There is so much to Learn!!!

While skimming through some book recommendations I couldn't help but think that there have been so many wonderful new books published on training and behavior and that I rarely see them on the shelves of pet or book stores. They still stock the same old titles.
So much has changed in dog training over the last 10 or more years; there is a movement towards more dog friendly, science-based and effective training methods. Recently I loaned one of my favorite books to my boss, and the first thing she commented on was "I didn't know you could train 6 week old puppies!"
So instead of addressing a specific training subject, this article is about where to find information, books, websites and videos.
The first part is about books and videos. All of them should be available at DogWise.com; their phone number is 1-800-776-2665.
Everybody should have the first 4 titles before buying any special interest titles. There really is so much to learn about man's and woman's best friend. The more we know about them, the better we understand them, and the more effective we learn to communicate with them, the richer and more rewarding our relationships with them will be.

A. General Interest:

The other End of the Leash, by Patricia McConnell PhD
One of my favorite books ever. It's about communication between two species, us, the humans, and dogs. This book is loaded with useful information. It will improve the way you communicate with your dogs, speed up training and give you a whole new appreciation for sharing your lives with these wonderful animals. Patricia owns a Great Pyrenees, and she always mentions her in her books.
Beginning Family Dog Training, by Patricia McConnell PhD
Another fabulous book by Dr. McConnell. This is not a book about clicker training, but a no-nonsense book about training and living with dogs. This would be a great book to recommend for anybody who acquires an adult dog. Of course it's great for new puppy owners too, but there are a few puppy books too that prospective puppy owners need to read. The only thing I am not happy about with this book is the booklist in the back. But since this book wasn't written in the last few years, it reflects what was available back then.
The Culture Clash, by Jean Donaldson
Jean is the training director for the San Francisco SPCA. This book has a lot of information about preventing and correcting behavior problems as well as information about obedience training with positive reinforcement. One of the most popular books among modern dog trainers.
Book and video about Calming Signals, by Turid Rugaas
There is much more to canine body language than a wagging tail. Understanding just why your dog turns his head away or comes to you very slow is important if we want to successfully train our dogs and live with them in harmony.

B. Special Interest:

1. Puppies:
Puppies for Dummies by Sarah Hodgson
The power of positive dog training, by Pat Miller This is an all-around good dog training book. Lots of instructions on how to teach your dog/puppy everything she needs to know.
2. Clicker Training:
Click for Joy, by Melissa Alexander
This is the book to learn everything you need to know about clicker training. It is the only book of its kind, and there is no better book to explain learning theory in a way that is easy to understand and fun to read. If you have not tried clicker training or have heard about it, but what you heard didn't sound all that exciting, read this book.
3. Behavior Problems:
Aggression:
Feisty Fido, by Patricia McConnell PhD.
A book about how to work with dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs. The book really explains step by step how to work with your dog- aggressive dog. The video below covers the material in this book.
Dog-Dog aggression video, by Patricia McConnell PhD.
3 videos of a seminar on dog-dog aggression. You can observe how to work with dog-aggressive dogs. I always find it very useful to be able to actually see effective training methods put into action. This video covers all the material in the Feisty Fido book above.
The cautious canine, by Patricia McConnell PhD.
Most aggressive dogs are actually afraid and are aggressive to protect themselves. This book explains how systematic desensitization works.
Mine, by Jean Donaldson
If you have a dog that aggressively guards food and other resources, and you want to teach your dog that he can trust you with his possessions, this is the book for you.
Separation Anxiety:
I will be home soon, by Patricia McConnell PhD.
This book will help you to gain a better understanding of separation anxiety and it will help you to determine if your dog is simply bored or actually suffers from separation anxiety. The book explains how to desensitize your dog so she can feel comfortable when you have to leave her alone.
4. Conformation Show Training:
Click to win, by Karen Pryor
I have not personally read this book, but I trust Karen that it is a winner.
There are a lot more great books and videos on the market. For additional lists of recommended books go to www.apdt.com as well as www.clickersolutions.com. These lists are kept up-to-date, so they are a great place to start looking for gifts for all your dog-loving friends, puppy buyers and adopters of rescue dogs, as well as for those who are thinking about surrendering their dogs to shelters or rescue

C. Websites:

The following websites have lots of good information and links to other sites:
Clicker Solutions
Clickertraining
Shirley Chong
Dog training sports
Suzanne Clothier article collection

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