These Top 20 Dog Training Books will help make training your dog a piece of cake!
We selected these dog training books to recommend based on industry expert recommendations and dog training guides that have received exceptional reviews from readers. Enjoy!
You are reading: Balanced dog training books
- dog training books
- dog behavior books
- dog tricks books
- books to learn how to be a dog trainer
- training books for hunting dogs
- training books for puppies
dog training books
These dog training books will help you raise your canine correctly, ensuring a beautiful and healthy friendship.
1. how to be your dog’s best friend: a training manual for dog owners
A tremendous top pick when it comes to dog training books, How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend offers expert advice from the New Skete Monks, who have been breeding and raising German Shepherds at their New York monastery for over 20 years! A longtime favorite, this step-by-step dog training guide covers every topic imaginable, including:
- how to select a dog (what breed? boy or girl? older canine or puppy?)
- where to get your dog
- using praise and discipline
- raise a dog in the city/country/suburbs
- feed, groom and train dogs
- recognize and correct behavior problems
- dog daycares and professional dog walkers
plus tons of other dog training information.
tldr; A favorite of dog lovers, the new skete monks deliver Dog Training 101 in this book.
2. the power of positive dog training
In this guide to dog training, Pat Miller offers a six-week, step-by-step dog training program that focuses on building a healthy relationship with your dog through the use of positive reinforcement. In The Power of Positive Dog Training, you’ll learn about:
- observe and understand your dog’s body language
- how to start with clicker training and eventually gradually move to treats
- use a journal to track track progress and yummy treat ideas
tldr; miller makes training your four-legged friend easy and fun.
canine behavior books
why do dogs do the things they do? these books seek to understand the canine mind and explore canine psychology.
7. the other end of the leash: why we do what we do with dogs
Patricia McConnell takes the focus away from the dog and instead examines how human interaction with canines can affect the owner/pet relationship in The Other End of the Leash.
We treat our dogs like family, but we are still two different species living under the same roof, and there is often a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding on both sides. Learn how everything from his voice to how he plays can affect your relationship with your pet. an animal behaviorist with 20 years behind her, dr. mcconnell provides a guide that shows how humans can behave to have better and more positive interactions with their dogs.
Whether preparing for your canine good citizen test or just looking to improve communication with your canine, there’s a lot of valuable information here for dog owners.
tldr; a canine behavior book that helps strengthen the owner/pet relationship.
8. canine body language: a photographic guide that interprets the native language of the domestic dog
Small physical reactions in dogs can mean big things, but these subtle cues can often be difficult for two-legged humans to see. Brenda Aloff’s guide, Canine Body Language, helps owners learn how to detect non-verbal language in their canine companions through a rich collection of photos. You’ll come across photos and accompanying descriptions of dogs in many different positions, with human-canine interactions and dog-dog interactions.
tldr; a guide with photographs to detect the body language of dogs
9. cesar millan’s brief guide to a happy dog: 98 essential tips and techniques
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As possibly the most famous dog trainer around, you won’t want to pass up Cesar Millan’s dog training guide, Short Guide to a Happy Dog. Get advice straight from the Dog Whisperer as he explore dog psychology, explain dog behaviors, how to create a healthy balance and boundaries for your canine, how to correct common misbehaviors, how to choose the right dog for your family and lifestyle, and more!
tldr; the famous dog whisperer explains how to raise a happy hound.
10. don’t shoot the dog
In print for over 20 years, Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor delves deep into the doggie psyche. While not considered a dog training manual in the classical sense (no step-by-step do this, then that), Pryor’s book offers much more, exploring the principles of behavior and how to change canine behavior for the better.
tldr; all about dog behavior modification.
11. culture shock
In The Culture Clash, dog training veteran Jean Donaldson explores the inherent differences between man and dog. Dogs must be taught how to adjust their natural instincts and behaviors in order to integrate into human households and culture. However, when dogs fail to make this not-always-easy adjustment, the consequences can be disastrous.
