Do Dog Training Books Really Work?

Training your dog to follow commands is just as much about convenience as it is about the coolness factor. Even the most basic skills like teaching your dog to stay in its place until prompted come is a handy tool to keep in your pocket. Unfortunately, the process of getting to this well-trained state is anything but simple, and most people have no idea where to start.

Online training videos can be a good jumping-off point. But there’s only so much you can learn and subsequently teach your dog from a 10-15 minute video. A better source of knowledge appears to be the dog training books, at least on paper (no pun intended). That said, how effective are these books in reality? And does their advice work with untrained dogs? Let’s find out.

Quality Matters

Yes, these books can be a super-effective source for training your dog and teaching them useful behaviors. But, just like anything else on the market, not all dog training books are created equal. Even among the highest-rated training books on the planet, there are many that dish out inaccurate information. In reality, many books are created to show you cool dog tricks— not necessarily feasible tips. For instance, not many dog owners will be able to teach their dog how to fetch them a soda from the garage fridge.

Following the inadequate advice in a large number of these books is extremely counterproductive. Not teaching your dogs the right skills is one thing, but some of their advice can make the dog behave opposite to what you want. The dysfunctional training methods in these low-quality dog training books can also have negative effects on your dog’s mental health and stability.

Finding the Right Book

The first big challenge of training your dog from a book is actually finding the right book. Here are a few key elements you need to look out for:

Accuracy of Information

Make sure ALL the information in the training book of your choice is accurate. There is very little room for error here, so you need to be vigilant when making a choice. A great way of undertaking this evaluation is to find a few of the highest-rated books on the market and read reviews about each of them. This includes customer reviews from ordinary folks and expert reviews from experts in dog psychology and behavior.

Detail of Procedure

Make sure that the book goes into proper detail about every technique and skill so you can be as thorough as possible. Not having all the important details can slow down the training process considerably and make certain results completely unachievable.

Topics

Not all dog training books will cover every possible skill you can teach to your dog. That’s why it is a good idea to skim through the contents of a book before you buy it. Ensure that it has every trick you’d like to train your dog for in addition to some of the basic stuff like “stay” and “come here”.

Final Words

High-quality dog training books require some research to find, but they are so worth it. Besides a good book, all you need is lots of patience and consistency.