Know Your Hobby Animals is an essential guide to discovering many interesting facts about 194 popular breeds of chickens, pigs, goats, cows and sheep. A complete compilation of the most popular farm animals within the Know Your... series, you'll learn all about each breed's unique characteristics, history, breeding, personality and more. Fun and fascinating, this engaging and collective guide will turn both the young and old into farm animal enthusiasts!

Bind: paperback

Pages: 192

Dimensions: 178 x 230 mm

Publication Date: 12-05-2020

In 1858 Canterbury settler Thomas Potts protested against the destruction of tōtara on the Port Hills near Christchurch. A decade later, as a member of Parliament, he made forest conservation a national issue. Through his writing he raised the then novel idea of protecting native birds on island reserves, and proposed the creation of national ‘domains’ or parks. As a pioneering colonist, acclimatist and runholder, however, Potts’ own actions threatened the very environments he sought to maintain. This makes him a fascinating subject as we confront present-day problems in balancing development and conservation. This book is about, and partly by, Potts, and through him about New Zealand and the course and consequences of colonisation. It describes and interprets his life, from his early years in England through to his 34 years in New Zealand. Excerpts from Potts’ vivid 1850s diary, written from close to the edge of European settlement, are published here for the first time. Thomas Potts of Canterbury also reproduces 11 long-forgotten essays by him from the 1880s, in which he reflected on the 1850s and what had happened since – both to New Zealand’s natural environment and to Māori and Pākehā. Sixteen pages of contemporary images supplement the text. Thomas Potts of Canterbury will appeal to anyone interested in the early history of Canterbury, in environmental change, and in early efforts in New Zealand towards conservation. It is a story of conflicting goals, magnificently exemplified in the life and writings of a man who strove, 150 years ago, to be both colonist and conservationist.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 342

Dimensions: 170 x 240 mm

Publication Date: 20-09-2020

‘Beyond Manapouri: 50 years of environmental politics in New Zealand’ traces the evolution of environmental administration in New Zealand since the dawn of the ‘environmental era’ in the late 1960s. The national campaign to stop the government from raising the water level in the scenically spectacular Lake Manapouri for a hydro dam is widely credited with the awakening of environmental awareness in New Zealand.Since then, New Zealand has established institutions and legislation dedicated to managing our environment, and the public’s ability to participate in environmental decision-making has been strengthened markedly. At the same time, New Zealanders’ knowledge and awareness of environmental issues have also increased. Even so, the latest reports on our environment indicate that all is not well: our waterways continue to deteriorate, our biodiversity is in decline and our greenhouse gas emissions continue to climb. ‘Beyond Manapouri’is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand why, in spite of the legislation and institutions put in place to improve the stewardship of our environment, we’re now facing more urgent environmental issues than ever before. In this richly illustrated and engagingly written history, Knight also identifies the cultural shifts that will need to take place if we are to live up to the ‘clean, green’ image we have constructed for ourselves in New Zealand. Catherine Knight is the author of ‘New Zealand’s Rivers: An environmental history’(CUP, 2016) which was long-listed for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2017, short-listed for the New Zealand Heritage Book Awards and selected as one of the Listener’s Best Books for 2016. Her 2014 book ‘Ravaged Beauty: An environmental history of the Manawatu’ (Dunmore Press) won the J.M. Sherrard Award in New Zealand Regional and Local History, and Palmerston North Heritage Trust’s inaugural award for the best work of history relating to the Manawatu. Catherine is a policy and communications consultant and lives with her family on a small farmlet in the Manawatu.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 272

Dimensions: 155 x 230 mm

Publication Date: 01-06-2018

Cacti and Succulents Handbook is your guide to the selection and cultivation of these diverse and fascinating plants. Appealing to both the novice and experienced gardener, this book provides comprehensive information on more than 140 common species and varieties, including their ideal locations, natural habitats, and care and feeding needs. Complete descriptions and color photographs make plant identification easy, and detailed care instructions will help make sure that plants thrive, whether they?re being grown indoors or out, in the city or in the country. Beautiful specimen plants are fully detailed from six garden collections around the world, from Zurich to Phoenix. Inside Cacti and Succulents Handbook : Everything you need to know about cacti and succulents packed into one easy-to-use volume. Comprehensive well-illustrated plant directory of more than 140 popular varieties. Covers easy-to-grow choices suitable for beginners, as well as more difficult and desirable species. Color identification photos, botanical and common names, and essential advice. Simple, step-by-step instructions on choosing the right plants and helping them thrive, with tips on propagation, repotting, grooming, and pest control. Features beautiful specimen plants from six garden collections around the world.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 192

