New Harry and Lola Children’s Book

Remember when we posted about Harry and Lola?  We posted about two children’s books at http://www.harryandlola.org/.  Those books were titled a Home for Harry and Lola and Harry and Lola with Smoki the Magical Cat, both written by and illustrated by Jean Nave.  The new book is titled Harry and Lola at the Sisters Rodeo.

When Harry and Lola visit the rodeo, they meet a Border Collie, a bull, a calf, rodeo clowns, and horses.  It’s a great educational story with wonderful illustrations.  Your child will love it!  You can read this book for free at http://www.harryandlola.org/ or you can purchase the e-book for $.99 on our Amazon.com affiliate site, the Dog Lover’s Book Store.  The benefit for purchasing this book online is that the proceeds go to help the Aberdeen Scottish Terriers Rescue.

Book Review – “Amazing Gracie” by Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff

If I had to sum up “Amazing Gracie” with just one word it would be ‘Amazing’.  I was drawn to the book by a cute puppy on the cover.  I expected it to be a story about a special dog who touched someone’s life in a special way, but it was much more than that.  I also didn’t know this dog was famous.  She is known nationally but her home was in the Kansas City area – close to where I live.  I have even been to the store named her honor, never knowing the legacy which lay behind it.

Gracie was a Great Dane, born deaf and partially blind.  She would have been put to sleep by the backyard breeder if Anne hadn’t introduced her to her friend Dan Dye.  Gracie filled a hole in Dan’s heart, but in the long run she did so much more than that.

In chapter 3 we hear a hilarious story about how Gracie got her name (police were involved).  In chapter 6 we read about how Gracie was not so well received by Dottie and Sarah, two other dogs in the household.  But not to worry, that was only at first when Gracie was a puppy.  The relationship between the three sisters grew.  In chapter 8 we learn that it was Gracie’s sensitive stomach which ultimately inspired a chain of stores which sell the bested darned dog treats around.  This chain of stores is where Gracie’s fame is founded.

You see, when Dan learned that Gracie had a sensitive stomach he learned to cook for her.  He used natural and healthy ingredients with none of the preservatives or fillers which most dog foods today use.  From there, Dan and his good friend Mark began a small business of selling this food in the form of dog treats.  It was a home-based business at first, but it grew over time.  Eventually they had to get a store front and the Three Dog Bakery was born (named from Dottie, Sarah, and Gracie).  But the growth didn’t stop there.  The Three Dog Bakery is now a chain.  Dan, Mark, and the girls have even been on Oprah!  You can’t get more famous than that.  And to think that it all started with a deaf dog with a sensitive stomach who would have otherwise been put to sleep for her supposed imperfections.

Almost as amazing as Gracie’s story is Dan and Mark’s writing style.  “Amazing Gracie” is funny, heartwarming, and personable.  If I had had the time, I would have read it in a day.  But as it is, I have a full time job and part time job so it took me three nights instead.  I read it in a short amount of time but Gracie’s story will stay with me forever.

You can purchase “Amazing Gracie” for yourself at the Dog Lover’s Bookstore which is affiliated with Amazon.com.  After you read “Amazing Gracie” by Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff, visit the Three Dog Bakery nearest you.

Great Quotes from My Favorite Books About Dogs

I have read a lot of books about dogs.  Some are fiction, some are fact.  All of them are interesting.  And most of them have certain parts that stay with me.  Here are a few of my favorite books about dogs along with some of my favorite quotes:

“Rescuing Sprite” by Mark R. Levin
“Goldfish, turtles, and hamsters are pets.  Dogs are family.”
“Sprite touched my heart and opened my soul.  I would swear he was an angel.”
“Even at the end, when he could barely stand on his own, he was a bright light who brought sunshine into our lives.”

“Maggie, the Dog Who Changed My Life” by Dawn Kairns
“Once in every dog lover’s life, if you’re lucky, that special once-in-a-lifetime dog comes along.  You know this relationship is golden, a gift from the spirit world.  You have found a soul mate.”
“I believe we owe our dogs that chance [behavior training] to lay the foundation for a long and happy relationship.”
“There’s nothing like the ease with which the canine-human relationship flows once your dog is integrated into your family.”
“The pounding of her paw steps as she runs down the hall when she hears my feet hit the floor in the morning welcome me to my day with joy.”
“Sometimes special beings come into our lives and touch our hearts in a way that leaves us forever changed.”

