Books to Read As Soon As You Get a Dog

This book introduces the idea of "clicker training," which is really an extremely focused, audible version of positive reinforcement. It's a simple method but makes a lot of sense to your dog: the right action, plus the click to reinforce the behavior, produces results.

Dr. Dunbar pioneered his own style of dog training in the 1970s and has a dog-related TV show in England... while the book presents a lot of practical advice, there are also a lot of tips and tricks to master the basics (like sit and stay). Worth the read to help you develop a well-behaved puppy... who'll grow into a well-behaved dog.

This book lays out a six-week program, with one chapter per week. The instructions are simple and there's a great troubleshooting section, for when things don't go like you had hoped they would...