Dimensions: 178 x 230 mm

Publication Date: 10-04-2018

Now available in a new edition, this gorgeously illustrated book showcases botanical masterpieces by Alexander von Humboldt, one of history’s great scientists and explorers. Recording Alexander von Humboldt’s historic expedition to the Americas and Cuba—hailed by many as the “scientific discovery of America”—these intricate and delicately tinted prints reveal his revolutionary findings as he traveled through jungles, across rivers, and over mountainous terrain. The illustrations in the book give the English and Latin botanical names of the plants and are followed by an exhaustive index. Internationally renowned botanist H. Walter Lack lends his expertise to a fascinating essay that discusses Humboldt’s significant contributions to the world of botany and scientific research. Technically precise, the prints are equally appealing to anyone who appreciates fine art and botanical illustration.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 280

Dimensions: 240 x 340 mm

Publication Date: 31-03-2018

For a balanced and happy dog, mental workload is as important as the daily walk. In this book you will find many creative brain teasers that you can implement quickly and easily at home and that really challenge your dog. Discover how much fun you can put into everyday objects and how small variations can turn even familiar games into a completely new gaming experience for your dog - endless fun is guaranteed!

Bind: paperback

Pages: 112

Dimensions: 171 x 237 mm

Publication Date: 31-05-2018

Is there a tiny four-pawed furry creature in your near future? Adding a puppy to your home and life can be very exciting and a little scary. At once personable, dog-smart, and reassuring, author Tracy Libby offers new owners reams of great advice in The Ultimate Guide To Puppy Care And Training, covering every topic under the canine sun - from selecting a new puppy, household safety, and vaccinations to house-training, remedying common puppy problems, and first aid. In nineteen information-packed chapters, this colourful guide provides everything a new puppy parent needs to know to raise a smart and healthy puppy. First-time puppy parents and experienced dog owners alike will find detailed up-to-date information on: *Selecting a puppy from a reliable source and establishing a daily home routine *Positive dog-friendly training techniques, including using clickers *House-training, socialisation, and puppy games *Grooming, feeding, exercise, and activities *Puppy health, vaccinations, and veterinary care *Teaching basic commands and solving behavioural issues *Common canine maladies, allergies, natural health care, and first aid The Ultimate Guide To Puppy Care And Training is the most comprehensive manual available for the dedicated new dog owner seeking to make the most of his or her puppy's first year of life.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 240

Dimensions: 185 x 235 mm

The Original Cat Bible is the ultimate resource for cat owners and lovers. This 500-page volume promises to be the most complete and authoritative book of its kind, authored by award-winning writer Sandy Robins with special veterinary chapters by Dr. Arnold Plotnick and an extensive breed section by Sarah Hartwell and Lorraine Shelton. The Original Cat Bible delves deeply into all things feline, from the domestication of cats and the development of pure breeds to the anatomy and genetics of felines. Between its two covers, it bequeaths a wealth of information to the cat fanciers, detailing all aspects of cat care and ownership, bejeweled with fun tidbits and trivia to entertain even the most discerning of feline lovers. The book begins with a detailed history of the modern cat, including the noble big cats of the wild and the small domesticated cats adored indoors by millions around the world. In her venture into the modern-day world of cats, the author discusses the genesis of cat welfare and rescue, as well as concerns about stray and feral cats in our communities, explaining the problems and offering practical solutions. From a more universal perspective, the text explores the feline’s place in world religions, the cat-laden folklore of Asia, Europe and North America, cats in religion, popular culture through the ages (literature, art, cartoons, and movies), and contemporary social media (YouTube, blogs, and Facebook). The Original Cat Bible discusses the development of cat breeds and the genetics of purebred cats. While the establishment of purebred cats is a fairly modern development, some breeds have existed in a “pure form” for many centuries. In order to explain the significance of specific breeds, the author describes the essential physical characteristics of the cat, including body types, coat types, colors, and patterns. Guest authors Hartwell and Shelton, both highly regarded experts in the purebred cat world, present seventy-five breeds of cat from the familiar Siamese and Persian to the lesser known Australian Mist and Pixie Bob, describing their origins, breed standards, personalities, all accompanied by dazzling color photography. The book features expansive coverage of every recognized cat breed in the world, plus many experimental and new breeds that have come and gone. Robins resumes the discussion of cat ownership, covering important topics such as finding a kitten, choosing between breeders and shelters, achieving the right feline match for your family, bringing the cat into a new home, cat-proofing and safety around the house, and shopping for supplies for the new cat (accessories ranging from litter boxes and beds to harnesses and cat trees). New owners will value the information about introducing the cat to family and other pets, the importance of selecting a qualified veterinarian, securing veterinary insurance, and establishing an immunization schedule with your vet. Information about kitten health concerns, including viral diseases and parasites, and complementary therapies and holistic medicine, diagnostic tests and new technologies available is thorough and detailed. A user-friendly, very readable chapter on grooming follows, offering advice on caring for the coats of kittens, adults and older cats, purchasing grooming tools, learning techniques, and establishing a regimen for brushing and bathing, nail, eye, ear and teeth care. The feeding chapter begins with a fascinating and entertaining history of pet food in America and then goes on to discuss such important topics as the nutritional requirements of cats at all life stages, the choice between commercial diets and natural foods, food allergies, and special care of obese and pregnant cats. In introducing the elaborate section on healthcare, renowned veterinarian Dr. Arnold Plotnick presents an overview of feline anatomy, including the basics of the body, skin, coat, ears, eyes, teeth, paws, and bodily systems. The chapter on external conditions, diseases and disorder covers over eighty specific feline diseases (categorized by anatomical region), followed by a chapters on infectious diseases and internal and external parasites; reproductive care, puberty, mating, and pregnancy; and serious life-threatening disorders (diabetes, cancer, and hyperthyroidism). A chapter on senior cats offers readers information on health issues with older cats (arthritis, cognitive dysfunction, vision and hearing loss), common behavior issues, as well grief counseling upon the loss of a beloved cat. A section on fun with cats includes the various activities and enrichment exercises owners can do with their cats, as well as cat agility and cat shows (covering both major American cat registries, the Cat Fanciers Association and The International Cat Association). Further topics in this expansive volume include traveling with cats, pet-care options for owners (kitty day care, pet sitters, and boarding), dealing with emergencies, first aid, and disaster planning, finding a lost cat, relocating with cats and preventing loss during a move. The Original Cat Bible offers the gospel on cat behavior and training, and preaches that cats can indeed be trained! The author offers a compendium on feline communication, including body language and vocalizations, and a training course that advocates socialization and positive-reinforcement training (remote control training, redirection, and clicker training). In addressing problem behaviors, the author puts forward solutions for dozens of commonly encountered nuisances, such as litter box messes, scratching, aggression, separation anxiety and pica. The final section of the book celebrates cats at work in the community, from therapy cats in nursing homes and rest-home facilities to cats working as greeters and library and book-store assistants. Readers will delight in the section about celebrity cats. Cats have made a splash working professionally as actors and models in the entertainment worlds of movies, television, and advertising. For readers wishing to work with cats themselves, the book discusses a variety of career paths as veterinarians, vet assistants, groomers, trainers and behaviorists, massage therapists, cat sitters, animal-control officers, and photographers. The book has an expansive resource section including websites, books, and periodicals, and is fully indexed.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 544

