Top 10 Best Dog Training Books for 2020 Reviews

When you bring home a new pup, the sheer excitement can easily get the better of you. You are likely to spend much of your time playing with your puppy and cuddling it endlessly. It’s easy to forget your responsibilities as a dog owner, a crucial one of which is training it.

Though dog training might sound like a difficult chore, in the end, you will realize that it’s well worth the trouble. A properly trained dog is fun to have. Nothing excites dog owners more than giving their dog a command and watching it follow. Apart from giving you control of your furry friend, dog training can also keep your pooch safe when it’s in dangerous situations. It will also reduce your frustrations in the long run.

If you have a stubborn dog that barks needlessly or one that keeps chewing on things, you need to train it. It also makes less frustration for you in the long run.

1. Brain Training 4 Dogs

This is a comprehensive dog training program created by one Adrienne Faricelli, and it is designed to help you teach your dog to be more intelligent. An intelligent dog is every dog owner’s dream, as it is easier to train, and also much smarter. It easily understands your commands, and you will enjoy sending it for small errands around the house. The program helps you to teach your puppy to be better-behaved when in the company of family members or friends.

These dogs are also well mannered, and won’t embarrass you with your visitors. The program’s fundamental difference from other dog training manuals is its use of force-free methods for training dogs. The author focuses on rewarding and giving your dog treats when it gets your commands right.

What Makes It Stand Out?

The unique selling point of this program has to be the approach of treats and rewards that the author brings in. She argues that using forceful methods is likely to make your dog develop a resentment towards you, and will even make training more difficult. This approach has made the book quite effective in training your pup.

2. Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution

Zak George is not a new name in dog training. The YouTube sensation has even been featured on Animal Planet, thanks to his dog training exploits. He provides dog owners with alternative methods of training their pups, and it’s built entirely on positive reinforcement. Unlike other traditional methods that encourage being authoritative, Zack George emphasizes on understanding, teamwork, and mutual respect.

Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution offers useful ideas and tips right from choosing a puppy, housetraining it and teaching it the basic commands. Also, you get to know how to deal with a dog’s behavioral issues like aggression and barking, and fun things to do among other things. The good thing with this training guide is that most topics covered have corresponding YouTube videos to complement the lessons.

What makes it stand out?

The book’s focus on teamwork and mutual respect help to foster a great relationship and bonding between you and your dog. It leads to a fun way of training your pup and hence makes the methods highly effective.

Check it out: /zakgeorgesdogtrainingrevolution

3. Lucky Dog Lessons: Train Your Dog in 7 Days

Brandon McMillan, the author of Lucky Dog Lessons: Train Your Dog in 7 Days is an award-winning celebrity dog trainer. The thoroughly-researched guide is an excellent choice for any dog owner looking for help with any aspect of training their puppy.

Brandon is known in his shows for helping troubled dogs with shelter and rehabilitating them. He shows them love, trust, and teaches them how to be well-behaved not only around the people but also other animals. This dog training manual is premised on the same idea. He shares all his experience of rescuing and training dogs with readers in this comprehensive guide.

You will learn the proper way of working with your dog so that the training is fun not only for you but also for the dog. Additionally, he teaches you how to build a culture of trust between you and your puppy, how to teach basic and complex commands, the importance of positive dog training, and how to create a strong bond with your furry friend.

What Makes It Stand Out?

This training manual is outstanding because it’s created by a proven expert. The author has received recognition for his contribution to homeless dogs. He genuinely cares about dogs, and so his book is written from a dog lover’s perspective.

Check it out: /luckydoglessonstrainyourdog

4. Training the Best Dog Ever

Training the best dog ever also takes the approach of positive reinforcement where it teaches you non-forceful ways of training your pup for better results. It is a 5-week training program, and only requires 10-20 minutes of a session with your dog each day. This will work for you no matter how busy you are. Each step is illustrated with images to make you easily understand. It will help you to teach regular commands to your dog like ‘come here’, ‘sit’, and ‘stay’ among other things. The guide also lets you housetrain your dog so it doesn’t pee anywhere.

What Makes It Stand Out?

One of the most difficult things about puppy training is to know where to start. Training the Best Dog Ever offers a 5-week program that’s easy to follow from start to end. It also lets you adapt to your needs.

