Dog Care & Training Guide
Practical guidance for understanding dog behavior, training, and everyday care.
Our Training Philosophy
At Golden Bond Retriever Rescue, we support only humane, science-based training methods which encourage optimum emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing for the dog, create safety and build trust, and strengthen the dog-human bond.
This means we ban the use of aversives, including:
- Training methods and other tools that stop unwanted behavior by using fear, intimidation, coercion, discomfort or pain
Shock (e-collars), prong, and choke collars
- Bark deterrent collars & devices (ultrasonic, citronella, etc.)
Electric perimeters
Dog Training & Care Resource Topics
Whether you’re raising a puppy, adopting a rescue, or working through behavior challenges, these resources can help support your dog’s wellbeing and strengthen your relationship together. Explore practical, experience-based guidance.
Getting Started
Support for the first days and weeks, including what to expect, helping your dog adjust, and building a strong foundation.
Understanding Your Dog
Learn how to meet their needs, develop communication, and build a relationship.
Behavior & Training
Guidance for common challenges, plus training support to help your dog learn, adjust, and thrive.
Health & Safety
Find guidance related to dog wellness, prevention and safety.
Life at Home
Guidance for introductions, socialization, routines, and everyday life with your dog at home.
More to Explore
A collection of helpful videos, articles, and tools we trust and recommend.
Online Resources
Rescued by Training (Kate LaSala)
Basic training, emphasis on rescue and shelter dogs, fear and aggression
Transform Behavior (Karishma Warr)
Excellent deep dives into behavior challenges such as reactivity, hyperactivity, and anxiety
Happy Hounds Dog Training (Stephanie Rombough)
Website and YouTube channel contain helpful, clear training videos and instructionals
Aggressive Dog (Michael Shikashio)
Focused on dog aggression and related topics such as fear and anxiety
Be Right Back (Julie Naismith)
Focused on dog aggression and related topics such as fear and anxiety
Whole Dog Journal
Monthly publication (print and online) covering a wide range of topics – health/wellness, training, food, gear, etc. Subscribers have online access to all back issues.
Videos and Webinars
Transform Behavior (Karishma Warr) – formerly Calm Canine Academy.
Rescue Dog Roadmap – 4th Wednesday of every month @ 5:30pm PT
Puppy Parenting Roadmap – 2nd Wednesday of every month @ 5:30pm PT
Understanding Dog Aggression
Emergency Defensive Dog Handling
Understanding and Working with Resource Guarding
Podcasts
Pod To The Rescue – This rescue-based podcast covers all things rescue, and is an excellent resource for fosters and adopters. Highly recommend!
Dogs Unknown by Instinct Dog Behavior & Training
The Bitey End of The Dog (Michael Shikashio) Focused on aggression, but covers many other topics. Excellent guests.
Be Right Back (Julie Naismith) Focused on separation anxiety.
Books
Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy by Zazie Todd
Everything from how dogs learn and the best ways to train to health, welfare, veterinary concerns for the lifespan of a dog. Very accessible, easy read; extremely helpful resource.
Manage It!: Hacks for Improving Your Dog’s Behavior by Juliana DeWillems
Presents management hacks for a variety of problems that are easy and fast to implement. In many cases good management can replace or significantly reduce the need for training.
Plenty In Life Is Free – Reflections On Dogs, Training and Finding Grace by Kathy Sdao
Part memoir and a little bit spiritual, Kathy reflects on positive reinforcement training philosophy and how to build deeper relationships with our dogs. Introduces the SMART 50 technique for shaping behavior. This book may change your life.
Don’t Shoot The Dog: The New Art of Teaching and Training by Karen Pryor
Dr. Pryor was a pioneer in the profession of animal training, and this book continues to be the gold standard in positive reinforcement training and understanding the animal mind. “Whatever the task, whether keeping a four-year-old quiet in public, housetraining a puppy, coaching a team, or memorizing a poem, it will go fast[er], and better, and be more fun, if you know how to use reinforcement.” Applicable to dogs, spouses, and any other creature who shares your life.
