Our recommended reading list for people who want to show, train and breed dogs. 🐾
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!
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.
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!!
Positive trainer who explains how to train your dog beyond the basics. Well written and easy to understand.
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.
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...
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!
Well written and easy to read book about Irish Wolfhounds.
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.
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!
Another hard-to-find out of print book that can occasionally be found on Amazon but Ebay is another great place to look.
Dog Breeding
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.
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!
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.
Another Myra Savant Harris must have! And if you ever have a chance to attend one of her seminars, DO IT!
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...
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!
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.
Another great read for the new to dog showing!
An oldy but a goody by a well-respected professional handler.
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.
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.
Another Pat Hastings must have, this time on structure.
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!
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.
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!
A touching true story that is so hard to put down!
Hard to put down story of a dog lover and her amazing 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.
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...
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...