Check it out: /trainingthebestdogever

5. 101 Dog Tricks

The 101 Dog Tricks is designed for dog owners whose pooches have already grasped some basic obedience commands and are looking to scale up the training. The fully researched guide, created by Chalcy and Kyra Sundance, is full of practical tips on essential cues like “stay” and “sit”, and gradually progresses to more complex commands. Not only does training your puppy to perform chores build a stronger bond but also challenges the dog to learn. This will keep it both physically and mentally active.

What Makes It Stand Out?

One thing that distinguishes a great dog training program from a good one is the ability to offer a different approach. The book contains tips on teaching your pooch some tricks that are sure to impress family and friends. If you love your dog and just want to have fun with it, you will find this book a great resource.

Check it out: /101dogtricks

6. The Art of Raising a Puppy

It’s hard to search the best puppy training books and not come across The Art of Raising a Puppy guide. The guide was created by the famous Monks of Skete, and it unleashes 30-plus years of experience that’s sure to help any dog owner with training methods that work. The classic training guide lets you in on how to raise the perfect puppy by proper housetraining and teaching it to be well-behaved. Additionally, there are continuous updates on the program to give you the latest tips and tricks to deal with your pet-friend.

What Makes It Stand Out?

Although there are hundreds of dog-training manuals, this one stands out because of the simplicity in which it is presented. The guide is chock full with practical ideas and tips and also guarantees you of lifetime updates. As the dog training techniques are constantly evolving, you need to be sure that you will receive updates.

Check it out: /theartofraisingapuppy

7. How to Raise the Perfect Dog

This is another one of Cesar Millan’s masterpieces, and it is the only book you will ever need to raise a happy, healthy dog. According to the author, it is indeed possible to raise a perfect dog but warns that you have to start with the right foundation in the formative years. The author lets you in on everything needed to create the most conducive environment for a properly-balanced dog to avoid behavior problems in the future. From the book, you will learn how to deal with the most common behavior problems in dogs.

The author bases the book on his own experiences of raising individual pups. When reading the book, it will be as if you have Cesar there with you, telling you everything you need to do.

What Makes It Stand Out?

This has to be the experience and reputation of the author. Cesar Millan, who also created Cesar’s Way, is not only a bestselling author but also the Dog Whisperer star. He aims to make this the only book you need to raise a perfect dog.

Check it out: /howtoraisetheperfectdog

8. How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend

This dog training guide has been around for some time now, and it too is a work of Monks of New Skete. The book has two main sections with the first half mainly dealing with teaching your dog basic commands, behavior recommendations, solid feeding routine, and grooming tips among other things.

The remaining half provides a philosophical reflection of the mental benefits you get from raising a dog in your home. Released for the first time in 1978, the book has been updated continuously to match modern techniques. This puppy training book is a great choice because it prepares you to welcome a dog into your home.

What Makes It Stand Out?

Finding the best dog training book can be hard, but this one makes a strong candidate due to its unique distinctive approach when it comes to dog training. With the book, you will learn to balance the training, inculcate patience and teach your dog even the most difficult commands.

Check it out: /howtobeyourdogsbestfriend

9. Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems

The book was created by Cesar Millan, a celebrated dog owner, and it makes use of dog psychology. The guide summarizes the author’s expertise in behavior issues in dogs and captures important subjects like relating to your dog, the difference between discipline and punishment and using the dog’s instinct to bond better with it. It also contains tips on choosing the perfect dog to bring home.

It teaches you the right techniques to handle even the most problematic dog and includes methods that can be used to teach any dog, irrespective of their age. Through the book, you will learn how to understand your dog, something critical to effective training.

What Makes It Stand Out?

Cesar Millan boasts a special understanding of the dog pet as a species, which is important in creating an effective training solution. With the book, you will learn everything about dogs, and it’s only after understanding these canine companions we can train them.

Check it out: /cesarswaythenaturaleverydayguide

10. 21 Days of Dog Training

This is a 21-day dog training manual that aims to help you build a strong and everlasting bond with your dog by encouraging open communication. The book has one main goal, which is to get you and your dog in the right direction. It helps you to build daily routines that are challenging but fun.

It is written in simple language and has been broken down into a daily “to-do list”. With this setup, it is easier for you to work on the areas your dog could be stubborn in. It is a fantastic buy for anyone trying to train their dog.

