Category: Books
Mark Asher dog memoir book
Photographer, Mark J. Asher's latest book, Humphrey Was Here, is an emotional memoir about his beloved four-legged companion who unexpectedly passed away at the age of eight. Written as a means of healing, Asher's tender, albeit gut-wrenching account of Humphrey, his German shepherd/chow mix, recounts how his furry friend's incomparable companionship and unconditional joy saw him through every headache, heartache, triumph, and life transition he experienced for seven years. This story of love, loss and letting go is sure to deeply touch any dog lover. Snuggle up with a blanket and have the Kleenex within reach, this is a real tear jerker. Also see previous Pamperedpuppy interviews with Mark Asher: "Barking Up the Family Tree" and "Old Dogs are People Too."
[More info, markjasher.com]
Pug pictorial book
We have a special place in our hearts for pugs, which is why the new photo book, "Pugnation: The Bark is Back!" has captured our rapt attention. Celebrity pet photographer, Jim Dratfield, captures these adorably-quirky, bug-eyed pooches in another round of whimsical antics, complete with silly quotes and titles that'll have you laughing out loud. From paparazzo-ready and glamtastic to period and superhero costumes, you won't be able to get enough of the likes of "Cleopugstra," the "Ugly Puggling," and the "Ultimate Underdog," just to name a few. And with nearly 100 pages of pug-o-mania, you won't have to. Pug owners and dog lovers alike will get a real kick out of this hard-cover, artfully-produced pictorial. Book dimensions: 9 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches.
[$13.60, amazon.com]
The Pet Plan and Trust Guide
Our pets trust us to take care of them. That's the very true subtitle of the new book The Pet Plan and Pet Trust Guide. Written by a lawyer Kimberly Adams Colgate, and including whimsical illustrations by Debby Corman, The Pet Plan and Trust Guide gives step-by-step straightforward advice about how to care for your pet in the event of (we hope not!) the worst. There are comprehensive guidelines on providing for your pet in your will, as well as guidance on how to legally and safely set up and fund different types of trusts for your pet's care. With everything from a sample Emergency Pet Care plan to a built-in Emergency Contact Information, we think this helpful book has got an important subject covered.
[$29, Callingalldogs.com]
Gourmet dog treats cookbook
Everybody's running into the kitchen with their tails wagging over Bone Appetreat, a doggy gourmet cookbook. Cookbook author Laurie Southall delivers a very personal touch to the book, full of love, not to mention goodies for our four pawed best friends. Laurie found proper nutrition to be of huge assistance in helping her with one of her own health problems, and her zeal for healthful living inspired production of this book. To help you get a feel for the nature of the recipes, you may go to the Bone Appetreat site and download the Press Media Kit which contains some samples. It all looks totally yummilicious.
Pet food recall book
Last year's pet food scandal was devastating. We were scared silly when we started learning about the inferior ingredients in some commercial dog food. Pet Food Politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine is the latest from acclaimed author Marion Nestle. Learn the terrifying details about the largest recall of consumer products in U.S. history (too late for thousands of pets who consumed tainted food). Nestle recounts the problems in the supply chain. We thought one reader review summed it up saying this book is an, "eye-opener about the lack of government oversight or pet food company responsibility." Maybe we'll skip the kibble and cook dinner tonight.
ChiWOWhua! dog book
We recently saw a preview for a new Chihuahua movie. We just saw Legally Blonde on Broadway. And we always see these tiny preeners tucked into the bags of A-lsit celebs on the pages of People, InStyle and other glossies. Now there is a new book out celebrating these tiny canine citizens. ChiWOWhua! Undersized,Underfoot & Over the Top by Melissa Sovey brings to life the large personalities of these fireballs. For all those Chi lovers, this book will surely be on your bestseller list. It's narrated by mini man on a mission to entertain and amuse. Packed with adorable pictures, ChiWOWhua! has tons of fun quotes and life lessons for everyone in the fur family.
Book of dog names
Have you ever thought of naming a dog Beowulf? What about Chiquita? Or if you're trying to pick names for two dogs, would you ever call them Hugs and Kisses? We remember what Steve Martin's character called his dog in the movie The Jerk, and we don't think that's funny at all! But if you'd like an entertaining selection of dog name options, take a look at Joanne O'Sullivan's book Calling All Dogs: Grrreat Names for your Perfect Pooch. Perfect pooch, perfect smooch. Didn't a dog named John Fitzgerald say "Ask not what you can do for your human, ask what your human can do for you!" We once knew a lady so nutsy that she named her boy dog Juliette and her girl dog Romeo. Poor Romeo and Juliette came running in response to their names, too. Don't let this happen to you. Pick your dog's name wisely, with the assistance of Calling All Dogs.
