7 of the best dog training books to ace your pup's education

Teaching your four-legged friend the dos and don’ts of the doggy world is an essential part of being a dog owner, and learning things by the book is a great place to start. The best dog training books guide pet parents through everything from the most basic commands to more advanced tricks and training, in addition to highlighting some of the common mistakes to avoid when teaching your furry friend “how to dog”. As well as hitting the books, you will need to be prepared for lots of practice, patience, and positive reinforcement (aka treats) as you learn how to train your dog both in theory and in practice. Now, whether you’re a pet parent or a new dog sitter, put on your thinking caps and get stuck into our list of the best dog training books of all time.

Best dog training book overall

Zak George Dog Training Revolution: The Complete Guide to Raising the Perfect Pet with Love

Famous for his Youtube videos and appearances on various animal planet shows, Zak George’s unique training method is tailored towards individual pups, which is what makes this one of the best books on dog training. When used alongside videos from Zak’s YouTube channel, this book offers a comprehensive overview of how to be a good puppy parent, starting with making that all-important decision - what is the right puppy for me? It’s packed full of information, from fundamental training techniques and tips on how to welcome your new furry friend to the family to housetraining, correcting common behavior issues, and basic health care advice. In the final chapter, you will learn some fun tricks and activities to do with your pooch as well as tips on traveling with a four-legged friend. 

Best basic dog training book

Puppy Training for Kids: Teaching Children the Responsibilities and Joys of Puppy Care, Training, and Companionship

This book teaches children and pet parents how to take care of their new fur baby, with a particular emphasis on helping young family members to understand the responsibilities that come with owning a pet. Although aimed at children between the ages of 7-10, it provides readers of any age with an informative overview of puppy training and the simple steps to becoming a responsible dog owner. The best books on training dogs should be easy to digest (but not literally), and that’s why this book is filled with illustrations and photos to make learning fun and easy to understand. Topics include housetraining, socialization, puppy supplies, and understanding behavior and body language, and there are also some exciting games for children to form a stronger bond with their new best bud. It’s not only the pooch pal’s behavior that is under the microscope in this guide, as it also teaches children how to treat their new furry friends, who won’t be as comfortable being hugged, kissed, and squeezed as their human counterparts might be. Find out more about puppy training for beginners here, or read on to discover more of the best books on dog training.

Best advanced dog training book

101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog

Whether your four-legged friend has a particularly high IQ or not, take a leaf out of Kyra Sundance’s bestselling book with step-by-step instructions to nailing even the most complex commands. Start with basics like “sit”, “shake hands”, and “fetch”, and before long you’ll be asking Fido to “get a soda from the fridge” or “tidy up your toys into the toy box”. Photos accompany the simple instructions and the tricks and activities are organized into themes such as chores, funny tricks, dancing, and showing love. Teaching your dog tricks like these has numerous benefits; it creates a stronger bond between the two of you, it’s a great way of challenging your pup both mentally and physically, it’s an essential part of keeping them happy, and last but not least, Fido can be taught to fetch your slippers when you need them! Take note that some of the tricks in advanced dog training books like this one require props, and there are more suitable dog training books for puppies and complete beginners.

Best balanced dog training book

How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond

Cesar Millan, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous training books for dogs and otherwise known as the Dog Whisperer, breaks down the steps to raising the perfect pooch from their first wobbly steps right through to adulthood. The book focuses on various topics including what to expect at every stage of your pup’s development, housebreaking tips and tricks, nutrition, vaccination, and other health advice, as well as how to teach your pup to play by the rules. It also highlights common mistakes pet parents should try to avoid and how to correct undesirable behavior using positive reinforcement alongside discipline, a common technique seen in balanced dog training books. This is a book that’s as much about training humans to respond correctly to their furry friends’ signals as it is about training the dog itself, so be prepared to put in the work!

Best dog training book for difficult doggies

Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out: Training the Crazy Dog from Over the Top to Under Control

If your Fido is a bit on the wild side, award-winning trainer Laura VanArendonk Baugh brings you one of the best aggressive dog training books, with a method that takes the stress out of training four-legged friends that are nervous, fearful, or just don’t listen. Getting to the bottom of your unruly pup’s behavior may seem daunting, but illustrated training sessions lasting a minute or less guide pet parents through simple training techniques including mat work and clicker training, in addition to advising when it’s a good idea to look for professional training help.

Best positive reinforcement training book

Training the Best Dog Ever: A 5-Week Program Using the Power of Positive Reinforcement

If anyone’s got a doggy claim to fame, it’s author Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz, who was dog trainer to the White House dog, Bo Obama, as well as each of Senator Edward Kennedy’s dogs. Her book Training the Best Dog Ever teaches pet parents how to use trust and treats to their full potential to train good behavior into puppies and bad habits out of older four-pawed pals. The five-week crash course is made up of short 10-20 minute training sessions, in which your teacher’s pet is taught the fundamentals of living with their loving family.  From feeding, potty training, and crating to water safety and solving behavioral problems, furry friends are taught to be the best buddies they were born to be. 

Best quick method dog training book

Lucky Dog Lessons: Train Your Dog in 7 Days

Whether you’ve got a traumatized rescue or a pampered purebred, Brandon McMillan can help you transform your four-legged friend in just seven days. After establishing trust, focus, and control, you will be instructed on how to teach your pup the seven common commands: sit, stay, down, come, off, heel, and no. McMillan also offers practical solutions to typical behavioral issues like housebreaking, destructive chewing, and excessive barking alongside stories of his beloved furry students and a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what goes down on his award-winning show Lucky Dog. The book offers multiple training techniques so you can choose the right one based on your pooch pal’s personality, progress, and/or breed, and form a better understanding of what kind of doggy you’re dealing with.

Although dog training books can be an invaluable resource for many pet parents, they won’t work for everyone, and there are times when you may need to look for additional help. Animal behaviorists and professional dog trainers can help you get to the bottom of particularly problematic behavior, especially if you don’t feel you’re making any progress with your own training routine. 

In a perfect world, we’d be beside our furry BFFs 24/7. In reality, we know there are times in life when you can’t be there - and that’s where TrustedHousesitters comes in. Connect with our community of animal-loving pet sitters so that you can jet off with peace of mind knowing that your best bud is living his best life from the comfort of his own home.