What Makes It Stand Out?

The book’s main selling point has to be the way it is structured. It is easy to read and apply whatever you have learned. Most importantly, it works!

Check it out: /21daysofdogtraining

Selecting a Dog Training Book

In an ideal world, selecting a dog training book would be an easy and hassle-free process. In reality, however, this is an effort that can be just as complex and confusing as finding the perfect animal to welcome into your home. Ultimately, you want science-based advice that’s helpful, easy to understand, accurate, and entirely up to date. Sadly, however, a lot of dog and puppy training guides manage to fall short in many of these areas. For instance, many of the most readily available manuals suggest using punishment-based tactics without acknowledging their high rate of negative outcomes. There are also many widely circulated books with references to leadership that may cause pet owners to inadvertently undermine progress made in the areas of socialization and general behavior, even as they diminish the bonds that are essential for establishing a wonderful relationship with any canine companion. The good news is that the following tips will make selecting a dog training book that actually works the way you want it to easy.

5 Tips On How To Choose A Manual For Training Your Dog

The best dog training manuals are rich with information that can be easily understood and applied by pet owners. Moreover, this is information that’s rooted in diligent research and hard science. At the end of the day, you want to make sure that you’re being exposed to the best tips, tools and resources for ensuring optimum animal warfare and optimum all-around outcomes.

1. Pay Attention To The Publisher

Publishing houses have their own reputations to maintain. As such, they aren’t generally in the business of publishing works within the self-help, animal welfare, DIY, and training categories that isn’t well-researched and backed by solid facts. If you choose to buy a resource from a reputable publisher, you rest assured that this entity has already done its due diligence when it comes to ensuring the viability and value of the included information. Keep in mind, however, that there are also a lot of amazing training manuals for dogs that have been self-published by lesser-known researchers and authors. To take advantage of these resources, simply spend some time learning more about the background and histories of self-published authors before investing in and using their works. A writer that has been a long-time animal breeder or trainer will likely have ample hands-on experience for producing an effective body of work.

2. Identify Your Needs Before Shopping

It’s also important to understand that the process of selecting a dog training book is also a very personal one. If you have a breed of dog with truly unique attributes, needs, and qualities, then you’ll want to look for an author that takes a breed-specific approach to training. Not all learning methods are going to work well for all breeds of dogs. More importantly, in certain instances and with specific dog breeds, some tactics and strategies will prove counter-productive. When you have an animal that has very special and specific needs, a general training manual just won’t do.

3. Look For Books That Explain Why Their Methods Work

Taking a do-it-yourself approach to dog training is a great way to build a strong relationship with your canine companion, while making sure that you personally are adopting the attitudes, posturing, behavior, and habits that will prove most conducive to your dog’s success. With DIY training methods, however, it is also really important for pet owners to understand the reasons why specific actions and activities are able to produce desirable results. Reading these books will do more than simply teach you how to train your pet. You’ll also learn more about your animal’s personality and his or her natural methods of communication. At the end of the day, you don’t just want to stop a dog from chewing up your shoes; you also want to find out what this type of behavior is communicating, and what you or other household members may have done to inspire it. This understanding approach to training is what helps foster truly loving and strong relationships between dogs and their owners.

4. An In-Depth And Easy-To-Understand Approach To Covering Learning Theory

Learning theory is basically the psychology of training. In the instance of dog or puppy training, it tells readers why specific tactics work in specific ways. For instance, punishment-based teaching can provide seemingly desirable outcomes, but the manner in which this learning works impacts the dog-owner relationship negatively. Reward-based training has real merits, but if it isn’t implemented properly you can wind up with a dog that expects a treat every time the proper and expected behaviors are exhibited. Understanding the basics of learning theory will make you infinitely more effective as your pet’s trainer, and as your pet’s friend.

5. What Others Have To Say About A Specific Body Of Work

In many ways, selecting a dog training book is not all that different from selecting an info resource of any other type. You want the subject matter to be relevant to you and your pet’s range of needs, you want the writer to be sufficiently knowledgeable, and you want the included tips to be easy to put to use. One of the best ways to make sure that any reference guide has all of these things is by paying attention to what other users have to say. When it comes to book reviews, however, it is also important to note that a lot of less than reputable publishers actually pay for positive reviews. This makes it important to be discerning when choosing review platforms and determining how authentic different forms of feedback are. Genuine and candid feedback from honest consumers can greatly inform this particular purchasing decision.

