered to be among the most intelligent, but there are also tales of birds, pigs, large cats, and others.
The book is divided into nine categories. He begins with "Games and Humor," in which he explores the ways in which animals amuse themselves. "Trade and Barter" was one of the most interesting chapters, detailing the elaborate systems captive apes have been taught, where they can earn "money" for performing tasks for their keepers, and then spend that money on items they want, such as treats or toys. "Deception" discusses ways animals have tried to fool both their human counterparts and others of their own species. In "Mind Reading and Mental Chess" Linden explores the extent to which animals can be aware of others' states of mind. "Cooperation in Work, Conflict, and Healing" is another particularly interesting chapter, offering examples of service animals that have gone beyond their training to help humans. Included are stories of animals that actually seek out ill and injured people in order to offer them solace. "Tools and Intelligence" concerns that very sticky topic of whether humans, as tool-users, are unique. It appears that we are not, and Linden shows us numerous cases where other species have made use of tools to achieve their aims. The seventh chapter talks of escape attempts - cases where captive animals have shown remarkable ingenuity despite all their keepers' efforts to dissuade them. "Empathy and Heroism" gives us examples of animal heroes, and finally "A Place Where Humans are the Novelty" takes a brief look at those few wild places that are still relatively untouched by humans.
While I really liked the book as a whole, however, there are a few things which cause me to knock my rating down to only four stars. First is that Linden undermines much of his own thesis by devoting an entire preface as a disclaimer that none of these stories can be used as scientific evidence. Perhaps the stories are anecdotal, but this is how much of scientific discovery begins - with pure observation of things. For those of us with wide exposure to animals, it is hard to deny that they do possess some remarkable mental capabilities, even without these stories as additional proof.
And secondly, Linden has done a very poor job of checking his facts. Many of his examples come from animals at the Woodland Park Zoo, which is very close to where I live, and which I have visited numerous times. The first error that leapt out at me is relatively minor - the orangutan Linden refers to as "Tawan" is actually named Towan. But more alarming, one of Linden's stories involves the gorillas at Woodland Park. He claims that the gorilla Jumoke, when separated from the father of her baby, repeatedly tried to climb out of her new enclosure to rejoin him. This is all well and good, except that the "father" is billed as Alafia. Anyone can check the Woodland Park Zoo's website (www.zoo.org) and see that Alafia is, in fact, a female. So something is not right with that particular story. It could be that Linden just mixed up the names - there are a LOT of gorillas at Woodland park - but errors like this make me question the accuracy of the other accounts included. Has Linden made other mistakes in his research?
Overall, though, I would still recommend this book to anyone with a casual interest animal intelligence. Some of the stories are heartwarming, others funny, and others downright amazing. The book is friendly to the layman and does not require any scientific knowledge. It is also well-written and easy to read. If you're doing a study or writing a paper, I would strongly advise you to double-check the specifics of any accounts you intend to reference (due to the above mentioned errors), but for general-interest purposes this book is good enough as is. It's a great testament to the often vastly underestimated intellectual powers of our furry, feathery, and scaly friends.
Witty and fulfilling.......2003-03-13
I enjoyed this book of anecdotes about animals behaving in smart, original, creative, and sometimes heroic ways. It was written in a very accessible style, and I enjoyed the author's sense of humor. The book was well-divided into sections: games and humor; trade and barter; deception; mind reading and mental chess; cooperation in work, conflict and healing; tools and intelligence; escapes; empathy and heroism; and a place where humans are the novelty. I would've liked to have read more about the last section, about animals who have no fear of humans in a virtually untouched jungle in Africa. The only thing that puzzled me about the book was the rather apologetic tone regarding animal intelligence. The tone tries to pacify scientists and other people who aren't convinced that animals possess intelligence. I have never doubted that they do. I'm sure most people who have pets or work around animals feel the same way. It's too bad that we have to be apologetic about believing that the important life forms that share our planet have the capacity to think and feel. As the author points out in the last chapter, based on what we're doing to the planet, it's sometimes questionable which species is really the one without intelligence.
Excellent.......2002-07-03
I have a bird myself, and though she doesn't display any higher intelligence, these stories were humerous and fascinating.
