Dog Training Books

Dog Training Books

These are our reading recommendations for dog training books. They help understand dogs. Many are not dog-specific for an important reason. No longer can we pretend the neurology of dogs and humans is fundamentally different; it isn’t. Neuroscience constantly pushes our understanding forward, and we now know that the functions of the reptilian brain (layer one) and the limbic system (layer two) are the same in all ways that matter. Dogs also have a neo-cortex (layer three) and pre-frontal cortex (executive function).

The last two are different—mostly just smaller and less developed)—but where they are similar, dogs are closer to us than we previously thought. The idea that dog psychology is completely different from human psychology is outdated at this point. It really only holds from the perspective of dogs being apex predators, which has significant implications. In any case, anyone genuinely interested in understanding dogs and how to train them will find plenty of knowledge on these pages.

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Recommended Dog Training Books

Dog Training Book: Affective Neuroscience by Jaak Panksepp
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Affective Neuroscience by Jaak Panksepp

The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions.

Emotions drive behavior. This is a scientific book but very accessible. Understanding the affective systems in mammals is at the core of how we help insecure and fearful dogs. Through neuroscience, our understanding of the canine mind continues to expand. No longer do we train based on assumptions. We now can train with knowledge and the actual science behind it. To truly understand fear and aggression on a biological level, read this book!

Dog Training Book: Behave by Robert Sapolsky
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Behave by Robert Sapolsky

The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst.

This book is remarkable in its depth and range. Each section has a relatively technical part of what exactly is happening in the brain, but the myriad of examples and explanations make it all worth it, even if you are not a neuroscientist. A very important book to read and understand if you have any kind of interest of goes on inside a person or animal.

Dog Training Book: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
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The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.

This book will help you understand habits and reflexes better. This is highly relevant with regards to classical conditioning. It provides an in-depth look at the habit-forming abilities of mammalian brains. A key ingredient to training animals.

Recommended Dog Training Books

Dog Training Book: Range by David Epstein
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Range by David Epstein

Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.

This book is valuable in helping understand what makes one successful these days. The concepts apply to anyone in any profession and are worth understanding when building a (dog trainer) skill set.

Dog Training Book: The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
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The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

Greatness isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How.

Naturally, not everyone can become everything they want. I can learn to play the piano, but I will never be like Beethoven or Mozart, and I am perfectly okay with that. What this book offers are insights into what makes experts great at what they do and the principles that will serve you well in your own life and with training dogs.

Dog Training Book: The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge
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The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge

Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science.

This book is about the fascinating field of neuroplasticity. Understanding how brains learn, can change, re-learn and change into old age is invaluable in the context of training dogs. It allows for a deeper understanding of the internal processes during the training process.

Recommended Dog Training Books

Excel-erated Learning by Pamela J. Reid
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Excel-erated Learning by Pamela J. Reid

Explaining in plain English how dogs learn and how best to teach them.

A classic book on training dogs. Understanding the explained concepts is a good foundation for any trainer. Just remain flexible on some of the absolute numbers, like how many repetitions it takes for a dog to learn something. Those numbers are certainly incorrect.

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