Top 20 Best Dog Training Books of 2024

If you are a dog owner, you clearly understand how much these furry four-legged friends give us company and add life to our homes. However, the only way to have a safe and clean home with these pets around means that you’ll need to train them. Of course there are different ways you can take to make this possible. You can either take your dog to a professional for training or you can do it yourself.

And while a professional may do a good job, the latter may equally be a great option especially if you’re working on a budget and have sufficient time to do it. All you’ll need is a good dog training book that will give you great dog training tips. How do you get the best dog training books with numerous options to choose from? This should not be a task to be taken lightly.

You want a book that not only gives you great tips on how to train your dog but equally, meets your specific needs. Our list of the 20 best dog training books in 2021 will help you make an informed decision so be sure to read on.

List of Best Dog Training Books

20. Good Owners, Great Dogs

Brian Kilcommons’ dog training book will help you solve any bad dog problem that might drive you crazy. What’s more, you’ll get great dog training tips from the mind of an experienced and professional writer who has had the opportunity to work and study with renowned Barbara Woodhouse.

Aside from giving you fun and firm secrets on how to train a puppy, Good Owners, Great Dogs conversely helps you train adult dogs and get immediate results. You’ll find tips like how to housebreak your puppy and adult dog, preventing aggression, ending any annoying habit and how to use games to train your dog how to obey.

19. 101 Dog Tricks

If you’re looking for the best and resourceful book that will give you great tips and a comprehensive coverage on how to train your dog, then this book by Kyra Sundance and Chalcy is the right choice. 101 Dog Tricks is a book that will cover everything even before you bring your dog home.
This book will give you step-by-step guidance for tricks, and it comes complete with photos. This 208-page book by this celebrity dog trainer and best-selling author will additionally give you tips to deal with common problems while offering suggestions to even more complicated tricks.
From teaching your dog how to sit, shake hands and rolling over, to tricks like getting soda from a fridge, this book is surely an a must read for any dog owner.

18. Training the Best Dog Ever

Authors Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz and Larry Kay published a book that uses the most popular training method – Positive reinforcement to help train your dog. This book relies on trust and treats and not on reprimands, choke collars or leash-yanking. It involves a 5-week training program that will take you less than 20 minutes each day to train your dog out of bad habits.
You’ll actually enjoy reading this book that is nearly 304 pages because of the illustrated step-by-step photographs. Training the Best Dog Ever will cover potty training, hand-feeding and some basic cues like sit and come here. you wouldn’t want to miss out any advice from these experienced authors who have not only created award-winning dog care kids DVD – Larry Kay – but also trained Senator Ted Kennedy’s Portuguese Water Dogs – Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz.

17. How to Raise the Perfect Dog

There’s no doubt you’ll find a lot of lessons on how to train your dog ‘Through Puppyhood and Beyond’ using this book. Professional dog trainer Cesar Milan bought together a comprehensive tool that brings his expert tips and tricks even the ordinary dog owner will understand.
How to Raise the Perfect Dog has been written in a no-nonsense style and it presents a lot of facts that will help you train your puppy or work with older dogs. Further, you’ll find a lot of frequently asked questions well answered that will deal with any head-scratching question you have.
This book is worth your time and you wouldn’t spend a lot of time reading it since it is only 322 pages full of Cesar’s advice and even his own experience in raising certain popular breeds.

