Author Nikki Moustaki certainly cannot resist the splendid lovebird, and her valentine to this irresistible avian wonder is the subject of this Complete Care Made Easy pet guide. This colorful guide offers vital information to both new and experienced bird keepers about this hookbilled parrot, covering all aspects of selecting, caring for, and maintaining well-behaved happy pet birds.Bird specialist and trainer Moustaki has written an ideal introductory pet guide about lovebirds with chapters on the history and characteristics of lovebirds, selection of a healthy, typical pet bird, housing and care, feeding, training, and health care.The chapter ?A Look at Lovebird Species” gives readers a glimpse into all nine species. Although nine species exist--ranging from red faced to black collared lovebirds ?only the peach-faced, black-masked, and Fischer’s are widely available to pet owners.The selection chapter offers potential owners excellent advice about the three main species of lovebirds and how to select the best one from those available commercially.In the chapter on housing and care, the author discusses selection of the right cage, placement of the cage, and all the necessary accessories. A bird’s diet is critical to its ongoing health, and the chapter devoted to feeding gives the reader all the info he or she needs about choosing a proper diet for the lovebird . The final two chapters of the book will be useful for bird fanciers interested in learning more about the breeding and the basic color variations and genetics of this beautiful small parrot. The book concludes with an appendix of bird societies, a glossary of terms, and a complete index.

Read more less

A charming and imaginative storybook for children about friendship that introduces the characters, Button and Squeaky. On a boring and rainy day, a lonely teddy bear named Button decides to venture into the attic for the very first time. Amazed by all of the toys and fascinating objects he finds, he begins to play with everything he sees. But finally, he stumbles upon a beautiful trunk filled with treasures from faraway places. At the very bottom of the trunk is a curious balloon animal kit that says, “Instant Friend Just Add Love and Air.” He soon finds himself making the best friend he’s always wanted, Squeaky! Button and Squeaky become the best of friends, and so begins all the future adventures together that are to come! Illustrated by Jim Shore, an industry-leading gift designer whose art is sold worldwide.

Read more less

This collection of 20 button-jointed felted wool figures will appeal to crafters, parents looking for kid-friendly projects, and beginner sewists. Each uses felted wool made from recycled sweaters (polar fleece or coat-weight wool are also options). Button joints allow the figures to be posed, making them ideal for play or display. Emphasis is on hand stitching, though sewing machine alternatives are covered as well. Making Adorable Button-Jointed Stuffed Animals offers detailed instructions coupled with patterns and step-by-step photographs to help crafters make any of these projects in a few hours. To demonstrate the overall process of working with a pattern, cutting, stitching, stuffing, and adding button joints, the dog project is covered in expanded detail. This book will appeal to crafters who love farm (and other) animals, value re-purposing wool, and enjoy making things by hand. Ideal as heirloom gifts, these sturdy animals can be enjoyed for years to come.

Read more less

Make your dog the most stylish pooch on the block, with this inspiring collection of cute clothes to sew and knit for your favorite pet! Featuring dozens of fun and funky designs, there's something here for every doggie personality. Making Clothes for Your Dog teaches you how to pamper your best friend with one-of-a-kind dog clothes and lovely designer outfits, including dresses, shirts, aprons, hats, hoodies, bandanas, capes, scarves, and even a wedding set.

Read more less

Twist, bend, and shape pipe cleaners into 23 different dog breeds! This adorable book shows you how to craft a realistic likeness of your favorite pooch using only a few colorful chenille stems and some inexpensive craft supplies. Popular featured breeds include Boston Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, Labrador Retrievers, Toy Poodles, and many more. Each project includes step-by-step instructions, bend-by-bend illustrations, and stem measurements to aid in creating the perfect doggie. Kids and adults alike will enjoy making these quirky canines.

Read more less

Kids love dinosaurs! These primeval reptiles inspire children’s imaginations with scary fun and some of their earliest connections to science. Create exciting wooden dinosaur puzzles and toys to delight a special child in your life with this ingenious book. Thirty-eight original scroll saw patterns cover all of the most popular species, from Velociraptor and Stegosaurus to Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex. Two spectacular puzzle dioramas feature a Maiasaur mama with her babies, and a T-Rex on the attack. Patterns are also provided for easy-to-cut wooden toys that are safe for little kids who can’t play with small objects. Award-winning scroll saw artists Judy and Dave Peterson offer step-by-step instructions plus basic information on safety, cutting, sanding, finishing, and equipment. Once you get started making these clever dinosaur puzzles, you won't be able to stop.

Read more less

From talented scroll saw artist Jean-Bernard Germe comes this new collection of original scroll saw patterns that are perfect for beginner to intermediate scrollers! Featuring 24 incredibly unique, full-size scroll saw patterns of people and pets, each completed and free-standing project is truly special in its own way, making for perfect keepsakes or gifts made from the heart! From a hiking couple and a woman with a book to a man with a pet dog, a person gardening, and other personalized silhouettes of people, families, pets, hobbies, and more, these scrap-friendly projects are approachable for any scroll sawyer of any skill level and can be completed in 30 minutes or less. Also included are insightful how-to tips, from choosing which woods to use and transferring the patterns to sanding, finishing, and staining your projects.

