Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps: Everything You Need to Know
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Read the article →Topic · Dog Training Books
Dog Training Books
Twelve honest reviews of the dog training books actually worth your money. We’ve read every one cover-to-cover. The takes are unsponsored, the picks are real, and the bad parts get called out alongside the good.
12
Books reviewed
100%
Read fully
2026
Updated
Where to start
First-time owner?
"Where do I even start?"
Lucky Dog Lessons. The 7-day plan from Brandon McMillan is the cleanest entry into training without overwhelming you.
See our review →Reactive dog?
"My dog loses it on leash."
Annie Phenix’s book is the one we hand out for fear-aggression and reactivity. CPDT-KA-credentialed, 25 years of experience.
See our review →Past the basics?
"My dog has all the basics down."
101 Dog Tricks by Kyra Sundance. The reference book. Every trick photographed step-by-step.
See our review →All Dog Training Books articles
Fresh from our team — practical guides updated as we publish them.
Dog Training for Kids: Fun and Easy Ways to Care for Your Furry Friend
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Read the article →Unveiling the Essence: Dog Training for Dummies
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Read the article →101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Train Your Dog
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Read the article →Positive Training for Aggressive and Reactive Dogs
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Read the article →Zak George’s Guide to a Well-Behaved Dog
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Read the article →How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond
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Read the article →Lucky Dog Lessons: Train Your Dog in 7 Days
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Read the article →The Big Book of Tricks for the Best Dog Ever
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Read the article →Dog Training Bible: Using Positive Reinforcement Training
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Read the article →No Nonsense Dog Training: A Complete Guide
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Top pick · Best overall
Lucky Dog Lessons: Train Your Dog in 7 Days
If you’re going to read one dog training book, this is it. Brandon McMillan is the Emmy-winning trainer behind CBS’s Lucky Dog, and his 7-day framework strips away the philosophy and gives you a working method. The 7-day promise is optimistic for your average pet dog — expect 2-3 weeks — but the techniques are sound, kind, and they actually work. We’ve recommended this book more times than any other.
Read our full review →Common questions about our reviews
How do we pick which books to review?
We read every book we review, cover-to-cover. We won’t review a book based on a summary or someone else’s take. The list skews toward positive-reinforcement methods because that’s what current research supports, but we include older "balanced" methodologies too when they’re well-written.
Why isn’t [bestselling book] on this list?
Either we haven’t read it yet, or we’ve read it and didn’t think it warranted a recommendation. Bestseller status doesn’t equal good methodology — some of the most popular dog books rest on outdated dominance theory we don’t endorse.
Are these reviews sponsored?
No. We don’t accept review copies in exchange for coverage, no author has paid us, no publisher has had editorial influence. The Amazon links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission if you buy. That’s the only commercial relationship.
What if I disagree with a take?
Great. Dog training has factions and reasonable people land in different places. Each review explains why we landed where we did so you can decide whether the methodology fits your dog. The pure-positive vs balanced debate has been going for 30 years and it’s not over.
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