From time to time we announce and/or review new books related to one of our favorite subjects: dogs. These are some of our favorites.
If you would like to purchase any of these good reads, fetch our Dog Books at Talking Dogs store at Amazon.
If you would like to purchase any of these good reads, fetch our Dog Books at Talking Dogs store at Amazon.
Guardians of Being: Spiritual Teachings from Our Dogs and Cats by Eckhart Tolle and Patrick McDonnell
A number of years ago I learned about Eckhart Tolle and began following his
writings. The first book I read was “The Power of Now”. This book changed the way I see myself and
the world.
I have since read numerous books by
Tolle and am amazed by his insight. So, I was thrilled when my dogs, with the
help of my lovely wife, gave me “Guardians of
Being” for my recent birthday.
The full name of the book is
“Guardians of Being, Spiritual Teachings from Our Dogs and Cats” The words are
by Eckhart Tolle, spiritual
teacher, and the art is by Patrick McDonnell, creator of the comic strip MUTTS. These two
are truly inspired and work wonderfully together.
In Tolle’s writings he often speaks
about dogs and how they can teach us to be in the Now, so I was excited to read
this book. I have already read it 3 times. It will definitely be one of those
books I keep close and re-visit.
Anyone who has ever loved a dog or
a cat will love this book and as you read you will find yourself saying
YES! I know that! I knew that! I feel that!
Tolle teaches that all animals -
dogs and cats specifically - as we live and love so closely with them, are in
the original state of consciousness and are not encumbered by the human mind and
ego which keeps us locked in the past or present and not in the now, where dogs
and cats reside. So by observing our animals and being in the here and now with
them we can learn to better experience the joy of life.
“It’s so wonderful to watch an animal because an animal has no opinion about itself. IT IS.” Tolle
“The vital function that pets fulfill in this world hasn’t been fully recognized. They keep millions of people sane.” Tolle
“I have lived with many Zen Masters, all of them cats.” Tolle
“Love is a deep empathy with the other’s Beingness. You recognize yourself, your essence, in the other. And so you can no longer inflict suffering on the other.” TolleThe quotations above are just a sample of the great wisdom in this book and the great wisdom of our pets. The art by McDonnell which accompany Tolle's words, go along with these teachings to highlight the words and the wisdom. I would encourage all pet owners to read this book to remind you of the spiritual wisdom they possess and to assist them in doing their job of being Guardians of Being.
Our book review of Guardians of Being first appeared as a guest blog post and you may read the complete post and review here at Talking Dogs.
The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity by Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM with Dr. Susan Ettinger, DVM, Dip, ACVIM (Oncology). Published by Maui Media, LLC
Some reviewers have stated that if your dog has cancer, you need this book. I’ll go one step further and say: if you own a dog, you need this book. The majority of dog owners will be forced to deal with the heartbreak of losing a dog to cancer. In fact, if you subtract euthanasia, cancer is the number one killer of dogs.
I can honestly say that I wish I’d had this book years ago. I’ve lost three dogs to cancer, one only a few weeks ago.
When my review copy of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide arrived, I was a bit intimidated by the sheer size of the volume. I began to quickly flip through, thinking I’d set it aside to read later. I found myself compelled to sit down and begin reading right away. I’d fully expected it to be a downer, but it is the opposite. As I read, I felt empowered by not only the detailed information, but the upbeat tone of the book.
As Dr. Dressler says: “Dog cancer is an emergency, and if it is the tsunami you are facing, think of this book as your survival guide.”
A massive compilation of medical and scientific information could be dry, boring, and over whelming. It’s not. The Dog Cancer Survival Guide is written in clear, straightforward, conversational layperson’s language.
You’ll find everything you wanted to know but didn’t know to ask about canine cancer veterinary treatment, both conventional, as well as holistic treatment options, including botanical nutraceuticals, supplements, nutrition and mind-body medicine. In addition, there’s a section devoted to how to work with your veterinarian to develop a treatment plan for your dog.
This book has a wonderful balance of factual information about various forms of canine cancer and their treatment, plus a healthy dose of psychological and compassionate support for dog owners.
