Training Resources
There are many different ways to train, and many of them can be successful if you apply them consistently. Some are more suitable than others for specific dogs – and specific trainers. Think about how suitable a particular training method is for your situation before you commit to it. Once you commit – be consistent!
Our sport shares characteristics for many different sports. It probably has most in common with IGP (Schutzhund). Certainly, tracking and obedience exercises are very similar to IGP. But resources about agility, AKC tracking, nose work, traditional obedience, retriever training, and other may all be helpful to you.
General Information
Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog
By John Paul Scott and John L. Fuller
The classic study on genetics, socialization, and behavior. A must for every dog trainer.
The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior
By Clarence Pfaffenberger
Based on Scott and Fuller, covers the author’s extensive work to discover principles behind successful training
From Puppy to Working, Sporting or Police dog
by Dick Staal
Training Dogs: A Manual
by Konrad Most
One of the earliest books on training, with surprisingly sophisticated information on theories behind training. Techniques are sometimes a bit harsh for modern practice.
Search Phase
Scent work in general, nose work
K9 Scent Training: A Manual for Training Your Identification, Tracking and Detection Dog
by Resi Gerritsen, Ruud Haak
Scent: Training to Track, Search and Rescue
by Milo Pearsall and Hugo Verbruggen
Scent and the Scenting dog
by William Syrotuck
A good technical discussion of scent issues
The Nosework Dog: Understanding Olfaction and Odor
by Frederick Helfers
Tracking
Introduction to Schutzhund tracking - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4AqingFPRc
Dog Training with the Touch
by Tom Rose and Annetta Cheek
IGP style tracking
Schutzhund
by Susan Barwig
An early book on Schutzhund, now somewhat dated but still with some useful advice
Tracking Dog: Theory & Methods
by Glen R. Johnson
The classic tracking manual especially for AKC style tracking – but useful to all
Tracking Dogs: Scents and Skills
Lars Fält et al.
Available at https://swdi.se/store/product/tracking-dogs-scents-and-skills
The Koehler Method of Training Tracking Dogs
by William R. Koehler
AKC tracking
Go Find! Training Your Dog to Track
by Louis Wilson Davis
An old classic
Tracking from the Ground Up
by Sandy Ganz and Susan Boyd
Another good AKC tracking style manual
Nosework For Dogs (Tracking and Related Applications)
by John Cree
Enthusiastic Tracking, The Step-by-Step Training Manual
by William (Sil) Sanders
Area Search
Ready! the Training of the Search and Rescue Dog
by Susan Bulanda
A standard for SAR team training
Search Dog Training
by Sandy Bryson
Search and Rescue Dogs: Training the K9 Hero
by the American Rescue Dog Association
K9 Search and Rescue: A Manual for Training the Natural Way
by Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak
Trailing
K9 Mantrailing - Our Way
by Timothy E. and Sara S. Perry
K9 Trailing The Straightest Path
by Jeff Schettler
Two Weeks to Operational Tracking: For Working Dog Handlers
by Jeffrey Schettler
Start Mantrailing: Train a Dog to Find People
by Amber Higgins
Obedience and Dexterity Phase
Obedience
Dog Training with the Touch
by Tom Rose and Annetta Cheek
IGP style obedience
Schutzhund Obedience: Training in Drive
by Sheila Booth with Gottfried Dildei
IGP style obedience
Schutzhund
by Susan Barwig
An early book on Schutzhund, now somewhat dated but still with some useful advice
K9 Obedience Training: Teaching Pets and Working Dogs to Be Reliable and Free-Thinking
by Susan Bulanda
Beyond Basic Dog Training
By Diane Bauman
Generally an AKC obedience book, but with lots of information about broadly applicable training principles
Companion Dog Training: A Practical Manual on Systematic Obedience Dog Training In Word And Picture
by Tossutti, Hans
The 1964 Revised Edition includes bringsel instruction, but this is essentially a book about pet training
Awesome Obedience: A Positive Training Plan for Competition Success
by Hannah Branigan
AKC obedience, clicker training
Dexterity
The dexterity exercises are most closely related to agility but also to some exercises from the various Ring Sports.
