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Dog books I wish every dog owner would read
65
items After working hands-on with fearful, shutdown, and fear-aggressive rescue dogs for over 20 years, I’ve learned that the right books can completely change how you understand your dog. This list features the qualified dog behavior professionals who go ...
Sections
4
Books on Dog Behavior
Books on Dog Training
Heartwarming Rescue Dog Tales
Inspiring Reads for Dog Owners
Books on Dog Behavior
These books helped me understand why dogs behave the way they do, especially fear, stress, and emotional responses. They’re the ones I recommend when someone wants insight, not quick fixes
Reveals why your dog isn't a wolf or a furry human! Learn how your dog's breed stereotypes might be misleading and why their individual quirks matter more
Dog Sense
Learn why "dominance" advice backfires and how dogs really want benevolent leaders, not alpha wanna-bes trying to boss them around
The Other End of the Leash
Stop guessing about your dog's behavior and get expert-backed answers on everything from OCD to aggression from the pros who study it (Audio CD )
Decoding Your Dog
Why do dogs do that? World-renowned expert Stanley Coren answers puzzling questions about learning, creativity, and how dogs interpret their human companions
How Dogs Think: What the World Looks Like to Them and Why They Act the Way They Do
Does your dog feel guilty or just want your sandwich? Cognitive science answers the questions every dog owner has wondered about
The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs Are Smarter Than You Think
Not just about fixing problems—this is about forging the kind of deep, soulful bond with your dog that changes everything. Plus, it has the best quote on losing a beloved dog that I've ever read
Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships with Dogs
Dogs feel fear, anger, surprise, sadness, and love—discover how they express emotions similarly to humans and what those floppy ears really hide
For the Love of a Dog
Finally understand what your dog is trying to tell you—decode body language, sounds, and movements with a handy "Doggish" phrasebook and visual glossary
How To Speak Dog: Mastering the Art of Dog-Human Communication
Dogs communicate with more than barks: learn how ears, eyes, mouth, tail, and posture reveal emotions you might be missing
Doggie Language
The groundbreaking book that reshaped dog training by recognizing dogs aren't furry humans. Also one of the first books I ever read when I started studying canine behavior!
Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs
A shy terrier named Callie helps unlock the mystery: do dogs love us the way we love them? The answer will move you
How Dogs Love Us
As her dog Cricket paced, circled, forgot to drink water, and stood in corners, author Eileen developed methods to help—now she shares them for owners weathering the heartbreaking condition of doggy dementia
Remember Me? Loving and Caring for a Dog with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
Replace anthropomorphizing with true understanding: learn why dogs sniff emotions, hear insect vibrations, and use their mouths like hands
Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know
Understand why your dog acts out and fix it: practical, positive training solutions from a qualified seasoned trainer who gets it
The Dog Behavior Problem Solver
Easy reading for busy dog lovers—Q&A format tackles behavior questions with research-based clarity and the trademark wit that made Jean Donaldson a bestselling author
Oh Behave! Dogs from Pavlov to Premack to Pinker
Learn to assess and solve behavior problems like a pro—science-based methods that work for dogs, cats, horses, and beyond
Solving Dog Behavior Problems
Do dogs really think and feel guilt, loyalty, or joy? Psychologist Stanley Coren answers fascinating questions about what's truly going on inside your dog's head
The Intelligence of Dogs
Books on Dog Training
These books focus on humane, science-based training that builds trust rather than inaccurate and outdated notions of control, coercion, compliance, dominance, and the alpha dog. They are the books I return to when I want training that actually works ...