“The clearer your mind and heart are, the easier you learn," says Dr. Dressler. "The more you learn about cancer and how to treat it, the wiser the decisions you will make about your dog’s treatment. The calmer you are, the more likely your dog will be calm, too.”
The organization of this book is excellent. Each chapter includes flagged side notes which range from comments from Dr. Ettinger, examples of true stories of dog’s with cancer, further information and more.
Dr. Demian Dressler is a general practice veterinarian in Maui, Hawaii, who first published The Dog Cancer Survival Guide as an eBook sold to readers of Dr. Dressler’s blog www.DogCancerBlog.com. Dr. Susan Ettinger is a veterinary oncologist at the Animal Specialty Center in New York City. They first met at The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in the 1990’s. In The dog Cancer Survival Guide they’ve taken their decades of clinical experience and thorough research of the current literature to explain dog cancer for the lay person.
Talking Dogs recommends this book without any reservation. What a wonderful holiday gift this would be for anyone who lives with dogs. Fetch a copy of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kindle or Nook. The Talking Dogs blog post for The Dog Cancer Survival Guide can be found here.
The Dog Cancer Survival Guide Table of Contents
Part 1: My Dog Has Cancer…. Now What?
Your Role
Mission Critical: Emotional Management
Super Dogs
Part 2: What You Should Know About Dog Cancer
Dog Cancer Phrases, Words and Meanings
How Cancer Begins and Spreads
Apoptosis
Cancer Causes
How We Diagnose and Stage Cancer
Part 3: Full Spectrum Cancer Care
An Overview of Full Spectrum Care
Step One, Conventional Treatments
Step Two, Nutraceuticals
Step Three, Immune System Boosters and Anti-Metastatics
Step Four, Diet
Step Five, Brain Chemistry Modification
Part 4: Making Confident Choices
Dog Cancer Treatment FAQs
Pain and Pain Management
Joys of Life
Average Life Expectancy
Treatment Plan Analysis
Choosing Treatments
Working with Professional and Loved Ones
Keep a Journal
Financial Help
End of Life Choices and Care
If Your Dog Could Speak
The Rest of the Book
Part 5: From the Oncologist
Message from the Oncologist
Lymphoma
Mast Cell Tumors
Mammary Tumors
Hemanglosarcoma
Transitional Cell Carcinoma
Oral Cancer
Nasal Tumors
Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Brain Tumors
Perianal and Anal Sac Tumors
Melanoma
Common Veterinary Chemotherapy Drugs
Some reviewers have stated that if your dog has cancer, you need this book. I’ll go one step further and say: if you own a dog, you need this book. The majority of dog owners will be forced to deal with the heartbreak of losing a dog to cancer. In fact, if you subtract euthanasia, cancer is the number one killer of dogs.
I can honestly say that I wish I’d had this book years ago. I’ve lost three dogs to cancer, one only a few weeks ago.
When my review copy of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide arrived, I was a bit intimidated by the sheer size of the volume. I began to quickly flip through, thinking I’d set it aside to read later. I found myself compelled to sit down and begin reading right away. I’d fully expected it to be a downer, but it is the opposite. As I read, I felt empowered by not only the detailed information, but the upbeat tone of the book.
As Dr. Dressler says: “Dog cancer is an emergency, and if it is the tsunami you are facing, think of this book as your survival guide.”
A massive compilation of medical and scientific information could be dry, boring, and over whelming. It’s not. The Dog Cancer Survival Guide is written in clear, straightforward, conversational layperson’s language.
You’ll find everything you wanted to know but didn’t know to ask about canine cancer veterinary treatment, both conventional, as well as holistic treatment options, including botanical nutraceuticals, supplements, nutrition and mind-body medicine. In addition, there’s a section devoted to how to work with your veterinarian to develop a treatment plan for your dog.
This book has a wonderful balance of factual information about various forms of canine cancer and their treatment, plus a healthy dose of psychological and compassionate support for dog owners.
“The clearer your mind and heart are, the easier you learn," says Dr. Dressler. "The more you learn about cancer and how to treat it, the wiser the decisions you will make about your dog’s treatment. The calmer you are, the more likely your dog will be calm, too.”
The organization of this book is excellent. Each chapter includes flagged side notes which range from comments from Dr. Ettinger, examples of true stories of dog’s with cancer, further information and more.
