Annotated Dog Bibliography

This annotated bibliography of over 300 dog books includes most of the books I have read to date, though I have excluded some that are symposium proceedings and other unavailable books. I start each listing with title, author , and (if available) the ISBN number. I do not include price, because I don't have current prices for books I bought years ago or from second hand sources. Most of these books are average priced books , but the professional ones , especially the veterinary texts, can be 3 to 5 times the price of an ordinary book.
 
For most of the books I have added brief notes indicating my opinion of the value of the book to either the general reader of dog books or to some sub-population, such as the professional vet or trainer or the rescue or shelter worker or the person interested in the specialized topic. The rating of MUST READ is to be taken very seriously. For some of these books, I have extensive book reviews on this site. Some of the unrated books are those I have not read recently or that do not stand out, or they are books such as humor for which any opinion would be completely personal and your tastes could differ greatly from mine. I have tried to arrange the books in categories, but some fit into more than one category. Within categories, the listing is pretty much alphabetical , though I may or may not ignore the intitial word "A", "The", etc., and there are probably some mistakes in the order.
 
All opinions in the annotations are my own, with which not everyone would agree, though I believe that most serious dog people would agree that those I have marked MUST READ are indeed very significant books. (In a very few cases I will note that I have not yet actually read the book, ie it is purchased but not yet read. I have cause to think that these are likely to be important books.)
 
For detailed reviews of some of these books, please go back to the BOOKS page, where books are listed alphabetically. If you have trouble finding a book for which the title starts with "A" or "The" try leaving that word out. I will eventually add links to the reviews onto this page.

key to icons

classic seminal work   "illuminated the topic"	a MUST READ for everyone   "best in show"
Outstanding, highly reccomended for those with interest in topic   "best in specialty show"	excellent for everyone   "blue ribbon"

Contents (to skip to a category):

• the Bouvier
  
• Choosing a breed of dog ; breed descriptions
  
• General books about dogs ; books covering a range of topics.
  
• Puppy rearing
  
• Training, including general training and obediance training
  
• Behavior and solving behavior problems
  
• Relationships (bonds) between dogs and people
  
• Working dogs and working dog training
  
• Dogs and Children
  
• Rescue , Adoption, andShelter work
  
• Health and Veterinary topics
  
• Dog Breeding
  
• Pet Loss and Grieving
  
• Humorous books
  
• Miscellaneous books

• Books about the Bouvier

  (I am not going to put in ratings for these books, because some of the authors are armed and dangerous .)

• Book of the Breed, the Bouvier des Flandres by Miranda Lucas, 0-87605-058-5, Bouvs in the UK by a breeder. After reading this book, natural (uncropped) ears will start to look normal to you.


• Le Bouvier des Flandres, guide pratique de l'amateur,   "The Bouvier des Flandres , practical guide for the fancier" ,    by Paul Le Gall. An outstanding book in French on the Bouvier, including descriptions of working certifications and trials. published in 1979. (I got to read part of this book at a friend's home; I wish I had a copy of my own.) (11/2019 : I actually have a copy ordered).


• Le Bouvier des Flandres hier et aujourd'hui ,    "The Bouvier des Flandres, yesterday and today",   by Justin Chastel. In French, considered a classic work on the breed by the breeder who has most influenced the breed during the second half of the 20th century. (I have not had oppertunity to read this book.)


• Bouvier Belge des Flandres (in Dutch) ,by GF van Gink-van Es, 90-6248-455-7, Even if you don't speak Dutch, buy it for the photos. (I did get a Dutch speaking native born friend to translate some short portions on puppy upbringing. Very interesting.)


• Bouvier des Flandres, 2nd ed, by Claire McLean 0-87714-077-4, Written by a large scale conformation show breeder , who does not train in obediance or working events. She has another booklet which records titles, including some AKC performance titles , up to a date some years back (I forget when ; it's now quite a few years ago.)


• Bouvier des Flandres, dogs of Flandres Fields,by James Engel, 0-931866-53-7 , written by a small scale breeder whose first priority is dog's ability to do various forms of protection work, especially Schutzhund tests. Excellent pedigree and photo material.


• Le Bouvier des Flandres (in French) ,by Marc Capelle, 2-7328-0348-0, the French outlook on the Bouvier. Interesting, but not outstanding; ie for general dog public rather than the Bouvier-devoted person..


• The Bouviers des Flandres Book 1985 , private ltd edition.


• How to Raise & Train a Bouvier des Flandres, by, G C Leggett, 0-87666-252-1 , negligible value. This is one of those books that just has generic dog information plus breed photos and tiny amount of breed information.

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• Books about choosing a breed of dog ; characteristics of breeds

• Choosing the Right Dog, by John Howe, 0-06-012014-2, Very good. An older book (1980) that still gives good information about physical (size, coat, grooming needs), health, and behavioral characteristics of dogs from responsible breeders. The health information includes only problems recognized at that time ; in many breeds additional problems have been recognized as significant since then. The prices are of course way way way out of date ! Does not include a number of breeds added to the AKC list since then. Also the breeds now in the Herding Group were still in the undivided Working Group.



• Paws to Consider, Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family , ny Brian Kilcommons & Sarah Wilson, 0-446-52151-5 ,   An excellent book covering whether or not you should get a dog in the present frame of time, where to look for a dog, general functional group characteristics, and the profiles of 93 breeds that the authors felt sufficiently experienced with to comment upon. the breed profiles have very cogent comments on possible drawbacks for various types of home.



• Simon & Schuster's Guide to Dogs , by Schuler ,0-671-25527-4, A very good pictorial guide to breeds US and worldwide , including some behavioral ratings. Photos tend to be informal ones, not "stacked" breed ring photos. Descriptions are very brief, single page. But the variety of breeds around the world is quite interesting. If you should get a charming mixed breed dog, either the Stray that Came to Stay or a shelter rescue, look through this book to find something he resembles and tell breed snobs that that is the breed he is. Ha, ha !


• The Right Dog for You, by Daniel Tortora, PhD, 0-673-47247-X, High value. Extensive behavioral information ; be sure to carefully read the definitions in the introductory material, so you understand what his ratings mean. The material on analyzing your own personality and behavior are very thought provoking and should be very helpful if you are honnest with yourself. Does not include breed health information. (Note :the behaviorally astute reader will see that many of the individual cases he includes are unusual and/or involve problem behaviors created and/or maintained by the behavior of the owners.)



• Control of Canine Genetic Diseases, by George Padgett, DVM,   0-87605-004-6, An absolute MUST READ for all breeders. An encylopedia of genetically caused health problems. Also a MUST READ for anyone considering getting a dog of any particular breed or identifiable breed cross. By knowing what the major problems are in a given breed , you may decide that this breed would be a bad choice for you. Once you have chosen a breed or breeds, if you are seeking a puppy, you will also be able to spot those ignorant or dishonest "breeders" who either do not know what the problems are in their own breed or else do know but will not be candid with you ; these are the breeders you want to avoid like the Plague.


 
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• General books about dogs

• A Celebration of Dogs Roger Caras 0-8129-1029-X



• Dogs Bite, but balloons and slippers are more dangerous , by Janis Bradley, 1-888047-18-6. This book is an absolute MUST READ for every dog owner and dog advocate. It is essential intellectual ammunition in the battle to protect our dogs and our doggy lifestyle against media hysteria, anti-dog legislation and breed discriminatory legislation, and insurance refusal issues. The essential message is that dogs are one of the very least dangerous things in human life. While band-aid level (no injury or trivial quick healing) dog bites are fairly common, serious (significant injury-producing) dog bites are rare and fatalities are infinitesimally rare. The book carefully compares the statistics on dog caused injuries with a sampling of things in our lives that are far more dangerous, far more frequent causes of serious injuries and fatalities. Buy an extra copy to give to a media person, a local legislator, or your insurance agent.



• Dogs for Dummies , by Gina Spadafori, 1-56884-861-7, Good, despite the objectionable title (a more appropriate title would be "Dogs for Beginners"). Author is pet columnist who emphasizes responsible guardianship of pets.



• DogSmart, by Myrna Miliani, DVM, 0-8092-3150-6. An absolute MUST READ for all dog people !!! Absolutely should be read BEFORE you bring dog into your life !!! If you are only going to read ONE book about dogs, this is the one !!



• Dogwatching, Desmond Morris ,0-517-56519-6


• Everyday Dog ,Nancy E Johnson, 0-87605-544-7


• For the Life of Your Dog, Greg Louganis , 0-671-02450-7


• Good Dog , Bad Dog ,Siegel & Margolis


• Good Owners, Great Dogs, Kilcommons & Wilson, 0-446-51675-9, Really excellent ; full of useful methods, tricks of the trade. Any book you ever find by either of these authors is worth reading.


• Guide to Bringing Out the Best in Your Dog, Bonnie Bergin, 0-316-09284-3, concerns disability Assist dogs , but has portions of interest generally, including suggestinons for matching dog with handler.


• The Guilt-Free Dog Owner's Guide, Diana Delmar, 0-88266-5775-8, general dog care.



• How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend,   Monks of New Skete   ,0-316-60491-7,  very good, a classic ; get 2nd ed not 1st ed (the 1st ed contains advice about "alpha rollover" that has gotten a lot of dog owners into trouble; 2nd ed takes care to correct this information.)



