7 Best-Selling Dog Training Books Millions Love

Veterinarian and animal behaviorist Ian Dunbar and other experts recommend these best-selling Dog Training Books with proven results and lasting impact.

Updated on June 29, 2025
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There's something special about books that both critics and crowds love—especially when it comes to training your dog. Dog training has grown into a field where proven methods backed by experts make all the difference in shaping a happy, well-behaved companion. Millions of dog owners have turned to a select few guides that combine clear instruction with practical wisdom, making training approachable and effective.

Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist with decades of experience, highlights Zak George's Dog Training Revolution as indispensable for dog lovers. His endorsement reflects the book's widespread popularity and practical value, showing how expert insight can align perfectly with what readers find useful.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Dog Training needs might consider creating a personalized Dog Training book that combines these validated approaches with your unique situation, making training even more effective and enjoyable.

Best for practical, engaging methods
Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist with decades of experience, highlights this book as indispensable for dog lovers. He praises its "wealth of practical tips, tricks, and fun games" that enhance the lives of both dogs and their owners. This endorsement from a respected expert aligns with the widespread popularity Zak George’s methods have gained, making it clear why so many turn to this guide for raising well-behaved, happy pets.

Recommended by Ian Dunbar

Veterinarian and animal behaviorist

Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution is a must-read for dog lovers everywhere. It has a wealth of practical tips, tricks, and fun games that will enrich the lives of many dogs and their human companions. (from Amazon)

2016·240 pages·Dog Training, Dog Owner, Dog, Pets, Dog Behavior

Unlike most dog training books that focus on rigid commands, Zak George's approach tailors techniques to your dog's unique personality and energy level. Drawing from his extensive YouTube experience and television background, Zak and Dina Roth Port guide you through everything from selecting the right puppy to addressing common behavioral challenges like leash pulling and barking. The book offers practical chapters on housetraining, health care essentials, and fun activities, all supported by corresponding videos for visual learners. Whether you’re a new dog owner or looking to deepen your bond, this guide equips you with methods to make training enjoyable and effective for both you and your pet.

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Best for first-time puppy owners
What makes this guide unique in dog training is Cesar Millan’s focus on the earliest stages of a dog’s life, offering a blueprint for raising puppies into balanced adults. Its widespread popularity stems from its clear, accessible advice drawn from Cesar’s hands-on experience with various breeds. The book covers everything from housebreaking to nutrition and leadership, providing practical frameworks for preventing common behavior issues. Anyone welcoming a new puppy will find this an essential companion for nurturing a happy, well-adjusted dog and establishing a strong, respectful relationship from day one.

The methods Cesar Millan developed while raising popular dog breeds shine through in this guide tailored for puppy owners. It focuses on essential early-life foundations like housebreaking, nutrition, vaccination balance, and calm-assertive leadership to prevent future behavior problems. You’ll find detailed advice on managing puppy development stages, setting boundaries, and correcting issues before they escalate, all conveyed in a straightforward, approachable style. This book suits anyone committed to building a respectful, lifelong bond with their dog, especially first-time puppy parents seeking clarity amid the many training myths.

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Best for custom training plans
This AI-created book on retriever training is crafted based on your current knowledge, training goals, and specific retriever interests. By sharing what aspects of training you want to focus on and your background, the content is tailored to match your needs precisely. This personalized approach makes it easier to concentrate on the essential methods and develop effective, clear training steps that work for you and your dog.
2025·50-300 pages·Dog Training, Retriever Training, Obedience Commands, Recall Techniques, Retrieving Skills

This tailored book explores focused and practical methods for training retrievers, combining widely validated knowledge with your unique interests and background. It examines essential training techniques including obedience, recall, retrieving commands, and stamina building, all designed to match your experience level and specific goals. By centering on your preferred sub-topics and challenges, it reveals how to build effective communication and strengthen the bond with your retriever. The personalized content ensures you engage deeply with the material most relevant to you, making learning efficient and enjoyable. Whether you're a beginner or advancing your skills, this book would carefully address your retriever training journey with clarity and enthusiasm.