Agility Training for You and your Dog
by Dianne Goodspeed, Ali Canova, Joe Caniva
The Beginners Guide to Dog Agility
by Laurie Leach
Agility for Starters
by Connie Sellers
Our sport shares characteristics for many different sports. It probably has most in common with IGP (Schutzhund). Certainly, tracking and obedience exercises are very similar to IGP. But resources about agility, AKC tracking, nose work, traditional obedience, retriever training, and other may all be helpful to you.
General Information
Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog
By John Paul Scott and John L. Fuller
The classic study on genetics, socialization, and behavior. A must for every dog trainer.
The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior
By Clarence Pfaffenberger
Based on Scott and Fuller, covers the author’s extensive work to discover principles behind successful training
From Puppy to Working, Sporting or Police dog
by Dick Staal
Training Dogs: A Manual
by Konrad Most
One of the earliest books on training, with surprisingly sophisticated information on theories behind training. Techniques are sometimes a bit harsh for modern practice.
Search Phase
Scent work in general, nose work
K9 Scent Training: A Manual for Training Your Identification, Tracking and Detection Dog
by Resi Gerritsen, Ruud Haak
Scent: Training to Track, Search and Rescue
by Milo Pearsall and Hugo Verbruggen
Scent and the Scenting dog
by William Syrotuck
A good technical discussion of scent issues
The Nosework Dog: Understanding Olfaction and Odor
by Frederick Helfers
Tracking
Introduction to Schutzhund tracking - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4AqingFPRc
Dog Training with the Touch
by Tom Rose and Annetta Cheek
IGP style tracking
Schutzhund
by Susan Barwig
An early book on Schutzhund, now somewhat dated but still with some useful advice
Tracking Dog: Theory & Methods
by Glen R. Johnson
The classic tracking manual especially for AKC style tracking – but useful to all
Tracking Dogs: Scents and Skills
Lars Fält et al.
Available at https://swdi.se/store/product/tracking-dogs-scents-and-skills
The Koehler Method of Training Tracking Dogs
by William R. Koehler
AKC tracking
Go Find! Training Your Dog to Track
by Louis Wilson Davis
An old classic
Tracking from the Ground Up
by Sandy Ganz and Susan Boyd
Another good AKC tracking style manual
Nosework For Dogs (Tracking and Related Applications)
by John Cree
Enthusiastic Tracking, The Step-by-Step Training Manual
by William (Sil) Sanders
Area Search
Ready! the Training of the Search and Rescue Dog
by Susan Bulanda
A standard for SAR team training
Search Dog Training
by Sandy Bryson
Search and Rescue Dogs: Training the K9 Hero
by the American Rescue Dog Association
K9 Search and Rescue: A Manual for Training the Natural Way
by Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak
Trailing
K9 Mantrailing - Our Way
by Timothy E. and Sara S. Perry
K9 Trailing The Straightest Path
by Jeff Schettler
Two Weeks to Operational Tracking: For Working Dog Handlers
by Jeffrey Schettler
Start Mantrailing: Train a Dog to Find People
by Amber Higgins
Obedience and Dexterity Phase
Obedience
Dog Training with the Touch
by Tom Rose and Annetta Cheek
IGP style obedience
Schutzhund Obedience: Training in Drive
by Sheila Booth with Gottfried Dildei
IGP style obedience
Schutzhund
by Susan Barwig
An early book on Schutzhund, now somewhat dated but still with some useful advice
K9 Obedience Training: Teaching Pets and Working Dogs to Be Reliable and Free-Thinking
by Susan Bulanda
Beyond Basic Dog Training
By Diane Bauman
Generally an AKC obedience book, but with lots of information about broadly applicable training principles
Companion Dog Training: A Practical Manual on Systematic Obedience Dog Training In Word And Picture
by Tossutti, Hans
The 1964 Revised Edition includes bringsel instruction, but this is essentially a book about pet training
Awesome Obedience: A Positive Training Plan for Competition Success
by Hannah Branigan
AKC obedience, clicker training
Dexterity
The dexterity exercises are most closely related to agility but also to some exercises from the various Ring Sports.
Agility Training for You and your Dog
by Dianne Goodspeed, Ali Canova, Joe Caniva
The Beginners Guide to Dog Agility
by Laurie Leach
Agility for Starters
by Connie Sellers
