Leader of the Pack by Nancy Baer & Steve Duno – the book that Dan and Lane agree on – what your dog needs you to be, and how to be that person! No matter your dog’s personality, he needs a leader, and if you aren’t it, he must be.
Pointing Dogs Made Easy by Steven Mulak – Dan’s favorite – a fun, easy-to-read book that doesn’t contain specific training instruction, but does have a lot of general training information. For instance, how to live with a bird dog for the 10 months of the year that he’s not hunting; how allowing a bad behavior to occur equals training the dog to do that behavior – and much more.
How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With – Clarice Rutherford & David Neil – Lane’s favorite – a complete primer on puppy growth stages from birth, what to expect from a breeder, your relationship with your puppy, from living with him to training him.
Best Way to Train Your Gun Dog – Bill Tarrant – generally considered to be the consummate gun dog training book.
The Art of Raising a Puppy – The Monks of New Skete – specific training and socializing methods from recognized experts in dog breeding and training. We agree with the monks that a dog should be a part of your family, but not the focus and the center of attention all the time.