This book will give you a rich understanding of canine behavior and help you figure out why dogs do the things they do. wow!
tldr; Learn what human behaviors are inherently difficult for dogs to adapt to and how to help them adjust to the two-legged world.
dog trick books
These dog tricks training books will have your dog reaching for paper and picking up toys on command in no time!
12. 101 Dog Tricks: Step-by-Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond With Your Dog
This international bestseller, 101 Dog Tricks, offers step-by-step instructions for each trick, complete with photos. Tricks are rated based on difficulty and pre-reqs. Trick training offers a healthy challenge for your dog, helps strengthen the owner-canine bond, and gives you an awesome way to impress guests!
have your hand (or paw) do the basics like shake and lay on the dog bed, or hit the black diamonds with tricks like tidying up your toys and getting a soda out of the fridge (use with caution!).
We can’t say for sure how long it will take you to get through all of these tricks, but you’re sure to have a lot of fun in the process!
tldr; step-by-step strategies to teach your dog all the tricks, from “shake hands” to “fetch the newspaper.”
13. the beginners guide to dog agility
Keeping your dog challenged is essential to raising a happy hound. For some dogs, agility training can be a great outlet and can help you develop your connection with your favorite canine. Training your dog to listen better to your veral directional commands can also be helpful for canicross and skijoring training.
Learn step-by-step strategies in the dog agility beginner’s guide to start agility training with your dog. tons of fun and jumps to follow!
tldr; agility tricks to teach your dog
dog hunting books
See Also: 14 Best Visual Basic Books For Beginners
Learn how to train your bloodhound with these highly recommended dog hunting books.
14. water dog: revolutionary fast training method
This oldie but goodie is a favorite of Lab lovers. In Water Dog, Richard Wolters caters to the labrador retriever mindset, exploring the lab’s inherent, desperate desire to retrieve and how to raise a Lab right. Cited by readers as the “Bible of Retriever Training,” this is definitely one worth checking out. It’s also considered one of the best hunting dog training books, along with its companion, Gun Dog.
tldr; a labor of farming love
15. hunting dog: the hunter’s retriever for mountain birds and waterfowl
Gun Dog is a step-by-step guide by Richard Wolters, showing you how to raise your pup as a friend, companion, and hunting buddy.
tldr; how to raise a hunting dog.
books to learn how to be a dog trainer
If you think you’d like to be a professional dog trainer, these books are a good place to start.
16. so you want to be a dog trainer: a step-by-step guide
Thinking about becoming a dog trainer? In So You Want to Be a Dog Trainer?, trainer Nicole Wilde covers everything you need to know to start off on your dog training career! Learn:
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- different types of dog training
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- how to get an education in dog training
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- how to set up your dog training business and advertise it
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- must-have tools and products
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- how to teach group dog training classes versus classes at home
- + more!
tldr; one of the best options for aspiring professional dog trainers.
17. the koehler method of dog training
the koehler method of dog training is based on the concept that dogs choose their actions based on previous experiences and expectations of reward or punishment. the dog will eventually learn which decisions have positive outcomes and then repeat those actions. sounds intriguing? check out the koehler method of dog training!
tldr; a classic dog training manual on canine decision making.
19. the art of raising a puppy: new skete monks
Need advice on training your puppy? Look no further than the New Skete Monks.
draw their expert advice on how to be your dog’s best friend, as well as this book, The Art of Puppy Raising, dedicated specifically to managing the puppy stage.
The monks explain that the key to understanding the dog is successful training. Join the monks as they take you through the first three months of a puppy’s life through observations of a specific litter of puppies from the monastery. travel with them from the birth of these puppies through their first 12 weeks, with photos documenting these exciting first weeks and records of important puppy milestones and training opportunities.
tldr; expert dog training monks show you how to raise your pup and create a human-canine bond that will last a lifetime.
Need more help training dogs? Check out our post detailing the best free dog training videos on the web! along with our best dog training podcast recommendations!
We also have a more comprehensive guide to cheap dog training resources if you’re trying to train your dog on a budget.