• How to Raise a Dog, James Kinney, VMD



• King Solomon's Ring, by Konrad Lorenz, Library of Congress # 52-7373, A great classic about animal behavior in various species, including dogs. Delightful reading.



• Living with Dogs, Sheila Hocken, 0-575-03551-X


• Looking After Your Dog, John & Mary Holmes, 0-668-05271-6



• Man Meets Dog, by Konrad Lorenz, a great classic, still of interest despite some now disregarded theories. Man Meets Dog (1994 edition, intro by D McCaig) , Konrad Lorenz , 1-56836-051-7 , even better than the earlier edition.




• Outwitting dogs, by Terry Ryan & K Mortgensen, 1-5928-243-1 , Really excellent : one of the best general dog books currently available. emphasizes use of human intelligence to plan ahead, train by pleasant and unpleasant consequences, prevent undesirable behaviors by removing oppertunities, and so on.



• Parenting Your Dog, by Trish King, 0-7938-0548-1, very good, especially for educating parents by comparing the process of dog training and management to the training and management of young children. might be useful for teaching those who are already adept with dogs how to be parents of their first child or to be more effective with children they alrady have ?? (However be aware that while dogs and young children are much alike , they are also very different in cognitive and linguistic capacities, and these differences increase as the child develops.)


• Paws for a Minute, Inger Martens, 0-380-8-478-6



• Responsible Dog Ownership, by Kathy Diamond Davis, 0-87605-801-2, MUST READ for everyone !!! Read it BEFORE you take a dog into your life !!!



• Train Your Dog the Lazy Way, Audrea Arden, 0-87605-180-8, A surprisingly good , despite the unfortunate title (you really cannot be "lazy" when you live with a dog)>. A better title would be "easier & more efficient ways to raise and train your dog".


• The Weekend Dog, Myrna Milani, DVM, 0-451-15731-1, Dr Milani's first venture into authorship, in which she seeks to help those whose need to earn a living takes them out of the home for extended periods during the week. actually a general dog care book. Although Dr Milani's views have evolved over the years since this book was written, this book still holds up well as general advice.


• Woman's Best Friend, Choosing and training the Dog That's Right for You , by Babette Haggerty-Brennan, 0-07-141740-0 , a fairly humourous (though probably not intended as such) book by a woman trainer addressed to women and thus able to say a few things that might be "politically incorrect" or condescending if written by a man. The value of the information varies, but overall the book is mediocre. Some of the breed advice is questionable. I have a lot of arguement with her emphasis on the dog as man-bait and on choosing a dog who will be good with children and with her emphasis on cost in some topics. You should choose a dog for YOURSELF, ie choose the dog that YOU want and are willing to be responsible for, rather than thinking of men and children first. Yes there are times when cost matters and yes women are still underpaid for their work, but if you are not willing to place a dog high in your financial priorities, don't have a dog at all. The training info is OK but emphasizes leash work and physically placing the dog into positions.

 
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• Books about Puppy rearing

• Before You Buy That Puppy, Barbara Wrede, 0-8120-1750-1 , this is a fairly good little book, but do not confuse with the similarly named book by Dr Dunbar, which is really fabulous.



• Before You Get Your Puppy, by Dr Ian Dunbar, DVM, 1-888047-00-3, Really excellent. Downloadable for free from www.siriuspup.com and www.openpaw.org, or buy "Before and After You get Your Puppy" which includes this. Wonderful book, though I prefer his "How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks" as being even better. Read both of them BEFORE you get any dog ! A lot of the techniques can also be helful for adult dogs. My only suggestion for improvement is that the "long term confinement" area could be attached to a dog door as discussed in my article "No One Home Housebreaking"



• Civilizing Your Puppy , Barbara Wrede, 0-8120-978-4, A good short guide.


• Evans Guide to Housetraining Your Dog, by Job Michael Evans, 0-87605-542-0, Really excellent : the best and most complete discussion of all things eliminatory, plus a lot more that might seem unrelated but actually is relevant. Unfortunately out of print, but you can probably find it at Amazon or on e-Bay or dog book websites.


• Housebreaking & other Puppy Problems, Katharine Kennedy, 0-7938-3018-4


• How to Help Your Puppy Grow up to be a Wonderful Dog, Randolph, 0-449-21503-2, good book.


• How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With, Rutherford && Neil, 0-931866-09-X, very good book ; what to do week by week.



• How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks, by Dr Ian Dunbar, DVM, 1-880477-06-2, An absolute MUST READ for everyone !!! one of the best books currently available about puppy rearing. (and most, maybe all, of the methods can be helpful with older dogs too). Do not confuse with the similarly named "How to Teach an Old Dog New Tricks" , which is about trick training. ( think "puppy" equals "new dog"). This book complements My Smart Puppy (book with DVD) by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson. You should read them both.




• Mother Knows Best, by Carol Lea Benjamin, 0-87605-666-4, Truly excellent, a classic. Highly recommended to everyone !! A very dog-smart non-gimicky approach to training and living with dogs.




• My Smart Puppy (book with DVD) by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson.. This is a terrific book on puppy training (also applicable to an adult dog). I finally wrote the review. This is a MUST read book for everyone ! This book and Dunbar's How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks complement one another : you MUST read both of them.




• Perfect Puppy in 7 Days, by Dr Sophia Yin, DVM, MS. I have to write a review of this truely excellent book, a profusely illustrated step by step guide to all the things that a perfect owner (very skilled behaviorist trainer and able to be home much of the day) would teach an 8 week old puppy the first week in the new home. Realistically most people would do well to accomplish half as much in the first 7 weeks. Also an excellent chapter on what the breeder should have accomplished during the 8 weeks since the puppy's birth.



• Puppy Kindergarten , Miriam Fields-Babineau, 0-7938-3094-3


• Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence, by Carol Lea Benjamin, 0-87605-742-3, excellent ; the sequel to Mother Knows Best. Could have been called "Mother STILL Knows Best, Even Though You are a Smart Ass Teenager Puppy."


• The Art of Raising a Puppy, Monks of New Skete, 0-316-57839-8, A very good book. Includes details of what the breeder should have done to give the pup a good start.


• the Howell Book of Puppy Raising, C Schwartz ,0-87605-600-1,


• The Perfect Puppy, Benjamin & Lynette Hart (DVM and PhD respectively) , 0-16-1829-4 , Dr Hart is the founder of the Behavior program at the UC Davis Vet School, the first such program in the nation.



 
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• Books about general dog Training, including principles of training, obdience training, etc, but not training for specific types of work

• 101 Training Tips for Your Dog, Kate D Condax, 0-440-50568-2


• Best Foot Foreward, Barbara Handler , 0-931866-20-0 Tips for handling in obedience competition; valuable for Obedience competitors but probably of little interest to anyone else.


• Beyond Basic Dog Training, Diane Bauman, 0-87605-409-2, sophisticated obedience training techniques for OTCh (Obediance Trial Champion) aspirants.


• Catch Your Dog Doing Something Right, Krista Cantrell, 0-542-2755-8, emphasizes rewarding desirable behaviors .


• Complete Book of Dog Training, Paul Loeb, 0-671-47297


• Controlling Your Dog Away From You , John Romba, 0-91539-00-6 , includes a few good ideas and some not very good ones.



• The Culture Clash, by Jean Donaldson, 1-888047-05-4, A MUST READ for everyone. Excellent material on principles of training/learning as applied to dogs, natural behaviors of dogs that most humans want to modify, how to use positive reinforcement methods correctly (avoiding common mistakes). Extremely valuable model of how bites can be triggered.




• Don't Shoot the Dog , by Karen Pryor, 0-553-25388-3, A great and seminal work on principles of learning in any animal that has any kind of brain, from chickens to dogs to human beings. You can even train your husband. Originally found in the Psychology section at the bookstore , but now also found in the Dog section.




• Excel-erated Learning, by Pamela Reid, PhD , 1-888047-07-0, Another MUST READ : principles of learning for dog owners/trainers with good examples of application to various genres of dog training, especially Obediance and Agility. I sometimes call this "Don't Shoot the Dog, the Next Generation." Unlike many writers who emphasize reward methods, Reid emphasizes reward but also recognizes the usefulness and occasional necessity of aversives.



• Expert Obedience Training for Dogs, Strickland, obedience for competition and some neat stuff for real life. She was one of the great early Obedience trainers who thought dogs could do a lot more than they were being asked to do ; she was right about this.



• How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves, Dr Sophia Yin DVM, 0-7938-0543-0 ,   excellent. principles of training and detailed application to basic obedience and common problems. Could be called "Don't Shoot the Dog, Voyager" . Actually it would be hard to choose between this book and Excel-erated Learning. This one may be better for the beginner, for the novice in training with positive reinforcement.. (maybe could be called "Don't Shoot the Dog, Enterprise" ?) Dr Yin is a veterinary behaviorist.



• J'Eduque Mon Chien ( french), by Patrick Mioulane , French book   "I Educate My Dog", ie dog rearing and training.


