5 Dog Training Books Every Pet Parent Should Read

Keen to soak up as much dog training knowledge as "pawssible" to help your mutt learn their manners? You'll find hundreds of books about dog training covering a variety of approaches, like positive reinforcement and LIMA training principles.

But with so many options, how do you know which training technique is right for your fur-baby? After all, choosing a book that's based on outdated practices or negative reinforcement could be disastrous for training your doggo. To help you find the right fit for your fur-baby, we've sniffed out the top 5 dog training books to suit pups of every skill level!

Written by Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz and Larry Kay, Training the Best Dog Ever is an essential read for pet parents. Dog trainer Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz made headlines when she used her techniques on then-president Barack Obama's Portuguese Water Dog, Bo. She also had a hand in training Senator Ted Kennedy's dogs and Republican senator Chuck Hagel's dogs.

The book focuses on building a human–dog relationship through positive reinforcement. Training the Best Dog Ever starts by explaining why positive reinforcement is leagues better than aversive training methods ("the carrot" vs. "the stick").

The 5-week program starts with basic commands, such as "sit", "stay", and "come here", and then moves on to advanced trick training and socialization. The program only requires 10 to 20 minutes of practice every day, which is ideal for busy pet parents.

Buy Training the Best Dog Ever on Amazon

Positively Woof's Larry Kay is one of the biggest names in the dog training game, and The Big Book of Tricks for the Best Dog Ever is the "pawfect" tool to help teach your hound a heap of tricks. 

Written alongside one of the top stunt dog trainers in America, Chris Perondi, The Big Book of Tricks for the Best Dog Ever is exactly what you'd expect: a guide to 118 tricks and stunts for your mutt to master. 

The book starts with simple tricks like "peekaboo" before moving to complicated feats like "push a shopping cart". The book's illustrations, colorful step-by-step guides, and troubleshooting tools help make training fun and accessible for all pet parents.

Buy The Big Book of Tricks on Amazon

Zak George quickly became a star of the dog training world after appearing in several Animal Planet shows, including SuperFetch. He's also one of the biggest dog trainers on YouTube, with around 3.5 million followers. 

Written with award-winning author Dina Roth Port, Dog Training Revolution condenses hundreds of hours of video content into a comprehensive dog training guide that's fun and functional. 

The book starts by examining considerations for getting a dog (lifestyle, dog size, costs, etc.) before jumping into everything you need to know about having a dog, including positive reinforcement training, vaccination requirements, traveling with dogs, and more.

This book is also a "furrific" read for any pet parent seeking training advice for specific dog breeds.

Buy Zak George's Dog Training Revolution on Amazon

Not coming when called is one of the biggest problems pet parents have with their canine compadres. If that's the case with your pooch, check out Total Recall.

Total Recall is a step-by-step guide, starting with preparing your dog for training before moving on to recall training for puppies and older dogs. The book ends with problem-solving tips, making this dog training book a "grrreat" option for pet parents of stubborn doggos.

Author Pippa Mattinson is the founder of the Gundog Trust, the UK's national gundog training scheme, and has over 30 years of dog training experience.

Buy Total Recall on Amazon

Emmy Award-winning TV presenter Brandon McMillan wrote Lucky Dog Lessons on the back of his show's success. In Lucky Dog, Brandon uses his 7 Common Commands to transform troubled pups into excellent canine companions. 

As well as detailing each of the 7 Common Commands, which include "down", "no", and "heel", McMillan looks at 7 common behavioral problems, from separation anxiety to door dashing. 

Lucky Dog Lessons is clear and illustrative, with diagrams and images to make each command easy to master. Lucky Dog Lessons takes a loving and fun yet careful approach, which will make training your pup a breeze.

Buy Lucky Dog Lessons on Amazon

Does your pup a helping paw with their training? Book a virtual dog training session with Wag! for personalized training advice starting from just $27 per lesson on average!