New Dog Owners: 15 Best Books For A Pawsitive Start!
When you get a dog for the very first time, there are so many things you need to learn to make sure he stays happy and healthy.
There’s also a lot of information out there, and it can be hard to know where to start. You might feel overwhelmed with all the different advice.
How should you set up your new puppy’s environment? How do you manage a feisty adolescent (yes, teenage dogs really are a thing!)? What about if you’ve adopted an adult rescue and you want to give him the best chance of success in his new life?
So much to consider! To make it a little easier, I’ve put together a list of the 15 best books I think every new dog owner should have in their library.
Whatever your pup’s age, breed, or background, these books will help you better understand your canine friend and give you the tools you need to successfully navigate the journey of being a pet parent.
JUMP TO THE BEST BOOKS FOR:
- New puppy owners
- New owners of dog teenagers
- Owners of newly adopted adult or rescue dogs
- Canine body language and emotions
- Dogs in homes with babies and children
- Dog play and enrichment
- Extra reading
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1. The Puppy Survival Guide – Sarah Whitehead
Full disclosure: when I was first starting out on my journey into dog behavior, I attended a clicker training workshop hosted by Sarah.
It was great fun and we got to practice our newly learned skills on a bunch of adorable rescue puppies. So I know first-hand that Sarah is the real deal and that’s why I’m starting with one of her (many) publications that also happens to be one of my favorite books.
That said, if you’re looking for the perfect resource to help you stay on top of your new pup’s shenanigans, look no further than The Puppy Survival Guide to get you started.
This condensed, affordable pamphlet is packed with helpful tips and advice for first-time puppy owners. It covers all the common canine habits, from barking and biting to going to the bathroom in the wrong places.
Thanks to Sarah’s insightful information and straightforward instructions, you’ll be able to sort out your pup’s potty training habits and create a better life for both of you in no time, and this little book provides all the essential tips that will help make living with your dog hassle-free.
2. Perfect Puppy In 7 Days – Sophia Yin
This comprehensive and visually-rich book provides essential information about puppy development, socialization, and learning, along with step-by-step instructions for building a strong bond between you and your pup.
Expertly written by the late great Sophia Yin with helpful illustrations and analogies, this informative guide is a must-have for new puppy owners – or indeed any puppy parent.
With clear instruction, reward-based methods, and Dr. Yin’s easy-to-follow plan, you will be well on your way to raising a happy and confident adult dog.
3. Ultimate Guide to Dog Training: Puppy Training to Advanced Techniques – Teoti Anderson
Thinking about getting a new furry family member but unsure of how to train him? Look no further than Teoti Anderson’s Ultimate Guide to Dog Training.
This step-by-step guide provides new puppy parents with must-have instructions for puppy training using positive reinforcement training methods, as well as socialization, and even solutions for the most common behavior problems.
Teoti brings years of experience and presents her material in an accessible way with easy-to-understand scientific explanations. With the help of this book, you will have all the tools necessary to nurture a well-mannered and beloved pet.
4. Adolescent Dog Survival Guide – Sarah Whitehead
Need help with turning a rambunctious pup into an obedient companion? Sarah Whitehead’s Adolescent Dog Survival Guide is the answer.
This 17-page booklet gives owners exactly the support they need, providing tools and techniques to help them make it through the temporary stage of canine adolescence relatively unscathed.
From positive dog-friendly methods to tips on patience, this book is an easy read for any pet parent. Professionals highly recommend it too — Sarah’s expertise has helped many of their clients, so why not your pup too?
5. Love Has No Age Limit: Welcoming An Adopted Dog Into Your Home – Patricia McConnell and Karen London
Ready to take in a new adult or adolescent pup but not sure how to go about it?
The good news is that Patricia McConnell and Karen London’s Love Has No Age Limit is the perfect companion for this transition period.
Their book provides step-by-step instructions starting from when your pup first enters the house to handling the first few days, solving unwanted behavior, and more! The authors’ advice is easy to understand and most importantly – effective.
Tellingly, the book cover features a beautiful senior dog, reminding us that any dog can be trained with love and care and that you really can teach an old dog new tricks!
