First published in 1996 as Collins Gem Dogs and reprinted several times since, we are delighted to have this up to date reprint of this glossy colourful guide to over 130 breeds of man?s best friend. Whilst puppies need careful feeding up to the age of about seven months, most adult dogs will eat a wide range of food stuffs similar to the human diet including meat, vegetables, cereals and even fresh fruit. The earliest ancestor of the canids appeared on earth 60 million years ago, a weasel-like creature with the distinctive teeth of a carnivore. By the time man began to keep livestock about 10,000 years ago, the dog was already domesticated enough to be used as a herding animal. Selection for behaviour characteristics produced changes in physical appearance that led to various types of dog which became shaped into breeds described primarily by how they look rather than how they behave. Dogs are rightly regarded as the epitome of loyalty as Schopenhauer once said and originally kept as hunters and workers, dogs have evolved in history to occupy a unique position in the human world. The pack instinct, hunting instinct and protective instinct - each has enabled the development of a close and mutually beneficial relationship between dogs and their human owners since the earliest times. Following general anatomy and life cycle, the book covers dog management from choosing the right puppy to training and the older dog, and group features and breeds by the following groups - Hound, Gundog, Terrier, Utility, Working and Toy. The compendium looks at classification, breeding, showing, kennelling, regular healthcare, first aid, then famous dogs and dogs in art, literature, film, advertising, outstanding dogs, and dog names. And in the useful Glossary are such technical terms as Apron (longer hair below neck on the chest, frill) and Brisket, the part of the dog's body below the chest and between the forelegs. We didn't know that! 256 page softback with each entry featuring a full page photo, details on size, lifespan and features. We came across many we didn't know like the very pretty Tibetan Spaniel and the lamb-like Bedlington Terrier with its silky topknot which has suffered a decline in popularity in the 20th century.

With huge appealing eyes, the kitten on the front cover sepia image beckons us to be weakened by his little whiskered face. Featuring photographs by renowned pet photographer Jim Dratfield, this quality 160 page lined journal also has a little kitty image peeping out from the bottom corners and the spine, and has an elastic fastener to use as a pagemarker or keep everything safe inside your new 5 x 7" journal.

Positive maxims and words of cheer from the world's smiliest dog, one will be very amused! When you're troubled and feeling down with nowhere to turn, the infectious happiness of the corgi and his little bundles of doggy joy (which the late Her Majesty the Queen filled her palace with) are packed within 50 glorious colour photos. Surprise Your Partner: 'Following a disastrous experiment with Cubism, Bernard entered his blue period' - mature corgi pictured on sky blue fluffy rug in front of blue floral wallpaper. Never Give Up: 'Riley was winning this battle in the eternal struggle of winter vs short dogs' as Riley skips merrily all four paws outstretched across a field of thick snow. Inside a cone of shame used to stop dogs licking wounds, with closed eyes and tongue hanging out, the corgi says 'Plug me into the TV and let's see what we pick up!' Pictured on skateboards, beaches, carrying a wedding ring, wearing pink sunglasses or riding goggles outside a café, jumping over a fence or standing against logs or at the feet of Santa's elf, life can be a walk in the park if you follow the corgi philosophy - love, laugh and generally lap up life. 80pp, colour.

An Instagram sensation with over 400,000 followers, Loulou the Pug "I'm a pugwerful baby dog with unknown superpowers" will do anything to get a coveted Like, from donning hats made out of pineapples and banana skins, sequinned dresses, headscarves, pink bow ties, cocking her head sideways in front of sizzling sausages or from beneath a plate of chips with ketchup or next to hamburgers, wearing a pelican nose, lolling on a white duvet. The puppy pictures at the end are the cutest ever and Loulou?s owner Markus clearly adores this half-human half-pug character he has created and thanks Loulou for her patience during all these photo shoots. Big full page colour photos in this humour/gift book. So much for the anti-wrinkle cream! 128pp.

Beautiful and heart-warming photographs of newborn animals, the book is an intimate look at the early days in a wild baby's life. From an adorably gangly giraffe calf, a wide-eyed elephant seal pup, a playful pair of opossum joeys, an innocent-eyed fluffy zebra, a ruby-throated hummingbird which will take its first flight at 18-22 days old and live a solitary life coming together only to mate, the elusive baby pigeon or squab with its sparce canary yellow downy feathers, and a tiny curled up pink weasel at five days old, and another with shiny black eyes and fur at six weeks old, meerkats, seal pups, a racoon, red fox, cotton-tailed rabbits, and a beautiful red and black striped painted turtle - for each there is not only a full page or double spread colour photograph, but short entries of facts and a longer introduction to the portraits of more than 30 baby animals. 136pp, colour.

