Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent: Ferrets 101
Although I liked the companion book (Training Your Pet Ferret) more, this is an excellent concise guide for someone who knows nothing about ferrets. This is not a book for anyone who has even a working knowledge about ferretbehavior. But then again I haven't found a good guide yet that goes indepth into ferret matters for those of us who know the basics about them,but would like to know more.

Excellent: Ferrets 101
Although I liked the companion book (Training Your Pet Ferret) more, this is an excellent concise guide for someone who knows nothing about ferrets. This is not a book for anyone who has even a working knowledge about ferretbehavior. But then again I haven't found a good guide yet that goes indepth into ferret matters for those of us who know the basics about them,but would like to know more.

Not bad, but not great either
While some of the information is unique to this book (like the part about ferret sounds and body language) there are some alarming errors (a ferret should NEVER be housed in an aquarium!).Use it as an additionalreference, but not your primary one.You should have several differentsources to refer to anyway.

10 Years Hardly Made Any Difference
There are many more up-to-date reference books on the Domestic Pet Ferret. It's an add to my Ferret book collection only. I recommend researching all books available before deciding to be owned by Ferrets.

Please don't buy this book, you may hurt your Ferret!
As a keeper of Ferrets here in England I was appalled when I was given this book as a present for Christmas 98'. There are a number of really quite harmful and cruel elements to this book This could not be further from the truth. The Ferret is a highly socialanimal and they should really be kept in a minimum of threes, two femalesand a male.

De-scenting. This is a highly controversial pracn integral part of theanimals communication system and to remove them just for the delicatenostrils of the owner is really very unfair on the animal.

To say thatFerrets release odour when in fear of their life is quite innaccurate.Ferrets release an odour when they are excited, prior to eating, beforehunting or going for a walk.

Within the book the subject of housing theFerret is not covered at all satisfatorily, to suggest that a Ferret needsa cage of only 10 inches in height is cruel. Ferrets are climbers by ntaureand mine reguarly climb the seven feet to the top of their 6 foot by 6 footcourt. There is scant reference to the correct size and positioning of anoutdoor court and cub.

I could go on, but frankly the 1000 word limit israpidly running out. But for those die hards amongst you who rate thisbook, just refer to the "My tip" on page 23, advising the reader"never to strike the Ferret's body" This lady must really havebeen struggling for something to write if she thinks that the averageFerret loving reader would hit such a small animal!

The picture of the"White-footed butterscotch" on page 41 is further testament tothis authors own ineptitude, either if this Ferret is her own or thepicture is from a library, it should never have been used in a referencebook. The poor animal's nails are clearly too long and should have beentrimmed, if they grow much further they'll grow back under themselves! PoorFerret.

One thing this "guide" is not is complete!

In short,don't waste your money. There has to be a much better guide out theresomwhere! By the way, the only reason I gave this book one star is becausethe review software won't let you choose none! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The BEST rabbit book!
The Proper Care of Rabbits is the best book on rabbits that you can get that's not from the ARBA.It shows info on ALL the breeds, the rabbits history, and the BEST info on breeding!I think being a rabbit breedermyself that every breeder should have this book! ... Read more

Book Description
Titles in the Let's Take Care of ... color-illustrated series introduce younger boys and girls to the fun and responsibility of pet ownership. Each book tells the story of a boy and girl who get a pet and learn how to care for it. These charming books emphasize that acquiring a pet is an exciting adventure for children, and it often makes little difference whether the new pet is as tiny as a frog or as large as a hound. Kids who read these books will share the excitement of the stories' children as an introduction to getting a pet of their own. A Guidelines section supplements each story with advice and information on pet care that is geared to children's capabilities. Parents and kids will want to read that section together. ... Read more

Book Description
Spanish language titles in the Let’s Take Care of ... color-illustrated series introduce Spanish-speaking younger boys and girls to the fun and responsibility of pet ownership. Each book tells the story of a boy and girl who get a pet and learn how to care for it. These charming books emphasize that acquiring a pet is an exciting adventure for children, and it often makes little difference whether the new pet is as tiny as a frog or as large as a hound. Kids who read these books will share the excitement of the stories’ children as an introduction to getting a pet of their own. A Guidelines section supplements each story with advice and information on pet care that is geared to children’s capabilities. Parents and kids will want to read that section together. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Learning all about hamsters couldn't be easier!!
It an easy read with lots of colorful pictures! If you have kids or if it is just for yourself you will adore this book. It tells you how to house, feed, breed, detect signs of illness, and gives advise on selecting and caring for hamsters of all species. I highly recommend this book. I love it! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Helpful Secondary Book For Rabbit Care
This particular book has not been the most helpful rabbit care book for me, not because of the content, but because it seems to focus more on keeping outdoor rabbits rather than indoor rabbits. It also assumes that rabbit care is the top priority of those who keep rabbits. Most of us, who keep rabbits as house pets do not have the time to hunt and gather the food the author suggests. We buy hay and pellets at the local pet store and provide a few fruit slices as a treat. However, this book is helpful. For one thing it lists poisonous plants as well as edible food that rabbits enjoy. Since rabbits always seem to find a way to eat something they are not supposed to eat (I paid $436 in vet bills when my Dutch decided to eat a calla lily), information about keeping rabbits out of mischief and appropriate food is helpful. The book is also illustrated and contains wonderful plates identifying certain breeds of rabbits as well as description of various breeds.

