Koncocoo

Best Pet Dogs

How Dogs Love Us: A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the Canine Brain
Berns’s research offers surprising results on how dogs empathize with human emotions, how they love us, and why dogs and humans share one of the most remarkable friendships in the animal kingdom. How Dogs Love Us answers the age-old question of dog lovers everywhere and offers profound new evidence that dogs should be treated as we would treat our best human friends: with love, respect, and appreciation for their social and emotional intelligence. A Behind-the-Scenes Look at The Dog Project “This book’s abundant appeal and value come from following Berns through the challenges of constructing the experiment and especially of training his dog to participate. ‘Like a catcher and pitcher,’ he writes, he and his dog ‘became a team.’ The satisfaction of that relationship perhaps explains why our two species have lived together so long and happily.” — The Boston Globe "A neuroscientist wonders what goes on in the minds of our pet dogs: Do we delude ourselves when we believe that they love us? "In the fascinating book How Dogs Love Us , [Berns] recounts the methods his team employed, and how their pet dogs made these groundbreaking studies possible. “Neuroscientist Gregory Berns studies dog brains to answer that eternal question: Do our dogs really love us?” — Men’s Journal. "With infectious passion for dogs, science, life, and love, Gregory Berns takes us on a rollicking yet scientifically serious study of the mental life of dogs-what dogs understand and how they think. " How Dogs Love Us is the beautifully written story of an iconoclastic neuroscientist challenging the status quo and seeking to truly understand the dogs with whom we share our lives." In How Dogs Love Us , Gregory Berns gives us our first real look inside the brain of a dog, while simultaneously setting new standards in ethical science. How Dogs Love Us will revolutionize how we understand animals—especially our dogs. His explanations of the scientific thinking behind the Dog Project (as he calls his experiment) are crisp and clear and accessible to a nonscientist without being condescending…Some of the best parts of How Dogs Love Us, though, are about the questions, not the answers.
Reviews
"He was a 12 week old Golden puppy and he took my heart completely into his keeping the day he rode home on my lap from the breeder. There I saw reflected tenderness, a little bit of fear and resignation but still the unbridled bond/love we shared. Gregory Berns' recount of the Dog Project has given me great insight into the whole love affair I had with Jackson, and has assured me that all those moments of eye contact and caressing were truly reciprocal. Now I rejoice in the respect and love that Berns and his family share with their pets and appreciate all the efforts, care and concern the team displayed in the whole project process."
"From what I understand it is difficult to train a dog to recognize these type of symptoms because the attacks are as a result of a chemical imbalance that is different with each individual. He will start with a small yippy and get more insistent until I show him my medicine bottle and tell him I took my meds. I've had animals all my life and never doubted the connection between us but my little dog takes it to a higher dimension. It is a fantastic book to read without to much technological jargon but it has enough, after all this was a scientific experiment."
"That makes it all the more sweet when he recognizes how hard dogs try to communicate with and understand humans. I especially enjoyed the long discussion of the ethical issues he faced in setting up the research and the insistence of all the human researchers that the dogs would always be free to opt out, at any time. This book is a testament to what amazing things can be accomplished when humans acknowledge their dogs' abilities, treat them as partners (rather than as property or as slaves) and engage with them in a respectful, positive manner."
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Finding Gobi: A Little Dog with a Very Big Heart
Finding Gobi is the miraculous tale of Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner who crosses paths with a stray dog while competing in a 155-mile race through the Gobi Desert in China. The lovable pup, who would later earn the name Gobi, proved that what she lacked in size, she more than made up for in heart, as she went step for step with Dion over the Tian Shan Mountains, across massive sand dunes, through yurt villages and the black sands of the Gobi Desert, keeping pace with him for 77 miles. Dion's latest 250km race across the Gobi Desert in China turned out to be a completely different race where he fell in love with a stray dog (later named Gobi) that followed him during the week and who would change both of their lives forever.
Reviews
"What an excellent read--a well woven tale full of emotion and excitement. Been following this journey since the early days of the crowdfunder to Bring her Home, cried like a baby in public when "Find" became "Found", and monitored every hour of the 41 hour journey home."
"How did a scrappy, sandy-colored stray dog find a group of people running in the middle of the Gobi Desert? We'll never know why she chose him, One reason may be his terrier-like tenacity to bring her home with him no matter the odds."
"During a year where there was so much bad new in the world...we need to be reminded of the kindness and the power of love between peoples around the world, and how miracles can happen when these people work together to rescue a brave little dog. By extension you can judge a world by how many people are willing to band together to rescue an animal that DEFINITELY will be providing them with nothing...well except unconditional love if you are the lucky person that gets to live with Gobi."
"Starting quite late in running, and pummeled mainly by his very competitive spirit, he went on to not only finish, but reach the podium for the ultra marathon events he joined. Definitely no mean feats, the ultras involved rough terrains, lonely trails, desert storms, and unforgiving heat."
"Though there are some good people, the government is scum that will not crack down, stop and punish those who are backward savages who burn dogs alive to increase the adrenalin in the meat because these a__holes think that it will make them healthier or whatever."
"I was not familiar with this little dog's journey before reading the book, but it was beautiful and inspiring."
"And it is a true story!"
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Murder in San Francisco: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery (Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Series Book 8)
Was that why he was murdered? He knew her future born child would have a legitimate claim to Bernie's estate, even if she didn't, and that was a lot of money. She is the author of five cozy mystery series: Cedar Bay, Liz Lucas, High Desert, Midwest Cozy, and her newest, The Northwest Cozy Mystery Series.
Reviews
"Besides keeping you guessing, the author has now added an epilogue to give the reader an idea of what happened next."
"Michelle D'Amato is Bernie's has been Bernie's lady friend for the last few years."
"In this book I did not guess the ending until the end, but the end fit the story well."
"Winston is such a smart dog! You gotta love him."
"Great read."
"In this great mystery story, Michelle D'Amato is pregnant and the father to be is San Francisco millionaire Bernie Snow."
"This is a very well written book, with a plot that is amazing!"
"Murder of a millionaire, with a very young girlfriend, who is accused of killing him and how Liz tries to find out who really did the murder.."
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Best Dog Breeds