• the Koehler Method of Guard Dog Training, William Koehler, 0-87605-552-8, An older book on obedience and practical guard dog training . Koehler's method emphasizes strong corrections, including some methods that most people would consider abusive, such as his dreadful method for breaking a dog of digging holes in your lawn. However the section on the legal liabilities involved in owning a protection trained dog and the seriousness of having control over such a dog are very good and important. The first half of this book deals with basic "Novice" level obediance and is identical with his book "the Koehler Method of Dog Training":. the second half deals with serious training of a dog for guard or attack work. His method of "poison proofing" a dog is harsh (but less so than death by poison) probably realistic and nescessary for a dog who is genuinely at risk of poisoned meat tossed over the fence.


• The Koehler Method of Open Obedience, Wm Koehler, 87605-753-9, Koehler's method emphasizes strong corrections, including some methods that most people would consider abusive, in particular his ear pinch method of training a forced retrieve.


• The Koehler Method of Utility Dog Training, Wm Koehler, 0-87605-760-1, Koehler's method emphasizes strong corrections, including some methods that most people would consider abusive. However there are also some useful methods, such as the use of a hidden retrieve object for the sendaway (if your dog enjoys retrieving, the hidden retrievable object would actually be a reward).


• Lads Before the Wind, by Karen Pryor, 0-06-013442-9, not dog training, but dolphin training by a master trainer, author of the classic and seminal "Don't Shoot the Dog". Not really about dog training, but should be interesting to all trainers.


• Le Dressage du Chien, (french), Valeria Rossi, 2-7328-1673-6, French book on dog training


• Learning In Dogs, Delta Society, 0-0627802-3-5, The Delta Society is devoted to imporoving human-animal bond and to use of dogs in therapy and disability assistance programs.


• The Obedient Dog , John Holmes, 0-09-159331-X, very good; methods and tests in the UK , which include some tests that I wish we had here.


• Playtraining Your Dog, by Patricia Gail Burnham, 0-312-61689-9, A wonderful classic about training in a way that is pleasant for dog and person. Also makes you think about training philosophy. This book was unusual for its day and ahead of its time in many ways.


• Solving Dog Behavior Problems with Dog Radartron, Paula Nordin , about training with remote training collars.


• Stop ! Sit ! and think, Charles Eisenmann, a fairly weirdo book.


• Training & Explaining, by Job Michael Evans, 0-87605-781-4, A book of very high value for trainers , counselors , and dog writers.


• Training Dogs, a Manual, Konrad Most, 0-09-161401-5, training by German methods ; fairly old book. of historical interest.


• Training in No Time, Amy Ammen, 0-8605-778-4 , A surprisingly good, despite the title. Ammen is a well known trainer and sucessful OTCh competitor, and she certainly knows that training a dog takes a lot of time, even though it can be done in very short segments.


• Understanding Remote Dog Training, Danial Tortora, An intelligent book about training with aversive stimuli, ie teaching the dog to turn off ("escape") or prevent ("avoid") something unpleasant by obeying an already understood command. Although the book concentrates on using remote training collar for this purpose, the principles apply more widely.


• What All Good Dogs Should Know, Volhard & Bartlett, 0-87605-832-2, very good


• Teaching Dog Obedience Classes, Volhard & Fisher, 0-87605-765-2, An excellent book on teaching obediance classes. Full of delightful cartoons that make their point clearly and memorably.


• Training You to Train Your Dog, Blanche Saunders , a very old obedience book by the trainer who (together with Whitehouse-Walker) brought the sport to the USA from the UK. The first training book I ever read. Her long-distance correction method using a BB gun is outmoded but might have been appropriate for serious problems at the time.

 
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• Books about dog Behavior , Behavior Problems, and canine Body Language

  (Without understanding body language, you will not be able to deal with behavior.)

• Aggression In Dogs : Practical Management, Prevention, and Behavior Modification, by Brenda Aloff, published by Dogwise.com , 1-929242-20-4. This is an absolute MUST READ for anyone who has a dog with even the beginnings of a dog-to-dog or dog-to-human aggression problem or has a dog who is fearful of dogs or humans (thus at high risk of developing an aggression problem). Also an excellent review of the behaviorist principles of training, using mostly positive reinforcement, and an excellent review of canine body language. If you don't (yet) have any aggression or fear problems , this book is still of great value because it will enable you to prevent most aggression problems. (note : I've been to one of her seminars and what she does makes sense to me.) Usual warning for working with overtly aggressive dogs, a warning often repeated in the book : "don't try this without some professional help".




• Animals in Translation,Temple Grandin, 0-7432-4769-8. This book is ground-breaking, extremely interesting , with a unique viewpoint and an admirable synthesis of that viewpoint with research findings. Temple Grandin is a very high functioning autistic who is renown for her innovations in livestock handling. The book is about her views on how animal thinking and emotion may be similar to autistic thinking and emotion and different from those of non-autistic people. A bok of considerable interst and value to dog people and to anyone interested in autism and related syndromes. (Update : Grandin spoke recently at the MIND institute at UC Davis (devoted to autism and other mental conditions). So many wanted to attend that they had to move to a larger auditorium. Wonderful talk.)



• Applied Dog Behavior & Training, v 1, Steven Lindsay , 0-8138-0754-9, professional text and quite valuable for those at that level.


• Applied Dog Behavior & Training, v 2, Steven Lindsay, 0-8138-2868-6 , professional text and quite valuable for those at that level.


• Applied Dog Behavior & Training, v 3, Steven Lindsay, 0-8138-2868-6 , professional text This volumn finally appeared in 2005, several years after the author hoped to have it ready. I have not read all of it, but have read large sections. his advice puts emphasis on approaches that let the dog be able to predict and control his world . This book is written in a very turgid terminology that makes simple concepts seem harder to understand than they really are. However it is a valuable book for professionals


• Behavior of Dogs & Cats, Landsberg & Horwitz, for laypersons


• Behavior, Development, & Training of the Dog, Sautter && Glover, 0-668-04491-8


• Better Behavior in Dogs & Cats, by William Campbell, 0-931866-42-1, An older book, a classic of behvior problem solving. includes some very apt cartoons by famous veterinary cartoonist Robert Miller DVM. Still very much worth reading and enjoyable to read.


• Body Language & Emotions of Dogs, by Dr Myrna Miliani, DVM, 0-688-06239-3, A very good; older book by a great veterinary behaviorist.

• "Canine Body Language, a Photographic Guide" by Brenda Aloff, by Dogwise.com, 1-929242-35-2, This book is a collection of single photographs and photo sequences that illustrate the basic behaviors that every owner/handler needs to be able to recognize. For each photo, the author points out the details that matter. That would be a "left brain" approach, and you do need to know how to spot these details by what McConnell and others calls "thin slicing", ie tuning yourself to focus in on crucial details. However you also need the "right brain" approach of being able to see the "whole picture" at once and react correctly without having to first attach a verbal lable. I think the photos are great for educating your right brain as well as your left brain.




• Canine & Feline Behavioral Therapy Benjamin & Lynette Hart (DVM and PhD respectively), 0-8121-0949-X,    An easily read professional text by one (well a pair of) of the seminal and pioneering workers in the field. (Drug section is totally obsolete but the rest is still applicable.) The pioneering protocols for several problems ( eg dogs fighting in owner's presence, preventing dog jealousy re new baby) are still the basic ones used today.




• Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals, by Dr Karen Overall, DVM, 0-8016-6820-4, An excellent professional text ; intended for vets, but accessible for intelligent layperson. includes information about use of psychotropic drugs as an adjunct to behavior modification. Dr Overall is the head of the Behavior Services at the University of Pennsylvania Vet School.




• Dog Behavior, the Genetic Basis, by J P Scott & J Fuller, 0-226-74338-1, A scientific monograph, written for behavioral and genetic scientists rather than for the layperson. A great seminal work by the discoverers of the early "critical periods" in canine development. Originally published under the title "Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog."




• Dog Language, by Roger Abrantes, 0-9660484-0-7, Excellent ! A dictionary of dog behavior , with superb illustrations of canine body language. Author is resarecher in dog ethology.



• Dog Problems, Carol Lea Benjamin, 0-385-15710-X, A very good book on problem solving by a great writer. Very enjoyable to read, as are all her books.


• Dog Psychology, Leon Whitney DVM , 0-87605-520-X


• Dog Tales , Ray McSoley ,0-446-35566-66,    behavior problem cases.



• Dogs Are From Neptune, Jean Donaldson, 0-9684207-1-0 , An excellent book on behavior problem solving. Should be read after the author's "The Culture Clash", as it is virtually a sequel.




• Dogs Behaving Badly, by Dr Nicholas Dodman, DVM, 0-553-10873-5, An excellent guide to behavior problem solving. Very enjoyably written.



• Dogs That Know When Their Owners are Coming Home, Rupert Sheldrake 0-609-80533-9, I consider this book's contents interesting but "take with grain of salt". Deals with appaarent psychic phenomena in dogs, including some attempts at experiemental research.



• DOGS, A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior, & Evolution, by Ray & Lorna Coppinger, 0-684-85530-5, Excellent book with challenging ideas; of high interest to all dog people. This will probably come to be considered a classic and seminal work.




