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Best Dog Training Books For Every Dog | Dog Books for New Pet Owners

Although books can’t take the place of attending dog training classes, they can provide invaluable insight into your dog’s behavior and how to communicate more clearly with your pet. Dog training books can give you ideas for how to understand the fundamentals of canine behavior, troubleshoot problems you might be having, or help you get off on the right foot with a new puppy.

 

We’re rounding up the best dog training books that are actually worth reading for their insight and approval from dog trainers and owners alike. Here are the ones to add to your “to be read” list.

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Best Overall Dog Training Book
Amazon
Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution: The Complete Guide to Raising the Perfect Pet with Love
Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution: The Complete Guide to Raising the Perfect Pet with Love
$8.64 from Amazon
What Dogs Love:
  • helps humans understand them
  • makes training fun
  • positive reinforcement
What Humans Love:
  • basics covered
  • clear instructions
  • relationship-focused
Reviewers Say:

YouTube star and Animal Planet personality Zak George provides dog and puppy owners with step-by-step guides for tailoring dog training to your dog's unique needs. The focus of the book is on helping dog owners to gain skills for communicating and bonding with their dogs to make training both fun and easy.

With a 4.5-star rating from more than...

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YouTube star and Animal Planet personality Zak George provides dog and puppy owners with step-by-step guides for tailoring dog training to your dog's unique needs. The focus of the book is on helping dog owners to gain skills for communicating and bonding with their dogs to make training both fun and easy.

With a 4.5-star rating from more than 6,500 reviews, reviewers say the book provides practical and humane advice for how to teach new puppies utilizing positive reinforcement training methodologies. They also love short and easy-to-follow training approaches.
Amazon
Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution: The Complete Guide to Raising the Perfect Pet with Love
Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution: The Complete Guide to Raising the Perfect Pet with Love
More Info
+
What Dogs Love:

YouTube star and Animal Planet personality Zak George provides dog and puppy owners with step-by-step guides for tailoring dog training to your dog's unique needs.

What Humans Love:

With a 4.5-star rating from more than 6,500 reviews, reviewers say the book provides practical and humane advice for how to teach new puppies utilizing positive reinforcement training methodologies.

$8.64 from Amazon
Reviewers Say:

YouTube star and Animal Planet personality Zak George provides dog and puppy owners with step-by-step guides for tailori...

Read More
+
YouTube star and Animal Planet personality Zak George provides dog and puppy owners with step-by-step guides for tailoring dog training to your dog's unique needs. The focus of the book is on helping dog owners to gain skills for communicating and bonding with their dogs to make training both fun and easy.

With a 4.5-star rating from more than 6,500 reviews, reviewers say the book provides practical and humane advice for how to teach new puppies utilizing positive reinforcement training methodologies. They also love short and easy-to-follow training approaches.
Best Budget Dog Training Book
Chewy
101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog
101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog
$10.99 from Chewy
What Dogs Love:
  • fun
  • games
  • positive reinforcement
What Humans Love:
  • photo descriptions
  • easy to follow instructions
  • tips for practical applications
Reviewers Say:

This book includes instructions for teaching dogs a ton of different tricks and skills — 101 to be exact. Using step-by-step activities to engage, challenge, and support in order for owners to bond with their dogs, it's earned a 4.5-star rating on Chewy.

Previous readers said this book provides support for troubleshooting handling issues the...

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+
This book includes instructions for teaching dogs a ton of different tricks and skills — 101 to be exact. Using step-by-step activities to engage, challenge, and support in order for owners to bond with their dogs, it's earned a 4.5-star rating on Chewy.

Previous readers said this book provides support for troubleshooting handling issues they have faced when training their dogs and that it was useful for bonding with their dogs.
Chewy
101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog
101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog
More Info
+
What Dogs Love:

With 101 tricks to learn, this book uses step-by-step activities to engage, challenge, and support in order for owners to bond with their dogs, it's earned a 4.5-star rating on Chewy.