Probably the greatest strength of this book is that it takes rabbit care seriously, just as one would care for a dog or cat. Its major flaw is that it is now a bit dated. I would recommend this book as a secondary handbook and since it is not too expensive, it is worth having on the shelf.

Great Book but not enough color
I love this book, but i am already an experienced rabbit owner and i know what i am doing.although this book is very detailed in the different aspects of pet care, and things like that, it is not a book to read for entertainment.if you are interested in entertainment, you may want to turn to Hop To It! or The House Rabbit Handbook.Great book for a newbie though!

If You Own A Rabbit, You Must Have This Book
This book should be mandatory for rabbit owners.I found the information to be extremely useful, from what food to feed them to what symptoms indicate what illnesses.You'll learn why rabbits behave the way they doand how to keep your rabbit safe and happy.

Some of the chaptersweren't relevant to me because I was not raising a show rabbit.I wasn'tinterested in the information about breeding, breeds, etc. but it wasinteresting nonetheless.

The first time my rabbit was ill, I panicked andthat's what prompted me to buy the book.Fortunately, he had just eatentoo much grass and was fine by the next day.I referred to this bookcountless times in my rabbit's 9 years.

If you own a rabbit, buy thebook.It's interesting reading and will put your mind at easy when yourrabbit isn't feeling well.You can teach your kids how to properly carefor their bunnies which will add to your enjoyment and will help you ensureyour bunny is with you for many years.

One word of advice:hide the bookfrom your rabbit.Rabbits love to chew on just about everything!

This isn't the best book for rabbit breeders in the U.S.
I have this book, and although the author does a fair job in describing the care of a rabbit, she simply has things left out that should be included.

The listings of breeds (and show terminology) are from the UK,and would confuse readers in the US.Same for the listing of plants (whichI think she went overboard on this area.)

There IS a decent section ongenetics, however it isn't as accurate or current as I would prefer.

Readit at the library, but don't waste your money on it if you want seriousinformation.

good easy to understand on my first rabbit
it is good and easy to understand I like it a lot as english is not my first language and it shows picture and explain clearly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

"EMI"
This book is not a good book it gives wrong info and needs to be updated.

Dangerous info
It is hard to sum up everything wrong in this book. I would give it zero stars if I could have.
Most of the advice is not only wrong but dangerous to the health and well being of cavies.
Here are a few of the many points that are wrong, misleading or dangerous:
1. The nutritional advice will produce a very sick pig.Please don't feed your pigs eggs, cheese, cakes, cookies and seeds. They can choke on seeds, nuts are too fattening and refined sweets will make them ill. The book somewhat puts down pellets (and suggests a couple of aforementioned odd homemade concoctions) and yet good quality Guinea pig pellets, along with fresh veggies, are the best way to insure you pig has a balanced diet with Vitamin C, essential for GP's.Hay is also essential and yet there is almost nothing mentioned and no discussion of the various types.
2. Shows a pig in a wire bottom cage.Piggies get thier legs caught and broken in wire bottom cages PLUS the cages shown are way too small.Go to www.Cavycages.com and make you own cheaper and better than you can buy premade!
3. States pigs should be housed separately.This is not true.Pigs are very social animals and need to be with thier own kind.While two adult boars MAY fight, most sows and many boars get along just fine.Of course, house the boars and sows separately unless you want LOTS of little piggies!
2. Shows a rabbit and guinea pig together and says they "get along". It is doubtful they would fight, that is true, but rabbits have powerful back legs and one jump could kill or injure a piggie.They should not be housed together at the very least.
3.Calling a photo of a Guinea Pig a "hamster" just proves that no proof reading by a knowledgable person was done.That is just sloppy and unprofessional.
4. The breeding section never mentions that a sow must be bred before she is 10 months old (IF she is ever going to be bred)because her pelvic bones will fuse at about 12 months, resulting in dead mother and babies in a first pregnancy after that time.This book implies that pigs are not fully mature until 12 months and not at full weight until 18 months, leaving a novice to think it best to wait until then.Very dangerous.Hopefully, no decent person would attempt to breed any animal solely on the information in one chapter in one small book anyway, but this advice will kill your pigs.
There is more but I simply do not have room to correct all the misleading and dangerous info.Suffice to say, with this much hazardous advice, this book should not even be on the market.SHAME on the ASPCA for giving it a seal of approval.
Read "The Proper Care Of Guinea Pigs" by Peter Gurney and/or "Guinea Pig Handbook " by Dr. Sharon Vanderlip or check Internet sites for safe, appropriate care of cavies.