Book of dog paintings
Pawing through The Artful Dog, a yip yapping aesthetic experience, I saw where they included Charles Schultz's famous quote, "Happiness is a warm puppy." Ginger the spoiled big city Sheltie here, telling you that I am not one to accept peanuts. Happiness is a warm puppy with a diamonds-encrusted collar, mes amis mais oui! Diamonds are a jolie fille's best friend. Whoops wink wink. Seems we've gotten some distance from that aesthetic experience about which I meant to tell you. The Artful Dog contains reproductions of dog-inclusive art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is to say, the only works in there that are truly worth a nose-high-in-the-air-sniff. It's not as if they let me into that institution, may the so-called Homo sapiens that run it rot without a bone, but I do see a Collie sorta Sheltie sorta woofer in what might be a Mary Cassat painting. If you ask me, my knowing that artist should entitle me to enter the museum. But I'll have to settle for peeing in the Park near it, and soaking in the culture from this great book.
Book on commercial dog foods
There's more to most commercial pet foods than meets the eye, and a lot of it should not be going anywhere near your dog's mouth. The horrifying details are to be found in Ann N. Martin's book "Food Pets Die For; Shocking Facts About Pet Food." Chapter titles include "Sodium Pentabarbitol in Pet Food," "Animal Experimentation and Pet Food Companies" and "Mad Cow Disease and Companion Animals." If you want to ruin your dog's appetite before the lovely freshly-prepared filet mignon dinner you serve her tonight, read to her out loud from this book so she knows what underprivileged dogs are getting fed these days. We feel heartsick over it. And nauseated. And outraged. We closed our eyes when it seemed that a passage in this book described how commercial pet food companies intentionally include dried chicken poop in their products. This is a five yuck alert. Seriously!
Book on dogs + divorce
Author, Jennifer Keene, learned firsthand the importance of how to facilitate a dog-friendly breakup--she has visitation rights with a one of her dogs. We Can't Stay Together for the Dogs is a guidebook for troubled relationships where fur kids are involved (marriages ending within the first five years often have dogs). We're going to recommend this book to any couple dealing with custody battles and the gruesome reality of a split. There are practical tips to nip behavioral issues in the bud (for the dogs, not the humans) and plenty of experts weigh in on how to best navigate these turbulent waters. This book is a great reminder of what really matters in the end.
Eco Dog book
The whole world is going green. With oil prices breaking records every day, we really don't have a choice but to start reusing, recycling and reducing waste. We say it's time to read up on tips for eco-friendly pet parenting. Eco Dog is a dog owner's complete guide to environmentally sound dog care. This new book from Chronicle offers opinions on conventional pet products and then offers alternative planet-friendly shopping tips (for example: rosemary conditioner replaces chemical-laden flea collars). We appreciate that there are zippy, playful pictures mixed in with the serious message.
Woof! A Gay Man's Guide to Dogs
We have always been able to laugh at ourselves--we know putting pink tutus on pugs is silly. Thank goodness there are others pet parents in the world who get a joke. That's why we love Andre De Prisco's book: Woof! A Gay Man's Guide to Dogs. De Prisco takes some of the seriousness out of our lives and injects fun. Giggle as you match up different types of gay men (based on profession and personality) with the dogs they gravitate towards. Sure there are touches of practical advice, but we prefer the adorable pictures (love the drag queen cowboy) and the campy writing.
Adorable book on designer dogs
We heard that they crossed a Newfoundland with a Basset Hound, that the puppies were Newfound Asset Hounds, and that the new breed is all the rage with financial advisors. You could make a great investment by purchasing Designer Dogs by dogxpert Caroline Coile, PhD with photos by the puppable Anna Kuperberg. Psst! Her blog is hysterical. Don't miss it. On Amazon, a reader comment was placed about this book by the president of The Australian Labradoodle Association of America. She remarked that this book is the very first to really clarify the difference between non-Australian and Australian labradoodles. We're just wondering whether, if they crossed a labradoodle with a rooster, the offspring would go labradoodle-doo in the morning.
Fat dog stars in book
Beverly West, Jason Bergund, Jessica Alonso and a full-figured Chihuahua worked hard on the production of Fat Daisy; Inner Beauty Secrets From A Real Dog, but only the people involved seem to have lost any weight in the process. Fat Daisy is a conundrum; she says she's learned to love herself just as she is, yet she is just as obsessed with as she is unsuccessful at dieting. You could well open randomly to a page in this slim volume about an overweight teacup and find Fat Daisy dressed as though for a Hawaiian vacation complete with leis and a grass skirt. Aloha Oe! You've gotta wonder what would happen if Fat Daisy were mentored by HRH The Duchess of York, Miss Sarah Ferguson. Would she lose weight, or would she poop in the palace?
Stories about women and their dogs
When they sing "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," do you say "Stuff and Nonsense!"? If so, the book "Woman's Best Friend: Women Writers on the Dogs in Their Lives" might be just for you (and your dog). In one of the book's stories, a woman tells about a dog that misses her ex-boyfriend a heck of a lot more than she does. One stinkpot customer reviewer on Amazon said that some of the stories show that dogs are not women's best friends, but we suspect that customer was in truth a jealous man acting like a baby because the book doesn't say that dog is man's best friend. We highly recommend that you have your dog read the stories in this book to you out loud after your dog tucks you in at night.