What Humans Love:

Previous readers said this book provides support for troubleshooting handling issues they have faced when training their dogs and that it was useful for bonding with their dogs.

$10.99 from Chewy
Reviewers Say:

This book includes instructions for teaching dogs a ton of different tricks and skills — 101 to be exact. Using step-b...

Read More
+
This book includes instructions for teaching dogs a ton of different tricks and skills — 101 to be exact. Using step-by-step activities to engage, challenge, and support in order for owners to bond with their dogs, it's earned a 4.5-star rating on Chewy.

Previous readers said this book provides support for troubleshooting handling issues they have faced when training their dogs and that it was useful for bonding with their dogs.
Best Long-Term Dog Training Book
Chewy
Train Your Dog Positively: The Ultimate Guide To Understanding Your Dog and Solving Behavior Problems Like Separation Anxiety, Excessive Barking, Aggression, Housetraining, Leash Pulling, and More!
Train Your Dog Positively: The Ultimate Guide To Understanding Your Dog and Solving Behavior Problems Like Separation Anxiety, Excessive Barking, Aggression, Housetraining, Leash Pulling, and More!
$10.37 from Chewy
What Dogs Love:
  • basic manners
  • positive reinforcement
  • helps humans understand body language
What Humans Love:
  • helps eliminate problematic behavior
  • obedience
  • step-by-step instructions
Reviewers Say:

Covering all the basics from leash pulling, barking, separation anxiety, and other behavior challenges, Victoria Stilwell, star of the Animal Planet hit TV series "It's Me or the Dog", tackles it all. She gives readers step-by-step advice for teaching dogs basic manners, tips for understanding canine body language, and explains the importance of positive rei...

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+
Covering all the basics from leash pulling, barking, separation anxiety, and other behavior challenges, Victoria Stilwell, star of the Animal Planet hit TV series "It's Me or the Dog", tackles it all. She gives readers step-by-step advice for teaching dogs basic manners, tips for understanding canine body language, and explains the importance of positive reinforcement-based dog training approaches.

Readers appreciate that this training book features real-world examples that explain why dogs behave the way they do and gives practical advice for how to shift problematic behavior.

Chewy
Train Your Dog Positively: The Ultimate Guide To Understanding Your Dog and Solving Behavior Problems Like Separation Anxiety, Excessive Barking, Aggression, Housetraining, Leash Pulling, and More!
Train Your Dog Positively: The Ultimate Guide To Understanding Your Dog and Solving Behavior Problems Like Separation Anxiety, Excessive Barking, Aggression, Housetraining, Leash Pulling, and More!
More Info
+
What Dogs Love:

Dogs will particularly love the emphasis on the importance of positive reinforcement-based dog training approaches — aka getting a lot of treats for good behavior.

What Humans Love:

Victoria Stilwell, star of the Animal Planet hit TV series "It's Me or the Dog", gives readers step-by-step advice for teaching dogs basic manners and tips for understanding canine body language.

$10.37 from Chewy
Reviewers Say:

Covering all the basics from leash pulling, barking, separation anxiety, and other behavior challenges, Victoria Stilwel...

Read More
+
Covering all the basics from leash pulling, barking, separation anxiety, and other behavior challenges, Victoria Stilwell, star of the Animal Planet hit TV series "It's Me or the Dog", tackles it all. She gives readers step-by-step advice for teaching dogs basic manners, tips for understanding canine body language, and explains the importance of positive reinforcement-based dog training approaches.

Readers appreciate that this training book features real-world examples that explain why dogs behave the way they do and gives practical advice for how to shift problematic behavior.

Our Other Favorites
Amazon
The Puppy Primer
The Puppy Primer
$12.49 from Amazon
What Dogs Love:
  • positive approach
  • fun activities
  • developmentally appropriate
What Humans Love:
  • clear instruction
  • training plans
  • puppy development explained
Reviewers Say:

Dr. Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., gives new puppy owners clear and concise information about how to communicate clearly and effectively with puppies. With specific sections like "Helping Puppies Conquer Their Fears," it's ideal for experienced and inexperienced dog owners alike. Readers particularly appreciate that this book gives them the tools to learn what t...