16. Cesar’s Way

Cesar’s Way has sold more than a million copies and is a must read for any dog owner looking to train their furry friend. Cesar Millan, in his book gives you some natural and everyday guide on how to understand and correct common dog problems you would undoubtedly find useful.
He explains in this book that dogs are less complicated than we think and are pets that only rely on three key elements: exercise, discipline and affection. This book is an a must have whether you’re a new or old dog owner. You’ll get information on basic obedience techniques and equally learn how to change your dog’s unwanted behavior through understanding them.
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Do you want to create a positive, fulfilling relationship with your furry friend? Then take your time to read Cesar’s Way to learn what goes on inside their minds

15. The Puppy Primer

The Puppy Primer is a book that combines humor with easy-to-follow steps that will help you train your dog at home. The book has very few pages you can quickly go through but still learn all the tips you need to train your dog.
Patricia B. McConnell and Brenda Scidmore published this updated version of Puppy Primer that has positive reinforcement tips and tricks for your dog. You’ll feel motivated to read this book since it has been published in an encouraging and upbeat tone.
Moreover, The Puppy Primer has special topics that include socialization, house training, new tricks and games and how to stop your dog’s unwanted behavior.

14. The Other End of the Leash

The Puppy Primer is a book that combines humor with easy-to-follow steps that will help you train your dog at home. The book has very few pages you can quickly go through but still learn all the tips you need to train your dog.

Patricia B. McConnell and Brenda Scidmore published this updated version of Puppy Primer that has positive reinforcement tips and tricks for your dog. You’ll feel motivated to read this book since it has been published in an encouraging and upbeat tone.`

Moreover, The Puppy Primer has special topics that include socialization, house training, new tricks and games and how to stop your dog’s unwanted behavior.

13. Good Dog, Happy Baby

Good Dog, Happy Baby is only a 168-page book that is worth your time especially if you’re an expecting dog owner. In his book, Michael Wombacher puts down a twelve-step process that equips these dog owners with the right skills to navigate this time in their lives.
Skills like how to prepare your dog for a new baby and how to resolve some common behavior problems will help any expecting family have both a good dog and happy baby. The book comes with great photos, easy guide and simple instructions you’ll definitely want to read before welcoming your little one in the house.

12. Decoding Your Dog

Decoding your Dog is a book that has been written by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists contributors who take a scientific look at the way our dogs learn. Don’t worry, however; it is drafted in a manner that even the lay person will understand making it a valuable addition to your library.
These contributors help decode how dogs communicate, how they think and how they learn. This is actually among the best dog training books that will showcase current veterinary-approved positive training methods. This book will help you understand your best friend better and guide their behavior.

11. The Art of Raising a Puppy

The Monks of New Skete have published other resourceful training tools and are among the most trusted dog training authorities in America. This revised edition features new photographs, updated chapters and new developments in canine behavioral theory.

Join the Monks of New Skete in their journey through the first three months of a puppy’s life with amazing photos and training opportunities. The Art of Raising a Puppy is certainly a book to read to learn how to train a puppy so be sure to grab yourself a copy.

10. The Power of Positive Dog Training

Pat Miller’s second edition of The Power of Positive Dog Training will give you a six-week dog training program using positive reinforcement. This step-by-step program helps you build a healthier relationship with your dog and allow you the opportunity to learn how to observe and understand their body language.
You’ll equally learn how to use a diary to track any progress and some yummy treat ideas. Pat’s proven methods are ideal for anyone who has never trained a dog, and this book will help you understand how it is fun, easy and efficient to train your four-legged friend.

9. Before and After Getting your Puppy

Dr. Ian Dunbar has influenced many dog trainers with his dog-friendly philosophy. He placed a shift in dog training from leash corrections to using treats and toys as a positive approach that will help prevent any behavior problem and teach dogs basic manners.
Dr. Dunbar focuses on six dog development principles that include dog education and preparation. You’ll find this book quite resourceful especially because this book combines his famous puppy –training manuals into a single edition. This book has clearly explained steps and helpful photos to present you with a humorous and well-structured plan on how to train your dog.

8. Puppy Training Guide

James J Jackson’s fourth edition of Puppy Training Guide is the perhaps the best book that will give you useful tips on how to train a puppy. This is in fact the most resourceful book that will teach your puppy everything from obedience, potty training to crate training.
This book gives you stress-free and efficient strategies for training your puppy and allows you have full control over them with proper commands. You’ll definitely feel your money’s worth with this book that will give you knowledge on puppy socialization, vaccinations, home exercises, teaching your puppy tricks and how to show them love and affection.