How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Cesar Millan shows you how to raise the perfect dog and prevent behavior issues before they start, including: • what to expect from each stage of your puppy's development. • quick and easy housebreaking. • the essentials of proper nutrition. • the importance of vaccinating–and of not over-vaccinating. • creating perfect obedience from day one through rules, boundaries, and calm-assertive leadership. • how to avoid the most common mistakes owners make raising puppies and young dogs. • how to correct any issue before it becomes a problem. • unique exercises and play to bring out the best in every breed. “Millan’s wizardlike facility with dogs–the calm he brings to them, the confident way he handles them–is mind-blowing.” — Newsweek “[Millan] arrives amid canine chaos and leaves behind peace.” —Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker.
Reviews
"I was hesitant to purchase How to Raise the Perfect Dog after reading the reviews that said the book was mostly old stories from Mexico, lacked specifics, and relied on lessons from older dogs in the pack."
"Quick and easy read."
"have used so many of Cesar rules in training our Pom."
"I have had dogs my entire life."
"Using his methods and book with my puppy."
"The book is good quality and was shipped promptly, but as far as the content.. the first half of the book is all about selecting the right dog."
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Best Dog Care & Health

How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Cesar Millan shows you how to raise the perfect dog and prevent behavior issues before they start, including: • what to expect from each stage of your puppy's development. • quick and easy housebreaking. • the essentials of proper nutrition. • the importance of vaccinating–and of not over-vaccinating. • creating perfect obedience from day one through rules, boundaries, and calm-assertive leadership. • how to avoid the most common mistakes owners make raising puppies and young dogs. • how to correct any issue before it becomes a problem. • unique exercises and play to bring out the best in every breed. “Millan’s wizardlike facility with dogs–the calm he brings to them, the confident way he handles them–is mind-blowing.” — Newsweek “[Millan] arrives amid canine chaos and leaves behind peace.” —Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker.
Reviews
"I was hesitant to purchase How to Raise the Perfect Dog after reading the reviews that said the book was mostly old stories from Mexico, lacked specifics, and relied on lessons from older dogs in the pack."
"Quick and easy read."
"Okay, not the greatest of information."
"Having previously had a dog I can see where I was making mistakes and how to correct them when I get another dog."
"Great book I wish I bought it before I purchased my puppy."
"I was hesitant at first-- wondering if this was just another way for an established celebrity to make money, but I felt I've walked a way with a much better understanding of what it means to raise a puppy -- IN THEIR LANGUAGE -- then I did more."
"There were other books I bought that I used more and felt helped me more to raise my dog in a smart and healthy manner."
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Best Dog Training

