The 9 Best Dog Training Books [2023]

Bonding with a loved dog can be one of the most beautiful and fulfilling experiences a person can have. You only want the best for your fuzzy friend, so you must know how to train and care for them properly. Take a peek at our list of the best dog training books on the market for 2021.

Our Favorite Dog Training Books Available for 2023 (So Far)

Our list includes some of the most popular and successful dog training books published within the last five years. These books highlight the latest tips, techniques, and methods for training a healthy, happy, obedient dog.

YouTuber and Animal Planet star Zak George has a fresh approach to dog training where he recommends training to your dog’s specific personality and energy level. He gives advice on choosing the right dog, correcting bad behavior, basic training, and animal healthcare.

One of the most well-rated dog training books on Amazon, Zak’s book is a fun and easy read with helpful links to his YouTube channel that has videos that demonstrate each training technique. Zak’s dynamic personality shines, highlighting his passion for animals and desire to help them become the very best pets.

Zak’s humane training techniques are very well-detailed with step-by-step instructions. And his method is very effective at teaching basic commands. For visual learners, we would recommend buying the Kindle version because the e-reader links directly to his YouTube videos, making it very convenient.

Related: Best German Dog Commands

If you have a new puppy, then Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps is an essential book to pick up for a beginner pet parent. Written by the Zoom Room Dog Training CEO, this book covers complete dog training, including crate, potty, food aggression, socializing, basic commands, and walking on a leash.

It also includes how to puppy-proof your house and how to understand your puppy from the dog’s perspective. The book explains different dog behaviors and body language so that you understand their reactions and why.

This book is very to the point without rambling about personal anecdotes. It has no-nonsense, all-meat, no-fluff instructions on how to train a puppy. If this is your first time owning a puppy, then you’ll want to get this book.

Dog Training for Kids is a fun book tailored to help children learn and apply good dog training techniques in a fun, interactive way. This book breaks down each lesson into an easy-to-follow tutorial that trains your child as much as the dog.

These interactive kid-friendly lessons cover:

Basic Training
Essential Commands
Favorite Tricks
Fun Games
And Other Essential Tips for Responsible Dog Ownership

If your child can read well, they’ll be able to follow along with the lessons and train your dog. The book is well-organized and offers tips for rural and urban dogs. It has engaging illustrations and straightforward steps to follow, so your child won’t feel overwhelmed or lost. And even if you aren’t a kid, this book is excellent for all ages wanting to become better pet parents.

Brandon McMillan is a celebrity dog trainer on the CBS show Lucky Dog provides a step-by-step guide for untraining lousy behavior in dogs from rescued to spoiled. Learn how to build trust and teach focus and control through this kind and playful approach to training your dog the “7 Common Commands” while also addressing problematic behavioral issues like chewing and barking.

A well-rated book, Lucky Dog Lessons, really tailors to your dog’s personality by giving tips on how to shift your training style based on how your dog responds. It also focuses on how to train with kind, humane no-nonsense techniques.

This book really shines at untraining bad behavior that your rescue dog or pampered pup has learned. Brandon’s method is easy to follow and begins to work on day one. This is ideal for newbie pet parents and experienced dog owners that want a well-mannered dog.

The Big Book is a well-illustrated step-by-step guide for teaching fun tricks and stunts. The book has beginner to advanced tricks that will dazzle and amuse your friends and family. If your dog has learned the basic commands, this book will teach you fun tricks to train and bond with your dog.

Teaching your dogs tricks helps reinforce socialization and challenges them cognitively, discouraging bored or restless behaviors. The list of dog tricks is so comprehensive you’ll find all the tricks you love and can teach your dog regardless of age.

The book also highlights different methods to teach tricks so that you can tailor the training style to your dog’s personality. It also shows tricks for a wide variety of breeds, so the book has a trick for every dog.

