Do you have a question for one our authors in our group? Ask it here:

[Barbara, Founder and Moderator]

Questions for authors in our group here.

To ask personal questions about their books (if the author feels okay about answering) and ask about any of their books they have written.

[Tui]

I'm fine with it.

[Jennifer]

Anyone could ask me anything they want if they happened to want to.

[Jennifer]

This is kind of a question for everyone in the group which can be removed if I should post it on a different thread, but I was just thinking how do members of this group know which ones are authors in order to ask them questions? Shouldn't there be a thread listing the authors or at least the authors of this group who are willing to answer questions?
I know there is the thread for group authors to post their books, but because it is a little long (not too long to go through right now, but it could change), with book descriptions and everything I was thinking it might be helpful to have a thread with just a direct links to the authors page which could also list the titles of their books.

[Tui]

Some of us have pages on the animal group discussion-board already Jennifer which might help a little. Mine is there. It's here:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

[Jennifer]

Tui wrote: "Some of us have pages on the animal group discussion-board already Jennifer which might help a little. Mine is there. It's here:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1..."

I know, but that's still just book discussion and not all books that are discussed are by authors who are in this group. I have also been having trouble finding specific books in the discussions for the book threads so for me it would just be easier if there was a specific thread under this topic listing the authors in the group that can be interviewed.
I guess a part of what I am saying is based on these questions that I keep coming up with such as:
1) Who are all the authors in the group? And are all of them listed in the threads somewhere?
2) Out of the authors in the group, are all of them open for questioning? It's possible that not all the authors of this group want to or have the time to answer questions.
Those are just the main questions.

[Barbara, Founder and Moderator]

I think I have a thread where the authors on this site list their books. I will have to double check.

[H.Y.]

Just wanted to add that I'm an author and I'm very happy to answer any questions - about writing, my Great Dane, dogs, books, what I had for breakfast...! ;-)

Hsin-Yi

[Stewart, Moderator]

Happy to answer questions on dogs and dog training,(and why it is important to meditate with your dog or cat), elephants (wild & domestic), water buffalo, snakes, even the Loch Ness Monster, which I believe I have seen. Also on Religious attitudes to Nature and the Environment... China, Thailand, India.
My books on these issues are listed below, and you can download free sample chapters on Goodreads.

Of Mice and Zen. Animal Encounters in the Life of a Wandering Buddhist

BUDDHISM, NATURE & ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES

Buddhism Skillfulness and Mastering Life. Dharma Stories Ancient and Modern

See my Goodreads Author page for more details.

[Amy]

I just saw this....I'm happy to answer questions about my nonfiction dog and cat books (25 of 'em) or the two dog viewpoint thrillers. *s* I'm a certified animal behavior consultant and former vet tech, with books pub'd traditionally (NYC) as well as indie. I think there's also a thread in the author group, too. *s* Love folks who love pets!

[Barbara, Founder and Moderator]

Amy, This is why I started cleaning up the board. Seems like things were hard to find for members and some things gone unnoticed. Hope it helps.

[Barbara, Founder and Moderator]

Kat wrote: "Barbara: where do u get your inspiration"

Kat, Not sure if you are asking me this question. But, if you are talking about this group, I wanted someplace where members could discuss a wide range of books on animals, reptiles, birds, and sea-life. When I was looking for a group like this I couldn't find one. So, I had to start my own.

Now I'm happy to say I have some help with Stewart also.

[Barbara, Founder and Moderator]

Stewart,

The one thing I seem to have problems with is my youngest dog pulling on the leash. How do you think I can correct this?

Seems I can teach a dog to ring a bell and other things, but when it comes to pulling on the leash not so much.