Dr. Demian Dressler is a general practice veterinarian in Maui, Hawaii, who first published The Dog Cancer Survival Guide as an eBook sold to readers of Dr. Dressler’s blog www.DogCancerBlog.com. Dr. Susan Ettinger is a veterinary oncologist at the Animal Specialty Center in New York City. They first met at The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in the 1990’s. In The dog Cancer Survival Guide they’ve taken their decades of clinical experience and thorough research of the current literature to explain dog cancer for the lay person.
Talking Dogs recommends this book without any reservation. What a wonderful holiday gift this would be for anyone who lives with dogs. Fetch a copy of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kindle or Nook. The Talking Dogs blog post for The Dog Cancer Survival Guide can be found here.
The Dog Cancer Survival Guide Table of Contents
Part 1: My Dog Has Cancer…. Now What?
Your Role
Mission Critical: Emotional Management
Super Dogs
Part 2: What You Should Know About Dog Cancer
Dog Cancer Phrases, Words and Meanings
How Cancer Begins and Spreads
Apoptosis
Cancer Causes
How We Diagnose and Stage Cancer
Part 3: Full Spectrum Cancer Care
An Overview of Full Spectrum Care
Step One, Conventional Treatments
Step Two, Nutraceuticals
Step Three, Immune System Boosters and Anti-Metastatics
Step Four, Diet
Step Five, Brain Chemistry Modification
Part 4: Making Confident Choices
Dog Cancer Treatment FAQs
Pain and Pain Management
Joys of Life
Average Life Expectancy
Treatment Plan Analysis
Choosing Treatments
Working with Professional and Loved Ones
Keep a Journal
Financial Help
End of Life Choices and Care
If Your Dog Could Speak
The Rest of the Book
Part 5: From the Oncologist
Message from the Oncologist
Lymphoma
Mast Cell Tumors
Mammary Tumors
Hemanglosarcoma
Transitional Cell Carcinoma
Oral Cancer
Nasal Tumors
Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Brain Tumors
Perianal and Anal Sac Tumors
Melanoma
Common Veterinary Chemotherapy Drugs
This is not just another dog book. Dog, Inc is a book about science, big business and commerce, merchandising and salesmanship, morality and ethics, as well as the love we have for our dogs. This book proves that truth is stranger than (science) fiction. Once you pick it up you'll have a hard time putting it down. And when you do put it down, you'll find your mind returning time and again to the issues it raises.
John Woestendiek, a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter, does an amazing job of explaining the ins and outs of cloning man's best friend. Woestendiek gives us the scientific facts and history of cloning dogs (and other mammals) in easy to understand language. Along the way he gives us a healthy dose of the very human story. From the woman who hoped to clone the pit bull who she believed saved her life and eventually purchased what would be the first commercially produced dog clones, to a billionaire who decides to make a profit from cloning his family dog, to the scientists who made dog cloning a reality.
Each step along the way there are fascinating stories to be told, and told they are by Woestendiek with the same charm, good humor and keen observation that readers of his popular blogs ohmidog! And Travels with Ace have come to expect. It's obvious that this guy does his homework, personally grapples with the issues, can maintain objectivity, enjoys true human stories, and loves dogs.
As the author says:
"Like most good dog stories, the saga of dog cloning probably reveals more about humans than canines - our innate need for power, fame, money, and love; our thirst of instant, or at least speedy, gratification; our uniquely human refusal to accept the finality of death, and our overwhelming desire to control the world in which we live. And, like most good dog stories, it likely contains some lessons for those who navigate on two legs, the kind of wordless tutelage dogs have been offering for centuries - if only we'd listen. With the cloning of dog, man may have crossed the final barrier to cloning humans. ..."
I'm a dog lover. I've often jokingly said I'd like to clone Lucy, my "heart dog." I won't be saying that anymore. It's no joke and it is no longer the stuff of science fiction. If you've got about $100,000 to spare, you can clone your beloved dog if you want to. I'll pass. When the time comes, I'll head for the nearest animal shelter.
