Best Books to Help Your Fearful Dog

Fearful dogs are usually reactive. They bark, lunge, run away from dogs and people, and live in a constant state of anxiety. If your dog is fearful, I recommend:

• Enrolling your dog in a Relaxed Rover training class.
• Reading dog training books focused on fearful dogs.

Dog training classes like the Relaxed Rover class is generally limited to five enrollees for each class. These dog training classes are focused on decreasing your dog’s fear and anxiety. By building confidence and teaching your dog how to calm himself, you’ll make your dog less fearful.

RELATED: How to Train Fearful Dogs

Every dog in class is reactive, so the dog owners are in the same boat as you. By the end of a five- to six-week course, your dog will learn how to look at other dogs without reacting and be much more relaxed. You’ll also learn how to deal with approaching dogs during walks and so much more.

Below, I’ve recommended a few books that can help your fearful dog. They’re straight to the point, easy to read, very effective and they echo skills learned in the Relaxed Rover class environment. While these books will certainly move you in the right direction, I still recommend a session with a dog trainer. All dogs are different, so these book recommendations may need to be tweaked a bit.

Best Reactive Dog Training Book

“Feisty Fido – Help for the Leash Reactive Dog, 2nd Edition”
by Patricia McConnell and Karen London

This dog training book shows you how to complete an ER U-turn when other dogs approach. It also teaches you skills to move away quickly while keeping your dog calm. This is a booklet so it’s super easy to read, but packed full of great tips.

Best Book for Fearful Dogs

Both books target fearful dogs that are afraid of many things. Usually, these dogs will shrink away, react to loud sounds or live in general anxiety. Now, most fearful dogs will react to other dogs so I do recommend reading “Feisty Fido” by Dr. McConnell listed above as well.

“Cautious Canine – How to Help Dogs Conquer Their Fears, 2nd Edition”
by Patricia McConnell

“Cautious Canine” is a quick read booklet packed with invaluable information on how to manage and deal with your dog’s fear. There are also excellent tips on conquering their fear. A must-read book. 🙂

“Help for Your Fearful Dog – A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Your Dog Conquer His Fears
”
by Nicole Wilde

“Help for Your Fearful Dog” by Nicole Wilde is a step-by-step guide, as mentioned in the title, for people who need specific steps to complete. Wilde also explains what causes your dog to be fearful in greater detail than “Cautious Canine.”

I want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on these recommended dog training books? 

READ ALSO: How to Train Fearful Dogs