• The Dog Who Loved Too Much , Dr Nicholas Dodman, DVM, 0-553-10194-3 , very good layperson's book on behavior problems ; charmingly written. Dr Dodman is head of the Behavior Services at Tufts University Vet School and is a behavioral pharmacologist.



• The Dog Who Would be King, John Wright, PhD , 1-57954-002-3, a collection of behavior problem cases


• Don't Dump the Dog by Randy Grim , book review by Pam Green. I love this book ! The author's acerbic humor agrees with my own.


• Evans Guide for Counseling Dog Owners, Job Michael Evans, 0-87605-660-5, Of very high value for trainers , counselors


• Feeling Outnumbered ? (multi-dog household), Karen London & Patricia McConnell, 1-891767-06-2, An excellent booklet on getting all dogs in household to be polite and patient with each other and with you.


• Fight !, by Jean Donaldson .     I have not yet been able to obtain a copy of this book and thus have not read it yet. A review in "Bark" magazine indicates that it is about the different reasons dogs fight with each other, how to diagnose the personalities of the fighters , what remedial measures work best for various situations. Donaldson is generally worth reading.


• For the Love of A Dog, by Patricia McConnell, PhD, 0-345-47714-6.. A MUST READ book about canine emotions and the body language that reflects them. Also about problem prevention and solution. By one of the really great behaviorists and behavior writers. Could be considered as a sequel to her great book "The Other End of the Leash" which is also a MUST READ..


• Handling a Problem Dog, Barbara Woodhouse, 0-948955-67-9


• How to Speak Dog, Lucine Hansz Flynn, 0-87714-120-7. A nice book on dog behavior and communicating with dogs. Do not confuse with identically titled book by Coren.



• How to Speak Dog, Stanley Coren, 0-743-0297-X , Very good book on dog communication; excellent illustrations of canine body language. Writer is not an ethologist or trainer, but the information is good and well presented. Covers similar ground to Abrante's "Dog Language" but aimed at a wider layperson audience. Do not confuse with the identically titled book by Flynn.



• How to Talk to Your Dog, Jean C George, 0-446-3807-7


• I Love my Dog, But . . ., Joy Tiz, MS, JD, 0-390-78801-2, A good book on behavior problem solving (note : JD means Juris Doctorae, ie doctorate in Law ; I happen to have one myself, but usually tell people it means "juvenile delinquent" just as I tell them my BS means ... well you know !)


• I'll Be Home Soon ! (separation anxiety), Patricia McConnell, PhD ,1-891767-05-4 , An excellent booklet on separation anxiety. Everything Dr McConnell writes is worth reading.


• If Dogs Could Talk, Vilmos Csanyi, 0-86547-686-1. An unusual and interesting book exploring issues of dog cognition and emotion.


• If Only they Could Speak, Dr Nicholas Dodman, DVM, 0-393-05100-5, Dr Dodmans' third dog behavior book , describing some of his more unusual behavior cases , not all of which had happy endings. Good protocols in the appendix.


• The Intelligence of Dogs, Stanley Coren, 0-533-37452-4. Interesting but "take with grain of salt." This book is often MISquoted as saying that the Border Collie is the "most intelligent dog" when it actually just says that the concensus of trainers and judges is that the Border Collie has the greatest aptitude for being trained to achieve very high scores in AKC competiton obediance, a finding that is hardly news to anyone who attends such events.


• The Invisible Leash, Myrna Miliani, DVM, 0-451-14613-1, an earlier work by one of the truly great vet behaviorists. Everything by Dr Miliani is worth reading.


• Latchkey Dog, Jodi Andersen, 0-06-273666-3. Although the title is aimed to catch the attention of those whose home have no human at home for many hours each day, the book's main topic is really about being a good pack leader by being the one who takes charge and sets the rules and routeins, thus enabling your dog to feel secure whether or not you are actually present. The need for exercise is also emphasized. The book applies these basic principles to a variety of situations. In some ways the book is a bit repetitive and to some degree a bit simplistic, but the methods and attitudes will work for the vast majority of dogs.


• Leader of the Pack how to take control of your relationship with your dog, by Nancy Baer & Steve Duno, 13 978-0-06-101019-4. Lays out a very detailed program for non-confrontational ways to establish and emphasize your status as pack-leader, ie Alpha. A milder version would suffice for most dogs and most owners. My review disccusses in detail why some of their advice is over-kill for leadership purposes , though some items have other benefits such as safety for the dog. Please DO read my review of this book. updated somewhat in 2019.



• The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior, C Pfaffenberger, Library of Congress # 63-13674, A great classic and seminal work, the popular version of the key findings of Fuller and Scott written at the time when their findings were indeed new and startling. Today everyone should know these basics, but surprisingly (shockingly and tragically) many do not.




• On Talking Terms with Dogs : Calming signals , by Turid Rugaas , 0-9674796-0-6 , A highly interesting and ground breaking booklet about the body language dogs use to indicate peacefulness and friendlyness to one another, signals dogs use to defuse potential confict with one another; some of these signals can be used by human beings to calm dogs. Some dogs are very skilled in using these signals to gain peaceful and trusting behavior from other dogs. Some dogs really lack skill in using or interpreting these signals.




• The Other End of the Leash , Patricia McConnell, PhD 0-345-44679-8 MUST READ for everyone !!! Essential book on how humans and dogs communicate or confuse each other due to similarities and differences in their natural modes of body language and utterances. if you are only going to read two books about dogs, this would be the second one.




• People, Pooches, & Problems, Job Michael Evans, 0-87605-783-0. A very good book on behavior problem solving by a master trainer. Intended for dog owners and for trainers. Evan's approaches include some that are a bit more confrontational than those favored by more conservative behaviorists when dealing with aggressive dogs. But as his eloquent chapter on aggressive dogs makes clear, if you suspect your dog falls into this category, you should not atttempt to solve the problems without very good professional help.



• Solutions for your Dog and You, Siegal & Margolis, 0-684-86472-X. In view of the two authors' reputations and writing skills , this is actually a surprisingly poor book with some mediocre and questionable advice included among the better advice. There are too many better books.


• Tales from the Bark Side, Kilcommons & Wilson, 0-446-52150-7, short stories and behavior case stories from a pair of very good trainers. Includes a few Bouvier stories.


• Toolbox for Remodeling Your Problem Dog, Terry Ryan, 0-87605-049-6, a variety of approaches to dealing with dog behavior problems. The metaphor of having a box of tools is a good one for trainers : different tools work for different dogs.


• Understanding Your Dog, Michael Fox, DVM, 0-553-02341-1, A very good book for the layperson, with much material based on Fuller and Scott's research.


• Your Neurotic Dog, Louis Vine, DVM ,0-523-42314-4

 
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• Books about Relationships (bonds) between dogs and people

• Beyond Obediance, April Frost, 0-609-60248-9. A very thought provoking book, recommended to all . Largely about the quality of the relationship between dog and person.

• Bones Would Rain from the Sky, Suzanne Clothier, 0-446-52593-6. A very thought provoking book, recommended to all. Largely about relationships between dog and person.



• Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, Canfield et al, 1-55874-571-8 , an enjoyable collection of stories


• Dog Love, Marjorie Garber, 0-684-83552-5


• Dog People, Michael Rosen, 1-57965-186-0


• Dogs Never Lie About Love,   Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, 0-609-60057-5



• DogSmart , Myrna Miliani, DVM ,0-8092-3150-6. An absolute MUST READ for all dog people !!! Absolutely should be read BEFORE you bring dog into your life !!! If you are only going to read ONE book about dogs, this is the one !!



• Man & Dog, psychology of a relationship, Reinhold Bergler, 0-87605-688-5


• My Dog Skip, Willie Morris 0-679-76722-3, A wonderful literary classic bigraphy of a boy's beloved childhood dog and the enduring relationship between them. (the motion picture based on the book is wonderful too, although the filmakers have substituted some action drama for some of the real incidents.) Give this book as gift to any parent who is reluctant to let their child have a dog in the family.


• Pack of Two, Caroline Knapp, 0-385-31701-8. Autobiographical ; an adult woman falls in love with a dog. Includes an illuminating description of how this owner created a bad case of Separation Anxiety in her dog, realized her mistakes, and cured herself and thus the dog.


• Pets and their People, Bruce Fogle,DVM, 0-760-55052-3. An excellent book about pets and their relationship with their people.


• Responsible Bouvier Ownership, Codd & Sanchez (1988), private ltd edition . Excellent but long out of print. You may be able to find someone who has it and will photocopy it for you.



• Responsible Dog Ownership Kathy Diamond Davis 0-87605-801-2 MUST READ for everyone !!! Read it BEFORE you take a dog into your life !!!



• The Company of Dogs, Michael Rosen, 0-88365-966-2


• The Dogs of Our Lives, Louise Murray, 0-8065-1859-6



• The Healing Power of Pets, Marty Becker, 0-7868-6808-2



• The New Work of Dogs, Jon Katz, 0-375-76055-5. Very thought-provoking, very very serious discussion of how the place of dogs and the demands we make on them has changed in recent years from the previous long-standing ones, with some serious questions as to whether some of these expectations may be unfair or more than our dogs can fulfil. Some of the stories show relationships in which the dog winds up being used and discarded.