AI-Tailored Guide
Retriever Skill Focus
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for beginner-friendly puppy training
Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps offers a straightforward roadmap to raising a happy, well-mannered puppy by blending positive reinforcement with a deep understanding of canine behavior. This guide’s stepwise approach breaks down essential skills like crate and potty training, socialization, and leash walking, making it accessible for first-time puppy owners eager to build a strong bond with their new companion. Its focus on seeing the world through your puppy’s eyes helps you address training challenges with patience and insight, making this book a practical companion for anyone embarking on the rewarding journey of puppy ownership.
2019·178 pages·Dog Training, Dog Owner, Dog, Behavior, Positive Reinforcement

The methods Zoom Room Dog Training and Mark Van Wye developed while working directly with puppies come through clearly in this accessible guide. You’ll learn how to combine positive reinforcement with your puppy’s natural instincts, mastering essential skills like crate training, socialization, leash walking, and managing food aggression. The book goes beyond commands by helping you understand why your puppy behaves the way it does through insights into their perspective and body language. If you’re just starting out and want a relaxed but effective approach to raising a well-mannered dog, this book offers clear, progressive steps that build confidence for both you and your puppy.

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Best for trick training enthusiasts
101 Dog Tricks captures the attention of dog owners seeking a structured yet engaging way to teach their pets new skills. This international bestseller, translated into 18 languages and selling over half a million copies, offers a thoughtfully organized approach with clear photos and difficulty ratings, which many have found helpful for progressing at their own pace. The book covers everything from simple commands to impressive tricks like tidying toys or dancing, making it valuable for anyone wanting to deepen the connection with their dog while keeping training fun and varied.
2007·208 pages·Dog Training, Dog Owner, Dog, Pet Care, Trick Training

After analyzing countless training methods, Kyra Sundance developed this guide to make dog tricks accessible and enjoyable. You get detailed, step-by-step instructions with photos for a wide range of tricks, from basics like Sit and Shake Hands to advanced feats like fetching a soda. The book’s structure, with difficulty ratings and troubleshooting tips, helps you tailor sessions to your dog's progress. Whether you want to strengthen your bond or introduce your dog to sports or therapy activities, this book offers clear pathways and creative ideas, making it a fit for both new and experienced dog owners.

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Best for relationship-focused training
How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend by the Monks of New Skete has shaped dog training for over 25 years, offering a unique approach grounded in deep understanding and respect for canine nature. This revised edition preserves their proven methods while updating guidance for today's dog owners, covering everything from choosing the right dog to managing behavior and care across environments. The book's balanced philosophy and practical insights make it a trusted guide for anyone seeking to build a meaningful relationship with their dog.
2002·336 pages·Dog Training, Dog Owner, Dog, Pets, Behavior Management

Unlike most dog training books that emphasize quick fixes, the Monks of New Skete draw from over four decades of breeding and training German shepherds to present a philosophy centered on understanding your dog's nature. This revised edition updates their classic approach, guiding you through selecting the right dog for your lifestyle, interpreting canine behavior, and applying praise and discipline effectively. You'll gain insights into managing common behavioral problems and customizing care based on your environment, whether city or country. If you're looking for a thoughtful, relationship-based manual that goes beyond commands to enrich your life with your dog, this book offers a solid foundation.

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Best for personal training plans
This AI-created book on puppy training is tailored to your experience level and specific goals. By sharing what you want to focus on and your background, the book is created to match exactly the training steps you need. Personalized to combine widely trusted techniques with your unique situation, it helps you achieve fast and effective puppy training results without sifting through unrelated material.
2025·50-300 pages·Dog Training, Puppy Training, Basic Obedience, Behavior Management, Housebreaking

This tailored puppy training book offers a step-by-step guide designed to align precisely with your background, experience level, and training goals. It explores proven techniques that millions of dog owners have valued, while focusing on your specific interests to ensure the fastest training progress possible. The book covers essential topics from basic obedience to behavior management, revealing how to create effective routines and build a strong bond with your puppy. By combining popular knowledge with your personalized needs, this book provides a focused learning experience that makes puppy training more approachable and rewarding.

