:strip_icc()/best-dog-training-books-4164678-12309819e0e04a0699600c7d89275446.jpg)
What to Look for in a Dog Training Book
Types of Training
Dog training relies on a related psychological method called operant conditioning, which uses different types of motivation to get a dog to voluntarily perform a certain behavior. Operant conditioning falls into four categories.
- Positive reinforcement: You reward your dog with something they enjoy like treats or praise when they do something you want them to do. Most of your dog training should be in this area.
- Negative punishment: This isn’t a physical punishment. It involves taking away something the dog likes when they do something undesirable. That might mean turning around when your dog jumps on you or leaving the area when your puppy bites you.
- Positive punishment: This is when you do something the dog dislikes in order to make a dog less likely to repeat a behavior. This can include making loud noises when your dog counter surfs or jerking on a collar when they pull on a leash.
- Negative reinforcement: This involves taking away something that’s unpleasant when a desired action is performed. These can be painful and scary experiences like shocking a dog until he comes to you.
Positive reinforcement trainers focus only on positive reinforcement and negative punishment. Some trainers suggest using aversive tools like choke, prong, or electric collars. The Spruce Pets does not recommend products or techniques that are aversive.
“Look for a book written by a trainer that uses positive reinforcement training and follows LIMA (least intrusive minimally aversive) as that is the most humane and scientifically supported method of training right now,” says Erica Marshall, CPDT-KA, CDBC, a certified professional dog trainer and certified behavior consultant and board member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. Marshall is also the author of the book New Puppy, Now What?.
“Methods using force or compulsion have been proven to harm the human/animal bond and cause more problems for the dog and owner. The use of aversive training methods is fraught with potential behavioral fallout.”
Training Organizations & Certifications
Whether you’re choosing an in-person trainer or checking out the author of a dog-training book, look to see if the person is a dog trainer, canine behaviorist, or both. A dog trainer teaches training cues, manners, and often addresses some behavioral issues. A trained behaviorist is kind of a pet psychologist, understanding why dogs do what they do and how to change problem behaviors.
Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer or behaviorist, but there are certifications that demonstrate that they have experience and education in the area.
“It’s important to find authors that have extensive knowledge and experience in the area of training you are looking for,” says Marshall. “Continuing education is key for a trainer to stay up to date on techniques and new developments in dog training and animal care. Certifications are certainly a great thing to look for but not all highly qualified trainers are certified.”
Some certifying agencies include:
- Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT)
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
- Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) or
- Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB)
Training Tools
Some training methods might require certain tools like clickers for clicker training or a harness versus a leash to teach walking manners. All training methods in these books require that you arm yourself with loads of tasty treats to reward behaviors.
Do you want a quick book with how-tos or a lengthy read that goes in-depth? The length of a book may mean the difference between whether you will read it or just flip through the pages. You’ll want to make sure the book has what you’re looking for—many broad details or one specific training topic—before you make a purchase.
There are ways to teach dogs tricks, but there are also basic ways to teach a dog to live in your home. Both require training but not all books will cover all types of training goals. If your dog is housebroken and has basic manners but you want to expand the number of tricks it knows, make sure you don’t choose a general dog training book. Conversely, if you have a new dog, you’ll want to focus on basic behaviors that allow it to live well in your home—such as housebreaking and not jumping on guests—before you teach it other skills.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets
To find the best dog training books, we consulted with trainers, behaviorists, rescue volunteers, and pet owners. We read dozens of reviews and comments and considered recommendations from training and animal welfare groups. We examined trainer credentials and experience and only considered books that focused on positive training methods.
This article was researched and written by Mary Jo DiLonardo who has covered animals and pets for several decades. Mary Jo has fostered more than 60 dogs and puppies. She has consulted with trainers for her own rescue dog and her foster puppies and has read training books to help with learning and behavior issues. She is always searching for the healthiest and most effective products to use with them such as best dog toys and best dog treats.