The tales of love and escape and the human qualities displayed by animals were touching, too. This book made me do something not not very many other books have done; I laughed out loud. It's a great book for those who have pets or are just interested in tales of animal empathy, deception, and cooperation and intelligence which are sometimes hysterical.
Book Description
The Third Edition - 2005 is now available! This comprehensive resource book of 192 illustrated pages was written by Kathleen Myers, a nationally known potbellied pig breeder and consultant. Since 1989 Kathleen has cared for her own pet and breeder pigs and has spent thousands of hours sharing her vast experience and knowledge with other pet owners and breeders. She continues to counsel pig owners and breeders around the world via e-mail and telephone.
Kathleen offers her wealth of practical knowledge in this book as a complete, up-to-date guide for the care and training of the pet pig. She revises her books every two to three years to include the most current information about the training, health, nutrition and general care of the pet potbellied pig. This is a "How To Book" designed as a textbook to give the pet owner the skills necesary to raise a happy, healthy, well adjusted potbelly pet pig. Because of her background in education and training, the book is organized through easy to find topics. Each topic section of the book has complete instructions specificly related to the care and training of pet pigs. To accompany her instructions Kathleen has filled the book with wonderful pictures of pet pigs.
Customer Reviews:
Pot Belly Pig book.......2007-09-29
Wonderful book. Helped quite a bit. Only problem is the binding fell apart and the pages were all loose. Most likely a problem with who ever is paid to glue the book together. I needed the book or I wouldve returned it.
All you need to know!!.......2005-10-11
This book has the answer to any question that you are ever likely to have regarding the well being of a Potbellied Pig.
A Must Read for all Pet Pig Owners.......2001-06-04
Kathleen really did it right with this book! It is a great source of everything you'll need to know about pet pigs and their mental and physical health. If you have a pet pig, you MUST have this book.
A Must-Have for Pig Owners.......2001-04-13
As the two-legged mom of 3 potbelly pigs, the oldest of which is now 10, I find this book a wonderful wealth of information that every care-giver of pet pigs should have on hand. Laid out in a very easy to use format, this book will take you from the history of where potbellied pigs came from; help you decide if a pet pig is right for your family (as they are not for just anyone); and then moves on into what to look for when choosing a pet pig; how be be prepared for it's homecoming and the proper living environment required for these special little pigs; the medical need-to-know information that is specific to pet pigs; along with various other chapters which will put you and your companion pig on the road to a happy, healthy and long relationship. Information on pet pigs and their care is sparse at best. This valuable text helps fill that void in the pet pig market and I promise you'll have many pages dog-earred or marked with post-its by the time you're done reading it. No pet pig home should be without The Complete Guide for the Care and Training of Pet Potbellied Pigs.
The Truth About Pigs....or Pigs Can Be Pets too!!.......2001-02-24
If you want to know the truth about the potbellied pigs stop right now and purchase your very own copy of the book "The Complete Guide for the Care and Training of Pot Potbellied Pigs" by Kathleen Myers. The title to the book unquestionably describes its content. You may think pigs are not for me; or, I know all there is to know. You cannot be any further from the truth. Before reading this book I knew very little about the potbellied pig. After reading this short but comprehensive book I feel confident in selecting and raising a potbelly as a pet. The author takes the novice as well as the expert step by step through the practice of owning the potbellied pig. Did you know you can actually house-break a potbellied pig?
For those needing additional assistance understanding their pet the book answers those questions, as well. Kathleen Myers even lists all plants which are toxic to potbellied pigs. She includes a comprehensive resource list with phone numbers and web sites all potbellied pig owners need at their fingertips. Topics on the list include animal care, best feed for your pet, training videos, and numerous other online resources.
Whether you are a novice or enjoy potbellied pigs in your daily life, "The Complete Guide for the Care and Training of Potbellied Pigs" should be by your side. There is no other guide as complete as this one. It will be a constant reference resource for the Potbellied Pig pet owner.
Product Description
Get the lowdown on keeping your ferret healthy and content.What can you do when a ferret burrows his way into your heart? Your ferret is a smart little guy, and you'll need to stay a few steps ahead of him. This fun and entertaining book shows you how to handle your furry tornado's playful energy and curiosity so you can live happily ever after with him.Discover how to:Choose the right ferret for you.Make your house ferret-safe.Train your ferret to be well-behaved.Feed your ferret properly.Select safe and creative toys.Integrate your ferret into your life.The Dummies WayExplanations in plain English."Get in, get out" information.Icons and other navigational aids.Tear-out cheat sheet.Top ten lists.A dash of humor and fun.
