Maggie is a brilliant Jack Russell Terrier with an astonishingly large repertoire including the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide. In addition, she is one of the cutest dogs on the planet. Maggie is available nationwide for TV, video and still photography

Books on Dog training, Dogs and Cats on the left. Scroll to see all ! Rottweiler books towards the bottom.

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Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy

MARTIN SHEEN SPEAKS OUT AGAINST THE HORRIFIC SEAL SLAUGHTER OF CANADA

ALEC BALDWIN SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE FACTORY FARMING INDUSTRY

 

Recommended Reading by ACN members and friends and listed on the left.

15% of all featured books on this page gets donated to ACN for the care of animals.

I would like to recommend the book, "A Dog Year" by Jon Katz.  It is a true story about four dogs (two labs, two Border Collies) and their relationship with their owner over the period of one year.  Author Katz had been living the easy life with two obedient labs when a breeder-friend persuades him to adopt a Border Collie who needs a good home.   As you can imagine, the energy level increases in his happy home.  This book made me laugh and cry, but it is definitely one of my most favorite reads ever!  Kady & Boden
The Monks of New Skeet have several training books.  I love their philosophy of training from the pack animals point of view. My German Shepherds are well adjusted happy dogs who know their place in our family.  Gandolph and Pandora :)

I would highly recommend Jan Fennels book, The Dog Listener.   This book deals offers proven techniques for use in making adjustments to dogs who have behavior problems.  It is written well and on a level that any dog owner/rescuer can use.  The methods are humane and very effective even if you have a pet that is just “a little spoiled” and want to regain control.  A must read for any rescuer.

Julie Hoskinson         Bichon Frise & Maltese Rescue,   Asheville, NC

  I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter........the cast-offs of human society.  I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal.  And I was angry.  "God", I said, "this is terrible!  Why don't you do something?"  God was silent for a moment, and then HE spoke very softly.  "I have done something," HE replied.  "I sent you"

Here are Darby's choices (he's very well read).

Training Books:
Second-Hand Dog How to Turn Yours into a First-Rate Pet  by Carol Lea Benjamin -  Darby says all dogs are already first rate pets, but this book will help you get in touch with your new rescue dog. Great training tips and
general advice.

How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With by Clarice Rutherford and David Neil - Darby suggests you adopt an adult dog, but if you are stubborn and pick a puppy anyway, this book is a must have training book.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fun and Tricks with Your Dog by Sarah Hodgson - Darby thinks that this book helps simplify the strange tricks that your human may want you to learn.  Regardless, he gets lots of treats while Mom tries to get him to do the tricks, so the book is worthwhile.

The Dog Whisperer by Paul Owens - Darby thinks all dog owners should read a book about positive reinforcement rather than punishment methods of training.  This one worked well for him.

Fun Books to Own:
The Cats' House by Bob Walker - Darby likes this book and its sequel even if dogs are bit underrepresented.  He wishes he lived in this house so he could use the catwalks.

Cats into Everything by Bob Walker -  sequel to above

The Stray Kitten by Judy Waite and Gavin Rowe - Darby believes you should read this with an open mind - it could just as easily by about a stray puppy as a kitten.

Flawed Dogs The Year-end Leftovers at the Piddleton Last Chance Dog Pound by Berkeley Breathed - Darby remembers being a left over at the pound and this book helps him to remember that true friends and loved ones look past the dirty dog in the run and straight into the heart.

Dominion The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy by Matthew Scully - Okay , so Darby hasn't read the entire book yet, but he's working on it.  His mom says this an incredible thought provoking book that absolutely everyone should read.

Regarding your request for recommendations of animal-oriented books:  I recommend Scarlett Saves Her Family (The Heart-Warming True Story of a Stray Mother Cat Who Rescued Her Kittens from a Raging Fire), by Jane Martin & JC Suares.  It is a 1997 book telling the full story that was in the national news in 1995/6 about a stray cat who suffered severe burns all over her body by returning into a burning warehouse several times to carry her kittens to safety one by one.  It is only 90-something pages (and about $20 in 2001) and tells the story from the beginning of the firefighter's memories on the scene throughout all the medical care (the majority of the book) of the cat and her kittens and their adoptions.
    It's very touching and has one sad part in it, but turns out inspirational and happy in the end.  It helped me when I was dealing with my own calico (like Scarlett), Cleopatra, having a brain tumor and teetering between life and death.

My cat's names are Happy, Kenya, and Bugboy.

Modoc by Ralph Helfer
The true story of the greatest elephant that ever lived. This is a true story of a man and elephant born on the same day and their life long journey together.  Once you start, it is impossible to put down.

Ranch of Dreams by Cleveland Amory
The heartwarming story of america's most unusual animal sanctuary. This is an inspiring profile of Texas animal sanctuary, where all animals can come to live out their lives in a place of freedom and love.

When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
The emotional lives of animals. This book is a comprehensive and compelling argument for animal sensibility and animal dignity...a must read.

Some books, animal related..but I have not actually read them so I cannot speak about them:
The Hidden Life of Dogs by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
The Cat who Came for Christmas by Cleveland Amory

"ACN recommends that people read breed-specific books to make them better guardians of their dogs and cats; however, we do not condone any practice of ear cropping, tail docking, declawing or other mutilation procedures if recommended by the author. In fact, we encourage purebreed groups to drop these standards from their show requirements. We also advocate purebreed adoption and rescue over purchase, as there are already too many animals dying in our shelters annually, roughly 25% of whom are purebred, according to the HSUS. Links to purebreed rescue groups can be found by returning to the ACN website at www.a-cnet.org."

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