Even so, it is important that we are able to communicate with our best friends. Since they don’t speak our language, we have to learn theirs. Lucky for us there are many people who have researched these lovable creatures and have provided many strategies and tips on how to train and properly care for our doggy friends.

Here are seven great books on how to train your dog.

The Other End of the Leash

by Patricia McConnell

Dr. McConnell has committed her life to the study of dogs, and specifically their relationship with humans. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and she wrote this book to teach us that every move our dog makes has meaning. And because she is so knowledgeable she helps us understand this meaning. She also teaches us that many (but not all) of our natural instincts in our interactions with dogs are right on. This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn more about themselves in relation to their dogs.

Don’t Shoot The Dog!  The New Art of Teaching And Training

by Karen Pryor

This is a a great starter book for someone interested in “clicker training” who also wants to be entertained while they learn.  Pryor, who actually runs a dog training program, teaches us that we can train our dogs without yelling or punishment.  Rather, we can use positive reinforcement and “affection training” along with the “clicker training” to communicate with our dogs.

How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend:  The Classic Training Manual for Dog Owners

by The Monks of New Skete

Based in Upstate New York, the Monks of New Skete are all about spreading their Christian message, and they are all about their dogs.  They raise dogs, and they run a dog training program.  Their books are about how to practically train a dog, but also about the spiritual benefits related to a human’s relationship with their dog.

Cesar’s Way:  The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems

by Cesar Millan

No list of the best dog training books would be complete without a book by The Dog Whisperer himself – Cesar Millan.  Cesar is simply a genius when it comes to dogs, and this book offers Cesar’s way of training dogs – by being the “pack leader” and using “calm, assertive behavior.”  As he says on his show – he “rehabilitates dogs” and “trains people.”

ABC Practical Guide to Dog Training

by Steven Applebaum

This is a basic but very readable book by a professional dog trainer who boasts that over 40,000 dog owners have benefited from reading it.  He explains his own version of the “pack theory” that Cesar Millan has made so popular, and he gives tips on finding the right dog trainer for you.  In addition, he offers a helpful internet guide to finding anything you might need for your dog.

The Power of Positive Dog Training

by Pat Miller

Another great book by another great dog trainer, this informative read will give a different perspective to the “clicker method” and provides a diary where you can track your training progress.  The glossary is very helpful, and Miller also offers suggestions as to the best dog treats to use.

Good Dog 101

by Cristine Dahl

Dahl,  founder of Seattle Dogworks, gives us this book on her approach to dog training, which she calls “Learning Theory.”  The SPCA strongly endorses this method, which are based on guidelines established by the American Humane Association.  Dahl is the behavior writer for a dog magazine based in Seattle, and is active in dog advocacy.  A great read by a smart lady.

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Diners, Drive-ins and Dives:  An All-American Road Trip…with Recipes!
by Guy Fieri and Ann Volkwein

If you’re looking to stay within the Continental US, this book would be a heck of a good travel companion.  Also, a bottle of Prevacid might come in handy.  Guy Fieri won The Next Food Network Star the second season it was on, and he had a show called Guy’s Big Bite, wherein he taught us how to make amazing chili fries, the best nachos ever, and about 11 different types of barbecue.  He went on to host Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, wherein he took us through hole-in-the wall eating establishments that actually gave some of us hunger pains while watching.  Seriously – Captn’ Crunch French Toast?  Genius!  This book follows the same vein and features many of the places he visited on the show.  Read this book for a list of places to visit as you take an all-American road trip.

Frommer’s 500 Places for Food and Wine Lovers
by Holly Hughes

One of the most popular series of travel guides, Frommer’s is the  series that gave us Europe on $5 a Day and many other great books.  Frommer’s also has a comprehensive website where you can get all sorts of helpful destination information, plus they have bloggers that blog about travel.  This book covers a wide range of places around the globe where you can find great food and wine – like farmer’s markets, vineyards, specialty food stores, and more.  Also, it offers great tips on hotels and public transportation that will assist with your travel planning.

Roadfood:  The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 700 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much, Much More
by Jane and Michael  Stern

This book is touted by USA Today as “a bible for motorists seeking mouth-watering barbecue or homemade pie.”  Jane and Michael Stern are well-versed in their subject, having authored more than forty books about the country’s local food.  The book (and the previous six editions of it) is arranged by region, then by state.  For a guide to the best barbecue, ice cream, hotdog stands, and more, pick up this book.

Her Fork in the Road:  Women Celebrate Food and Travel
by Lisa Bach

Part of the Traveler’s Tales series of books about the human’s emotional relationship with food, this book features essays by some highly talented female writers about specific experiences they’ve had with food – in many different countries and towns.  From an essay called “Tempted in Jakarta” by Faith Adiele, to one called “Easter Nachos in Warsaw” by Kristin Roberts, this book is more than a treat for your culinary appetite, but for your spiritual appetite as well.

500 Things to Eat Before It’s Too Late:  and the Very Best Places to Eat Them
by Jane and Michael Stern

Given that the authors of this book are experts on food around the US, it is not unusual that two of their books would make our list.  Since not every restaurant, food stand, and mom-and-pop eatery lasts forever, this book complies all of the Stern’s must-eat foods around the country.  To further convince you, the book includes vibrant photographs so realistic you can almost smell them.  This book will have you planning a road trip in no time.

Food:  A Taste of the Road
by Richard Sterling

With essays by some truly talented writers, this book talks about local cuisine in Mexico, China, Malaysia, and more.  With stories so amazing and outlandish that you feel like you have stepped into another world, this book inspires the itchy feet that many of these essayists experienced that took them to their destinations.  Thought-provoking and sometimes downright delectable, this book is a good read whether you like to travel or not.

Food Journeys of a Lifetime:  500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe
by National Geographic

A National Geographic book generally has some aspects you can count on.  One – it will be well-researched.  Two – the photographs will be amazing.  This book does not disappoint in either category.  If one were to follow the itinerary set forth in the book, one would realize they’d be spending a lot of money on travel, because such a wide territory is covered.  From the US to Tokyo, to South America, to Europe and beyond, you will learn about famous eateries, as well as lesser-known places.  A pleasurable read for anyone, and a valuable addition to your home library.

Brought to you by Concession Trailers for Sale.

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