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+
Dr. Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., gives new puppy owners clear and concise information about how to communicate clearly and effectively with puppies. With specific sections like "Helping Puppies Conquer Their Fears," it's ideal for experienced and inexperienced dog owners alike. Readers particularly appreciate that this book gives them the tools to learn what they need to change about their behavior to help their puppy understand training and rules in the home.

Because of that, it has a 4.6-star rating from more than 1,200 Amazon reviewers, who call this book a "must-read" for new puppy owners.
Amazon
The Puppy Primer
The Puppy Primer
More Info
+
What Humans Love:
  • clear instruction
  • training plans
  • puppy development explained
What Dogs Love:
  • positive approach
  • fun activities
  • developmentally appropriate
$12.49 from Amazon
Reviewers Say:

Dr. Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., gives new puppy owners clear and concise information about how to communicate clearly and...

Read More
+
Dr. Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., gives new puppy owners clear and concise information about how to communicate clearly and effectively with puppies. With specific sections like "Helping Puppies Conquer Their Fears," it's ideal for experienced and inexperienced dog owners alike. Readers particularly appreciate that this book gives them the tools to learn what they need to change about their behavior to help their puppy understand training and rules in the home.

Because of that, it has a 4.6-star rating from more than 1,200 Amazon reviewers, who call this book a "must-read" for new puppy owners.
Amazon
On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals
On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals
$10.99 from Amazon
What Dogs Love:
  • breakdown of how dogs think
  • positive reinforcement
  • easy to follow training
What Humans Love:
  • calming signals explained
  • practical applications
  • troubleshoots problem behavior
Reviewers Say:

Confused about what your dog is trying to communicate to you? Lip-licking, sneezing, sniffing, and scratching are actually all ways that dogs communicate with each other and with you. With a 4.5-star rating, readers praise this book for helping them to gain a deeper understanding of their dog and improve their overall training.

One reader who...

Read More
+
Confused about what your dog is trying to communicate to you? Lip-licking, sneezing, sniffing, and scratching are actually all ways that dogs communicate with each other and with you. With a 4.5-star rating, readers praise this book for helping them to gain a deeper understanding of their dog and improve their overall training.

One reader who owns two adopted dogs with anxiety wrote that after reading this book she has "a better handle and some tools that actually work" to support her dogs through training.
Amazon
On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals
On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals
More Info
+
What Humans Love:
  • calming signals explained
  • practical applications
  • troubleshoots problem behavior
What Dogs Love:
  • breakdown of how dogs think
  • positive reinforcement
  • easy to follow training
$10.99 from Amazon
Reviewers Say:

Confused about what your dog is trying to communicate to you? Lip-licking, sneezing, sniffing, and scratching are actual...

Read More
+
Confused about what your dog is trying to communicate to you? Lip-licking, sneezing, sniffing, and scratching are actually all ways that dogs communicate with each other and with you. With a 4.5-star rating, readers praise this book for helping them to gain a deeper understanding of their dog and improve their overall training.

One reader who owns two adopted dogs with anxiety wrote that after reading this book she has "a better handle and some tools that actually work" to support her dogs through training.
Amazon
Chew This Journal: An Activity Book for You and Your Dog
Chew This Journal: An Activity Book for You and Your Dog
$14.66 from Amazon
What Dogs Love:
  • fun games
  • positive reinforcement
  • teaches dog sports
What Humans Love:
  • easy to follow instructions
  • interactive
  • memories
Reviewers Say:

Part activity book and part bullet journal, this book is full of great ways to bond with their dog and document their training journey. Full of step-by-step training instructions for games, activities, and other enrichment activities, "Chew This Journal" gives readers training instruction for puppies and dogs of all ages.

There's an emphasis o...

Read More
+
Part activity book and part bullet journal, this book is full of great ways to bond with their dog and document their training journey. Full of step-by-step training instructions for games, activities, and other enrichment activities, "Chew This Journal" gives readers training instruction for puppies and dogs of all ages.