• Why We Love the Dogs We Do, Stanley Coren, 0-684-83901-6. An attempt to apply statistical methods of analysis to identifying human personality factors that affect compatibility with varius breeds of dog. I find a lot of his dog breed groupings rather strange. I did not put this one in the breed choice section because I think it says more about analyzing yourself than it does about valid breed choices.



• Play Together, Stay Together, by Karen London and Patricia McConnell. (note : anything by either of these authors is worth reading). The topic is how to play with your dog, how to teach your dog to play, and a few warnings about games to avoid. available from in paperback This is a slender booklet but full of value. I will be writing a review of this book.




• Play With Your Dog by Pat Miller, CPDT from Dogwise press , $15 in paperback. This book has a wealth of info about dogs playing with dogs, dogs playing with people, teaching a dog who doesn't know how to play to play. Highly recommended, especially if you adopt a dog who doesn't seem to know how to play or us toys.I will be writing a review of this book.


 
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• Books about Working dogs and working dog training

• Agility Training, the fun sport for all dogs, Jane Simmons-Moake, 0-87605-402-5 : a good introduction to the sport. Does not have the very sophisticated handling techniques now used by the highly competitive handlers.


• A Lifetime with the Working Collie, Arthur Allen. About herding. Allen is one of the great trial competitors and trainers.


• A Way of Life, sheepdog training handling & trialing, Glyn Jones, 0-85236-166-1. training Border Collies in herding, with emphasis on trialing; of interest to more advanced herders.


• Chien de Berger, dressage et utilization (in French), Georges Charoy et al. herding as practiced in France. Of high interest to herders.
  
  
• Guide pour une Bonne Utilization du Chien sur Troupeau, French Institute for Stockbreeding's "Guide for the Good Use of the Dog on the Flock" English translation by Pam Green. with colorized versions of the original cartoons, which are delightful.


• Friend to Friend, dogs that help mankind, Charlotte Schwartz, 0-87605-545-5, about various types of Disability Assistance dogs. A good overview of dogs as helpers to persons with disabilities.


• Eyes That Lead, Michael Tucker, 0-7090-1682-4. A good introduction to the work of guide dogs by a trainer .


• First Lady of the Seeing Eye, Morris Frank & Blake Clark , historical work on guide dogs.


• Guide Dogs for the blind : selection development & training, Clarence Pfaffenberger et al, 0-444-41520-3. The application of Fuller and Scott's dog behavior research to raising of guide dogs.


• Sheepdog training, an all-breed approach, Mari Taggart, 0-931866-24-3. This is one of the first books on herding training for breeds other than the strong eyed Border Collie and Kelpie. I found this book quite helpful when I was getting started with my first herding Bouvier.



• The Farmer's Dog, John Holmes, 0-09-123900-1 . A classic. excellent for herders, especially beginners . essential information about how the herding instinct is really a modified predatory instinct. also points out that the ultra-intense obsessive trial-bred Border Collie is not really what the practical farmer needs and wants.



• The Shepherd's Dogs, C W G Hartley, 0-7233-0118-2. Herding in New Zealand / Australia.
• Guide pour une Bonne Utilization du Chien sur Troupeau (in French) l'Institut de l'Elevage (Institute of Stockbreeding) Of high interest to herders ; booklet used in courses for stock-keepers in France to help them train and use herding dogs.
  Guide to Good Use of the Dog on the Flock, english translation of Guide pour une Bonne Utilization du Chien sur Troupeau by Pam Green private printing.


• Happy Herding Handbook, M E Little, private printing. a herding book directed at those with upstanding loose-eyed dogs.



• Herding Dogs, Progressive Training, Vergil Holland, 0-87605-644-3. Truely a MUST READ for herders. This is a well diagramed program. Very suitable for beginners. Probably the most useful book available for those with up-standing loose-eyed dogs, such as Bouvier, though also applicable to the strong-eyed crouching breeds, ie Border Collies and Kelpies. though Holland mistakenly describes the Bouvier as a "driving dog" (virtually all Bouvs are natural heading, fetching dogs), the methods in the book are excellent and detailed. There is also a section on problem solving.



• Lessons from a Stock Dog , Bruce Fogt. writen by a top Border Collie trial competitor. Valuable for more advanced herders. Methods suitable for high-instinct high-intensity Border Collies, but some relevance to other herding dogs. Includes some good material on problem solving.



• Training & Working Dogs for Quiet Confident Control of Stock, Scott Lithgow, 0-7022-2063-9. Very highly valuable for herders, especially those interested in working cattle in a low stress manner. Emphasis on the dog working in a very calm and self-confident manner. Also emphasies that the cattle must be trained (dog-broke) to respond to the dog calmly.



• How to Help gun Dogs Train Themselves, Joan Bailey, 0-9630127-1-1. Should be very good for hunters wanting to train own dog ; her methods make a lot of sense to me. (note: I am not a hunter, so perhaps my opinion is not worth much.)


• All About Guard dogs, Hirschhorn. protection training.


• How to Train Dogs for Police Work, Ray Rapp, 087714-071-5


• NASA Protection Manual , private ltd edition., training for the protection phase of Schutzhund trials


• Protection dogs, Weiss & Rose, 0-87714-151-7 training dogs in protection. Rose is a top Schutzhund competitor and trainer ; Weiss is a competitor and an attorney.


• Schutzhund Protection Training, Patterson. training for the protection phase of Schutzhund trials ; written by a top competitor.


• Ready ! the training of the Search & Rescue Dog, Susan Bulanda, 0-944875041-0. just as the title says.


• Scent & the Scenting Dog, Wm Syrotuck, 0-914124-03-X. a classic that describes how we humans guess scent opperates. An essential work for those in search dog work


• Search & Rescue Dogs, training methods, American Rescue Dog Assn 0-87605-733-4



• 	Search Dog training, Sandy Bryson, 0-910286-94-9. Essential MUST READ for those intersted in search dogs; excellent advice on raising any working dog. I really think everyone would get valuable ideas out of this book. (It certainly shaped the way I raised my Bonesy, who grew up to be the most working trial titled Bouvier in history.)



• Bring Your Nose Over Here, Wentworth Brown. Excellent for trackers . I think this is out of print, but if you can locate a copy it is easy to photocopy. The ideas in this book contributed to my own modifications of the basic Glen Johnson tracking training program.



• Nosework for Dogs, John Cree, 0-7207-1212-2. Very interesting : scentwork tests in the UK , how to train and handle for them. I especially like the UK "area search" test and I think it would be great fun to have this one here.



• Olfaction & Odors, Wm McCartney, Of very interest to search dog or odor detection dog workers. research and ideas on how scent opperates.


• Partners in Independence, Ed & Toni Eames, 0-87605-595-1. Assistance dogs for persons with disabilities, with emphais on guide dogs (note both authors are blind and are long term advocates for rights of persons with disabilities). excellent material about rights of persons with disabilities to have their trained dog with them in public places. Highly recommended.



• Teamwork (dog training for people with disabilities) , Nordensson & Kelley, 0-965216-0-X . This book is essential, MUST READ, for persons with disabilities. how to train your own dog in basic obedience, using methods actually proven by persons with various disabilities. senior author was born with Cerebral Palsy, but was determined to become a real dog trainer.




• Teamwork II (dog training for people with disabilities), Nordensson & Kelley, 0-965216-1-X. essential for persons with disabilities. how to train your own dog to do various Disability Assistance Dog tasks, using methods actually proven by persons with various disabilities. For each task several persons with disabilities describe how they taught the task to their own dog.




• Livestock Protection Dogs, Sims & Dawydiak, 0-940269-05-8. An excellent book about flock guardian dogs, of great interest to livestock keepers, especially sheep and goat keepers. Note that such dogs are diametrically different from herding dogs.




• Therapy Dogs, Kathy Diamond Davis, 0-87605-776-8. Gives a very good overview of training and management of dogs visiting hospitals, nursing homes, etc. very highly recommended to anyone interested in this type of work.




• Tracking Dog, theory & methods, Glen Johnson, 0-914124-04-8. The classic and seminal work on tracking : considered "the Bible" almost all AKC trackers. It is designed to ensure that even a minimally talent dog with a minimally talent handeler can become well prepared for the T.D. and can pass the test. In my opinion, the preparation for the T.D.X.is also excellent , but no amount of preparation will allow a dog who does not have well above average ability and desire to track to pass the TDX test, nor will an inattentive handler be likely to pass. Like most who used this book to train their first TD and TDX dog, I have since modified the methods for each dog according to how I "read" that dog. But if things are not going well, then it's back to "the Bible".



• the Tracking Trainers Handbook, Glen Johnson, 0-914124-04-8. paperback for use in field : has diagrams and lesson plans from Tracking Dog, Theory & Methods


• Advanced Tracking , TDX Field Guide , Tracking club of Mass


• Go Find ! , training your dog to track , L Wilson Davis


• Guidelines for Tracklayers, by PAFTA Palo Alto Foothills Tracking Assn


• NASA Tracking Manual , private ltd edition . tracking for Schutzhund trials


• Mountain Search for the Lost Victim, Dennis Kelly , a technical book for Search and Rescue handlers.