“Dogs I Have Met and the People They Found” by Ken Foster
“He’s my soul mate.”
“One of the remarkable surprises of doing rescue work – whether it’s fostering dogs or volunteering in a shelter – is that each dog stays with you long after they’ve found their home.”
“These are dogs who may have issues, but their issues, and our growing understanding of what they are about, are part of what bonds us to them.”
“When Brando was a puppy, he went through a phase of smelling like Christmas cookies.  To me, anyway.  “It’s so amazing,” I announced to anyone who would listen.  “He smells just like fresh-baked Christmas cookies!””

Book Review – “Dogs I Have Met and the People They Found” by Ken Foster

“Dogs I Have Met and the People They Found” by Ken Foster is in a way one story, but in another way many stories.  It is one story in that it is Ken’s experience.  It is also one story in that he talks about his own dogs, especially his pit bull mix named Brando.  It is many stories in that Ken talks about many special dogs he has met and that he shares stories which his fans have written him about their own beloved dogs.

One story which he shares is about a puppy who was literally discarded by his previous owners.  The poor puppy was tossed out of a moving vehicle and severely injured.  He would have surely died a slow and painful death if he had not been rescued by a passerby.  Jessica was the one who rescued him.  She had very little money of her own but didn’t give up.  She managed to rally a town to help her with vet bills and adopted the dog for her very own.  He is now probably one of the happiest dogs in the world – and the luckiest.

Another story from “Dogs I have Met” which Ken shares is about his own experience with the health of his dogs and the trouble of getting proper vet treatment for them.  One story is about his dog Sula and another is about his dog Brando.  The stories reminded me of Sephi’s bad vet experience.  It cost me over $1,000 and cost Sephi a few traumatizing vet visits only to find that she had a very simple and treatable health issue – hypothyroidism.  (The treatment costs me $50 every six months for medicine.)

Ken Foster has done a lot of traveling and has met a lot of dogs.  The second chapter of his book is about his experience with dogs and dog people in Costa Rica.  Some other chapters are about his experience with dogs in New Orleans just after Hurricane Katrina.  He also talks about a dog with a rare disease and a loveable pit bull named Jimmy.

I keep saying stories, but the word story sort of implies that the stories are made up.  Ken’s stories are true.  He doesn’t write in story form.  He writes as if writing in journal.  He doesn’t embellish with fancy words and prose.  His writing is raw and real.  The letters people have written him are real.  The dogs he has met are actual dogs and so are the people they found.

You can find his book, “Dogs I Have Met and the People They Found”, at Amazon.com or you can visit our Amazon a-Store at http://astore.amazon.com/petautsaf-20.

Harry and Lola Children’s Books by Jean Nave

A Home for Harry and Lola by Jean Nave

One of our readers left us a great link to some great dog children’s books.  Visit HarryAndLola.org and check out “A Home for Harry and Lola” and “Harry and Lola with Smoki the Magical Cat”.  At this website, you can learn about the author and you can download the e-books for free.

The author, Jean Nave, lost her Scottish terrier, Mac Doogal.  He was a very special dog so she didn’t get another dog for some time.  She just missed Mac Doogal too much.  But then someone told her about a Scottish Terrier rescue group and directed her to PetFinder.com.  That is when Harry and Lola came into her family’s life and inspired her to write (and do the artwork for) a couple of children’s book about Harry and Lola.

In her first book, “A Home for Harry and Lola”, Harry and Lola come into their new home and meet the family cat, Smoki.  Then they meet other dogs nearby and make friends.  Each dog has his own personality and Harry and Lola learn each.  In her second book, “Harry and Lola with Smoki the Magical Cat”, Smoki takes Harry and Lola on an outdoor adventure to meet a Raccoon.

The artwork is colorful and well done.  The stories are adorable and entertaining.  You can download the book in e-format for free at www.harryandlola.org or you can purchase a 99ȼ version on Amazon.  The benefits of purchasing from Amazon rather than getting for free is that the proceeds go to the Scottie Rescue.  Visit our Amazon a-Store to purchase these great dog children’s e-books.

Book Review – The Darkest Evening of the Year – Dean Koontz

The Darkest Evening of the Year was recommended to me from the All Things Dog Blog.  This book is a suspense thriller/mystery novel by Dean Koontz.  The story centers around a Golden Retriever with an angelic spiritual presence.  This Golden Retriever, Nickie, is rescued from a dangerous situation by Amy, who is a lover of Golden Retrievers and part of a Golden Retriever rescue group.  We say that Amy saves Nickie, but in truth, it is Nickie who ends up saving Amy, her boyfriend Brian, and an abused little girl named hope.