From reading body language to phasing out food rewards, get everything you need to train with kindness and achieve lasting results
The Power of Positive Dog Training
From your first day together to lifelong habits: the only guide you need for creating a well-socialized, happily trained companion
Dog Training Made Simple
Humane positive redirection for everything: submissive peeing, vacuum fear, growling, visitor jumping—create a happy, well-mannered canine companion at home
Dog Training 101
Must-have for new and experienced owners: behavioral insights help you understand what your dog is thinking while clear visuals ensure training success
The Beginner's Dog Training Guide: How to Train a Superdog, Step by Step
Harvard of dog training comes home: Jean Donaldson's trusted, systematic approach with 2.5 hours of bonus video showing exactly how to do each technique
Train Your Dog Like a Pro
Transform your Energizer Bunny into a calm, focused companion with 11 enrichment games that exercise both mind and body
Enrichment Games for High-Energy Dogs
More than fetch and tug—discover how play acts as emotional therapy, stress relief, and relationship-building tool for your best friend
Play with Your Dog
Wide-ranging look at how troublesome behaviors develop plus practical management strategies for trainers and motivated dog owners alike
Beware of the Dog: Positive Solutions for Aggressive Behavior in Dogs
Comprehensive hope for aggressive dogs: cruelty-free methods, step-by-step exercises, real case studies, and expert interviews to rehabilitate serious behavioral issues
Positive Training for Aggressive and Reactive Dogs
Stop the lunging and snarling—figure out what's triggering your dog's reactive behavior and teach them positive interactions with other dogs
Fight! A Practical Guide to the Treatment of Dog-Dog Aggression
Short, practical, and to the point—everything you need to understand why your dog guards and how to fix it safely
Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs
Every rescue deserves another chance. This book is your roadmap for success with adoptees, strays, and dogs with "issues" using positive training techniques
Do Over Dogs: Give Your Dog a Second Chance for a First Class Life
Short, focused guide to separation anxiety: assess the problem, manage it effectively, and create a dog who feels secure when left alone
I'll Be Home Soon: How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety
Author Malena trained a worldwide network of Canine Separation Anxiety Trainers and collected the data—now she shares breakthrough approaches that transform separation anxiety treatment in dogs
Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Readers call it "the book fearful dog owners have been waiting for"—easy to follow, reference-worthy strategies for lasting, compassionate change
Inspiring Resilience in Fearful and Reactive Dogs
Stop letting fear control your dog's world—practical techniques for addressing phobias and building confidence through proven behavioral methods
The Cautious Canine: How to Help Dogs Conquer Their Fears
Dozens of color photos plus videos show you what socialization actually looks like when things go well and when they don't—real-life examples you can follow
Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It
From the woman who developed clicker training: engrossing account of how animals and people think, behave, and communicate through positive reinforcement
Reaching the Animal Mind
Karen Pryor wrote the book (literally) on clicker training—learn general obedience, tricks, and problem-solving through revolutionary positive reinforcement
Clicker Training for Dogs
From basic through advanced, this manual teaches you how behavior actually works and how to engineer it ethically without coercion or gimmicks
The Science and Technology of Dog Training
Stop searching endless resources—this comprehensive handbook gives trainers and pet parents a roadmap to calm greetings, lightning recall, and lasting bonds
The Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook
This one's for the pros: Your skills with dogs mean nothing if people won't cooperate—practical strategies for collaboration, commitment, and overcoming common objections
The Human Half of Dog Training
From clawing cats to "dominant" dogs (spoiler: it's a myth!), learn how evolution shapes behavior and how to fix house training headaches
Competability: Solving Behavior Problems in Your Cat-Dog Household
Heartwarming Rescue Dog Tales
From shelter to forever home: heartwarming true stories of resilient dogs who found their people and changed lives along the way
Heartwarming rescues that go beyond companionship: watch how Battersea's dogs and cats heal trauma, unite soulmates, and become unexpected heroes
Lost and Found: True Tales of Love and Rescue from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
You don't need to be an expert to make a difference—world-renowned advocate Rocky Kanaka's rescue tales prove that love and patience are all it takes to save a life
Sitting with Dogs: Stories of Rescue Dogs Going from Lost to Loved
From notorious puppy mills to loving families: inspiring rescue stories and expert advice on understanding your shelter dog's unique needs and personality
Rescue Dogs: Where They Come From, Why They Act the Way They Do, and How to Love Them Well
One litter, three puppies, a lifetime of antics: follow the adorable siblings who've stayed so close they're practically "one dog with twelve legs"
Muffin, Digby And Petal: Together Forever
When owner Colin needed a partner and Molly needed a purpose, magic happened: watch how a black Spaniel's scent-detection skills and a man's determination reunite beloved cats with their families
Molly: The True Story of the Amazing Dog Who Rescues Cats
Heartwarming stories of how rescue dogs help their owners through depression, grief, and tough times—proof that saving a dog saves you too
We Saved Each Other: How Rescue Dogs Help Us Through Hardship
Meet Cassie, the pocket-sized terrier with oversized attitude—a rescue dog's heartwarming story of boundless energy, bravery, and irresistible charm
Cassie's Tale
Take a personality test to find your perfect canine match!