Dimensions: 178 x 230 mm

Nearly every client who contacts professional Brooklyn dog trainer Kate Naito (CPDT-KA) is desperately looking to stop his or her dog's undesirable behavior. In response, Kate developed BKLN Manners? as an empowering four-week group class for busy owners who want the fastest path to a polite dog. Now available in book format, this comprehensive system utilizes clever management techniques and positive training strategies to help owners transform their dogs from unruly to urbane. BKLN Manners offers no-nonsense, easy-to-implement solutions to: B: Barking; K: Knocking people over; L: Leash walking problems; N: Naughty when alone. This book addresses uniquely urban challenges like dodging chicken bones on the sidewalk, counterconditioning on crowded streets, neighbors? noise concerns, and more. Written in a problem-and-solution format with the needs of busy urban and suburban dwellers in mind, it can help your dog acquire polite BKLN Manners both indoors and out. Inside BKLN Manners : Comprehensive training guide that addresses common behavior concerns of urban and suburban dog owners. Clever management techniques and positive training strategies that help owners transform their dogs from unruly to urbane. The author is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer at a Brooklyn dog training organization who developed BKLN Manners as a four-week group class for busy owners who wanted the fastest path to a polite dog. BKLN Manners offers no-nonsense, easy-to-implement solutions to: B: Barking; K: Knocking people over; L: Leash walking problems; N: Naughty when alone. Includes a suggested weekly plan for practicing BKLN behaviors and a chart to track training progress.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 224

Dimensions: 178 x 230 mm

Publication Date: 01-03-2018

Hailed as 'a magnificent volume that offers hours of lingering pleasure… fertile ground for conversation and imagination,' (Midwest Book Review) Britta Teckentrup's The Egg introduced children to one of nature's most perfect creations. Now, employing the same earth-tone coloring and delicate illustrations that have made her an enormously popular children's author, Teckentrup turns her gaze to the endlessly fascinating feather. What are they made of? Why do birds have so many of them? How do they help birds fly? And what other purpose do they serve? By providing accessible answers to these and other questions, this delightful book introduces young readers to the wonders of 'plumology,' while also drawing them in with enchanting illustrations. An exquisitely rendered fusion of art and science, this marvelous book satisfies young readers' natural curiosity about the world around them.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 96

Dimensions: 190 x 260 mm

Publication Date: 01-03-2018