Waist of Time & Money
I bought this book thinking that I'd learn something new, but was very disapointed.The author gives you some info about the topics he's interested in, but fails to give you info about other things.For example, he goes on and on about building your own cages ect., but tells you very little about guinea pig breeding in the chapter he titled "Practical Breeding".Like someone else mentioned, he did right "hamster" instead of guinea pig at one part, which realy bothered me!He also has a lot of unrelated pictures and sometimes put the same picture twice!There are very nice pictures but most of them were of the same breeds (or same guinea pigs), which isn't helpful for those who want to learn about the many different guinea pig breeds. I think this is a very incomplete book.I'm new to guinea pigs, but this book told me very little I hadn't or couldn't have found out about online.I recommend basic reaserch or buying a different book if you want to find out about all aspects of cavies [guinea pigs].If you still want to buy this book, you can buy mine because I'm going to sell it.

Disappointing
For a book with an ASPCA seal of approval, I was very disappointed. The pictures showed guinea pigs on wire bottom cages (very back for their little feet), recommended cedar shavings (another no no) and on pg38 captioned a picture of a guinea pig "The more unique the color variety of your hamster..." It advised housing mutliple cavies in separate cages (this is a herd animal...please) Returned the book in 24 hours. Baron's is a better choice any day.

GREAT! Use it to buy your Guinea Pig.
This book is great I found most of my information with it.It tells you every thing you need to know about raiseing a Guinea Pig.I recommend it to anyone who wants to own a Guinea Pig. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Okay
This book has beautiful and entertaining pictures, but I found there to be many problems with the information given.If you are looking for a book with good pictures and fair information this is your book, but otherwise Idon't recommend it.

This book tells you EVERYTHING about hamsters!
This book told me everything I needed to know about hamsters. It includes how to select a hamster, how to handle a hamster, what to feed and buy them, how to breed them, and much more! It even includes the history of hamsters, like when and where they were first found! I definitely recommend this book to whoever is planning to buy one of these cute companions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Best book for the guinea pig owner
This is the best single book for the guinea pig owner.If you own a guinea pig, you owe it to yourself and the pig to get this book!.Well written, with good advice and adorable photographs.

Best Guinea Pig Book Ever!!
I've bought a few books on guinea pigs to learn about my pets.If I gotthis one first, I would not have bought any others!

This book is AWESOME! It has everything!
I've read many different pet books, mainly on dogs and rats. But I've also read a few on guinea pigs because 'm planing to purchase a few as pets pretty soon. I can tell you easily that this is the best pet book I've ever seen! It thoroughly explains all matters of guinea pig care and even includes a table for feeding amounts! That's one of the best things! You should definitly get this book! It's AWESOME! Bye!

A great book for new owners of all ages!
This book is filled with all kinds of interesting and useful inforomation on guinea pigs.If you are a new owner and are interested in learning more about your pet this is the book to buy! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Proper Care Of Dwarf Rabbits By Michael Mettler
I thought this book was a complete waste of time and money. There was nothing in this book that is not in the most basic book on rabbits and rabbit care, and certainly nothing that sets it apart as being for the care of dwarf rabbits. I was totally disappointed when I recieved this book. There are as many if not more pictures of large and medium sized rabbits as there are of dwarfs. ... Read more

Product Description
Easy to read and loaded with practical, easy-to-apply advice, this highly colorful book covers every topic of importance to anyone - especially a beginner - interested in keeping hamsters. Vital information is provided about the different types of hamster ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Be careful seeking advice...
...from any of this author's books...Ms. Barrie was just the publisher's secretary...the publisher is Herb Axelrod and under cross-examination during litigation against him Ms. Barrie said whenever Axelrod assigned her to do a book she just went to the library for references and then spent a week writing each one...Axelrod ultimately was sentenced to 18 months in prison for tax evasion and Ms. Barrie is now working as a dental hygienist...Axelrod carries some weight among fish fans but I'd be cautious about taking advice from any of Ms. Barrie's books.

Outdated information
The information contained in the book is outdated and could be hazardous to your hamster. "White shaving" aka pine shavings are a no-no due to potential respiratory problems. The wire wheel, is also a no-no. Every year, many hamsters are seriously injured by wire wheels. There are better, much more up to date books that give safer information than this book!

a great, edducational book.
I thought this book was great! It gave me all theinformation I needed.When I was reading it,I kepton saying "Wow!to myself.I recomend this book to all hamster lovers.

Fullofhelpful Information
When I read this book,I found it completely helpful.My friend,Michael,is also a hamster owner. He found it helpful,too.I loved it!

it was an awesome way to start off my hamsters education
this is a must buy book.It tells you all about breeding,sexing,and most important how to make your hamster a happy hamster. ... Read more

Product Description
Trade paperback with plastic comb binding ... Read more