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Our recommended reading list for people who want to show, train and breed dogs. 🐾
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items Our years of experience and great mentors have filled our shelves with some excellent books about a variety of dog topics. Check this out for your next great read, or two!
Sections
7
Dog Training
Irish Wolfhounds
Dog Breeding & Puppies
Showing Dogs
Understanding Dog Structure and Movement
Dog Stories, Biographies and History
Dog Training
A good dog trainer is always learning! Here are our recommendations for new puppy owners and trainers looking to learn something new.
A well known author of dog training books, Patricia McConnell is excellent at explaining how to deal with a variety of dog issues from A to Z. Her books are easy to read and understand for any dog lover.
Patricia B. McConnell
This book is so good, it goes in my puppy kits for new owners. She explains how to gently teach your dog not to pull on the lead. That's priceless!!
My Dog Pulls. What Do I Do?
Positive trainer who explains how to train your dog beyond the basics. Well written and easy to understand.
Beyond Basic Dog Training
Great explanation of how to find the drive in your dog and how to take it to the next level. This has been a great help with our Sighthounds, who are not typically very drivey for obedience.
Schutzhund Obedience - Training in Drive
This book is so well written that anyone can learn how to teach their dog tricks, even a first time dog owner. Teaching a dog to think and offer a behavior in exchange for treats is priceless no matter what you do. We have even used this in the whelp...
The Big Book of Tricks for the Best Dog Ever
Sometimes it is not the dog that is causing the issues, sometimes it's the other end of the leash that may need to work on a few things.
The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do Around Dogs
Keep it positive for your new puppy. Always!
AKC STAR Puppy: Positive Behavioral Training
The perfect kit for getting started in nosework!
Leerburg UKC Nosework Kit
One of the go-to dog training authors, Donaldson's book is one that is highly recommended reading on the issue of resource gaurding.
Mine! Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs
We have found that having a good foundation based on focus makes a big difference no matter what you choose to do with your dog.
Animal Trainer's Comprehensive Handbook (PDF)
Great book for learning more about body language and how your dog is communicating with other dogs as well as YOU!!
On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals
This is a great book to read about positive reinforcement and clicker training. Well written and informative, you may even learn to train your spouse, kids and coworkers. 😉
Don't Shoot the Dog! The Art of Training
Irish Wolfhounds
Mr. Graham is credited with bringing Irish Wolfhounds back from the brink of extinction, so this is a must have for Irish Wolfhound lovers!
The Irish Wolfhound (1885)
Well written and easy to read book about Irish Wolfhounds.
The New Complete Irish Wolfhound
Another great book for Wolfhound lovers but one you want on your shelves if you want to dive deep into knowledge about the breed! Ebay is another great place to look if Amazon does not have it.
The Irish Wolfhound Guide
This hard-to-find book is out of print and considered by many to be the "bible" for Irish Wolfhound lovers. If you can't find it on Amazon, put up a watch list on EBay!
The Magnificent Irish Wolfhound (Ringpress)
Another hard-to-find out of print book that can occasionally be found on Amazon but Ebay is another great place to look.
Raising, Showing & Breeding the Irish Wolfhound
If you can find this book by Mrs. Thomasson, it is well worth the time and money to do so, especially if you are breeding Wolfhounds.
Irish Wolfhound Passage by Lois J Thomasson
Dog Breeding & Puppies
There is so much knowledge needed to be prepared for breeding and puppies! Here are our dog-eared and well-read recommendations!
Every breeder should have this book in the library. Well written and packed with the information you need. Unfortunately it is out of print, so the best way to go is the Kindle version.
The Dog Breeder's Guide to Successful Breeding
Well-written and on a veterinary level of knowledge rather than the average dog owner. This guide is priceless for anyone is involved in any part of dog breeding, including veterinarians and vet techs!
Canine Reproduction and Neonatology
Ms. Harris has a series of books on breeding and whelping that are a must have for ALL dog breeders! Affordable books and easy to read a reference.
Canine Reproduction & Whelping: Breeder's Guide
Another Myra Savant Harris must have! And if you ever have a chance to attend one of her seminars, DO IT!