Customer Reviews:
Wouldn't have survived Without It .......2007-10-07
This book was a godsend. When I first adopted Lloyd, My ferret, I really had no idea. But with this book and as simple as the author explained things...I'm now an expert. I highly recommend this book to any ferret owner.
Very informative.......2007-07-12
This book is great for anyone getting a ferret or anyone who already has a ferret. I thought I knew a lot and I'm learning something new on every page.
Outdated.......2007-07-09
I first reviewed this book after I had read it and owned 2 ferrets for about a month, and happily gave it 5 stars. But after 7 months of happy fuzzy parenting, I realized I badly needed to revise my review.
The Good:
- an entertaining read, no trouble going cover to cover, genuinely funny writing and jokes
- lots of info to get you ready for ferret ownership
The Bad:
- Outdated - namely, the primary treats mentioned in this book - raisins and cheerios - are now universally considered very bad for a ferret's health, you might as well be feeding them rocks. (see the links provided at http://forum.ferret.com/tm.asp?m=30331 )
- Another result of being outdated - many of the websites and companies referenced in the book no longer exist.
- Many common ferret health problems are not mentioned. In my short time as a ferret owner, I have seen them go through a prolapsed rectum, patterned hair loss, and 'abnormal' behavior, none of which were mentioned in the book. A little research and help from friends and vets eventually taught me that none of these problems were uncommon for fuzzies, leading me to believe that the book should have at least mentioned them.
- No poop chart. Though it might sound gross, I think any long time ferret owner will tell you they have needed a poop-chart at least once. Ferrets poop - a lot, and it's one of the quickest ways to diagnose a health problem (just google "ferret poop chart" to see what I mean), but this is conspicuously absent from the book.
- Scruffing. This is when you hold your ferret by the extra skin above its neck. The action is mentioned throughout the book, but never once described clearly or safely. There is a picture of a ferret being scruffed, but the details of the method are left unclear. How something so essential can be missed is beyond me.
- Poor organization - while for the most part the book is organized reasonably well, there are some key areas that really need improvement. a simple list of toy ideas is essential in any ferret book - toys that every ferret should have (dig box, dryer hose tunnel, etc) are not mentioned anywhere. The index is also weak, making information hard to find - "poop, runny" might be listed, but not "diarrhea".
- Disconcerting. This is a minor complaint, but the author mentions hiccuping and tail wagging as extremely rare behavior, but I have yet to meet a kit who doesn't wag its tail when excited, and both of my ferrets had hiccups within the first month. Things like this make me a little uneasy about how much of an expert the author really is.
Conclusion:
- I would still recommend having and reading through this book, but I would strongly strongly advise against using it as your only instructor before buying ferrets. I found online ferret forums to be a far far better resource than this book - the combined wisdom of thousands of ferret owners turned out to be better than the musings of one (I don't know why I was surprised by this). The usual problem with forums would be that there is *too much* information, that you need to know what you are looking for, making them a bad first source of information, but ALL the major ferret forums I found out there have all the essential information instantly identifiable and accessible, even more so than this book.
- The book could be great with a new edition. For now, don't rely on it.
The best reference for ferrets - ever. .......2007-06-25
Before adopting my two ferrets, there were many things that I was unsure of. What exactly should I feed them? What shouldn't I feed them? How do I litter train them? How do I ferret-proof my house? Should I get one for my lifestyle, or two? Girls or boys?
This book addressed all of that, and so much more. I learned more than I could have ever imagined, and now I even consider myself somewhat of a ferret-expert, all because of this fantastic book! Best of all, the book is actually a very fun read. I recommend it to any current or soon-to-be fuzzbutt owner.
GREAT BOOK!.......2007-06-25
This book is great! Even if you already know alot about ferrets its a good idea to pick one of these books up.