The Art of Raising a Puppy (Revised Edition)
This new edition of The Art of Raising a Puppy features new photographs throughout, along with updated chapters on play, crating, adopting dogs from shelters and rescue organizations, raising dogs in an urban environment, and the latest developments in canine health and canine behavioral theory. The excellent instruction begins with an in-depth examination of the puppies of one litter from birth through their eventual placements with new owners-- following their social and physical development, their needs, and clues to their emerging personalities. Proposing that the best way to forge a healthy dog-to-owner bond is to prevent problems before they occur, the authors soundly emphasize that a puppy begins its training "the day it arrives home." They teach readers how to choose an appropriate breed and a promising puppy, and how to assume the position of "pack" leader from the start. Sensitive and unimpeachably humane, this handbook places equal stress on the time-consuming responsibilities of dog ownership and on its ultimate rewards.
Reviews
"I completely recommend this book (and also recommend reading more of a dog training manual along side it). The monks, as you might imagine, are more philosophical than other dog training books, this one is less of a manual and more of an education."
"Peek into a fascinating, behind the scenes exploration of the philosophy & strategies successfully used by the Monks in acclaimed German Shepherd rearing & training."
"I would recommend this book highly."
"Very nice."
"I cast a wide net for my puppy training, buying books by "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan, the Dummies Guide to Dog Training, and Brian Kilcommins' "Good Dogs, Great Owners.""
"It provides great insights and unique perspectives."
"But after reading this book, I know exactly what kind of owner I want to be, how I want to raise my new puppy and the relationship I want to foster for the years to come!"
"It is clear the Monks of New Skete sincerely mean well, however their lack of knowledge and training skills is evident in their books. A few of the glaring problems with the books are: They state rightly that it is normal and “to expect some whining this first night” from your new puppy when you go to bed. A better course of action would be for the Monks to structure things so as to prevent unnecessary possessiveness and aggression in the puppies during this extremely sensitive time, when the effects of these experiences are permanent. Leadership doesn't require you to turn into a food container and act like a PEZ dispenser, nor do you need a “behavior science” degree. There are dogs with strong personalities that require a committed leader to maintain control, but the Monks training tools and harsh methods are unnecessary. For a better approach to the housetraining and feeding issues noted above read “The Dog Vinci Code - Chapter 4 “Early Behavioural Development”. With regards to the advice in the “Discipline and Common Puppy Problems” on forcefully dealing with the five-month-old male German shepherd that growls at guests, start with chapter 42, page 247 “Understanding Aggression” and then move to chapter 44, page 260 “Fear and Aggression” for a better approach to dealing with such behavior. For more insight on dealing with a dog that growls, read page 215 in “Bones Would Rain From The Sky” by Suzanne Clothier. Read her book “Bones Would Rain From The Sky” chapter 17 if you want to understand how and when to apply compulsion or coercion if/when persuasion has reached its limits. Suzanne Clothier has been working with animals professionally since 1977, with a deep background of experience that includes obedience, agility, puppy testing, breeding, Search and Rescue, conformation, instructing, kennel management and canine midwifery."
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Best Zoology of Mammals

Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals
Drawing on the latest research and her own work, Grandin identifies the core emotional needs of animals and then explains how to fulfill the specific needs of dogs and cats, horses, farm animals, zoo animals, and even wildlife. Now she builds on those insights to show us how to give our animals the best and happiest life--on their terms, not ours. Knowing what causes animals physical pain is usually easy, but pinpointing emotional distress is much harder. Whether it's how to make the healthiest environment for the dog you must leave alone most of the day, how to keep pigs from being bored, or how to know if the lion pacing in the zoo is miserable or just exercising, Grandin teaches us to challenge our assumptions about animal contentment and honor our bond with our fellow creatures. Animals Make Us Human is the culmination of almost thirty years of research, experimentation, and experience. But the thing about cattle is they're a prey-species animal and they get scared really easily--and I can relate to that because as a person with autism, fear is my main emotion. And today many more people are now involved in teaching low-stress stockmanship and good cattle handling. And people need to watch for that kind of situation, because even though it looks peaceful, that one particular cat that never sleeps is going to be stressed out. Dogs need to be taken out every day for quality interaction with a person, exercise, and fun play. At the same time that I was working on cattle handling in the U.S. in the early seventies, Ron Kilgore was doing the same sorts of things in New Zealand. A woman working at Niman Ranch said that we've got to give animals "a life worth living." These cattle can have a decent life: the cows and the bulls, out on a ranch eating grass. Q: If you could give your book to one person or one group of people so that they could learn more about animal care, who would that be? Its aim is to reduce the inhumane confinement of farm animals by giving them enough room to stand up, turn around, and stretch. It's so much more expensive to put them in systems that are cage-free, and what I'm worried about is the egg industry migrating to Mexico and being a real mess, where we have no controls at all. Working from the premise that an animal is a conscious being that has feelings, the autistic author assesses dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, poultry, wildlife and zoo animals based on a core emotion system she believes animals and humans share, including a need to seek; a sense of rage, fear, and panic; feelings of lust; an urge to nurture; and an ability to play. Among observations at odds with conventional wisdom: dogs need human parents, not alpha pack leaders, and cats respond to training. Discussions of why horses are skittish and why pigs are arguably the most intelligent of beasts—raccoons run them a close second—illuminate the intersection of people and more domesticated animals; chapters on cows and chickens focus more generally on animal welfare, particularly the horrific conditions in which they are usually raised and slaughtered. Packed with fascinating insights, unexpected observations and a wealth of how-to tips, Grandin's peppy work ably challenges assumptions about what makes animals happy.
Reviews
"Temple Grandin shares her very profound insights into animal behavior all the way from small domesticated animals through horses and cattle and large wild animals."
"Greater understanding promotes a much healthier and satisfying relationship for both animal and human."
"I suspect that it is just normal animal behavior that has involved into the animal known as human that is being described rather than an anthromphism. Dr. Temple Grandin provides a wonderful guide regarding animal behavior and problem solving."
"This book will make you think."
"As an animal lover, I have had many different experiences with a variety of animals and found that Temple's read to be accurate and true."
"I know about Temple Grandin's story, and I have been thinking about breeding animals lately, so I thought this book might help me know more about handling animals. If you are not interested in this, ski these chapters and go straight to the chapter(s) on your animal(s) of interest. After the research section, Grandin breaks the book up into chapters on different types of animals: cats, dogs, horses, cows, pigs, poultry, wildlife, and zoos."
"I have quoted information from this books to many other dog owners and recommend it highly to anyone who shares this planet with animals."
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Best Crafts, Hobbies & Home

