Puppy training resources | Cause of Our Joy

These are some of my favorite dog books, training materials & resources. I highly recommend reading them and checking them out BEFORE getting your pup. Most of them are not exactly "how-to" books, but I believe that when you learn the way dogs think and interact with their world, it'll deepen your relationship and make training easier.

Books by the Monks of New Skete and Marc Goldberg- These books mirror my philosophy when it comes to our relationship with dogs. They're more than just how-to books about raising and training dogs. They give us the foundational knowledge necessary for training by understanding how dogs think.

The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves- If you've ever wondered how your puppy perceives its world and what immense changes it's going through in only a year, I recommend this book for you. Written in an easy-to-understand language, it recounts the first year in the life of the author's new pup.

Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs- A fascinating book to understand the way dogs think that will not only make your relationship better but will also make training (and living with your dog) easier.

When Pigs Fly- This book is written by the founder of the Puppy Culture program we raise our pups with and is an excellent resource to continue raising your pup with the same philosophy we started them on.

Madcap University's online course- From the people who brought us Puppy Culture! I cannot recommend this resource enough! This online pre-recorded course focuses on what to do when you bring home your puppy.

Puppy training DVD- This training DVD is a great way for the whole family to begin the process of training.

Zen Dog Training- My kids and I have gone through Lola's course and I was thoroughly impressed by her knowledge of dogs and her expertise in training, while at the same time being incredibly easy to work with. Lola doesn't have a one-size-fits-all attitude when it comes to training. She looks at each dog as an individual, this way her training can be easily tailored to their needs. She is a perennial student, constantly learning to improve her program which I think is a necessary part of any endeavor. She does in-person as well as virtual classes. Located near the CO/WY border, so very accessible to people in Cheyenne and Northern CO. Check out Lola's videos on her FB page!