Tailored Guide
Rapid Training Methods
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for working retriever training
Water Dog: Revolutionary Rapid Training Method holds a unique place in dog training literature, prized for its clear, efficient approach tailored to busy owners of working retrievers. This book’s step-by-step picture sequences and focus on mental development offer straightforward guidance from puppyhood through advanced training stages. Its practical emphasis on commands and the innovative Dummy-Launch device make training accessible and enjoyable. If you want a no-nonsense manual that respects your time and aims for real results, this book delivers practical techniques that have resonated with generations of retriever owners.
1964·179 pages·Dog Training, Dog, Dog Owner, Retriever Training, Puppy Development

Unlike most dog training books that meander through theory, Richard Wolters and Art Smith deliver a focused guide designed for those pressed for time yet eager to train a working retriever efficiently. You’ll find a detailed, step-by-step regimen beginning from your puppy’s first day, with clear picture sequences illustrating each phase. The authors dive into the mental development of your dog, emphasizing realistic expectations for both owner and pet. Notably, the book covers practical use of commands and introduces the Dummy-Launch training device, bringing a hands-on approach that keeps sessions engaging. This is a solid fit if you need a straightforward, time-conscious training plan without fluff.

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Best for hunting dog training
Gun Dog: Revolutionary Rapid Training Method offers a structured approach for anyone looking to quickly train a gun dog tailored for upland bird hunting. It stands out by combining scientific insights on canine mental growth with practical, stepwise instructions and visual aids that make the training accessible even to amateurs. The book helps you transform your dog into a disciplined hunting partner who also fits seamlessly into family life. This guide addresses the need for an efficient, reproducible training method, making it a valuable resource for hunters eager to take control of their dog's development.
Gun Dog: Revolutionary Rapid Training Method book cover

by Richard A. Wolters, John W. Randolph·You?

1961·150 pages·Dog Training, Hunting Dogs, Behavior Training, Command Training, Tool Use

Drawing from decades of experience in upland bird hunting, Richard A. Wolters crafted this guide to help you train a gun dog rapidly and effectively. The book breaks down the training process into clear, picture-backed steps that cover the dog's mental development and hunting commands, tailored for amateurs who want hands-on involvement. You'll learn how to use specific training tools to shape disciplined behavior, turning your dog into both a reliable hunting partner and a family companion. This methodical approach benefits hunters seeking a practical, manageable way to develop their dog's skills without professional assistance.

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Popular Dog Training Strategies Tailored

Get proven popular methods without generic advice that doesn’t fit your dog’s unique needs.

Proven training techniques
Customized learning plans
Effective behavior solutions

Validated by expert endorsement and countless dog owners worldwide

Retriever Training Blueprint
30-Day Puppy Success System
Foundations of Dog Obedience
Dog Training Mastery Code

Conclusion

These 7 best-selling Dog Training books share key themes: clear, step-by-step guidance; expert-backed philosophies; and practical strategies that readers have tested with success. If you prefer proven methods with a focus on puppy basics, How to Raise the Perfect Dog and Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps offer solid starts. For those drawn to relationship-building approaches, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend provides thoughtful insights.

To blend practical training with engaging activities, Zak George's Dog Training Revolution and 101 Dog Tricks deliver rich, actionable content. Meanwhile, Water Dog and Gun Dog stand out for specialized training of working and hunting dogs.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Dog Training book to combine proven methods with your unique needs, ensuring your training journey is as effective as possible. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed in raising well-behaved, happy dogs.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with Zak George's Dog Training Revolution for practical, engaging methods that fit most dog owners. It's accessible and endorsed by expert Ian Dunbar, providing a solid foundation before exploring more specialized books.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Dog Training?

No, several books like Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps and How to Raise the Perfect Dog are designed specifically for beginners, guiding you through foundational skills with clear, easy-to-follow steps.

Can I skip around or do I need to read them cover to cover?

You can definitely skip around. Many books, such as 101 Dog Tricks, are structured by topic and skill level, letting you focus on areas most relevant to your dog's current training needs.

Which books focus more on theory vs. practical application?

How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend leans into the philosophy and relationship side, while Zak George's Dog Training Revolution and Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps offer hands-on, practical techniques you can apply right away.

Are any of these books outdated given how fast Dog Training changes?

Most included books remain relevant due to their timeless training principles and expert backing. For the latest trends and personalized advice, combining classics with modern methods like Zak George's can be very effective.

How can personalized Dog Training books complement these expert guides?

Personalized books build on expert methods by tailoring content to your dog's breed, age, and behavior. They complement classics by focusing on your unique challenges and goals. Learn more about creating your own tailored Dog Training book.

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