Advanced Canine Reproduction & Puppy Care Seminar
Newborn puppies are so delicate! This book will give you an edge on helping them survive. Her home-made formula for bottle feeding pups is priceless and probably helped save our litter of Irish Wolfhounds when their mom could not feed them and comm...
Puppy Intensive Care: A Breeder's Guide
College textbook that goes into more depth on medical issues you may face with newborn and older puppies.
Small Animal Pediatrics
Another must have recommended to us by long time dog breeders. IF you cannot find it on Amazon, look for it on Ebay!
Born to Win by Patricia V. Craige Hardcover
Great book to have but hard to find! Probably will need to look for on Ebay.
The New Art of Breeding Better Dogs
Reviews puppy's developmental stages and what breeders and owners can do to give them the most solid start in life possible.
Another Piece of the Puzzle: Puppy Development
Highly recommend this workbook for helping give your puppies a solid mental, social and physical start in life. Your puppy buyers will thank you for it. We always use these techniques for our puppies.
Puppy Culture WORKBOOK - Breeders Laminated Ed.
A definite must read! Very well written book about setting up puppies for a successful life starting from day one using science-based brain development coupled with experience. Many great ideas for breeders as well as puppy parents who are welcoming a puppy to their home.
Puppy Brain: How Our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love
Showing Dogs
Just getting started in the show ring? Here is a great place to start!
For anyone new to showing in conformation, this is a great book to have!! Laura explains how to succeed so well. Read this and then go listen to Pure Dog Talk Podcast!
Auntie Laura's Guide to Show Dogs: How to Stack
If you see anything by Hastings, definitely grab it! Well written and a great read for anyone who is starting out in the show ring.
Tricks of the Trade by Pat Hastings
Another great read for the new to dog showing!
Let's Make You a Winner: A Judge's Perspective
An oldy but a goody by a well-respected professional handler.
The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets
If you have a dog who is shy or scared in the show ring, this is definitely the book for you. Has been a huge help for a few of our more sensitive hounds. Check out her website for additional help.
From Shy to Showy: Help for Your Shy Show Dog
Understanding Dog Structure and Movement
Understanding structure and movement is a must for anyone who is involved in conformation, dog sports and breeding! Many of these were recommended to us by people who have been involved in all of the above for many years.
Seriously on of my favorites on this topic. So well written and illustrated that you should be able to develop better eye for these things after reading this.
An Eye For a Dog: Guide to Judging Purebred Dogs
Another Pat Hastings must have, this time on structure.
Structure in Action: The Makings of a Durable Dog
Yes, a book about judging dairy cattle! This is an out-of-print book that almost anyone who knows what they are doing recommends if you want to understand structure and body mechanics. If it is not available on Amazon, check out Ebay!
Dairy Cattle Judging Techniques
A must have for anyone who needs to know more about how dog's move. Breeders, judges, people who show as well as the veterinary community.
Dogsteps: A New Look, 3rd Edition (CompanionHouse)
Dog Stories, Biographies and History
Fiction, biographies and just plain fascinating dog books
Well, by now you should know we love Irish Wolfhounds, so no surprises this great read ended up on our list!
The Curious History of Irish Dogs
A touching true story that is so hard to put down!
Sight Hound: A Novel
Hard to put down story of a dog lover and her amazing dogs.
So That Others May Live: Caroline Hebard & SAR Dogs
An amazing read. Bought on Kindle originally and ended up purchasing the paperback to add to my collection. Fascinating stroll through history of dog breeds.
The Invention of the Modern Dog: Breed and Blood
This is an amazing read!! So fascinating how the role biochemistry plays in our evolution.
"Made for Each Other is the first book to explain how this chemistry of attraction and attachment flows through -- and between -- all mammals to create the pr...
Made for Each Other: The Biology of the Bond
This series is a must read for Wolfhound lovers! The author knows his hounds and is a great storyteller. Such a fun series. You will run into MANY hounds named after the characters in these books.
Hounded: Book One of The Iron Druid Chronicles
Health
Available in softcover and Kindle editions.
POOP! As every breeder and puppy owner knows, there is so much of it and it ends up EVERYWHERE! If you can't laugh while you clean up yet another stinky adventure, you may end up crying, and possibly gaggi...
Oh The Places You'll Go...POOP!: A Stinky Story