Lurchers and sighthounds have seen a huge rise in popularity over the past 40 years, and where once the lurcher was the shadowy, unseen tool of the poacher, it now enjoys a more legitimate role as a modern day pest control aid, as well as being valued as a companion and family pet. The pure sighthound breeds have always had their aficionados, whether as workers, pets or show and racing dogs; this book is written with all running dogs in mind, the term by which the author refers to lurchers and sighthounds alike in this book. Running dogs are athletes, which need committed care and understanding if they are to remain sound and healthy in their work, and the author has drawn upon her many years’ experience with working lurchers in order to compile a useful reference book for fellow owners. Written in a down to earth style this manual explains how to rear, feed and prepare the running dog for a healthy life, whether that involves strenuous work, competition or as a companion animal; how to avoid injury where possible and how to recognise specific types of injury when they do occur; how to treat them yourself and when to see the vet.

In this companion to her acclaimed 2005 novel, A Dog's Life, Ann M. Martin tells the parallel stories of a stray dog (the brother of the dog featured in A Dog's Life), a boy dealing with unspeakable loss, and a boy whose most ardent wish is to own a dog—and everything for a dog. Bone and his sister, Squirrel, are stray dogs born in a shed. Left motherless as puppies, the two dogs survive together for a while, but are soon wrenched apart. Bone doesn't know if his sister is still alive, and must now go on, alone. Charlie is a boy who has suffered a terrible loss. And, as he's healing with the help of his dog, another tragedy occurs. Henry's best friend has moved away. All Henry has wanted is a dog of his own. But his parents won't let him. Bone, Charlie, and Henry live very different lives, but they are fated to intersect in surprising ways. Award-winning author Ann M. Martin has written a powerful, heartfelt novel that's perfect for anyone who has ever longed for a dog, or loved one.

The New York Times bestselling novel from Garth Stein–a heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of a dog’s efforts to hold together his family in the face of a divisive custody battle. Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals. On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.

The tides of dog ownership are changing, and thanks to Hollywood A-Listers like George Clooney and Sandra Bullock and music icons like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift, animal rescue has become as fashionable as the latest Valentino or Armani. Millions of ordinary Americans—heroes one and all—have opened their hearts and homes to rescue dogs, and fewer abandoned pets are euthanized in the U.S. than ever before. And still, a look at HSUS statistics reminds us how far we have to go: an estimated three to four million pets are euthanized annually, a very significant improvement from the 1980s when the number was closer to sixteen million.To keep America's adoption trend moving forward and to guarantee that rescued dogs stay in their new forever homes, Tracy Libby's The Rescue Dog Problem Solver seeks to make the story of every adopted dog a predestined success. While most dogs wind up in shelters due to no fault of their own, many rescue dogs develop unwanted behaviors while living with their previous owners. To assure their success with their adopted dogs, rescuers must be prepared to handle and confidently resolve behavioral problems that arise through proven positive-training methods. This eye-opening problem-solving guide, filled with empowering stories of rescued dogs that defied the odds, is dedicated to the success of every rescuer and his happy, health companion dog.INSIDE TITLE OF BOOK50 ways rescuers can overcome potential challenges with their adoptive dogs200 training and behavior tips for a well-mannered dog25 secrets to unraveling common behavior issues, from house-soiling and escaping the yard to biting, barking, and hyperactivityA dozen heartwarming stories of real-life rescue dogs and their adoptive parentsCountless ways dog lovers can raise awareness about animal rescue and responsible pet ownership in their communities

The hugely illuminating story of how a popular breed of dog became the most demonized and supposedly the most dangerous of dogs—and what role humans have played in the transformation. When Bronwen Dickey brought her new dog home, she saw no traces of the infamous viciousness in her affectionate, timid pit bull. Which made her wonder: How had the breed—beloved by Teddy Roosevelt, Helen Keller, and Hollywood’s “Little Rascals”—come to be known as a brutal fighter? Her search for answers takes her from nineteenth-century New York City dogfighting pits—the cruelty of which drew the attention of the recently formed ASPCA—to early twentieth‑century movie sets, where pit bulls cavorted with Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton; from the battlefields of Gettysburg and the Marne, where pit bulls earned presidential recognition, to desolate urban neighborhoods where the dogs were loved, prized—and sometimes brutalized. Whether through love or fear, hatred or devotion, humans are bound to the history of the pit bull. With unfailing thoughtfulness, compassion, and a firm grasp of scientific fact, Dickey offers us a clear-eyed portrait of this extraordinary breed, and an insightful view of Americans’ relationship with their dogs.

#1 New York Times Bestseller In this pathbreaking guide, two of the world’s most popular and trusted pet care advocates reveal new science to teach us how to delay aging and provide a long, happy, healthy life for our canine companions. Like their human counterparts, dogs have been getting sicker and dying prematurely over the past few decades. Why? Scientists are beginning to understand that the chronic diseases afflicting humans—cancer, obesity, diabetes, organ degeneration, and autoimmune disorders—also beset canines. As a result, our beloved companions are vexed with preventable health problems throughout much of their lives and suffer shorter life spans. Because our pets can’t make health and lifestyle decisions for themselves, it’s up to pet parents to make smart, science-backed choices for lasting vitality and health. The Forever Dog gives us the practical, proven tools to protect our loyal four-legged companions. Rodney Habib and Karen Becker, DVM, globetrotted (pre-pandemic) to galvanize the best wisdom from top geneticists, microbiologists, and longevity researchers; they also interviewed people whose dogs have lived into their 20s and even 30s. The result is this unprecedented and comprehensive guide, filled with surprising information, invaluable advice, and inspiring stories about dogs and the people who love them. The Forever Dog prescriptive plan focuses on diet and nutrition, movement, environmental exposures, and stress reduction, and can be tailored to the genetic predisposition of particular breeds or mixes. The authors discuss various types of food—including what the commercial manufacturers don’t want us to know—and offer recipes, easy solutions, and tips for making sure our dogs obtain the nutrients they need. Habib and Dr. Becker also explore how external factors we often don’t think about can greatly affect a dog’s overall health and wellbeing, from everyday insults to the body and its physiology, to the role our own lifestyles and our vets’ choices play. Indeed, the health equation works both ways and can travel “up the leash.” Medical breakthroughs have expanded our choices for canine health—if you know what they are. This definitive dog-care guide empowers us with the knowledge we need to make wise choices, and to keep our dogs healthy and happy for years to come.

At last—a beginner’s guide to feline technology! The cat parent’s guide to common kitty quirks and what they really mean—featuring useful diagrams and hilarious insights! Scratch marks on your furniture. Dead mice on your doorstep. Stray hairs all over your clothes. It’s enough to make you cry out, “Why doesn’t my cat have an owner’s manual?” And now—finally!—she does. Through step-by-step instructions and helpful schematic diagrams, The Cat Owner’s Manual explores hundreds of frequently asked questions: • Which breeds interface best with dogs? • How can I maintain a quality exterior finish? • And why does my model always drink from the bathtub? Whatever your concerns, you’ll find the answers here—courtesy of celebrated veterinarian Dr. David Brunner and acclaimed author Sam Stall. Together, they provide plenty of useful advice for both new and experienced cat owners.