Different Types Of Dog Training Books And Courses

There are many different dog and puppy training methods that you can use to establish the right behaviors in your pet. When selecting a dog training book, you’ll need to decide which method is going to work best for you and your animal.

1. Dominance Training

Alpha dog or dominance training is currently a very popular method of training among pet owners who want to establish and maintain authority. Popularized by Cesar Millan, this requires owners to position themselves as the dominant party in the home. With this position of authority, however, you will note that pets are not generally allowed onto sofas, beds, or other furnishings that are reserved for humans. This eliminates the high level of familiarity and comfort that is generally shared between animals and humans when they’re best friends.

2. Science-Based Training

Science-based training is generally the preferred method among people who are committed to establishing and maintaining strong bonds of friendship with their animals. This approach accounts for the psychology of dogs. It relies on solid research and evidence concerning a dog’s inherent nature and behaviors. It is a broad and ever-expanding field that’s capable of promoting good or desirable behaviors without the promise of rewards or the threat of punishment.

3. Positive Reinforcement

This is a methodology that most people are already familiar with. Whenever desirable behaviors are exhibited, pets are given a special treat. Although positive reinforcement can be extremely effective, there is always the risk of conditioning animals to expect rewards every time they do something good.

4. Negative Reinforcement

Many pet owners believe that negative reinforcement is the tool of lazy or non-committal pet owners. Negative reinforcement can include both physical and psychological punishment for bad behavior, whether implemented via clicker training, electronic collars, and other tools. These types of processes can create serious and lasting stress and anxiety for dogs. They also make it infinitely harder for pet owners and their animals to establish loving, trusting, and comfortable relationships.

Top Dog Training Book Authors

Many of the top dog training book authors have been penned by professional trainers who have spent countless hours working with their own canine companions, and the pets of their clients. Their works are often backed by both science and plenty of hands-on experience. When shopping your options in manuals and guides for training dogs, be on the lookout for books by:

Ian Dunbar
Pat Miller
Karen Pryor
Turid Rugaas
Patricia McConnell

Common Questions And Answers About Dog Training

When should you start training a dog?

There’s never a bad time to start training a full-grown dog. That old adage about old dogs not being able to learn new trick is entirely untrue. With the right method, adult dogs can always acquire new behaviors and skills. If you are raising a puppy, however, you might want to wait until you pet is at least seven to eight weeks of age before attempting to introduce tricks and preferred behaviors.

What commands should I teach my dog?

For safety purposes, you want to teach your dog all of the basic commands. These include sit, stay, down, come, release, and leave (something behind). This way, you can comfortably enter public spaces with your pet without worrying about his or her safety, or the safety of anyone else in the vicinity.

What are the 7 basic commands for dogs?

1. Sit
2. Down
3. Stay
4. Off
5. Come
6. Controlled Walking (Heel)
7. Don’t Touch

How long does it take to train a dog basic commands?

Every dog is different. In general, however, most dogs will take between one and two weeks to master each new command that is taught.If it takes several weeks or months to introduce and master any basic command, the training method being used may not be right for the animal in question.

How do I become my puppy’s best friend?

Choose a training method that doesn’t cause undue anxiety or stress for your animal. Spend plenty of time playing with and socializing your pet so that day-to-day interactions do not feel like a special reward for good behavior. Ultimately, the more time that you spend nurturing and caring for your dog; the more likely the two of you are to build strong and enduring bonds.

What is the best method to train a dog?

There is no single training strategy that’s going to work well for all dogs. Some dogs require breed-specific strategies. Spend some time looking for resources that have been customized to suit the breed that you own.

Is it good to read to dogs?

Reading to dogs is a great way to bond with them. This is also an excellent activity for reducing both your dog’s stress, and your own.

Susan McDonald

Susan McDonald is best known for her unique ability to connect with and train dogs. Growing up her friends and colleagues used to call her “The Dog Whisperer”. In college Susan majored in Veterinary Medicine, however instead of becoming a Veterinarian, Susan decided to pursue starting her own dog training business. Susan freelance writes for several online dog topic publications including FuzzyFacesDogTraining.com in her spare time.