My Pet World: Consider putting some of these books under the tree
What a great way to impress Aunt Gloria and Uncle Jay when they visit, as your pup demonstrates all 75 tricks in the book, from spinning in a circle to carrying a grocery bag and finding your car keys. Learning is healthy for dogs (as long as it's fun) and helps build a stronger pet-owner bond. All tricks are broken down so they can be easily understood and taught. Most importantly, the teaching method is positive reinforcement.
6. "Tell Your Dog Your Pregnant: An Essential Guide for Dog Owners Who Are Expecting a Baby," by Dr. Lewis Kirkham (Little Creatures Publishing, Melbourne, Australia, 2014; $39.44).
New babies don't automatically grow up to be like Timmy, and not all dogs mimic Lassie, but developing a relationship like theirs is a worthy goal. The author advises not to depend on chance or good luck. He supports advance preparation. The book includes a CD with 13 baby and toy sounds you can use to desensitize and condition your dog before the baby arrives. The advice in this book should be taken seriously, as most dog bites are inflicted on children by a family pet. Most could be avoided with preparation. When it works, there's nothing quite as wonderful as growing up with a canine BFF.
7. "Off the Leash: The Secret Life of Dogs," by Rupert Fawcett (St. Martin's Griffin, New York, NY, 2014; $13.99).
Dog lovers will certainly relate to the cartoons in this stocking stuffer; they guarantee smiles and laughter.
8. "DOGFACE," by Barbara O'Brien (Viking Studio, New York, NY, 2014; $16).
If a dog smile makes you smile, you'll relish leafing through this breezy stocking stuffer. The book features portraits of 100 dogs, many smiling.
========
(c) 2014 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