Book Description
Since the 1950s, eminent field biologist George Schaller has roamed through many lands observing wild animals and conducting landmark long-term studies that have deepened our understanding of these creatures. He has reported and reflected on his work in classic books such as The Year of the Gorilla, The Last Panda, and National Book Award winner The Serengeti Lion, but much of his best writing has been ephemeral, published in magazines only to drop out of sight. This collection features nineteen short pieces, here brought together in book form for the first time, offering a unique overview of his remarkable career.
Chapters describe stalking tigers in India and jaguars in Brazil's Pantanal swamps, studying mountain gorillas in Rwanda and predator- prey relations in the Serengeti, tracking new species on the wild border of Vietnam and Laos, searching for snow leopards in the Hindu Kush, and Schaller's groundbreaking work with giant pandas in Sichuan. Later accounts broaden the focus from individual creatures to whole ecosystems. "The careless rapture of my early studies has been replaced more and more by efforts to protect animals and their habitats," he writes.
New to this book are Schaller's introductions for each chapter, which add and update information, and an overall introduction that looks back on his career. His own photographs appear throughout: of animals and their behavior, of fieldwork, of the author and his family "on location" in temporary homes from a hut in the African highlands to a tent in the snowy mountains of China.
Product Description
growing number of people are finding the ideal house pet in a miniature pig! Here's expert information on how and where to buy pigs, health measures, control of parasites and more. More than 40 full-color photos and black and white drawings. There's even advice on pig-proofing your home! Paperback / 64 Pages / 6 1/2 x 7 7/8 / 1992
Customer Reviews:
Very Disappointing Pig Book.......2005-09-30
This book is so not what its title suggests. I was looking for some basic information on pot-bellies in general- what it's like to live with them, how to choose one, care for one etc., in order to determine whether or not a pig would fit into my life.
Unfortunately the book told me next to nothing about any of this. It reads like the author was just trying to fill up the pages with no regard for the usefulness of the information. There is a section on pig illnesses for example that is just ridiculously long, listing every possible pig infection, rash, hoof problem, disease, etc. but without telling the reader how to handle the problem, what the symptoms are, or whether a vet should be called or not. I also learned nothing about how to choose a pig, about different pig personalities or about general pig behavior.
The photos in the book are cute (because how can a pig not be cute?) but the clothing the people are wearing looks like it is from the 1970's, which further confirms my suspicion that the books itself it just a quick throwing together of old information from other pig books, rather than a well-thought out, well-written, up-to-date book on pot-bellies.
If you're looking for information on pot-bellies, there have to be better books out there. Don't waste your money on this one.
Pot Bellies and other Miniature Pigs.......2000-08-24
I have been looking for a good book about Pot Bellied Pigs for a long time, and I belive this book to be excellent. It is packed full of useful information and has the cutest pictures you will ever see. I recommend this book to any PBP owner if they are new to this wonderful pet or if they have had one for years. I don't believe that you will be disappointed.
Great Book for beginning pig parents........1999-07-10
Having just acquired our first piglet, we were looking for all types of information about these animals. We found this book answers just about all of the questions we have had to this point. In fact, this is probably all the 'pig book' we will need for a long time. We highly recommend this book to anyone just starting out. Lots of information in great detail for beginning pig owners.
Books:
- It Takes a Lot More Than Attitude... To Lead a Stellar Organization
- Just Like Heaven: A Mutts Children's Book
- Kinship with All Life : Simple, Challenging, Real-Life Experiences Showing How Animals Communicate with Each Other and with the People Who Understand Them
- Kitten's First Full Moon
- Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts
- Lessons from a Sheep Dog
- Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
- McDuff's Wild Romp (McDuff Stories)
- Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain (**)
- Nutrient Requirements of Horses: Sixth Revised Edition
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Ten Best Teaching Practices: How Brain Research, Learning Styles, and Standards Define Teaching Comp
- Jewels of the Tsars: The Romanovs and Imperial Russia
- Careers for Courageous People: & Other Adventurous Types
- Chloride Channels And Carriers In Nerve, Muscle, And Glial Cells
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
- Macbeth
- Furs, Feathers, and Flippers: How Animals Live Where They Do
- Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob
- Business Valuation Body of Knowledge Workbook
- The Grand Inquisitor: With Related Chapters from the Brothers Karamazov
From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava
A Three Dog Life
Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life
The Dogs Who Found Me: What I've Learned from Pets Who Were Left Behind