Yes, another book by Zak George, but what can we say? He’s a formidable trainer that has proven methods for training well-behaved dogs. This book focuses on correcting problems and bad behaviors. Zak’s guide is well organized and easy to locate the specific behavioral issue you want to address. He also gives specific techniques for puppies, old dogs, and rescue dogs.

Zak’s passion and love for even the most unruly dogs are infectious and sow hope for every dog owner who has a challenging dog. His positive reward-based method can break some of the toughest problems and helps the pet parent establish correct behaviors through positive reinforcement.

Plus, just like his other book, this book links to helpful videos for people who learn better through visual training. You can see Zak’s methods in action. If you want to get this book, we recommend buying the e-book because it will link directly to the videos, making it very convenient for training.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive dog training book, then this is it. One of the newest training books written by a dog behavior expert, Ultimate Guide to Dog Training, covers every topic associated with training. This book has step-by-step instructions for beginners as well as advanced techniques for seasoned dog owners.

The book focuses on using scientific, positive-training methods for correcting and teaching good behavior. Organized in an easy-to-reference layout, this is an excellent resource for addressing problems or working on specific behaviors. It’s also easy to follow, making it ideal for kids to use too.

Ultimate Guide to Dog Training uses proven methods used by many dog trainers. So if you take your dog to training classes, you can use this book for reference and review. This book is super handy for beginners and an excellent reference for seasoned pet parents.

Doggie Language is for pet parents who want to learn more about dog behavior and communication. Using clever illustrations, the book is easy to follow, and fun to learn how a dog communicates. The design is also engaging enough to captivate kids about learning about dog behavior.

Doggie Language teaches all the visual cues your dog may make to help you understand how they are feeling and how to defuse strained or stressful situations. The more you recognize and listen to your dog, the better you can improve your relationship and help them feel safe.

Cute artwork aside, this book is very informative and can help you bridge the communication gap with your dog. This is kind of an essential book for understanding how dogs think and behave. Great for beginners and experienced dog owners.

You can think of this book as gamification for dogs. Play Your Way to Good Manners is a fun, game training method that uses activities and positive reinforcement to teach good behavior. Full of fun games to play that will teach your dog essential commands and house training manners.

The book teaches easy-to-learn, interactive games that will train and bond you to your dog. Plus, the games will burn tons of energy, which is clutch when training a puppy or high-energy dog. The book has beautiful illustrations and photos to help reinforce how to play each game.

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The Best Dog Training Books of 2023 Compared

2022 Best Dog Training Books (Previous Winners)

Our favorites list reflects dog training books published within the last five years. But there are older, notable titles that you may want to check out because of their popularity and success:

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

Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out teaches your dog to handle fear and aggression while improving its behavior through lessons that work off a dog’s natural brain chemistry.

How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend: The Classic Training Manual for Dog Owners

This updated version of the Monks of New Skete’s classic training manual can help you select your perfect dog and teach you how to administer the appropriate amounts of discipline.

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

This is one of the best puppy training books on the market, and it covers everything from basic training and socialization to housetraining and picking out the perfect puppy supplies.

No Bad Dogs: The Woodhouse Way

Barbara Woodhouse believed there is no such thing as a bad dog, only inexperienced pet parents. She created this book to help people learn about and understand their pups through her popular training techniques and positive attitude.

Related: How To Teach Your Dog To Speak

Decoding Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones

This book is a fantastic resource written by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Their instruction uses positive training methods to help people understand their dogs and correct their problematic behaviors, so they won’t have to be given away or taken to shelters.

Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding & Correcting Common Dog Problems

Well-known dog trainer and Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan explores his knowledge of dog psychology and the best ways to correct your pup’s behavioral issues.

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

Teaching your pet some new tricks is one of the best ways to keep them physically and mentally stimulated. This top dog training book covers everything from “sit” and “stay” to “get a soda from the fridge.”

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

Celebrity dog trainer Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz teaches her methods that emphasize positive reinforcement from basic training to correcting and avoiding problematic behaviors.

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