Each step along the way there are fascinating stories to be told, and told they are by Woestendiek with the same charm, good humor and keen observation that readers of his popular blogs ohmidog! And Travels with Ace have come to expect. It's obvious that this guy does his homework, personally grapples with the issues, can maintain objectivity, enjoys true human stories, and loves dogs.
As the author says:
"Like most good dog stories, the saga of dog cloning probably reveals more about humans than canines - our innate need for power, fame, money, and love; our thirst of instant, or at least speedy, gratification; our uniquely human refusal to accept the finality of death, and our overwhelming desire to control the world in which we live. And, like most good dog stories, it likely contains some lessons for those who navigate on two legs, the kind of wordless tutelage dogs have been offering for centuries - if only we'd listen. With the cloning of dog, man may have crossed the final barrier to cloning humans. ..."
I'm a dog lover. I've often jokingly said I'd like to clone Lucy, my "heart dog." I won't be saying that anymore. It's no joke and it is no longer the stuff of science fiction. If you've got about $100,000 to spare, you can clone your beloved dog if you want to. I'll pass. When the time comes, I'll head for the nearest animal shelter.
Dog, Inc is available for purchase here and you can read more of what I have to say about this book here.
Dog Trots Globe - To Paris and Provence by Sheron Long.
A delightful travelogue told from the point of view of author, Sheron Long's, Shetland Sheepdog. Chula, the Sheltie dog, traveled from Carmel Valley in California to Paris and Saint-Remy-de-Provence over two months time. Beautiful photographs, recommendations of dog friendly places and charming storytelling abound. Dog Trots Globe is available from OIC Books and includes online extras.
Read Talking Dogs full book review of Dog Trots Globe.
DOGS by Tim Flach
If you've seen Flach's book of horses, you'll want this new book, too. It almost seems like a slap in the face to call Tim Flach a photographer. The man is an artist. Absolutely amazing shots of dogs in all kinds of settings. Fetch this book. Flip through the pages. You'll have to have it, too. Read more about DOGS here.
Huck: The Remarkable True Story of How One Lost Puppy Taught a Family - And a Whole town - About Hope and Happy Endings by Janet Elder
Now, this is a dog book that makes you feel good about people. A breast cancer diagnosis changes a mom's mind about letting her son finally get a puppy. Mom (Janet Elder) hopes the puppy will give her son, Michael, something happy to focus on during her cancer treatment. However, the little toy poodle, Huck, gave Elder a lot to focus on, too. When Huck is left with the author's sister in New Jersey while Elder's family vacations in Florida, Huck runs away. As they try to find their puppy, the Elder family encounters countless strangers who volunteer to help.
Read more about this book here.
Read Talking Dogs full book review of Dog Trots Globe.
Orphans of Katrina: Inside the World's Biggest Animal Rescue by Karen O'Toole
Five years ago, we were glued to our television in paralyzed horror. Our hearts broke as we watched the news coverage of Hurricane Katrina. The loss and devastation, the chaos and heartbreak are things that we will never forget.
In the midst of all the human suffering, thousands of companion animals were abandoned in the drowning city of New Orleans. Karen O'Toole has written a moving account of her experiences of rescue and frustration, disillusionment and redemption in our Gulf region. Read more here.
If you've seen Flach's book of horses, you'll want this new book, too. It almost seems like a slap in the face to call Tim Flach a photographer. The man is an artist. Absolutely amazing shots of dogs in all kinds of settings. Fetch this book. Flip through the pages. You'll have to have it, too. Read more about DOGS here.
Now, this is a dog book that makes you feel good about people. A breast cancer diagnosis changes a mom's mind about letting her son finally get a puppy. Mom (Janet Elder) hopes the puppy will give her son, Michael, something happy to focus on during her cancer treatment. However, the little toy poodle, Huck, gave Elder a lot to focus on, too. When Huck is left with the author's sister in New Jersey while Elder's family vacations in Florida, Huck runs away. As they try to find their puppy, the Elder family encounters countless strangers who volunteer to help.
Read more about this book here.
This book for children is based on real life characters including Ariel, the Maltese Dog. It begins with Ariel finding a new home and meeting her new family. Read more about this book here.
More Coming... soon.
by Gene Weingarten with photographs by Michael S. Williamson
More Coming... soon.