From the moment that Amy rescued this dog, Nickie, she realized that there was something extraordinary about her – something almost divine.  Nickie seems to have an understanding beyond any ordinary dog.  She does things which are dog-like but it triggers memories from Amy’s mysterious past – memories which Amy has been trying to forget.

Brian also recognizes there is something special about Nickie, but he isn’t quite sure what it is.  He sees it in her eyes and tries to capture it on paper.  He is an architect, not a pencil artist, but he is compelled to draw her eyes over and over again.  As he draws deeper into her eyes, he experiences something beyond this world.  But he doesn’t quite reach it.  How can a mere pencil capture something so divine, after all?  But his pencil drawings still have a magical affect.  They are confiscated by one of the antagonists of the story.  The antagonist is highly distracted by the drawings and wonders if perhaps his evil life isn’t as full as it could have been.  But there is no redemption from one so evil.

Other antagonists of the story are far more evil.  They lead Amy and Brian with Nickie through a series of mysteries and adventures which ultimately leads to a culminating conclusion.  All the questions raised at the beginning of the book are answered, except perhaps of the mysteriousness of Nickie.  While this question is not answered, it is obvious that she was something divine.

The Darkest Evening of the Year is a page turner.  Almost every chapter kept me hanging.  Like Brian and his drawings, I was compelled to keep reading until well passed bed time.  When I put the book down, I couldn’t help but to keep thinking about it.  And when I finally reached the ending, I was satisfied.  The characters are captivating, the story is riveting, and the conclusion is fulfilling.

(It is believed that The Darkest Evening of the Year was inspired by the author’s beloved Golden Retriever, Trixie.  Dean Koontz is often pictured with Trixie on the back covers of his books.  He has even used her as a penname for some of his writings – Trixie Koontz.  Trixie has sadly succumbed to cancer.  Anna is the new Golden Retriever in his life but the memory of Trixie lives on.)

Book Review – “Maggie: The Dog Who Changed My Life”

“Maggie:  The Dog Who Changed My Life” by Dawn Kairns is a true story about a very special dog.  Dawn talks about her relationship with Maggie as being very close, even spiritual.  Have you ever had a dog which seemed to really understand you?  Not just your words, but your emotions too?  Was there one special dog which stood out amongst all the pets in your life, a dog who was your one and only true soul mate?

That is what Maggie was to this author.  Her relationship with Maggie reminds me of my relationship with my childhood pet, Cassie.  I have owned many dogs in my life, but Cassie was so much more.  As I read about Maggie, I understand the depths of the author’s relationship with her and cherish the book all the more.

Chapter one of “Maggie:  The Dog Who Changed My Life” begins with the author telling us who she is, her family situation, and why she got a dog.  Chapter two goes into Maggie’s beginnings.  The author says she made some training and other mistakes with Maggie out of ignorance, but dogs are smarter that what we give them credit for.  Despite those mistakes, Maggie seemed to really understand her and grew to be very good dog.

Further chapters of “Maggie:  The Dog Who Changed My Life” go into the author’s spiritual perspective of her relationship with Maggie.  It was like Maggie somehow knew what was needed of her without ever being trained.  The author also described Maggie’s spiritual energy and zest for life which was attractive to many people.  Maggie had a way of bringing a smile to everyone’s face.

Maggie had some major health issues.  The author talks about finding the right vet for Maggie.  She talks about one vet in particular which she felt in her gut was probably not right, but went with her head instead.  She says that this was a mistake and learns the hard way to listen to your vet, but don’t be afraid to get a second opinion and ultimately go with what you feel is right.  Take how your dog feels about their vet into serious consideration as well.

The author also discusses dream interpretation.  She feels that some of her dreams about Maggie may have been premonitions and that Maggie may have in some way influenced those dreams.  And she believes that some of her dreams were ways in which her subconscious was trying to tell her that something, such as a certain vet, wasn’t right.  While the concept of dream interpretation is beyond me, some of what the author discusses makes sense.