There's an emphasis on relationship building through training for both dog and owner that reviewers absolutely love. It also makes a great gift for a new dog parent.
Amazon
Chew This Journal: An Activity Book for You and Your Dog
Chew This Journal: An Activity Book for You and Your Dog
More Info
+
What Humans Love:
  • easy to follow instructions
  • interactive
  • memories
What Dogs Love:
  • fun games
  • positive reinforcement
  • teaches dog sports
$14.66 from Amazon
Reviewers Say:

Part activity book and part bullet journal, this book is full of great ways to bond with their dog and document their tr...

Read More
+
Part activity book and part bullet journal, this book is full of great ways to bond with their dog and document their training journey. Full of step-by-step training instructions for games, activities, and other enrichment activities, "Chew This Journal" gives readers training instruction for puppies and dogs of all ages.

There's an emphasis on relationship building through training for both dog and owner that reviewers absolutely love. It also makes a great gift for a new dog parent.
Amazon
Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals
Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals
$8.09 from Amazon
What Dogs Love:
  • positive reinforcement
  • easy to follow instructions
  • helps people understand how dogs think
What Humans Love:
  • educates on animal behavior
  • positive reinforcement-based
  • clicker training
Reviewers Say:

This classic book gives readers an understanding of positive reinforcement training, animal behavior, and why dogs behave the way they do. More than 300 people have reviewed this book, giving it an average 4.6-star rating.

Regardless of what you are working on teaching your dog, this book provides an understanding of the underlying principles ...

Read More
+
This classic book gives readers an understanding of positive reinforcement training, animal behavior, and why dogs behave the way they do. More than 300 people have reviewed this book, giving it an average 4.6-star rating.

Regardless of what you are working on teaching your dog, this book provides an understanding of the underlying principles of positive reinforcement as a core component of behavioral training. You'll end up with a stronger relationship with your dog.
Amazon
Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals
Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals
More Info
+
What Humans Love:
  • educates on animal behavior
  • positive reinforcement-based
  • clicker training
What Dogs Love:
  • positive reinforcement
  • easy to follow instructions
  • helps people understand how dogs think
$8.09 from Amazon
Reviewers Say:

This classic book gives readers an understanding of positive reinforcement training, animal behavior, and why dogs behav...

Read More
+
This classic book gives readers an understanding of positive reinforcement training, animal behavior, and why dogs behave the way they do. More than 300 people have reviewed this book, giving it an average 4.6-star rating.

Regardless of what you are working on teaching your dog, this book provides an understanding of the underlying principles of positive reinforcement as a core component of behavioral training. You'll end up with a stronger relationship with your dog.

What is a Dog Training Book?

While you can attend training classes to improve your dog's behavior, dog training books are the next best thing. They are typically written by experienced dog trainers and explain how dogs think and learn as well as how owners can work with their dogs at home.

Teaching Themes

Some dog training books will have a broad focus touching on most aspects of dog behavior. Other dog training books will focus on a specific sport, activity, or a specific issue like excessive barking. Broader books are ideal for the average dog owner who want to learn basic training techniques.

Benefits

Reading dog training books can help owners better understand their dog's behavior. Through reading about dog behavior, owners can learn why their dogs do the things they do. From there, they can proactively work with their dog to teach them new skills or shift problematic behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can I train my dog at home?

Yes! You can teach your dog a variety of skills and behavior at home. From obedience basics like loose leash walking to foundations for dog sports, there's a lot you can do in your own backyard.

Where do I start with training my dog?

When you bring a puppy home or adopt an older dog, it's a good idea to start teaching your dog basic skills, such as recognizing their name, sit, down, and come. Dog training books can help you teach your dog these things and much more.

Do dog training books take the place of a trainer?

Dog training books are a great resource for helping you to understand your dog better and to give you tips for training your dogs. Although you can learn more about canine behavior and teaching a dog, for serious behavior conditions, like aggression, it's important to seek advice from a professional trainer.

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