The Dog Trainer’s Complete Guide to a Happy, Well-Behaved Pet by Jolanta Benal
Part memoir, part training tutorial, this well-written book covers training and behavior topics in an easy, accessible read, and is laugh-out-loud funny.
Meet Your Dog: the Game-Changing Guide to Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior by Kim Brophey
Understanding your dog’s behavior by looking at a dog’s needs from multiple levels – species, breed type and as an individual.
The Ultimate Guide To Dog Training by Teoti Anderson
This step-by-step book covers training in an easy format with excellent colored pictures and extra hints for success.
Being A Dog, Inside Of A Dog, Our Dogs, Ourselves, and The Year of The Puppy by Alexadra Horowitz
Researcher, scientist and writer, Dr. Horowitz’ books include topics about the innate abilities of dogs, puppy growth and development, and our interdependent relationship with our dogs. Lovely reads.
Love Has No Age Limit: Welcoming an Adopted Dog Into Your Home by Patricia McConnell, PhD and Karen London, PhD
This little book, written in Patricia’s warm, easy style, is a good resource for fosters and adopters.
Feeling Outnumbered? How to Manage and Enjoy Your Multi-Dog Household by Patricia McConnell, PhD and Karen London, PhD
Written to help “maximize the joy of living in a multi-dog household”, this little book is full of useful information to help dogs live peaceably in a home, including practical ways to manage testy situations and change behavior.
Doggie Language: A Dog Lover’s Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend by Lili Chin
Brilliantly teaches better understanding of dog body language using charming illustrations. Accessible enough for kids yet complete enough to be highly regarded by dog professionals.
On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas
This time-honored classic was instrumental in human understanding of dog body language, and remains an amazing resource.
A Guide To Living With and Training a Fearful Dog by Debbie Jacobs
Debbie is recognized as a leader in the field of working with fearful dogs, and this book is full of insight and strategies to help the scared dog thrive.
Puppy Start Right by Kenneth Martin, DVM, and Debbie Martin, RVT, VTS
The authors are experts in the fields of veterinary care and training, and this book includes numerous step-by-step instructions with corresponding color photos, and focuses on building a strong, trusting relationship with your puppy.
The Puppy Whisperer: A Compassionate, Non Violent Guide to Early Training and Care by Paul Owens and Terence Cranendonk. Also available as an ebook from Dogwise.
Not to be confused with a certain TV personality who claims to “whisper”, this book is all things puppy, written by trainers who once used more punitive methods and have embraced humane training.
Puppy Brain by Kerry Nichols
The author is a Golden Retriever breeder; a rare one who does it all right. She’s also an educator and canine welfare advocate, and has extensively researched and studied puppy development . An easy read, this is an excellent resource on how puppies think, learn, and feel.
Control Unleashed: The Puppy Program by Leslie McDevitt. Also available as an ebook from Clean Run.
Written by the author of Controlled Unleashed, this is a comprehensive guide emphasizing fundamental training from the beginning in order to minimize or prevent problems common to puppies and adolescent dogs. The book includes key skills such as arousal regulation, self-control, and other foundational behaviors, and though it has a bent toward dog sports, is a helpful resource for any puppy parent.
The Whole Dog Journal Handbook of Dog and Puppy Care and Training by Nancy Kerns
The author was the long time, respected editor of the Whole Dog Journal, and in her clear and warm writing style, this book addresses everything from nutrition to training, and many other aspects of dog parenting.
Be Right Back by Julie Naismith
This book is written for the guardian of dogs who struggle with true separation anxiety. While treatment for this panic disorder should always be done with a trainer certified in this specialty, Julie’s book is an excellent resource, and her website www.julienaismith.com offers support and additional resources.
Support is always available
You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. If you have questions or need guidance, we’re here to help.