• NASA trial Regulation, private ltd edition : Schutzhund rules


• The Working Bouvier 1986, private ltd edition . Trial catalog with collection of essays by various pioneers in the Working Bouvier movement.


• The Working Bouvier Book (3rd N Amer bouv working Championship) 1982, private ltd edition . Trial catalog with collection of essays by various pioneers in the Working Bouvier movement


• The Working Bouvier Book (5th annual Work Ch 1984) , private ltd edition. Trial catalog with collection of essays by various pioneers in the Working Bouvier movement



• Working Dogs (1973 reprint edition) Humphrey & Warner a MUST READ for all working dog people. A seminal and classic work on the "Fortunate Fields" research program breeding & training German Shepherd Dogs for a variety of working tasks.



• Tarrant Trains Gun Dogs, Bill Tarrant, 0-8117-1723-2. excellent for bird hunters; good field safety and first aid for everyone

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• Books about Dogs and Children

• Becoming Best Friends , Leon & Horowitz, 0-425-13956-5. very limited value.


• Child-Proofing Your Dog , Kilcommons & Wilson, 0-446-67016-2. Excellent, of great importance for parents. Very highly recommended.



• Dogs & Kids , Bardi McLennan, 0-87605-535-8. Absolutely a MUST READ for parents ; highly recomended for all dog people (including the childless ones, because sooner or later your dog will meet other people's children)




• Living with Kids and Dogs...Without Losing Your Mind , by Colleen Pelar, CPDT, 1-933562-66-8. Absolutely a MUST READ for parents and potential parents; highly recomended for all dog people. This book incorporates current dog behavior knowledge and training techniques. The author has also come up with a few clever ideas that I have not seen elsewhere.



• Your Dog & Your Baby, Silvia Hartmann-Kent, 1-873483-00-7


• The Dog Trainer's Guide to Parenting, by Harold Hansen, 1-57071-530-6. This book focuses on teaching and training children, with emphasis on the same principles that work for dogs with modifications due the greater cognitive and language capabilities of children compared to dogs. In my opinion, a sensible , humane, and realistic approach with enough flexibility to accomodate most children (though probably not those with psychiatric disorders, just as normal dog training may not accomodate dogs with real pathologies). I would certainly recommend this book as a gift to those whose children strike you as less well behaved than your own civilized dog. .

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• Books about dog Rescue , Adoption, and Shelter work

• Adoptable Dog, teaching your adopted pet to obey, trust, and love you., Ross & McKinney, 0-393-05079-3. very good book on adopting and rehabilitating , with extensive information including problem solving and general training.


• Adopting a Great Dog, a guide to rehoming a rescue or shelter dog, by Nona Kilgore Bauer, 0-7938-0533-4. Another good basic guide to preparing to adopt, making a wise selection, and the post-adoption adjuctment period.



• Breed Rescue : how to start and run a successful program, Sheila Boneham, 1-57779-008-1. Absolutely a MUST READ for rescuers !!! Covers most of the major isssues and methodology in any rescue program , whether oriented to one particular breed or not. Also highly desirable for shelter workers seeking to understand how breed rescues opperate and how they can increase a shelter's adoption rate. This book has been updated and re-titled Breed Matters.



• Choosing a Shelter Dog Bob, Christiansen ,1-884421-66-0. good shorter book on adopting a dog


• Don't Dump the Dog by Randy Grim , book review by Pam Green. I really love this book !


• Petfinder's Adopted Dog Bible, available at petfinder.com



• Second Hand Dog, Carol Lea Benjamin, 0-87605-735-0. great classic about adopting a dog. written with humor and some cute cartoons. my choice for a low cost book to give to adopters at the time of adoption.




• Sucessful Dog Adoption, Sue Sternberg, 0-7645-3893-4. An exellent book by a somewhat controversial writer. Her goal is to teach prospective adopters how to evaluate dogs as they appear at the shelter in order to select a dog who is very friendly and has the least possible risk for biting. She is particularly focusing on the ordinary not-very-dog-experienced person, who wants to adopt as safe a dog as possible. Many of the dogs she would put in the "grey area" category, ie don't adopt without having a knowledgable dog person assess the dog, are dogs who will probably work out fine for an experienced rescuer or an experienced dog person. The book also has a lot of suggestions towards improving shelters (and rescue organizations) to make them into the best place for adopters to seek a dog. She emphasizes that every encounter of shelter (or rescuer) with a surendering owner or a potential adopter should be viewed as an oppertunity to educate that person about dog issue. I completely agree !! A number of her observations eg those on interactions between dogs at play and on conflicts between dogs sharing a home, are very much in accord with my own.



• Temperament Testing for Dogs in Shelters, Sue Sternberg, private publication, available from Sue Sternberg. Written for shelter workers, sets out procedures for preliminary evaluation of dogs under shelter conditions -- but, in my opinion, NOT the final fool-proof verdict on the dog. Many of the dogs who may "fail" testing will become great dogs if adopted into a good home willing to do some remedial training relevant to any issues revealed by the test.


• The Adoption Option , Rubenstein & Kalina, 0-87605-425-4. rescue good shorter book on adopting a dog.


• The Chosen Puppy, Carol Lea Benjamin, 0-877605-417-3. A guide to adopting a puppy from a shelter. written at a time when many shelters did not have special programs for fostering or socializing puppies.



• Four Level Training Program, Gorman & Boyle, Open Paw This is a MUST READ for all shelter workers ; a simple program to increase adoptability & reduce shelter deaths.Very good prices available for volumn purchases. See www.openpaw.org for more information on Open Paw and for some good downloads.


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• Books about Health and Veterinary topics

• Canine Clinic, Anna P Clarke, DVM, 0-02-525860-5


• 101 Questions Your Dog Would ask its Vet, Bruce Fogel DVM, 0-7858-0438-2


• Active Years for Your Aging Dog, Hershhorn DVM, 0-8015-4599-4



• Amer Red Cross/HSUS Pet First Aid, Mammato DVM, 1-57857-000-X. excellent, with clear text and very good line drawing illustrations to make every procedure easy to understand. my number one choice for a pet first aid book.



• Anatomy of the Dog, Miller's Evans & Christensenm 0-7216-34389


• Animal ERm Tufts School of Vet Medm 0-452-28101-6. vet case stories
• Bouvier Window vol 1 , Bouvier Health Foundation. high value : health issues in Bouvier breed. I think there are now 4 volumns, with some of the back issues still available.


• Cancer in Dogs & Cats, Wallace Morrison, 0-6833-06105-4. professional text , several years old but still very useful. (It is impossible for any vet cancer book to be truly up to date as research is moving along at a gallop.) Note : a 2nd edition appeared in 2006.


• Canine Hip Dyspplasia & other orthopedic problems, Fred Lanting, 0-931866-06-5. out of date but still has much useful info ; newer drugs and surgeries have become available, but the underlying disease remains the same.



• Canine Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy, Millis, Levine, & Taylor, 0-7216-9555-8. professional text ; excellent . has much that is of interest to all dog persons, especially those who engage in dog sports, those whose dogs have any orthopedica problems, and those whose dogs are getting into their geriatric year



• Care of the Aging Dog , C E DeCamp


• Clients, Pets, & Vets, Carl Gorman , MRCVS, 1-903152-04-6. a delightful book about the relationship between this holy trinity.



• Complete Care for Your Aging Dog, Amy Shojai, 0-451-20789-0. excellent . probably the best current layperson's book on canine geriatric care.



• Connecting with Clients, Langoni & Durrance, 0-941451-67-4. Written for vets; good outline of common situations and apporaches to resolving them.



• Control of Canine Genetic Diseases, George Padgett, DVM ,0-87605-004-6. An absolute MUST READ for all breeders and vets assisting them. An encylopedia of genetically caused health problems. Also a MUST READ for anyone considering getting a dog of any particular breed or identifiable breed cross. By knowing what the major problems are in a given breed , you may decide that this breed would be a bad choice for you. Once you have chosen a breed or breeds, if you are seeking a puppy, you will also be able to spot those ignorant or dishonest "breeders" who either do not know what the problems are in their own breed or else do know but will not be candid with you ; these are the breeders you want to avoid like the Plague.



• Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, Carlson & Giffin, 0-87605-764-4. vet good layperson's vet book


• Emergency First Aid for Dogs, Home Library, 0-88176-362-4


• Emergency Vet, Lillian Roberts DVM ,0-449-00043-5. a vet's stories of emergency cases


• Enteral Nutrition : importance in recovery, Hills. intended for vets ; how to get nutrition into a patient by mouth and by various types of feeding tube.



• 	The Feel Better Book For Cats and Dogs, by Randi E Golub, CVT. very highly recommended : a MUST READ for owners. medical support techniques that most owners can learn and do at home. (not a substitute for care by a DVM of course, but a suppliement)



• First aid for Dogs, Boyle & Blood, 0-94267-03-8


• Four Paws Five Directions, Cheryl Schwwartz DVM, 0-89087-790-4. very good intro to Traditional Chinese Medicine, explaining the concepts (quite diferent from those we in the Occident are used to) and emphasizing use of herbs and accupuncture.



• 	Good Old Dog, expert advice for keeping your aging dog happy healthy and comfortable, by Nicholas Dodman, DVM . a really excellent guide.

