We all love our fur babies and want to have a deep and meaningful bond with them. We listen to our dogs, but good communication is two-way and works best if they also listen. Training books teach us how to guide our dogs and help them understand us. Check out our favourite picks for the best dog training books available online.
The author, Steve Mann, is the founder of The IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers). He is a world-renowned expert who presents dog training and behaviour seminars worldwide.
Whether you’re living with a brand-new puppy, an adult dog, or a rescue dog, Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy teaches you everything you need to know. It relies on simple, scientific, ethical techniques and shows you how to have the best relationship with your pup, as well as teaches you how to get fast recalls, great loose-lead walking, perfect manners, and so much more.
The author Pippa Mattinson is the founder of the UK’s National Gundog Graded Training Scheme and a director of the Gundog Trust. She has a degree in zoology and an interest in canine behaviour.
Total Recall is easy to read and designed to help all dog owners get their dogs to return on command. The book has three parts: Preparation, all the info you need to prepare and support yourself and your dog as you work through the training programme; Recall Training Programme with exercises to work through; and Problem Solving, where you can discover why you had difficulties in the past and learn how to avoid making the same mistakes.
Author Zak George starred in Animal Planet’s SuperFetch and the BBC’s Who Let the Dogs Out. His YouTube channel is number one for dog training video content worldwide.
Zak has distilled information from his hundreds of videos and experience with dogs into this training guide. It includes basic training, behavioural issues, and health care essentials.
Larry Kay has written educational material for Disney and The Muppets. Co-author Chris Perondi produces live shows with his trained rescue dogs for professional sporting events, theme parks, state fairs and commercials.
The Big Book of Tricks For the Best Dog Ever is a Step-By-Step guide to teaching your dog 118 amazing tricks and stunts using the power of positive reinforcement. The book teaches you how to bond more deeply with your dog while unlocking more of his personality and hidden talents. It features over 500 photos and includes a training log and pro tips from the best dog trainers in the field.
The Author, Kyra Sundance, is a dog trainer, lecturer, and internationally best-selling author. Chalcy the Weimaraner is part of the Sundance Dog Team and an accomplished performer.
101 Dog Tricks presents full-colour photos of each trick and its training steps. The step-by-step approach, low difficulty rating, and prerequisites allow readers to implement the techniques immediately. Tips and troubleshooting boxes cover common problems. Best of all, you don’t need to know specific training methods or use special tools.
If you’re getting a training book, you want to bring out the best in your dog. Here are a few factors to help find the best one for you.
A: There are many critical commands your dog should recognise and obey. Among the most basic of these is ‘Sit’, which is most natural for dogs and one of the easiest to learn. Next is ‘Down’, which is crucial for control, especially when your dog is too excited. ‘Stay’ is essential, as it may prevent him from running into a fight or oncoming traffic. ‘Look at me’ is a command to focus your dog when they become distracted by passing squirrels or other dogs. ‘Come' is especially helpful in getting dogs away from potential danger. ‘Heel’ is crucial as it reminds your dog to walk alongside you. ‘Off’ helps if your pet likes to jump up on visitors, furniture or vehicles. And of course, teach your pet ‘No’, which covers everything you want your pet to stop doing.
A: Some dog training books contain valid information. Others may have techniques not grounded in scientific data or harmful to both owner and pet. A good dog training book presents scientifically based reliable information. The book will structure this information in a format that is easy to read and apply. As with everything else, there are good and bad choices. Scrutinise the training book to determine whether the principles are sound or counterintuitive. Many great options offer tested and proven solutions with you and your dog in mind. You also have a part to play and must put the techniques into practice. Consistency, positive reinforcement and patience are integral for dog training, regardless of the book you choose.
