Image taken from barns and noble.com
I was introduced to these authors through their puppy book, Life Skills for Puppies. This book is even better! Helping Minds Meet is my current favorite book for new dog owners. It has some training in it for sitting, lying down, and walking. All skills are presented not as ‘dogs need training to be good dogs’ but showing specifically how training can increase opportunities for dogs. The book covers some body language, self control, and looking at overall welfare/how to allow appropriate outlets for species-specific behaviors.
These are topics very relevant to new dog owners to help minimize conflict and increase conflict. Owners are walked through many prompts to help find ways to use training or to determine what kinds of skills will help. One of my biggest concerns about most beginning training books is that the steps are sometimes unrealistic (too much lumping to really work) or too complicated and overwhelming to the average dog owner. This book is really great at hitting on all the important points but also that training is about making life better, not just having a sit/down/stay/etc.
And the Columbus library system has two copies!