• Handbook of Veterinary Neurological Diagnosis, Oliver & Lorenz, 0-7216-6967-0. professional level for vets : older but good guide to doing a complete neuro exam


• Hip Dysplasia & the OFA, EA Corley DVM


• How to Have a Healthier Dog, Belfield & Zucker, 0-451-11833-2. main point is that megadoses of vitamin C will solve all your problems. does perhaps make good case for some supplementation with C for dog under great stress, dogs at hard work, dogs during illness.


• If Wishes Were Horses, Loretta Gage & Nancy Gage, 0-312-08817-5. A vet's story of her journey into and through vet school at Colorado State University. of high interest for pre-vet students and for all of us who sometimes wish we had become vets.


• Managing Gastrointestinal Disorders, Hills. for vets


• Managing Renal Disease & Hypertension, Hills . for vets


• Mark Morris Vetrinarian, Willard Haselbush, biography of founder of the Morris Animal Foundation and pioneer in creating special diets for pets with various medical conditions.


• Merk Veterinary Manual, 7th ed, 911910-55-7. professional text ; short descriptions of various conditions in various species. later editions since then.


• Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, Pitcairn, 0-87857-395-X. vet book for laypeople. largely advocating the type of "holistic" care that rejects established effective treatment modes in favor of alternative modes. some of the advice is quite dangerous


• Nutrient Requirements of Dogs, rev 1985, committee on Dog nutrition, 0-309-03496-5. (note that this is out of date. look for a more recent edition)


• Old Dogs, Old Friends, Wilcox & Walkowicz, 0-87605-750-4. older book for laypeople on care of the aging dog.



• Peak Performance, M Christine Zink, DVM, 0-87605-757-1. very good. Layperson's book on sports medicine for dogs. But relevant to all dogs who are physically active.




• Pet Care in the New Century, Amy Shojai, 0-451-20443-3. An excellent layperson's guide to some of the newest modes of treatment as of the late 1990's and early 2000's



• Pet First Aid, by Dr Bobbie Mammoto, DVM, MPH, American Red Cross and Humane Society of United States, published by Mosby, 1-57857-000-X, excellent handbook on first aid for dogs and cats.



• Pets Living with Cancer , Robin Downing DVM, 1-58326-022-6. Excellent and inspiring . a very good layperson's overview of cancer treatment as available in the 90's. emphasizes that treatment can cure some cancers; and for most that cannot be cured, it can "buy time" , ie give a prolongation of good quality life . not a lot on the cutting edge and experimental treatments starting to be developed.




• Preparing for the Loss of Your Pet, by Dr Myrna Milani DVM, Dr Milani's mission is helping you to think about the unthinkable long before the crisis occurs; highly reccommended to everyone.



• Quick Reference to Veterinary Medicine, Wm Fenner, 0-397-50448-9.


• Radiation Oncology -- Vet Clinics of N America : Small Animal . professional text out of date now.


• Recent Advances Canine & Feline Nutrition , v 3, Reinhart & Carey, 1-882203-63-1


• Recent Advances in Canine & Feline Nutritional Research, Iams, 1-882203-09-7


• Risk Factor Maagement & Geriatrics , Hills , professional level


• SFBSTC Canine Cancer Seminar -- 2002, SF Bay Scottish Terrier Club, private ltd edition . mostly about bladder cancer, a cancer for which Scotties are the "poster child" with a risk rate far higher than any other breed.



• Speaking for Spot, by Dr Nancy Kay, DVM : A MUST READ book that teaches you to be an articulate medical advocate for your dog and a capable partner to your vet in caring for your dog. Many readers find that it will also help them to deal with their M.D., a task often more difficult than dealing with almost any D.V.M.. This book is so good and so essential that I just had to list it as one of the Top Ten, making that Top Twelve.




• Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff, Miller & Zawistowski, professional text ; a MUST READ for rescue & shelter workers . this is the seminal book of a dawning new era in shelter medicine and management.



• Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, Hand, Thatcher, et al, 0-945837-05-4


• Small Animal Clinical Oncology, Withrow & MacEwan, 0-7216-77755-X. professional text ; currently in 3rd ed as of 2004, an outstanding book . Note that any oncology book will lag a bit behind current research and cutting-edge treatment.



• "Taking Care of Your Dog", Gerstenfeld VMD ,0-201-03061-6. Quite valuable. Although this book is somewhat older (1979) , it is still very useful as it focuses on educating the owner in first aid and in assessing symptoms and situations to make good decisions as to whether this is a real Emergency (grab car keys and phone vet to let her know you are on the way), something that should be seen within 24 hours, somethng that should be seen within a few days, something to phone the vet about, or something that is likely to respond to home treatment. The flow charts for decision making are the core of the book.




• The Art of Veterinary Practice, Myrna Milani, DVM, 0-8122-3260-7. MUST READ for vets; and very highly valuable for vet clients. The art of communication between vet and client and the philosophy of practice are the key topics. A great gift for anyone considering a career in veterinary medicine or in hairless primate medicine. Give a copy to your vet and to your MD .




• The Pill Book for Dogs and Cats , Roby & Southham, 0-553-57989-4. A very good layperson's guide to medications ; info is in good agreement with professional texts. Unfortunately lacks pictures of the pills. Similar book, "The Pill Book, the illustrated guide to the most prescribed drugs in the United States" , is published for human medications. look for a current or recent edition.



• The Veterinarian's Touch, Lee Gutkind, 0-8050-5811-7. an enjoyable set of stories illustrating the profession.



• UC Davis Book of Dogs, ed by M Siegal, 0-06-270136-3. A very good layperson's guide to canine health and disease; excellent introduction and overview. Like all vet books, some info has been superceded by newer treatments since publication date.



• Vet Family Practice Workshop, UCD Center for Animals in Society private ltd edition. vet professional , symposium for vet students at UC Davis.


• Veterinarian's Guide to Your Dog's Symptoms, the, Garvy, Houpt, et al , 0-375-75226-9.


• Veterinary Drug Handbook, Donald Plumb, 0-8138-2444-3. A professional text : the vet equivalent of the MD's Physician's Desk reference. Ideally you would consult the most recent edition.



• Veterinary Ethics, 2nd ed, Jerrold Tannenbaum, JD, 0-8151-8840-4. A professional text for classes in veterinary ethics and veterinary law , but has substantial interest for all vet clients and animal caretakers. My own copy is heavily annotated . A seminal book in the field. There is a 2nd edition. possibly one even later.



• Veterinary Immunology & Immunopathology, Niels C Pedersen . monograph written for vet students. excellent information.


• What to do till the Veterinarian Comes, Jean Pommery, 0-8019-6298-6. quirky book about some old time methods ; NOT recommended as source of advice.


• What Your Dog is Trying to Tell You, John Simon DVM, 0-312-97287-3


• Tellington T-touch , Linda Tellington-Jones 0-670-82578-6.     T-Touch is a form of massage and a form of behavioral modification. This book is very interesting for all who handle animals.


• Tube Feeding, Disease Mgmt, Antibiotics in Neonatal, D Nelson, About tube feeding puppies and use of antibiotics. Written by a breeder.


• The Healing Touch, Michael Fox DVM, 0-937858-18-8. On the benefits and technique of massage .

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• Books about dog Breeding

• Control of Canine Genetic Diseases, George Padgett, DVM , 0-87605-004-6. absolutly a MUST READ for all breeders. An encylopedia of genetically caused health problems. Also a MUST READ for anyone considering getting a dog of any particular breed or identifiable breed cross. By knowing what the major problems are in a given breed , you may decide that this breed would be a bad choice for you. Once you have chosen a breed or breeds, if you are seeking a puppy, you will also be able to spot those ignorant or dishonest "breeders" who either do not know what the problems are in their own breed or else do know but will not be candid with you ; these are the breeders you want to avoid like the Plague. Note that the list of diseases for which there is a direct DNA test is an ever-lengthening list. Direct DNA test is the "gold standard" for breeders.



• Practical Genetics for Dog Breeders , Malcolm Willis, 0-85493-218-6. an older book on genetics for dog breeders.


• Reproduction in the Dog, A.E. Harrop. an older vet book on breeding

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• Books about Pet Loss and Grieving

• A Final Act of Caring, Mary & Herb Montgomery, 1-879779-02-1
• Absent Friend ,Laura & Martyn Lee ,1-85054-089-6


• Companion Animal Death , Mary Stewart, 0-7506-4076-6. UK vet's guide to helping pets and clients with end of life issues. In many ways this is a briefer and more layman oriented version of material covered in the professionally oriented The Human-Animal bond and Grief. Of course in the UK , a vet is encouraged to offer a grieving client a cup of tea.


• Dog Gone, coping with the loss of your pet, Howard Bronson, 0-9616807-8-4


• The Last Walk, by Jessica Pierce,a very thoughtful and thorough book about the againg and progress towards death of your dog


• Old Dogs Remembered , Bud Johns, ed, 0-912184-12-4. Stories about well loved deceased dogs.



• Preparing for the Loss of Your Pet , Myrna Miliani, DVM, 0-7615-1648-4. excellent, and really should be read by everyone long before a pet gets old or sick, ie long before one needs to make any decisions. also covers other forms of loss, including the lost pet, the pet given up to another home. by thinking ahead, in some cases causes of loss can be prevented.




