The Culture Clash, Jean Donaldson: Considered THE definitive book on positive reinforcement-based dog training, by the SF/SPCA’s very own Director of The Academy for Dog Trainers.

Don’t Shoot the Dog, Karen Pryor: A clear and entertaining book for anyone who wants to understand or change the behavior of an animal using positive reinforcement.

Train Your Dog the Lazy Way, Andrea Arden: A fun book with great tips on teaching your dog manners in the home.

Dr. Dunbar’s Good Little Dog Book, Ian Dunbar: Bay Area trainer, author, and founder of Sirius Puppy Training offers helpful training methods.

Toolbox for Remodeling Your Problem Dog, Terry Ryan: Gives you the tools to solve specific problems, then provides the expertise to transfer the methods to other problems you may have with your canine companion.

Power of Positive Dog Training, Pat Miller: Follow Pat's unique six-week training program, and your dog will learn to think and to choose proper behavior.

The Dog Who Loved Too Much, Nicholas Dodman: Clear writing on treating various behavior problems, written by a professor from the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Puppy Books

The Perfect Puppy, Gwen Bailey: Emphasizes prevention over cures in order to turn your puppy into a well-adjusted, confident, happy adult dog.

Before You Get Your Puppy and After You Get Your Puppy, Ian Dunbar: Bay Area puppy guru discusses the six essential deadlines to meet in your puppy’s developmental process in order to raise a wonderful dog.

Further Reading

Dogs Are From Neptune, Jean Donaldson: Intelligent, objective, and compassionate advice on treating behavior problems such as shyness, fear, food guarding, handleability, separation anxiety, recall, and many others.

How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks, Ian Dunbar: A comprehensive workbook for the motivated dog owner, comprising sections on basic off-leash obedience, temperament modification, behavior troubleshooting, training theory and health care

Behavior Booklets (set of 9), Ian Dunbar: Straightforward and effective advice on specific behavior issues such as housetraining, socialization, barking, aggression, chewing, digging, and shyness/fear of people.

Excel-erated Learning, Pamela Reid: Geared towards the dog trainer, this book explains scientifically how dogs learn, and how best to teach them. Required reading for the SF/SPCA’s Academy for Dog Trainers.

Dog Language, Roger Abrantes: Contains great encyclopedia-style information and photos of dog body language and facial expressions.

Understanding Your Dog, Michael W. Fox: A reissued guide to dog psychology and behavior that will help you learn the motivation behind your dog's behavior.

The Domestic Dog, James Serpell, Ed: The latest scientific and scholarly information on the origins and evolution of canine behavior from international experts will give you insights into the behavior of the domestic dog.

Help! This Animal is Driving Me Crazy!, Daniel Tortora: Learn how to apply Dr. Tortora's psychological techniques to retrain a wide range of behavioral problems, from selecting the right puppy and raising him, to solving problems such as incessant barking to uncontrollable biting.