Recommended Books, Videos, and Resources

I decided to put together my favorite resources in one place. Hopefully you guys will love it, too! I'll add more to the list if I think of more.

Books
  • Control Unleashed: Puppy Program by Leslie McDevitt
    • This is my all-time favorite book. Although it says it's for puppies, this is the foundation I used for Pip, who was rescued as a young adult and is appropriate for dogs of all ages. I love that it considers the dog's needs physically, mentally, and emotionally. It has many games to help nervous dogs, excitable dogs, crazy dogs, and dogs of all types. As an added bonus, has colored pictures of cute puppies doing the exercises!
  • Dog Sports Skills (Book Series) by Denise Fenzi and Deb Jones
    • A comprehensive series that tackles specific topics such as relationship, motivation, play, and engagement which are important for a dog you want to do competitions with, but can definitely help round out training for anybody who wants to do more with their dogs. I play a lot of the games in these books to sharpen Pip's skills.
  • Perfect Puppy in 7 Days by Dr. Sophia Yin
    • An easy to follow book that has tried-and-true methods and written by the late Dr. Sophia Yin. She covers a wide range of topics and this book is geared more towards the pet dog and the pet owner rather than someone raising a performance prospect, but if you get bitten by the trial bug, you'll have a solid foundation to work from. Has a fantastic potty-training chapter.
  • BAT 2.0 by Grisha Stewart
    • Great read for reactive dogs (dogs who bark and lunge). Insightful for what's going on between your dog's ears when they are freaking out. Some people report that it can be a bit of a heavy read at times, but I used the concepts contained in the book to help Pip with her various fears. Remember, if your dog is aggressive, to go to a trainer to help you with that issue.
  • For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend by Patricia McConnell
    • This book is beautifully written. I hope everyone reads it. It is about the science of emotions as it relates to dogs. Anything by Patricia McConnell is gold, by the way. I would recommend any of her books. She always writes solid advice and in a way that is just lovely. She has many very short books about various behavior issues and topics that are wonderful.
  • When Pigs Fly: Training Success with Impossible Dogs by Jane Killion
    • Another one of my favorites. Do you have a dog that is stubborn? This book is for you! Written in a fun way, it's an easy read. It introduces interesting games and methods that might be the way to unlock a more independent mindset.
  • In FOCUS: Developing a Working Relationship With Your Performance Dog by Deb Jones and Judy Keller
    • Another book for a great foundation. Geared more towards those who have their sights set on some sort of dog sport, but you can get a lot of ideas from it and it's really cheap on Cleanrun.com right now.
  • Beyond the Backyard: Train Your Dog to Listen Anytime, Anywhere! by Denise Fenzi
    • This is the only book that really goes step-by-step with proofing and distraction training. If you have trouble building up your dog's behaviors against distractions, this book can really help you get to where you want to be. Pip and I do the exercises from this book to proof her obedience.
Videos & DVDs
  • Crate Games (DVD) by Susan Garrett
    • Pip loves her crate because of this DVD. When I first adopted Pip, she had a lot of issues with her crate. It's about $30, but is definitely worth every penny.
  • Kikopup Channel (YouTube)
    • Emily Larlham has trick tutorials, behavior tutorials, and more. She is a great trainer with very clean mechanics. Check out her videos! I highly recommend her! Her channel really got me into clicker training and I'm hooked!
  • Domesticated Manners Channel (YouTube)
    • Chirag Patel has interesting methods and works not just with dogs, but exotic animals as well. I use his tutorial for Drop It to create an Emergency Drop It. It has kept Pip safe two times without any struggle!
Other Resources
  • Fenzi Dog Sport Academy
    • Online classes for you and your dog! This is just the best for those who have busy dogs, but don't have the time or money for a class in their day. You get access to the information to teach more serious behaviors or work on fun stuff with your dog using positive methods instructed by some of the best trainers in the world! All for as little as $65 and you can apply for scholarships as well. It's a steal! I've done several classes with Pip and have had a lot of fun!

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