7. Short Guide to a Happy Dog

Cesar Milan’s 208-page Short Guide to a Happy Dog provides its readers with 98 essential tips and techniques on dog training. You can’t pass up the opportunity of reading training tips from this famous dog trainer. His book explores dog psychology, explains their behaviors and shows you how to create a healthy balance and boundaries for your pet.
Moreover, you’ll learn how to correct common dog misbehaviors and what you need to know to choose the right family dog. Throughout his book, Cesar Millan uses his own inspiring stories to give you real-world applications and great life lessons. Be sure to read this book which is not only easy to read but equally resourceful to help create a healthy dog-owner relationship.

6. Michael Hingson’s Thunder Dog

Thunder Dog is a 256-page book that is equally available in Kindle supported format if you like reading on Kindle. This dog training book is worth reading as it talks about a real story of a blind man, Michael Hingson, with his guide dog Roselle and the time he spent forging a bond of trust. You’ll be inspired by the story of Michael Hingson and this book will undoubtedly change your current perspective.

5. The Art of Raising a Puppy

Grab your copy of New Skete Monks, The Art of Raising a Puppy to understand how to train a puppy. This book has been highly recognized and greatly recommended by many readers who have found it quite effective. This revised version book comes with a lot of new photographs and updated chapters you’d surely find resourceful.
The Monks of New Skete published this best-selling book where they take you through a three-month puppy life from birth. In this book, pet owners are taught how to assert dominance over their puppies in an effort to create long-lasting relationships with them.

4. Cesar Millan’s Be the Pack Leader

Who can get tired of learning from this best-selling author and dog whisperer? Cesar Milan’s book, Be the Pack Leader encourages you to use his ways to train and transform your dog into a well-behaved companion. By reading this book, you’ll develop the necessary skills that will help you become a calm-assertive dog owner. This is particularly necessary to improve your dog’s behavior. Moreover, with this book, you’ll not only help your dog live a fulfilled life, you’ll equally be able to improve your life and live a balanced and fulfilled life.

3. How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend

This is perhaps the best top pick when it comes to finding the best dog training books. This book will offer you great advice from the experts and widely known New Skete Monks. These monks are highly experienced and have been raising German Shepherds for more than 20 years.
You’ll undoubtedly learn a lot from their books including this one. How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend covers topics you wouldn’t imagine including how to select a dog, where to get a dog, how to recognize and correct behavior problems and a lot more. This book is quite resourceful and is the best option even for the new dog owner or someone still anticipating finding a family dog. This book truly covers everything and you’ll additionally learn the spiritual benefits of having a dog.

2. The Koehler Method of Dog Training

This book by William R. Koehler is an intriguing book you shouldn’t miss reading. The Koehler Method is based on the concept that dogs act on their rights to choose their actions. That they choose their actions based on past experiences and the expectation of being rewarded or punished.
Through this, dogs will ultimately learn decisions that have positive outcomes and repeat them. Sounds intriguing to you? Well, be sure to read all this and much more from The Koehler Method of Dog Training. The Koehler Method is still taught in classes and private forums to train dogs till date.

1. I’m Listening with a Broken Ear

This is one book you can rely on to help train your dog. Vicky Kaseorg highlights a true story of a dying dog, Honeybun, she struggled to help overcome complicated issues from health, fear and aggression. Why would this book help you with dog training tips? Vicky’s months of struggle to deal with this dog when she had no experience in dog training will give you inspiring and motivational insights on how to train your dog.

Conclusion

The list goes on and on if you still need to read more books on dog training. These 20 books, however, will give you great insights on dog training and additionally equip you with great tips and techniques for dealing with your furry friend. Of course when it comes to finding the best dog training books, it all depends on your personal preference and needs, however, our list will allow you learn from great minds and authors.