Learn to love competing in obedienceMost books on competitive obedience focus on the training and ring skills you need to be a winner with your dog in the ring--and that's great. However if you find competing stressful or think you and your dog will not "succeed" against the "best" the key is defining success in a way that will make the sport enjoyable for you. Author Diana Kerew-Shaw takes on the subject of "how to find your fun" in It's a Dog Not a Toaster, showing you how you can learn to enjoy the sport, even if your Basset Hound never comes close to a qualifying score. You will learn about:How to set goals that are meaningful and will work for you and your dog. What it's like to enter the "Land of Obedience" and become a member of the "Cult" which inhabits it. Hint: it's fun!What every newcomer to the sport needs to know to get started including information about Fun Matches, Show n Go's, and obedience clubs. How changes in the obedience world are making the sport accessible to more competitors including the development of Rally Obedience and the opportunities which now exist for mixed breeds. What experts are saying about It's a Dog Not a Toaster This book is a must read for everyone involved in dog obedience competition. Diana's humorous writing style offers newcomers all the information they need, and those of us already competing are gently reminded why we love this sport. Connie Cleveland, Author of Dogs are Problem Solvers: Handlers Should BeThis book is a "Must Read" for all Novice A handlers and for anyone already training and showing dogs. Reading the book reminded me of all the mistakes I made as a Novice A trainer and handler, inspired me to work even harder at assisting Novice A handlers and once again reminded me of why we love the sport of obedience. Petra Ford is a top obedience competitor. Her Labrador Retriever, Tyler, has the distinction of being the 2008 and 2009 National Obedience ChampionDestined to become a permanent addition to every library, this book has it all. Those already involved in Obedience and Rally will recognize and appreciate the balanced overview of our sports. Those new to companion events will find this book to be an invaluable resource and give friends and family insight into why we become so wrapped in obedience. Deborah Neufeld, AKC and ASCA Obedience and Rally JudgeDiana provides an impressive insight into the world of competitive canine events. Her work reveals the impact dogs have on our lives and the influence trainers have on each other. Benevolent at times, forthright at others, this book exposes the vulnerabilities exhibitors face as they prepare to enter the ring and proceed through the advanced classes. Robert T. Self, Editor Front & Finish

Most books on competitive obedience focus on the training and ring skills you need to be a winner with your dog in the ring--and that's great. However, if you find competing stressful or think you and your dog will not "succeed" against the "best" the key is defining success in a way that will make the sport enjoyable for you. Author Diana Kerew-Shaw takes on the subject of "how to find your fun" in It's a Dog Not a Toaster, showing you how you can learn to enjoy the sport, even if your Basset Hound never comes close to a qualifying score.

The deliciously funny tale of a piece of bread who wants to be a dog-- perfect for fans of Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller and Everyone Loves Bacon by Kelly DiPucchio. Toasty loves dogs--so much so that he'd like to be one. He knows there are some differences--most dogs have four legs, but Toasty has two arms and two legs. Some dogs sleep in dog houses, but Toasty sleeps in a toaster. All dogs have hair and fur, but Toasty has neither because he's made of bread. In spite of these differences, he decides to go to the park to play with the dogs-- but they don't want to play, they want to eat him! Lucky for Toasty, he is rescued by a little girl who has always wanted a dog but can't have one because she is allergic. It turns out Toasty is the perfect dog for her. Sarah Hwang's inspiration for Toasty came from her childhood experience as an immigrant and her discovery that you find your best friends when you're willing to just be yourself. Her playful art for Toasty came to mind when she saw a piece of toast that reminded her of the way she used to draw dogs as a child.

Based on true events, 'Finding Vera' is the fictionalized story of a beautiful, intelligent, and sensitive German shepherd. After a difficult beginning, Vera's life spins out of control as she struggles to cope with her new family-two adult humans and two well-socialized, mature dogs who view her as the uncivilized punk sister. This is a story filled with anguish, joy, pain, and humor as the complexity of Vera's character is slowly revealed. Like a phoenix, she emerges triumphant. This novel illustrates some of the potential challenges of adopting a shelter dog, and the intensely rich and rewarding experience of working through the issues. Layered with a deep understanding of dogs, the author brings the dogs' points of view to life. You will never view your canine companion in the same way again.

Meet Randolph. A dog like any other dog—but with a nose for murder . . . Harry is a man still mourning the loss of his beloved girlfriend, Imogen, who left him suddenly without a word. He’s also the owner of a plump, poetry-loving Lab, Randolph. Like most Manhattan dogs, Randolph spends his days sifting through a world of scents, his owner’s neuroses, and an overcrowded doggy run at the American Museum of Natural History. But now a bereft Harry has drifted into a circle of would-be occultists. Which might not be so bad if one of them wasn’t also a murderer. But which one? With 100,000 times the smelling power of a human being, Randolph can quickly detect the scents of guilt, anxiety, and avarice—and he has no lack of suspects, from a seductive con woman to an uncouth professor of the decorative arts. Now, to protect his hapless owner’s life, Randolph might have to do the unthinkable—and start training Harry to catch a killer. . . .

Feeling abandoned by their beloved master, a vacuum cleaner, tensor lamp, electric blanket, clock radio, and toaster undertake a long and arduous journey to find him in a faraway city.

Sabrina's mixing spell goes awry when her friend Harvey and Macdougla, the dog, have their personalities switched.

As the executive culinary assistant to celebrity Chicago chef Patrick Conlon, Alana Ostermann works behind the scenes—and that’s just the way she likes it. But with developing recipes for Patrick’s cookbooks, training his sous chefs, picking out the perfect birthday gifts for his ex-mother-in-law, and dealing with the fallout from his romantic escapades, she barely has a personal life, much less time to spend with her combo platter of a mutt, Dumpling. Then a fluke online connection brings her RJ, a transplant from Tennessee, who adds some Southern spice to her life. Suddenly Alana’s priorities shift, and Patrick—and Dumpling—find themselves facing a rival for her time and affection. With RJ in the mix, and some serious decisions to make about her personal and professional future, Alana must discover the perfect balance of work and play, money and meaning, to bring it all to the table—one delicious dish at a time… INCLUDES RECIPES

A pet-lover and award-winning journalist traces the history of cats and dogs and the changing social attitudes that transformed these furry creatures from pests and hunting tools in the middle ages to their current status as beloved family members. 30,000 first printing.