This gorgeous volume does exactly what it says on the cover: gives us portraits of kittens from 25 different breeds, both pure and mixed, reproduced on large pages at life size, some with their friends and siblings. A three-week kitten is just beginning to explore the world, and at six weeks is learning how to play. Older kittens, between nine and 12 weeks, are at their most entertaining - rambunctious, athletic, all over the place, and in some cases changing their eye colour and fur colour. Snow White and Gretel are lovely white examples of Cornish Rex, with their huge mesmeric eyes, while Waylon and Oreo, both Tuxedo Mix with their distinctive black and white markings, are photographed at 8 and 9 weeks and are obviously enjoying an audience. Joey is an 11 week old Birman with long silky white fur, weighing 3 lbs, and looking proportionally more like an adult cat than some of the others. True Blue is a 12-week old Oriental with a pointed face, magnificent ears and very short brown fur, while Mabel, a 9-week old Sphynx, has no fur and the highly prized pedigree wrinkled skin. Tonkinese Cosmo is utterly gorgeous at 6 weeks, squeezing his eyes shut at first and then coming out to play with his mate Joe, both of them adorable. Bella is an Exotic Longhair, with thick unruly brown fur at 9 weeks and a squashed-looking face which adds to the pugnacious air. Johnny and June are Black Mix kittens, thin in the body with a prowling walk, in total contrast to tiny Tillie, a 6-week-old Napoleon weighing only three quarters of a pound, but very furry and with an expression of cute appeal. Sonnet is a lovely Siamese with huge ears and those arresting blue eyes, at 7 weeks weighing in at almost 2 lbs. Four 4-week old Siamese kittens, Twist, Cachet, Rhyme and Melody, are pictured playing together in a tangle of legs, ears and tails. 120 VERY LARGE pages 33 x 28cm, life-size photos. A total delight for a cat lover.

Sub-titled 'Life, Love and Lambing in the Middle of Nowhere - A Shepherdess's Story' here is a great read about a strong young lady who loves the companionship of her award-winning sheepdogs. When shepherdess Emma Gray breaks off her engagement, the chance to take over an isolated Northumberland farm seems just the fresh start she needs. But while the beautiful scenery offers plenty of scope for contemplation, a date with an eligible bachelor soon seems more remote than the farm itself. And once you add fugitive sheep and freak blizzards into the mix, Emma's dreams of a happy life quickly begin to fade. Winters are harsh and despite her unrelenting tenacity Emma kicks each obstacle out of the way and for the most part retains her sense of humour. Throughout the long nights of lambing and the day-to-day chores of running a large farm, Emma's four collies are her most loyal companions and with them by her side she'll never really be alone. You may have seen Emma on television's Farming Life and this is her story of her remarkable first year at Fallowlees Farm, an inspiration for anyone who has ever dreamt of starting all over again. 276pp, paperback.

It is true that if you put in the effort early, you will be rewarded by a well behaved, attentive, affectionate, intelligent and stimulated dog in later years. Starting from the moment you set eyes on your new puppy, here is sound advice for everyday situations. The book brings a new slant to a well explored subject and proposes significant shifts in understanding why a puppy behaves as he does and what makes him tick. Dogs are born without behavioural issues - it is what happens in the early weeks of life, and the way in which the new owner nurtures, guides and educates him, that will enable the puppy to become a well balanced adult - or not. The authors help you in your initial choice of puppy and show you how to interpret natural canine communication and play, how to use these signals to educate and guide your puppy in a positive way and as his confidence gains you, the parent, will help him become a trustworthy and trusting friend for life. It covers adding a new puppy to your existing pack, introducing him to an older dog, rescue centres, the home breeder and beware the puppy farm, questions to ask, insurance and the vet, dinner time, the first few nights, dealing with new experiences and household appliances, collars and leads, age-appropriate play, vaccines and neutering, and playing with other dogs. A great deal of the book is devoted to preventing common dog problems of stress, obsessive behaviours, house training, recall, separation anxiety, over tiredness, fear of adults, children, noise, other dogs, barking growling and grumbling and other attention-seeking behaviours, head shy issues, car sickness, jumping up, mugging guests, possessiveness with food, toys or furniture, food fussiness and more. Much of this advice could be transferred to problems with an older pet dog. 164pp, paperback.

Lie back and relax and drift off as peace is within easy reach as we enjoy these colour pictures of stunningly beautiful cats and kittens, one per full page and each with a relaxing caption to make you happy such as All is well, You are the best thing, Peace at last, I am at ease, Soft and cosy, Put your feet up, Lie down to calm down, Enjoy the moment. Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths. Carve out and claim the time to care for yourself and kindle your own fire (Amy Ippoliti). A little drowsing cat is an image of perfect beatitude (Champfleury). Cats have mastered the art of chilling out and with a little help from this book now you can too. Breathe in... and out... Colour photos.
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Admittedly some look rather manic with their wild staring eyes, but curled up the tabby cat has a traditional mackerel patterning, created by stranding or the Fair Isle method for knitting the stripes. There are tabby cats prowling, a black and white, a street cat, a Siamese cat, a Burmese cat seated, the Abyssinian, a refined cat that is also easy to knit, a Devon Rex with enormous ears, all about coats, heads and tails. Our favourite must be the white kitten made in mohair yarn and luxuriously furry. The gallery of the finished long and short hairs, tabby and striped in their different poses is absolutely glorious on pages 138-9. Organised by Long-haired, Short-haired, Exotic and Street, this is a perfect gift for cat lovers and knitters everywhere. 16 cats, every pattern is easy to follow for both new and experienced knitters with expert tips on choosing yarns, stuffing and sewing the cat and adding personality with details like collars, bells and bows and positioning your cat standing, sitting, crouching or curled up. 144pp, softback, hundreds of colour photos.
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