[Stewart, Moderator]

This is by far the best method and video by Nigel Reed, a trainer in London, illustrating how to stop pulling on the leash...
http://www.dogtraininginlondon.co.uk/
Nigel Reed is humane, patient, and explains every step. He goes right back to the problem which is the dog’s attitude in the home. Note how the initial work is done in the house, before even going out with the dog. The garden can also be used if the house is too small.
It is also on Youtube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8cPkT...
Uploaded on Nov 30, 2010

http://www.dogtraininginlondon.co.uk/

THIS IS THE TEXT FROM YOUTUBE ABOUT THE SAME VIDEO
A training video on how to teach your dog to walk to heel. A gentle method which has no need for gadgets, tools or demands. Dog Training in London can correct any unwanted behaviour in dogs such as aggression, nervousness, pulling on the lead, ignoring requests, jumping up at visitors, barking, fussy eaters, hyperactivity etc look at the website to contact me and I will help you towards taking the steps to a perfect relationship with your dog by Nigel Reed of Dog Training in London. A step by step guide on how to train your dog not to pull on the leash.

STEWART's ADDITIONAL COMMENT
Nigel Reed's method above is the best.

Here are two other which may be of interest ...One uses the head collar (which actually go around the dog's mouth).These should only be used as a temporary remedial method in serious cases and as a temporary training aid, and never for general walking or day to day use.
I am not keen on head collars, because a sudden pull by dog or owner could really hurt the dog's neck. They give a lot of owner control, but should be used with care or not at all.They work because if it pulls, the dog will be hurt. I would never use them with my dogs, I don't like the "muzzle effect". I am sure that my dogs would rip off the head collar in seconds. A second lead attached to a collar or harness should always be used, so that the head collar is not the sole point of contact.

A better device is the shoulder harness, with a point of contact at the top of dog’s shoulder or high up the back. Some dogs react well to these, as they are no longer getting pressure or resistance from a neck collar. I use the shoulder harness on my dogs when they need to walk under close control in busy areas. They are comfortable for the dogs and they don't feel restricted, and if one of them does lunge, to avoid a dog attacking them unexpectedly, or even to avoid motorcycle riding a pavement/sidewalk) (this being Thailand), then they are not going to get hurt.
When they are on walks where they are free to run, they wear ordinary flat collars, or nothing, and I carry leads just in case. I usually walk 4 dogs at a time. The other morning, the young rescue pup was hunting for squirrels in cover, when a snake he had surprised lunged at him. Because he was off the lead, he was able to avoid it by jumping backwards. It wasn't poisonous, but they still have a bite. If he had been restricted on a lead wouldn't have had the same mobility. In Thailand you can always expect the un-expected.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFgtqg...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGiusT...

[Stewart, Moderator]

Horrible way to go, poor dog. Yes a husky could easily scale or even clear a four foot wall, if it was curious and exploring, especially if the wall had a flat top for purchase once it gets to the top.A fit collie could do the same. Did the dog belong to the owners of the pool? Was it kept in the garden near the pool? If so, the stupidity of the owners in not providing an exit for anything which gets into the pool, is beyond belief. A simple plastic box as a platform placed in the pool edge would suffice. Could easily have been a child suffering the same fate.
I recently had to raise the level of my garden due to flooding, which meant the wall was no longer high enough at just over four foot to keep my German Shepherd & Thai Ridgeback cross (the latter is the same size as a husky). With a run and an interesting cat or sexy bitch on the other side, they could have cleared it. I raised he wall level to about 7 foot or more, using steel posts and all weather boarding. Husky's are part wolf (well all dogs are 99.999% wolf, but huskies are more so, as they have been crossed with wolves in the recent past. The recommended minimum height for a pen for a wolf or wolf-dog hybrid is 8 foot. Not that I agree with keeping them in pens.
I made a temporary pen for my dogs to have quiet time and time alone with bone etc.I would never leave them there for long periods. But with between 5 & 8 dogs, it is useful. My little rescue puppy was scaling the chain linked to a height of five feet, and jumping out, then his brother learned to do the same trick. Back to the drawing board on the pen idea.

[Skye]

Amy wrote: "I just saw this....I'm happy to answer questions about my nonfiction dog and cat books (25 of 'em) or the two dog viewpoint thrillers. *s* I'm a certified animal behavior consultant and former vet ..."

As you probably know, I have reviewed dog books for 10 years or so. I once reviewed and compared dog first aid books and found Amy's to be the best!