Recommended reading

Dialogues with Dogs by Bruce Fogle
This is one of my favourite books for dog owners. It’s a very easy read that is littered with cartoon drawings; written in Bruce’s dry, witty style this book is a great addition to any dog owner’s bookshelf. It imparts some very good information about dogs, leadership and basic manners. To quote the back cover “The key to training your dog to become a well-behaved companion for life is first learning how to communicate with him. To do that successfully, you need to understand your dog’s mind. In Dialogues with Dogs, Bruce Fogle, a working vet and leading canine training expert, examines every aspect of canine behaviour – and misbehaviour. Armed with this knowledge, you can learn to ‘speak’ with your dog and convert even the most recalcitrant hound into an obedient, loveable friend.

The Other End of The Leash by Patricia McConnell
Patricia McConnell is my favourite author of dog books and I admit to having virtually all of her books. This is a book you can read over and over again. Drawing comparisons between primates (us) and canines (your dog) this book just keeps you reading and reading. If you haven't read Patricia McConnell yet this is a great book to start with. Patricia writes from the heart, making the reader feel that you're there with her as she deals with upset owners and aggressive dogs. "Fascinating, insightful and compelling, The Other End of the Leash is a book that strives to help you connect with your dog in a completely new way - so as to enrich that most rewarding of relationships".

How to be the Leader of the Pack... and Have Your Dog Love You for it! by Patricia McConnell
This is more of a pamplet than a book and is just fantastic. "Learn how to love your dog without spoiling him, and how to be the benevolent leader that every dog needs. The methods in this booklet are designed to teach your dog that he can get what he wants be being patient and polite, not by being pushy and demanding".

Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan
Although Cesar seems to have gone down the commercial route of late, I still love this book. It talks about dogs as the energy beings that they are, about pack dynamics and the importance of fulfilling your dogs needs. Cesar’s formula for a contented and balanced dog seems impossibly simple: exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order. Taking readers through the basics of dog psychology and behaviour, Cesar shares the inside details of some of his most fascinating cases, using them to illustrate how common behaviour issues develop and, more important, how they can be corrected. Whether you're having issues with your dog or just want to make a good bond even stronger, this book will give you a deeper appreciation of how your dog sees the world, and it will help make your relationship with your beloved pet a richer and more rewarding one.

Think Dog by John Fisher
If you want to go more technical then Think Dog is a great book for you. It not only covers the dog in the human pack and where dogs come from, but also a section on positive approaches to problem behaviours and a problem solving A-Z section. Although this is a technical style book, John’s easy writing style and humorous story telling make a very enjoyable book to read. “In this fascinating book John Fisher examines the psychology of the dog with examples taken from his practical experience, with the aim of explaining to owners how the world appears from a dog’s point of view. The first section of the book traces the ancestry and inherent behaviour of dogs, from their origins as pack animals related to the wolf or jackal. The second part examines what most people describe as problem behaviour, which is just normal canine behaviour exhibited in the wrong place. The book concludes with an A-Z of common problems, their causes and cures.