Are you getting a new puppy, or do you have a rescue dog or an older misbehaving pooch? There are many books available that will help you train and care for dogs of all ages. You can find titles aimed at everything from aggression and behavioural problems to training gundogs or even teaching performance tricks if you're looking for something a bit more specialised.
With a wide selection, it can be hard to tell which book is best, so we've put together a guide with useful information to help you out. After that, be sure to check out our picks of the 10 best dog and puppy training books to buy on Amazon and eBay, featuring popular reads like Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy, Total Recall and All Dogs Great and Small by Graeme Hall.
There are a few things you should consider before buying a dog training book to find one that contains useful information for your needs. From breed to age, we're going to talk you through the key points you should keep in mind.
Dog training books either contain general information or focus on a specific training topic. In this section, we're going to talk you through some popular options so you can find a title that suits your needs.
General dog training books give a brief overview of the basics, with advice on feeding, emotions, reading your dog, behavioural issues and recall training. You'll find variations in the type of information they include and how each author portrays it, but they all cover a wide variety of these sorts of topics.
If you're looking to understand your family pet and help promote good behaviour, this is the type of training guide you should choose. Dog books with a specific focus are for owners who wish to correct a certain problem or train their dog for competition.
Some books specialise in recall, which is the art of getting your dog to come back to you when they're called. It's one of the most important skills a dog can learn, as it prevents them from getting into dangerous or even life-threatening situations.
Many dogs struggle to learn recall, so you may want to purchase a training book that focuses on this area if your dog is having difficulties. Although the topic is mentioned in many general books, it'll go into greater detail and offer tailored advice for your dog's life stage.
If you're a fan of Britain's Got Talent, you'll be all too familiar with dog acts like Ashleigh and the late Pudsey. Whether you and your dog have a taste for showbiz, a dream of getting to Crufts or you just want to have fun with performance, you should purchase a book that focuses on dog tricks.
These books have everything from simple commands like sitting to more complex tricks like jumping over a bar. Although the more basic exercises are relevant to all dog owners, these books are mostly geared towards flashy moves, like getting your pup to moonwalk.
It's always best to consider your dog's age when purchasing a training book. Some books are aimed at puppies with very basic information that guides first-time owners through buying or adopting a new young dog and learning key tips for training and looking after them.
Other books have basic information for puppy training and relevant techniques for encouraging good behaviour in older dogs. Some even have special tips for looking after pooches in old age to make their last years as comfortable as possible. Any owners can use these books, and the tips will remain relevant as your dog matures.
Just like the contrast between a puppy and an older dog, different breeds have unique characteristics, so you might want to consider a book that focuses on these specifically. They will have better-tailored advice concerning certain areas your dog may struggle with. Some are also tailored to breed-specific activities, such as retrieving.
While the majority of successful training books are suitable for all breeds, there might be times when you have to think outside the box and adapt some of the training techniques to your dog. If you aren't that aware of what their breed's traits are, it might be good to read up on them for a better insight.
We've given you some things to think about when choosing your new reading material, so now it's time to see our ranking of the best dog training books to buy in the UK. We've included a range of popular reads that all come highly recommended!
£11.09
Focus | Performing tricks |
---|---|
Age | Puppy to adult |
Dog Breed | All |
Format | Kindle, paperback |
£16.15
Focus | General |
---|---|
Age | Puppy |
Dog Breed | All |
Format | Kindle, audiobook, paperback, hardcover |
£9.99
Focus | General |
---|---|
Age | Puppy and adult |
Dog Breed | All |
Format | Audiobook, paperback, hardcover |
£10.75
Focus | General |
---|---|
Age | Puppy and adult |
Dog Breed | All |
Format | Kindle, paperback |
£23.79
Focus | General |
---|---|
Age | Puppy to adult |
Dog Breed | Gun dogs |
Format | Paperback |
£8.99
Focus | General |
---|---|
Age | Adult |
Dog Breed | All |
Format | Kindle, audiobook, paperback |
£13.25
Focus | General |
---|---|
Age | Puppy |
Dog Breed | Cocker Spaniel |
Format | Kindle, paperback |
£11.99
Focus | General |
---|---|
Age | Puppy to adult |
Dog Breed | All |
Format | Kindle, audiobook, paperback, hardcover |
£12.89
Focus | Recall |
---|---|
Age | Puppy and adult |
Dog Breed | All |
Format | Kindle, paperback |
£4.00
Focus | General |
---|---|
Age | Puppy |
Dog Breed | All |
Format | Kindle, audiobook, paperback |
Image | 1 ![]() Steve Mann | 2 ![]() Pippa Mattinson | 3 ![]() Graeme Hall | 4 ![]() Janet Menzies | 5 ![]() Zak George | 6 ![]() Jo Laurens | 7 ![]() Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz | 8 ![]() Patricia McConnell Ph.D. | 9 ![]() The Monks of New Skete | 10 ![]() Kyra Sundance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy | Total Recall | All Dogs Great and Small | The Cocker Spaniel | Zak George's Guide to a Well-Behaved Dog | Force-Free Gundog Training | Training the Best Dog Ever | The Other End of the Leash | The Art of Raising a Puppy | 101 Dog Tricks |
Features | The UK’s Number 1 Puppy Training Book | An International Bestseller on Recall Training | Top Tips to Improve Behavioural Problems | How to Train and Care for a Healthy Cocker | You Can Teach Old Dogs New Tricks | A Force-Free Training Manual for Gun Dog Breeds | An Easy-to-Follow 5-Week Training Program | Insights to Help Understand Your Dog's Behaviour | A Great Help Choosing Your New Puppy | Teach Your Dog Dazzling Performance Tricks |
Price | £4.00 | £12.89 | £11.99 | £13.25 | £8.99 | £23.79 | £10.75 | £9.99 | £16.15 | £11.09 |
Focus | General | Recall | General | General | General | General | General | General | General | Performing tricks |
Age | Puppy | Puppy and adult | Puppy to adult | Puppy | Adult | Puppy to adult | Puppy and adult | Puppy and adult | Puppy | Puppy to adult |
Dog Breed | All | All | All | Cocker Spaniel | All | Gun dogs | All | All | All | All |
Format | Kindle, audiobook, paperback | Kindle, paperback | Kindle, audiobook, paperback, hardcover | Kindle, paperback | Kindle, audiobook, paperback | Paperback | Kindle, paperback | Audiobook, paperback, hardcover | Kindle, audiobook, paperback, hardcover | Kindle, paperback |
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To really see success, it's well worth investing in a few extra products to help train your pooch such as whistles, treats and pads. Luckily, we've got some handy articles guiding you through the buying process to find the right products for your dog.
Whether you're getting a new puppy or you're looking to improve a rescue dog's behaviour, we hope you've found this guide helpful. Remember to check the focus of the book to find one that's relevant to your dog training needs.
Author: Rosa Fairfield
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