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
This #1 New York Times best-selling guide to decluttering your home from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing. #1 New York Times Best SellerAmazon's Best Book of 2014 in Crafts, Home & Garden. "Ms. Kondo delivers her tidy manifesto like a kind of Zen nanny, both hortatory and animistic." a literal how-to-heave-ho, and I recommend it for anyone who struggles with the material excess of living in a privileged society. A totally reasonable, scary cult that works, doesn’t kill people (a bonus), but does drastically change your life. the Japanese expert’s ode to decluttering is simple and easy to follow." "Reading it, you glimpse a glittering mental freedom from the unread/uncrafted/unworn, buyer’s remorse, the nervous eyeing of real estate listings. "All hail the new decluttering queen Marie Kondo, whose mess-busting bestseller has prompted a craze for tidying in homes across the world . "How could this pocket-sized book, which has already sold over 2 million copies and sits firmly atop the New York Times Best Seller list, make such a big promise? Marie “KonMari” Kondo runs an acclaimed consulting business in Tokyo helping clients transform their cluttered homes into spaces of serenity and inspiration. With a three-month waiting list, her KonMari Method of decluttering and organizing has become an international phenomenon. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is a best seller in Japan, Germany, and the UK, with more than two million copies sold worldwide, and has been turned into a television drama for Japanese TV. She has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time , featured on more than thirty major Japanese television and radio programs, and profiled in the Sunday Times , Red magazine, You magazine, the New York Times , USA Today , NPR's Here & Now , Slate , Family Circle , and the London Times, who has deemed her “Japan’s preeminent guru of tidiness, a warrior princess in the war on clutter.”.
Reviews
"I grew up in a cluttered house and married the King of Clutter (he's the type of person who'll open a credit card bill, pay it online, and then just leave the empty envelope, inserts, and bill itself randomly strewn on whatever surface happens to be nearby). It's a breath of fresh air and positive energy that brings real joy to the process of "tidying up." My clothes are all mine (which also means that they're in nowhere near as terrible a state as other things in my house), so going through them affects only me and involves only my own feelings. Her advice may sound silly at first, but if your belongings inspire feelings of unhappiness, guilt, etc., her anthropomorphism of them can really help you change your viewpoint in a positive direction. That is likely to carry a different level of meaning for someone in Japan than in the U.S. Other references to spiritual practice and feng-shui are not likely to resonate the same way for an American audience. There is a lot of discussion of travel toiletries, but very little about kitchen utensils, toys, or other items found most often in a family home. I'm now a week in, and 6 months seems like hardly enough time to tackle all the junk in my house, but I can fully see how this can be a life-changing process."
"I was browsing Pinterest one day and stumbled upon the "konmari method" and was intrigued, so I bought this book for kindle and read it in about an hour. I always thought I was a very organized person (because everything I owned had a designated, labelled place and my house was always super clean), but after reading this book I realized I was nothing more than a skilled hoarder. I probably discarded well over 100 bags of clutter in that 6 weeks and earned over $400 selling the big-ticket items via social media, which I used to make my house prettier."
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Best Antique & Collectible Ceramics