• The Human-Animal Bond & Grief, Langoni, Butler, Hetts, 0-7216-4577-1. A classic and seminal work. A professional text, of interest to all. A seminal work in the field of human-animal bond.




• When Your Pet Dies, Quackenbush & Gravline, 0-671-66930-3

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• Humorous books

  (I won't try to rate these because humor is such an individual and subjective thing.)

• 101 Uses for a Dog , 1-57223-500-4
• A Dog's Life Peter Mayle 0-679-76267-1 A novel. The canine protagonist looks and sounds like a Bouvier to me.


• Bow Wow Yoga , 10,000 years of posturing , Gerry Glin Greengrass,   1-58542-258-4.    Delightful. Whether you don't know the difference between Down-Faced Dog pose and Cat-Cow pose or whether you are a yoga-master who can chant all the sutras while standing on your head, you will enjoy this book. The drawings are utterly delicious and remind us that our dogs are true masters of mindfulness and relaxation.


• Dogology by Sarah Wilson &Vicki Croke, is screamingly funny and all too true. It's about personality/philosophy types of owners and how their outlooks affect their dogs. It's really about how to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses , or maybe you aren't willing to do that and will just enjoy applying the book to everyone else you know. The real truth is that going to extremes on any of these types has problems. Most of us are a combination of types, and the mix can change as we change in our goals in life. (my own goals and approaches today are not the same as when I was in serious working trial competition, but it's a shift of emphasis, not a change to something the earlier person couldn't recognize or vice versa).


• Dogs, Morgan & Booth ,0-395-24207-X


• Dogs are Better than Cats, Misy Dizick & Mary Bly ,0-385-10212-6 . I think this one is shriekingly funny, and to some pages I added my own lines about Basenjis being even worse (more catty) than cats.


• Don't Cry, Wolf, Geoffrey Bocca


• From the Back Row (vet school stress) ,Dean Scott, DVM ,0-9641518-2-0. will have vets, vet students ROFLOL. a great gift for any vet or vet student or aspiring to become a vet student whom you know. Update : he has a web site with new cartoons ; I think it is www.funnyvet.com


• Going to the Dogs, Eileen Schroeder, 0-517-540258


• Horoscopes for Dogs, Jeane Dixon


• How to Live with a Neurotic Dog, Stephen Baker, 0-517-11842-4


• Man's Funniest Friend, William Cole, ed. humor collection


• My Dog's the World's Best Dog, Suzy Becker, 0-7611-0105-5. charming cartoons


• No Good Dogs, Peter Desberg, 0-671-4608-1. cartoons


• The New Yorker Book of Dog Cartoons, 0-670-41580-3. includes many very great dog cartoons , many with deep underlying understanding of dogs. Dr Myrna Milani uses a lot of these cartoons in her lectures to illustrate various points.


• Thurber's Dogs, James Thurber, 0-671-505980X


• Too Proud to Beg, John Olson, 0-8362-2772-7


• Top Dog, Thelwell. horse and dog and English country life cartoons by one of the great cartoonists. I especially love the one with the 3 Border Collies herding children into church.


• Why dogs are Better than Kids, Jennifer Berman, 0-7407-0987-9. I find this shriekingly funny -- and could add a few pages to it.


• Why dogs are Better than Men, Jennifer Berman, 0-671-86488-2. I find this shriekingly funny --- and all too true !



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• Miscellaneous books

  don't quite fit anywhere else

• Animals & Man in Historical Perspective, Joseph & Barrie Klaits, 06-1311797-7


• The 1st Pet History of the World, David Comfort, 0-671-89102-2


• Animals and Their Legal Rights, Animal Welfare Institute, 0-933414-01-B



• Dog Law (4th edition) Nolo Press Mary Randolph 0-87337-616-1 legal information; MUST READ for all dog owners. Note : by now there may be a later edition. go to www.nolo.com to look for it. Nolo offers "trade in" credit for those with earlier editions purchasing new ones. (Note: there is a still newer edition with a different title, but same author.) UPDATE : the 5th edition has been re-titled as "Every Dog's Legal Guide", same author and same set of topics, but updated as to anything that has changed. Nolo books are updated frequently, so look for the current edition



• The Law and Your Dog, Howard Greene, 498-06769-6


• Guide to Home Pet Grooming, Chris Pinney DVM, 0-8120-4298-0


• Canine Massage ,Hourdebaigt & Seymour, 0-87605-340-1. As the title says, it's about massage.


• The Literary Dog , 0-425-03961-7. a collection of literary works about dogs.


• A History of Dogs in the Early Americas, Marion Schwartz ,0-300-07519-7


• Hounds & Hunting in Ancient Greece, Denison Bingham Hull. translation of Xenophon's book, "Cynegistus", with commentary, plus excerpts from other ancient works on dogs. Xenophon is also the author of the oldest surviving horsebook "On Horses and Horsemanship", still very esteemed by today's horsepersons. He was a contemporary and student of Socrates. Xenophon clearly understood and used the principles of classical conditioning, operant conditioning, "life rewards" (positive reinforcement coming from inside the dog, ie internal rewards), though he does not use those modern terms.


• How to Control Fleas with or without insecticides, Ted Kuepper . Contains useful methods, especially use of IGRs and natural flea parasites, but written before Advantage, Frontline. However IGRs and flea parasites are still useful.



• How to Find Your Lost or Stolen Pet, John Keane "Sherlock Bones". essential guide to best methods . a tiny booklet woth its weight in platinum if your pet has gone missing. The advice to plaster the area last seen with a multitude of posters headlined with a large explicit "REWARD $ XXX" is perhaps the single most important piece of advice.



• Pet Clean-up Made Easy, Don Aslett, 0-89879-262-2. Very good; out of print, but you might spot it on a used book shelf or photocopy a friend's copy. Includes advice on making your home more repellant to dog created dirt by wise choices in flooring and wall covering materials. For those of you who tend more to the Felix end than the Oscar end of the Odd Couple Scale of Housekeeping, this book will be of great value. for those of you more towards the Oscar end, it will remind you that housework is just too hard to be worth doing.


• Running with Man's Best Friend, Davia Anne Gallup, 0-931866-25-1. A good book for joggers


• Fitness Unleashed, your dog is your very best excercise companion.


• The Dog I Q test, Melissa Miller, 0-14-024020-9. don't take it too seriously


• The Dog in Action, McDowell Lyons, 0-87605-468-8. conformation and motion in dogs. Not as good as The New Dogsteps.


• The New Dogsteps , Rachael Page Elliot, 0-87605-521-8. Very good book on structure and motion. Flouroscopic studies show the skeletal moverment


• The Quotable Dog Lover, Patricia M Sherwood, 1-58574-65-5. a book of quotations, including some of the most famous.


• Doin' California with Your Pooch, Eileen Barish, 1-884465-02-1. travel guide for dog-accepting campgrounds, restaurants, hotels, etc. Pay attention to date of publication, as information in such books can become out of date rapidly.


• The California Dog Lover's Companion, Maria Goodavage, 1-57354-001-3. travel guide for dog-accepting campgrounds, restaurants, hotels, etc. Pay attention to date of publication, as information in such books can become out of date rapidly.


• How to Teach Your Old Dog New Tricks, Ted Baer, 0-8120-4544-0. About trick training. Do NOT confuse this book with Ian Dunbar's "How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks" which is about rearing a puppy to be a civilized comanion dog. Of course nothing says you can't also teach your civilized companion dog or puppy some cute tricks. Indeed for some people it's easier to be relaxed when teaching tricks than when teaching more "serious" lessons. Laugh and have fun training your dog.


• Dogmatically Speaking, Lynn Lennon, 0-670-27665-0. photos


• The Dog Observed, Ruth Silverman ,0-87701-400-X. photos


• Innocent Killers, van Lawick-Goodall, 345-03148-2-200. wild canids


• Wild Dogs, Erwin Bauer, 0-8118-0405-4. wild canids


• Dance of the Wolves, Roger Peters 0-345-32870-1


• In Praise of Wolves R.D.Lawrence, 0-03-001597-9


• Never Cry Wolf, Farley Mowat. The most enjoyable and probably best known of all books about the wolf. The first popular text to debunk the myth of the big bad wolf and describe the admirable lupine family life and the wolf's role in keeping the population of cariboo healthy by weeding out the weak ones. Delightful reading. Considered by some to be a fictionalized account based on ethological studies by field scientists, rather than a factual account of Mowat's own experiences.


• Of Wolves and Men, Barry Lopez, 0-684-16322-5. Essays on the wolf.


• Out Amoung the Wolves, John Murray, 0-88240-439-3.



• The Wolves of Isle Royale, L David Mech. The great classic seminal study of wolves in their natural environment.



• Brother Wolf, a forgotten promise , by Jim Brandenburg. A really stunning collection of photos of wolves in their natural environmnt. I just found it at a used book store a few days ago and have not yet gotten to look through it.

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• go back to the BOOKS index page to find links to those books for which I have posted reviews. I intend to add those links to this page too.
• My TOP TEN Books to help you focus on what I consider the absolutely most essential reading.