Best Dog Training Books For Puppies and Adult Dogs

Filed in Dog Training by on July 18, 2020

Best Dog Training BooksAre you looking to train your puppy or adult dog with basic skills and commands?

Or maybe you want to learn how to correct your dog’s behavioral issues?

Dogs that do not receive proper socialization or training early on in life can develop unwanted behaviors.

If you do not want to pay for a dog trainer, there are many dog training books for sale online.

Therefore, we’ve put together a list of the best dog training books, both for puppies and dogs of all ages.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Best Dog Training Books for Puppies

1. The Puppy Primer by Dr. Patricia McConnell and Brenda Scidmore

$16.95
$14.95
32 new from $8.21
105 used from $1.70
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of February 12, 2025 9:11 am

Pages: 117

Description:  A guide for those who have brought home a new puppy, The Puppy Primer is set up as a six-week program for dogs under the age of five months old.

Step-by-step instructions provide a clear picture of how to train basic skills such as sit, stay, down, come, drop it, and heel. And what puppy training book is complete without a section on housetraining and crate training?

McConnell and Scidmore discuss dog behavior to help owners better understand their dogs and avoid making mistakes that reinforce unwanted behaviors. The Puppy Primer seeks to help owners all over the world raise happy, well-balanced dogs.

About the Authors: Patricia McConnell is a renowned Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist who helped clients solve their pets’ behavioral problems for 20 years.

She had a radio show called Calling All Pets, a TV program named Petline that aired on Animal Planet, and is a behavioral columnist for The Bark Magazine.

Having a Ph.D. in Zoology, McConnell taught “The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships” at UW-Madison.

After consulting with Patricia McConnell about her puppy’s behavioral issues, Brenda Scidmore decided to pursue a profession as a trainer and animal behaviorist.

She worked for McConnell as a trainer at Dog’s Best Friend Training before opening her own business called Canine Behavior Consulting. Now, she provides in-home help to families who have dogs with behavioral issues.

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

$15.99
$9.65
40 new from $4.27
148 used from $1.77
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of February 12, 2025 9:11 am

Pages: 240

Description: A comprehensive guide to puppy ownership, this book goes beyond training basic skills and commands.

In addition to basic commands, you will also learn how to choose a veterinarian, the right dog food, and even a puppy.

Common behavioral issues such as biting, jumping, barking, leash pulling, chewing, and aggression are addressed.

Some topics are paired with videos available on YouTube, making it even easier to learn training techniques.

Zak George provides a wealth of information on how to train your dog using a positive, loving approach.

About the Author: Zak George is famous for his patient, positive approach to dog training.

He has over 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube where his videos have been viewed more than 183 million times.

In 2009, he starred in an Animal Planet TV show called SuperFetch where he taught pet owners how to teach their dogs impressive tricks.

3. Perfect Puppy in 7 Days: How to Start Your Puppy Off Right by Dr. Sophia Yin

$9.99
Amazon.com
as of February 12, 2025 9:11 am

Pages: 286

Description: Perfect Puppy in 7 Days provides valuable information on how to start training your puppy from day one.

Dr. Yin’s “learn to earn” program requires puppies to display desirable behavior to achieve their wants (food, attention, play), resulting in a dog that is well-mannered in a number of situations.

Not only does Dr. Yin go over the basics of puppy training such as house training, crate training, and important recalls, but she also teaches her readers how to recognize fear and anxiety through their puppies’ body language.

There are 400 photos inside the book, making the techniques easy to understand and apply.

About the Author: Dr. Sophia Yin was a veterinarian and animal behaviorist.

She served as a behavior consultant for Dogs 101 on Animal Planet and presented lectures and workshops about dog behavior internationally.

Her career also involved contributions to well-known veterinary and pet magazines.

4. Before and After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog by Ian Dunbar

$21.95
$12.39
32 new from $6.16
92 used from $1.60
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of February 12, 2025 9:11 am

Pages: 224

Description: Many dog owners focus on training basic commands such as sit, stay, and come, but there is a lot more to puppy training than that.

In this book, Ian Dunbar discusses puppies’ developmental stages to help you understand when, how, and what you need to teach your puppy.

Dunbar’s training techniques are structured like games so that listening is rewarding and fun for your dog.

About the Author: Ian Dunbar is a pioneer in dog training, being among the first to advocate for force-free, reward-based techniques.