Why We Love the Dogs We Do
True rescue stories that capture the joy, frustration, and profound impact foster pets have on our lives—you'll want to read them again and again
Dogged and Determined: True Tales of Rescued Dogs and Cats... And The Lessons They Taught
Meet 60+ adorable rescue dogs with unforgettable quirks—from fashion-forward Killian to loud-snoring Jet—and the families who gave them forever homes
Gotcha Day!: Adoption Tales of Remarkable Rescue Dogs
Meet the dogs who changed one man's life through poetry—heartwarming tales of Woofer, Trey, Snuffles, and more, and the love that flows both ways
Rescue Dogs
Inspiring Reads for Dog Owners
These are the stories that stay with you — rescue journeys, acts of quiet heroism, and the powerful bond between dogs and the people who love them. I come back to these when I need reminding just how much dogs can change our lives
From near-death in a hospital to saving 10,000 street dogs: one man's raw, heartwarming journey of redemption through rescue work
Hope - How Street Dogs Taught Me the Meaning of Life
Lassie who? Ginny the rescue dog burrows through broken glass and navigates impossible odds to save the cats nobody else can find
The Blessing of the Animals: True Stories of Ginny, the Dog Who Rescues Cats
Heartbreaking abuse couldn't destroy their spirit: the pit bulls who still wanted to be man's best friend, and the team who gave them one
The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption
From reconnecting lost lovers to ruining everything—a joyful tribute to the first-ever domesticated animal and their place in human history
Dogs Who Changed the World
No one understood author Coleen's devastation over losing her dog Mico—now she helps pet parents, vets, and death-care professionals honor the bonds that matter
Pet Parents: A Journey Through Unconditional Love and Grief
Twenty thousand years of loyalty distilled into astonishing journeys—from polar expeditions to WWI and WWII heroics that saved countless lives
Heroic Dogs (Volume 1)
Dogs who shield toddlers, perform the Heimlich, and pull paraplegics from burning trucks—proof that dogs are lifesavers, not just loyal companions
Heroic Dogs (Volume 2)
Hundreds of real dog owners share true tales: from Ma-Buku the drumming Chihuahua to Bocci who needs a "reset" when pagers beep
Dog Tales: Hundreds of Heartwarming, Face-Licking, Tail-Wagging Tales about Dogs
Bestselling dog trainer's deepest bond teaches her hardest lesson: to save Will from dangerous behavior, she must first find her own will to heal
The Education of Will: Healing a Dog, Facing My Fears, Reclaiming My Life
Hilarious commentary meets tender tales of hiking Scottish glens with two unforgettable dogs
Olive, Mabel & Me: Life and Adventures with Two Very Good Dogs
Humans use words, dogs use body language—learn how to bridge the communication gap and strengthen the relationship between two very different species
Tales of Two Species: Essays on Loving and Living with Dogs
Discover why we're hardwired to love pets—leading expert John Bradshaw explores the evolutionary empathy that makes cats and dogs family, not just companions
The Animals Among Us: How Pets Make Us Human
Meet the canine heroes who worked tirelessly at Ground Zero—a tribute to the incredible dogs who served during America's darkest hours
Rescue Dogs on 9/11
Do dogs recognize themselves in mirrors or understand TV? Get expert answers to 75 fascinating questions with the charm of a cocktail party conversation
Do Dogs Dream?: Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know