Other issues which the author talks about is holistic veterinary care such as acupuncture, consumer dog food versus homemade dog food, dealing with the loss of a dog, and the possibility of some dogs having a sixth sense.  There is no doubt that some dogs, like dogs who can sense when an epileptic is about to have a seizure, have a sixth sense.  But does it go beyond just sensing health issues?  Can some dogs sense our emotions and intents without us doing anything to outwardly show them?  Our relationship with dogs is a unique and special relationship.  There is no other relationship like it.  The bonds, health benefits, and service which dogs provide is truly miraculous.

“Maggie:  The Dog Who Changed My Life” is a really great read.  Even if you don’t agree with some of the author’s beliefs, there is no denying how special Maggie was.  If you have had a similar relationship, then you will cherish this book as much as I have.  You can find this book at our Amazon.com a-store called the Dog Lover’s Book Store.  Check it out and tell us what you think.

“101 Dog Tricks” Challenge – Ongoing Review of Book by Kyra Sundance and Chalcy

This book, “101 Dog Tricks” by Kyra Sundance and Chalcy, cannot be effectively reviewed until I try teaching my dogs some of these tricks.  So I am starting with my younger dog, Maya.  Why am I starting with the younger dog?  Not because Sephi is too old (no dog is too old).  And not because Sephi is less motivated to learn than Maya.  But because Maya has some behavior issues and the best way to improve upon these behavior issues is to build a closer bond and to better develop communication.  Training, any kind of training, makes a better-behaved dog.  The book, “101 Dog Tricks”, states this and I know it from experience.

So this is my challenge.  I am going to start with a trick that Maya doesn’t know and work with her a little bit each day.  When she has learned that trick well enough for me to record on camera, I will post the video here.  I will also post the day I started with the trick, how often I worked with her on it, and how many days (or weeks) it took her to learn it.

But first, let me give you a review on the first part of the book:

The Introduction of “101 Dog Tricks” goes over the proper training methods.  Firstly and most importantly, remember that any dog training endeavor takes guidance, consistency, and motivation (or as per our 4/19/2010 blog post, https://americandogblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/fundamental-dog-training-tips-lots-of-tppc/, time, patience, positive reinforcement, and consistency).  The proper training methods which the book explains includes how to find what motivates your dog, how to help your dog be successful, how to keep training fun, the benefits of using both verbal cues and hand signals, and using luring to teach versus using force or manipulation.  Although this section of the book is very short, it is informative and very easy to understand.

Chapter One of “101 Dog Tricks” goes over the basic commands like sit, down, stay, and come.  Since Maya already knows these, we won’t blog about them.  Look for other blog posts on how to teach your dog these commands.

Remember, this is not a chore.  I will only do this for as long as Maya and I are having fun.  Also, I won’t teach Maya all 101 tricks.  She may not be inclined to do some of the tricks and I may not want to teach her some of them.  Speak, for example, is not one I want her to learn.  Sit Pretty may be a trick that is uncomfortable for her to do.

Other things I may not try simply because I don’t have access to the proper equipment (such as an obstacle course).  And one more thing – I will not teach the tricks in the order of the book.  I will probably start with the easiest and the ones which I think will be the most fun.

Although Maya knows how to shake already, I am going to start with teaching her to shake with either the left or right paw.  Other fun tricks we may try include Carry my Purse, Tidy Up Your Toys, Act Ashamed, Turn Off the Light, Soccer, Hoop Jump, Jump Rope, Crawl, and more!

Book Review – Rainbow Bridge by Niki Behrikis Shanahan

Do dogs go to heaven?  Do cats?  I have heard different things from different church groups and different people.  I’d like to think that my past pets are in heaven.  Why shouldn’t they be?  If you have recently lost a pet and are wondering yourself, I highly recommend you read, Rainbow Bridge, Pet Loss is Heaven’s Gain.  The author, Niki Behrikis Shanahan, answers the question about animals in heaven.  She quotes scripture and gives lots of examples of people who have had a glimpse of heaven and seen animals there.

Chapter 2 talks about animal companions in history.  People have had pets all throughout recorded history and there is even evidence of pets in ancient archeological finds.  My favorite chapter is Chapter 3.  This chapter is full of stories about people and why they believe their pets are in heaven.  One story is about a boy who is dying.  On his deathbed, he sees his old dog who has long since passed.  Is it possible that his dog is in heaven and came to the boy to reassure him that even though he was dying, everything was going to be okay?  I’d like to think so.

