If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of some of the best dog training books available, you’ve come to the right place!
At the School for Dog Trainers, we’re proud to teach a well-rounded curriculum of canine education, covering behavioral science, scent discrimination, principles of search and rescue, and many more topics. Below is the latest list of books students on our Master Dog Trainer program are reading, with suggested reading near the bottom of the page.
Excel-erated Learning: Explaining in plain English how dogs learn and how best to teach them
Pamela J. Reid
180 pages
ISBN: 978-1888047073
An expert in animal behavior and with a PhD in Psychology from the University of Toronto, Pamela Reid’s 2013 book explains how dogs think, learn and respond. Excel-erated Learning covers classical and operant conditioning, types of reinforcers, types of stimuli and how to bring everything together as a balanced dog trainer.
The Dog’s Mind: Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior
Bruce Fogle
226 pages
ISBN: 978-0876055137
This deep-dive into canine psychology was written by Dr. Bruce Fogle, a veterinary clinician with deep knowledge of research and findings on how a dog’s mind works. The book explores how dogs perceive the world around them, their emotional makeup, and how this influences their behavior.
The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs Are Smarter Than You Think
Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods
384 pages
ISBN: 978-0142180464
A New York Times bestseller, husband-and-wife team Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods provide information on landmark discoveries from around the world. Their collated research helps to explain how man’s best friend actually thinks – and how we can have closer, deeper relationships with dogs.
Scent and the Scenting Dog
William G. Syrotuck
112 pages
ISBN: 978-0970049421
The dog’s olfactory system is the component that makes them an ideal candidate for search and rescue missions and detection. This book helps the reader to understand how – and why – a dog can work scent, including an explanation of scent composition and how it works in the dog’s nose.
Training the Disaster Search Dog
Shirley M. Hammond
184 pages
ISBN: 978-1929242191
Shirley Hammond is renowned across the globe for her expertise in training disaster search dogs. In this highly-acclaimed guide, she not only focuses on the training required for the dog, but also provides information on the requirements of a handler to partake in disaster search missions.
How To Right A Dog Gone Wrong: A Road Map For Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs
Pamela S. Dennison
191 pages
ISBN: 978-1577790754
Combining behavioral science with real-world experience, Pam Dennison’s How To Right A Dog Gone Wrong offers straightforward concepts to help owners and trainers deal with aggressive and reactive dogs. Dennison leans on her experiences with her own dog, Shadow, to offer troubleshooting tips.
K9 Scent Detection: My Favorite Judge Lives In A Kennel
Jan Kaldenbach
168 pages
ISBN: 978-1550597141
As a police officer for over 30 years in the Netherlands, Jan Kaldenbach had extensive experience working with detection dogs in scent discrimination and drug detection. This book provides detailed instructions for training dogs in scent detection, accompanied by helpful diagrams.
What The Dog Knows: Scent, Science and the Amazing Ways Dogs Perceive the World
Cat Warren
343 pages
ISBN: 978-1451667325
What The Dog Knows is an incredible insight into the amazing capabilities of dogs – and their noses. This captivating read documents Dr. Warren’s journey with her German Shepherd, Solo – who transforms from a dog-reactive puppy to a cadaver dog. The book also explores the history and current practices of training working dogs.
How To Tame A Fox (And Build A Dog)
Lee Alan Dugatkin and Lyudmila Trut
240 pages
ISBN: 978-0226444185
How To Tame A Fox documents the story of a path-breaking experiment in Siberia. Beginning in the late 1950s, two biologists in the former USSR took a few dozen silver foxes and attempted to recreate the evolution of wolves into dogs.Â
The Complete Dog Breed Book
DK
352 pages
ISBN: 978-1465491046
This book contains comprehensive information on more than 420 dogs, covering breeds, behavior, care and training advice.
The Ultimate Service Dog Training Manual
Keagen J. Grace
280 pages
ISBN: 978-1510703162
This book is an essential resource for service dog handlers and trainers, providing information on the legalities and practicalities of service dogs.Â
Suggested Reading
The Culture Clash
Jean Donaldson
257 pages
ISBN: 978-1617811128
Jean Donaldson is a dog behaviorist with over three decades of experience in the field. In The Culture Clash, she shines a light on the complex and sometimes misunderstood relationship between humans and canines.
Guide to Search and Rescue Dogs
Angela Eaton Snovak
192 pages
ISBN: 978-0764124181
Search and rescue dogs have a valuable role to play in locating missing people in wilderness areas or disaster zones. This book provides an overview of the unique capabilities of SAR dogs and how this helps search and rescue teams in practical scenarios.
Feisty Fido: Help For The Leash-Reactive Dog
Patricia B. McConnell and Karen B. London
63 pages
ISBN: 978-1891767074
Written by Patricia McConnell and Karen London – both respected ethologists and certified animal behaviorists – this book provides advice on leash-reactive dogs, recommending positive reinforcement techniques to enable dog owners to relax when their pet encounters another dog.
Search and Rescue Dogs: Training the K-9 Hero
American Rescue Dog Association (ARDA)
290 pages
ISBN: 978-0764567032
As the nation’s oldest airscenting search dog organization, ARDA is an authoritative voice in the world of search and rescue. This book provides clear lessons for training your dog for a number of SAR operations, with detailed information on procedures, equipment and safety.