Read more less

Celebrating the angelic, pure white toy dog prized for his sweet personality, the Maltese, this Smart Owner’s Guide, created by the editors at Dog Fancy magazine, offers the most up-to-date and accurate information every dog owner needs to become a well-informed caregiver for his dog. Illustrated with color photographs of adorable puppies and handsome adults, this easy-to-read primer is designed in a modern, lively manner that readers will find user-friendly and entertaining.Each Smart Owner’s Guide offers a description of the breed’s character and physical conformation, historical overview, and its attributes as a companion dog. The reader will find informative chapters on everything he or she needs to know about acquiring, raising, and training this remarkable purebred dog, including: finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy; preparing for the puppy’s homecoming, shopping for supplies, and puppy-proofing the home; house-training; veterinary and home health maintenance; feeding and nutrition; and grooming. Obedience training for basic cues (sit, stay, heel, come, etc.) and solving potential problem behaviors (barking, chewing, aggression, jumping up, etc.) are addressed in separate chapters, as are activities to enjoy with the dog, including showing, agility, therapy work, and more.Entertaining tidbits and smart advice fill up colorful sidebars in every chapter, which the editors call ?It’s a Fact,” ?Smart Tip,” ?Notable & Quotable,” and ?Did You Know?” Real-life heroes and rescue stories are retold in full-page features called ?Pop Pups” and ?True Tails.” Recipes, training, and care tips are highlighted in the ?Try This” feature pages.The Smart Owner’s Guide series is the only series that offers readers an online component in which dog owners can join a breed-specific online club hosted by dogchannel.com. At Club Maltese, owners of the breed can find forums, blogs, and profiles to connect with other breed owners, as well as charts and checklists that can be downloaded. More than just 20,000 pages of solid information, there’s a host of fun to be had at the club in the form of downloadable breed-specific e-cards, screensavers, games, and quizzes.The Resources section of the book includes contact information for breed-related organizations and rescues, as well as practical guidance on traveling with dogs, identification, and locating qualified professionals to assist the dog owner, such as pet sitters, trainers, and boarding facilities. This information-packed Smart Owner’s Guide is fully indexed.

Read more less

Made famous on The Martha Stewart Show on television and Sirius radio, Marc Morrone is front and center to answer his viewers’ (and his readers’) many questions about their favorite pets. In Ask the Bird Keeper, Marc’s quirky, entertaining personality shines on every page as he spews out his wisdom, know-how, and hilarious anecdotes to answer dozens of questions. Divided into nine chapters, this book offers answers on hundreds of topics about feeding, housing, training, healthy, anatomy, and everyday care. In the ?Food” chapter?from grit to grub?Marc discusses dietary changes, supplements, people food, and different kinds of diets. A chapter devoted to accommodations talks about various cage options, choosing the right size cage and equipment, and cleaning tips. Positive reinforcement underscores Marc’s chapter ?School,” in which he lectures on bonding, hyperactive, noise issues, and challenging bird behaviors. As a self-taught bird keeper, Marc’s chapter on ?Health” is a true primer in what owners can and cannot do, from first aid tips and trimming (nails, beaks, feathers) to broken tails, parasites, parrot fever and bird flu. While Marc is often laugh-out-loud funny in all of the chapters, it is his genuine admiration and respect for his avian friends that make this book a unique resource for all pet lovers. Fill with real first-hand information and reliable tips, readers will be laughing and learning in equal measure! The book is beautifully designed and illustrated with color photographs as well as original artwork by Jason O’Malley.

Read more less

Made famous on The Martha Stewart Show on television and Sirius radio, Marc Morrone is front and center to answer his viewers’ (and his readers’) many questions about their favorite pets. In Ask the Cat Keeper, Marc’s quirky, entertaining personality shines on every page as he spews out his wisdom, know-how, and hilarious anecdotes to answer dozens of questions. Cat owners will learn about topics ranging from feeding and grooming to behavior and trick training. In the chapter called ?Food,” Marc discusses types of food, feline nutrition, fad diets, overfeeding, and fussy eaters. In ?Potty,” Marc covers every possible issue concerning litter-box training cats, from toxoplasmosis and toilet training to odor management for multi-cat households and males’ marking indoors. Whether you’re interested in vaccines, allergies, anatomy, bathing, or annoying feline behaviors, Ask the Cat Keeper covers it and much more. While Marc is often laugh-out-loud funny in all of the chapters, it is his genuine admiration and respect for felines that make this book a unique resource for all cat lovers. Fill with real first-hand information and reliable tips, readers will be laughing and learning in equal measure! The book is beautifully designed and illustrated with color photographs as well as original artwork by Jason O’Malley.

Read more less

Made famous on The Martha Stewart Show on television and Sirius radio, Marc Morrone is front and center to answer his viewers’ (and his readers’) many questions about their favorite pets. In Ask the Dog Keeper, Marc’s quirky, entertaining personality shines on every page as he spews out his wisdom, know-how, and hilarious anecdotes to answer dozens of questions. In the chapter on food, Marc responds to common questions about the kinds of diet that are best, treats, overeating, fussy eaters, human foods, fasting, and others. In a chapter unceremoniously titled ?Poop,” Marc discusses house-training problems and difficulties commonly encountered by dog owners. In ?School,” Marc leads the class by teaching his readers about the easiest ways to teach the hardest commands and how to remedy challenging behavioral issues. Other topics covered in the book are health, hygiene, safety, traveling, and much more. While Marc is often laugh-out-loud funny in all of the chapters, it is his genuine admiration and respect for his canines that make this book a unique resource for all dog lovers. Fill with real first-hand information and reliable tips, readers will be laughing and learning in equal measure! The book is beautifully designed and illustrated with color photographs as well as original artwork by Jason O’Malley.

Read more less