6. Do Over Dogs – Give Your Dog A Second Chance for A First Class Life – Pat Miller
Do Over Dogs by renowned author and trainer Pat Miller is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to give their dog a second chance in life.
This complete guide sets out to equip readers with the necessary tools for selecting, introducing, training and managing problem behaviors encountered in “recycled” dogs that you can start to implement as soon as you bring your new dog home.
With advice on how to make the best use of the so-called Honeymoon Period and how to deal with common issues like fear, resource guarding, and separation anxiety, Pat provides clear instructions combined with tried-and-true training techniques that are both positive and effective.
This book should be essential reading not only for those wishing to welcome a stray or rescue dog into their home, but also for any dog owner seeking to gain greater knowledge on basic training, managing behaviors, and making the most of their relationship with their new pet.
A well-written read that is both reader-friendly and educationally sound, I highly recommend Do Over Dogs as the ideal book for rescue dog lovers and new dog owners.
7. The Toolbox for Building A Great Family Dog – Terry Ryan
In The Toolbox for Building a Great Family Dog, Terry Ryan presents a practical guide to helping families raise happy and well-mannered dogs.
Through techniques and games that are both enjoyable and effective, readers can learn how to interact with their dogs more successfully and develop a strong relationship with them, as well as ensure they set the foundation for a well-behaved dog.
Author Terry Ryan includes games designed to provide plenty of opportunities for kids and dogs to play together, and also highlights the importance of understanding canine body language.
Overall, this book provides a unique combination of fun and practical tips suitable for both first-time dog owners and professional dog trainers. I would say it is an indispensable resource for anyone caring for companion animals and looking to better understand their dog’s behavior.
8. Doggie Language: A Dog Lover’s Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend – Lili Chin
Doggie Language is the perfect way for busy dog owners to learn more about their four-legged friends and understand how they’re feeling and what they’re trying to tell us.
With easy-to-read illustrations and insightful detail, renowned animal illustrator Lili Chin demystifies canine communication so that both you and your furry friend can learn to better communicate with one another.
With its concise and easy-to-absorb yet comprehensive content, Doggie Language is a great resource for all of us looking to create a better relationship with our canine companions.
9. Listen To Me! Exploring the Emotional Life of Dogs – Tricia Hollingshead
Obviously, dogs can’t express how they feel in words, but they still tell us what they mean – if we pay attention. Tricia Hollingshead’s Listen to Me! tackles this topic head-on and has created an intriguing work that will undoubtedly help pet owners understand canine communication better.
Through practical advice and details on everyday interactions between owner and pet, Tricia’s book shows owners how they can create a better home environment for their canine friends.
With over 200 color photos supported with charts and boxes to provide further explanation, Listen to Me! presents an impressively accessible guide that both experienced and novice pet owners can benefit from.
This is a great resource for anyone looking to build a stronger bond with their pup and improve their knowledge of dog ownership.
10. Babies Don’t Bark: Preparing the Family Dog for the New Baby – Mike Deathe
Are you about to bring home a new two-legged family member and introduce him/her to your resident four-legged family member? Let this book be your guide!
For six years now, author Mike Deathe has been teaching a monthly class at a local hospital that helps expectant families learn how to manage the transition of bringing baby home to the family dog.
Mike’s book takes readers through the process step-by-step and provides detailed instructions on how to achieve success in the simplest way possible, with entails plenty of practice, consistency, and frequency on both sides of the equation.
I’d pitch this as an invaluable resource for all pet parents looking to create harmony between their dogs and their new human babies.
11. A Kids’ Comprehensive Guide to Speaking Dog! – Joanne Tudge
If you are a parent, guardian, or educator who wants to guarantee the well-being of young generations when interacting with dogs, then this is the book for you.
Featuring the globally acclaimed Be a Tree® dog bite safety scheme, it provides parents with comprehensive guidance on how to keep their children safe around just about any dog.
Real-life scenarios, illustrated with photos and cute cartoons, are featured throughout, creating a valuable educational tool to help both parents and children understand how to communicate with dogs and read their body language to know how they’re feeling.