The other chapters give more examples of scripture.  Chapter 4 give scripture explaining that even though you die in this world, your spirit does not die.  And this may be the same for animals.  Chapter 5 helps you overcome the depression of losing your pet.  The scriptures tell you that you can mourn but you also need to move on, just like how our pet has moved on to a better place.  And you can move on by helping other people or animals in need.

Although I am not currently mourning a lost pet, I feel that this book will help anyone who recently has.  I read through it pretty quickly but especially savored some special paragraphs and scriptures.  You can get this book and other pet-related books at our Dog Lover’s Book Store.

Book Review – “One Good Dog” by Susan Wilson

I loved this book!  “One Good Dog” is very well written and a difficult to put down.  I was so engaged in the story, that I finished it in just a few nights.  When I did have to put it down, I couldn’t help but to continue to think about the story.

“One Good Dog” is about two separate dysfunctional lives who come together and make life better.  One life is from the perspective of a pit bull mix dog.  He starts out his life in the pits as a fighting dog.  He is abused and forced to live in a tiny cage and is only brought out to go to the bathroom or to fight.  The other life is of a man who grew up in foster homes.  His early life with nothing drives him to succeed as a white collar executive who has everything.  Or at least he thinks he has everything.  He is arrogant and spoiled and is concerned more about his job and being obeyed by his underlings than he is about his family.

This man makes a huge mistake at work, a mistake which also happens to be against the law.  He is fired from his corporate job and forced into community service.  Jobless, and unable to get another job due to his criminal record, his volunteer service at a homeless shelter becomes his focus.  No, it is not an animal shelter, it is a homeless shelter.  But one of the regulars at the shelter who has a dog will eventually lead our man to the pit bull dog in need.

In the meantime, the pit bull dog is rescued and taken to a shelter.  Because he is a pit bull, it is hard for the shelter to place him in a good home.  He ends up in a not-so-good home and his owner eventually lets him loose on the streets.  He lives on the streets for some time before finding himself back in the shelter again.

That is where the man finds him.  But the story doesn’t end there.  There is conflict with the dog’s previous owners who used him for fighting and conflict between the man and his daughter who hates him.  The man who had only taken the dog out of reluctance eventually bonds with him.  The man learns that the true joys in life are not the fancy cars that you drive or the amount of respect you can demand from other people.  The dog learns that life is not about fighting and that people can be a source of love and security.

It is a very heartwarming story and worth every page on which it is written.  If you have a chance, I strongly recommend you read this story about a man and a dog who  were each given a second chance at happiness – and succeeded. 

I loved this book!  “One Good Dog” is very well written and a difficult to put down.  I was so engaged in the story, that I finished it in just a few nights.  When I did have to put it down, I couldn’t help but to continue to think about the story.

“One Good Dog” is about two separate dysfunctional lives who come together and make life better.  One life is from the perspective of a pit bull mix dog.  He starts out his life in the pits as a fighting dog.  He is abused and forced to live in a tiny cage and is only brought out to go to the bathroom or to fight.  The other life is of a man who grew up in foster homes.  His early life with nothing drives him to succeed as a white collar executive who has everything.  Or at least he thinks he has everything.  He is arrogant and spoiled and is concerned more about his job and being obeyed by his underlings than he is about his family.

This man makes a huge mistake at work, a mistake which also happens to be against the law.  He is fired from his corporate job and forced into community service.  Jobless, and unable to get another job due to his criminal record, his volunteer service at a homeless shelter becomes his focus.  No, it is not an animal shelter, it is a homeless shelter.  But one of the regulars at the shelter who has a dog will eventually lead our man to the pit bull dog in need.

In the meantime, the pit bull dog is rescued and taken to a shelter.  Because he is a pit bull, it is hard for the shelter to place him in a good home.  He ends up in a not-so-good home and his owner eventually lets him loose on the streets.  He lives on the streets for some time before finding himself back in the shelter again.

That is where the man finds him.  But the story doesn’t end there.  There is conflict with the dog’s previous owners who used him for fighting and conflict between the man and his daughter who hates him.  The man who had only taken the dog out of reluctance eventually bonds with him.  The man learns that the true joys in life are not the fancy cars that you drive or the amount of respect you can demand from other people.  The dog learns that life is not about fighting and that people can be a source of love and security.

It is a very heartwarming story and worth every page on which it is written.  If you have a chance, I strongly recommend you read this story about a man and a dog who  were each given a second chance at happiness – and succeeded.  You can purchase “One Good Dog” at any book store, or get it from our Dog Lover’s Book Store.