Southern Sayins' & Sass: A Chalkboard Coloring Book: Well Bless Your Heart: Southern Charm & Southern Sayings Funny Coloring Books For Grownups & ... Spiritual Coloring Book & Zen Coloring Book)
2017 GIFT IDEAS | COLORING BOOKS FOR GROWN-UPS | HUMOROUS.
Reviews
"Really enjoy this book."
"Gave this as a Christmas gift to a southern friend of mine and she loved it!"
"Southern Sayins' & Sass: A Chalkboard Coloring Book: Well Bless Your Heart: Southern Charm & Southern Sayings Funny Coloring Books For Grownups & ... Spiritual Coloring Book & Zen Coloring Book)."
"You can either color inside the book or tear it out to color elsewhere. The book is paperback which I think makes it easier to color because the book is more flexible than a hard covered book would be."
"I rank each product with 1-5 star rating, below you will find what I personally feel each star represents when I am reviewing a product. 1 star = I hate the product - would return if I could, threw it away. 2 star = I don't like the product - will never purchase again, but will use until I get something different. 3 star = It's okay - I'm indifferent about it. 4 star = I like the product - recommend it. 5 star = I LOVE the product - strongly recommend this product and this product alone (would purchase again if need be). Thank you for taking the time to read my review."
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Best New England U.S. Regional Travel

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit
Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded. Though the ‘stranger’ in the title is Knight, one closes the book with the sense that Knight, like all seers, is the only sane person in a world gone insane—that modern civilization has made us strangers to ourselves." —Jennifer Senior, The New York Times "Michael Finkel has done something magical with this profound book… [His] investigation runs deep, summoning…the human history of our own attempts to find meaning in a noisy world."
Reviews
"Not only is this story of Chris Knight one of the most compelling that I have read in some time, but the lengths that you went to, to research his venture into the woods of Maine, to understand him, to get to know him, clearly better than anyone else has, and to represent him with such dignity, astounds me. While some, especially those whose homes were burgled, might still never understand what would cause a person to want to live in such extreme conditions let alone in solitude, far removed from the ‘regular’ world, after reading the book, while I will never spend a night, let alone an hour in the woods, what drew Knight makes sense to me now. It’s not to say that after reading THE STRANGER IN THE WOODS that every reader will feel compelled to pick up and leave their jobs, families, and the comfort of modern society behind, but it sure does offer food for thought."
"I wanted to read this book as the Maine woods have been a part of my life and I was unfamiliar with this story until I saw this book. I realized from the start that at the core of this story was an important topic I already have been worrying about that I feel American society either is unaware of or is purposefully ignoring: the neuro-atypical person and the challenge of how they will live (not thriving but suffering) in modern America. Knight was content and found peace in living that life until he was caught with the help of sophisticated surveillance equipment while robbing food from a nonprofit camp for disabled children (including kids on the Autism Spectrum). The heartbreaking part of this story is that the suffering that Knight endured was due to square pegs not fitting in the round holes of modern American society, his relief and contendedness was found living in isolation in nature, but this is not really allowed in America, and when possible it's only available to those who are able to financially support themselves due to an inheritance or some income stream that they are lucky to find that meshes with their talents and abilities. But this book provides more food for thought, for me at least, than just Knight's hermit years story. I hope this book is a catalyst for Americans to think about this issue, with the rising rates of Autism and mental illness, we have more people this decade than ever before who are not fitting in with the mandatory American public school system and who are not fitting in to work jobs as adults enough to support themselves independently let alone the issue of if a person is happy or content."
"Many of us dream of secluding from the busyness of modern living—the fast-paced, noisy, cyclical nature in which life has become; yet many of us do not have the courage or tenacity to pursue such a dream, much less achieve this dream for the amount of time that Knight did. On a practical level, Michael Finkel has written this biographical account excellently."
"My heart goes out to Mr. Knight."
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Best 45-Minute Craft, Hobby & Home Short Reads

Mirror Image Scarves | Crochet | Leisure Arts (6805)
Creating beautifully symmetrical scarves is easy with the designs in Mirror Image Scarves from Leisure Arts. Ruthie Marks has been hopelessly in love with crochet since learning how after retirement.
Reviews
"I have not tried any of these patterns but can't wait until cooler weather to get started."
"I LOVE this book."
"was looking for the pattern that is in the bookl."
"somewhat different to crochet."
"LOVE THESE PATTERNS!!!"
"Looking forward to starting a pattern."
"it was as good as I had hoped."
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