Another little disclosure: I actually edited this book and it even features the names of many of my past dogs (that would be you, Bertie, Roxy, Louis, Daisy, and Maggie!) so may be a little biased, but it really does present a fun and easy way to teach children how to behave around dogs, to consider how the dog is feeling in specific situations, with the ultimate aim of keeping them safe.
12. Living With Kids and Dogs…Without Losing Your Mind – Colleen Pelar
Understandably, parenting can be difficult enough without adding a pet into the mix. But of course, many families have busy households with both kids and dogs and life can sometimes get a little hectic.
Luckily, Colleen Pelar has come up with this essential resource to help busy parents keep things calm and organized and, in Living with Kids and Dogs, she has created a comprehensive guide packed to the gills with simple, realistic advice to ensure harmony between the kids and the family pet.
Readers will also learn how to set their families up for success by forging strong relationships between their pup and their kids – relationships that are built on trust, respect, and collaboration.
Additionally, Colleen addresses essential but often neglected issues, such as how to recognize canine stress signals, how dogs see the world, how to know when they are getting uncomfortable around normal kid activity, how to identify behavioral problems before anyone gets hurt, and – most importantly – keep children safe, thus avoiding any potential risk of getting bitten.
All in all, this is a great book full of helpful information for new dog owners who want to give their kids and pups a strong foundation.
13. Play With Your Dog – Pat Miller
Looking for an entertaining and informative way to bond with your pup? Look no further than Play With Your Dog!
This invaluable guide outlines why play is important for dogs’ physical, mental, and social development, and provides readers with a list of practical advice and activities to help them strengthen their bond with their pups through play.
With a ton of ideas on games to be played, author Pat Miller also provides crucial explanations about how play can be utilized to help re-socialize adult canines, to prevent fear and biting in puppies, and even tips on spotting aggression versus just having fun.
Without a doubt, this book offers an unbeatable resource for pet owners and is a truly enjoyable read. So what are you waiting for? Grab your copy now and start having fun with Fido!
14. Mind Games for Dogs – Sarah Whitehead
Unlike their wild or free-ranging counterparts, our furry best friends who share our homes don’t have to stress about finding food and shelter each day. But those instincts remain and we need to find other ways to fulfill them.
Sarah Whitehead’s book is full of activities and ideas that will help keep your pup happily occupied. Not only that, but the featured mind games will help him stay sharp mentally too.
The quick-to-do exercises are designed to be fun for all dogs and are especially ideal for pups who can’t get as much exercise as they’d like (e.g. they’re on crate rest after surgery or recovering from illness) or dogs with behavioral issues and you need a little help to get them to engage their brains.
Like humans, the more dogs engage their thinking brains, the less emotionally reactive they become overall, so it’s well worth putting in the time.
Games are a great way to bond with your pooch too.
15. Canine Enrichment for the Real World – Allie Bender and Emily Strong
Canine Enrichment for the Real World goes beyond the surface-level advice of “treats and exercise” to explore in-depth what dogs really need for a richer life.
Written in a practical and easy-to-understand way, this book is full of valuable information that focuses on providing your dog with outlets for his natural behaviors and innate instincts.
Allie Bender and Emily Strong have come up with the perfect blend of science and practical application to make sure their book has something for everyone – from experienced trainers to casual doggy owners looking to understand how to give their pups the best quality of life.
If you’re looking to gain insight into learning how to truly bond with your pup and build trust, this one’s for you.
Before you go…
Adding a new dog to your household is an exciting time. But it also comes with a unique set of challenges.
My article Adopting a rescue dog: 20 tips for the first seven days breaks down all the essential tips and tricks to help you set up your new pup (and yourself!) for success during those crucial early days.
Sometimes, however – no matter what you do – your new arrival feels out of sorts and just a little bit nervous about all the life changes. This is completely normal and applies to dogs of any age, including puppies.
If this sounds like your new canine friend, don’t miss out – unlock all the secrets of integrating a new dog into your family and make your home feel like a furry paradise with these essential three articles:
- 10 proven ways to win your rescue dog’s heart (and trust)
- 20 tips on how to get a scared dog to trust you
- How does a rescue dog feel when they are rehomed?