He has a veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College of London University where he also earned special honors in physiology and biochemistry.

Not only that, he has a doctorate in animal behavior from UC Berkeley. Dr. Dunbar has worked as a trainer and behaviorist for decades.

Best Dog Training Books for Dogs of All Ages

1. Zak George’s Guide to a Well-Behaved Dog: Proven Solutions to the Most Common Training Problems for All Ages, Breeds, and Mixes

$15.99
$12.25
26 new from $8.97
74 used from $1.93
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of February 12, 2025 9:11 am

Pages: 224

Description: In this book, Zak George tackles some of the most common behavior issues dog owners struggle with, including aggression, barking, begging, chewing, jumping, not listening, play biting, phobias, separation anxiety, and more.

He provides force-free solutions to each problem, and many are paired with YouTube videos making it easy to follow along.

This book was created with all ages in mind and proves that old dogs really can learn new tricks.

About the Author: Zak George is famous for his patient, positive approach to dog training.

He has over 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube where his videos have been viewed more than 183 million times.

In 2009, he starred in an Animal Planet TV show called SuperFetch where he taught pet owners how to teach their dogs impressive tricks.

2. Lucky Dog Lessons: Train Your Dog in 7 Days by Brandon McMillan

$16.99
$13.59
33 new from $8.90
88 used from $1.38
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of February 12, 2025 9:11 am

Pages: 336

Description: Brandon McMillan believes dogs can become well-mannered members of the family by mastering seven basic commands: sit, stay, down, come, off, heel, and no.

In this book, he explains how to effectively teach those commands. He also covers a number of other topics such as building trust, gaining your dog’s focus, and solving problem behaviors.

Whether your dog is a puppy, adult, or senior, McMillan seeks to offer helpful training solutions using positive methods.

About the Author: A celebrity dog trainer, Brandon McMillan is well-known for his CBS show Lucky Dog where he transforms misbehaved, unwanted shelter dogs into well-mannered, adoptable companions in just seven days.

He has also worked as an animal trainer for over 300 Hollywood productions and is certified to train service dogs. McMillan believes that no dog is beyond saving.

3. Training the Best Dog Ever: A 5-Week Program Using the Power of Positive Reinforcement by Larry Kay and Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz

$17.99
$10.35
38 new from $5.35
126 used from $1.77
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of February 12, 2025 9:11 am

Pages: 304

Description: Training the Best Dog Ever aims to help dog owners with training regardless of their dog’s age.

It includes information on how to prevent and correct unwanted behaviors using positive reinforcement.

The book is set up as a five-week training program that requires you to commit to about 10 to 20 minutes of training per day.

You will also learn how to teach your dog to be calm and behaved in a number of situations.

About the Authors: Larry Kay has written for Dog Fancy magazine, PBS documentaries, and educational films for the New York City Board of Education.

He owns a website and magazine called Positively Woof that shares heart-warming rescue stories as well as dog training advice.

Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz has been training dogs for over 20 years. She has trained and boarded dogs for many of the Washington elite, including Senator Ted Kennedy and former president Barak Obama.

4. 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog by Kyra Sundance

$19.99
$11.23
40 new from $6.25
106 used from $1.96
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of February 12, 2025 9:11 am

Pages: 208

Description: Dog owners often overlook trick training, but it is just as beneficial as obedience training. Trick training deepens your bond with your dog, improves communication, and provides mental (and often physical) enrichment.

101 Dog Tricks provides step-by-step instructions for each trick and includes tips for solving common problems. Tricks are categorized by theme (chores, funny, dancing, etc.) so it’s easy to find what you’re most interested in.

Each trick also has a difficulty rating and lists any necessary prerequisites.

About the Author: Kyra Sundance is famous for performing stunts with her dogs on various stages worldwide.

She has performed in Disney’s Underdog show, professional sports halftime shows, and even for the king of Morocco.

Kyra has made appearances on The Tonight Show, Ellen, and Animal Planet, and had her own TV show called Showdog Moms & Dads.

Conclusion

We hope our list of the best dog training books has been helpful to you.

Whether you’ve just brought home a new puppy or are simply looking to brush up on an adult dog’s skills, one of these books should serve the purpose.

FYI, I also wrote a blog post on the best online dog training courses as well, if you prefer watching videos.

Let us know of your experience with our recommended books or any other books you find helpful.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *