Competitive Obedience Training for the Small Dog by Janet Larsen
Competitive Obedience Training for the Small Dog by Janet Larsen offers concise, competition-focused techniques tailored to small-breed handlers and trial ring realities. Its emphasis on scaled exercises, handling strategies and compact drills makes it best-in-class for small-dog competitors, often reducing the need for frequent private lessons compared with the broader manuals on this list.
Tiny-dog tactics
Ring-ready routines
Tiny-dog tactics
Ring-ready routines
Review Summary
"Praised for practical, step-by-step strategies tailored to small-breed competitors, readers say it offers clear handling tips and drills though some find the photos and formatting a bit dated. Overall reviewers report noticeable improvement in small-dog performance when they follow the programs consistently."
Lap champion tips
Adapts competitive obedience exercises specifically for small and toy breeds.
Lap champion tips
Adapts competitive obedience exercises specifically for small and toy breeds.
Skill Development & Mastery
Recreational Enjoyment
Time-Saving Convenience
Competitive Obedience Training for the Small Dog by Janet Larsen offers concise, competition-focused techniques tailored to small-breed handlers and trial ring realities. Its emphasis on scaled exercises, handling strategies and compact drills makes it best-in-class for small-dog competitors, often reducing the need for frequent private lessons compared with the broader manuals on this list.
Tiny-dog tactics
Ring-ready routines
Lap champion tips
Adapts competitive obedience exercises specifically for small and toy breeds.
Covers ring handling, positioning, and equipment choices suited to small dogs.
Tiny-dog tactics
Ring-ready routines
Lap champion tips
Adapts competitive obedience exercises specifically for small and toy breeds.
Covers ring handling, positioning, and equipment choices suited to small dogs.
$15-30 CAD
Beyond Basic Dog Training by Diane Bauman
Beyond Basic Dog Training by Diane Bauman is a comprehensive foundation manual that bridges basic obedience and competitive work with progressive lesson plans and clear troubleshooting. As a market leader for value and breadth, it delivers practical ring-ready skills more affordably than niche specialty titles here, making it a cost-effective single reference for handlers building toward competition.
Cue polish
Problem solver
Cue polish
Problem solver
Review Summary
"Seen as a solid bridge from basic to more advanced obedience, buyers appreciate its structured progressions and real-world troubleshooting but a few users wished for more up-to-date competition examples. Many long-term users credit it with improving reliability and ring manners."
No-nonsense tips
Progressive lessons that move owners from basic obedience to competition skills.
No-nonsense tips
Progressive lessons that move owners from basic obedience to competition skills.
Skill Development & Mastery
Self-Improvement & Personal Growth
Beyond Basic Dog Training by Diane Bauman is a comprehensive foundation manual that bridges basic obedience and competitive work with progressive lesson plans and clear troubleshooting. As a market leader for value and breadth, it delivers practical ring-ready skills more affordably than niche specialty titles here, making it a cost-effective single reference for handlers building toward competition.
Cue polish
Problem solver
No-nonsense tips
Progressive lessons that move owners from basic obedience to competition skills.
Clear troubleshooting tips for common behavior and performance issues.
Cue polish
Problem solver
No-nonsense tips
Progressive lessons that move owners from basic obedience to competition skills.
Clear troubleshooting tips for common behavior and performance issues.
$18-35 CAD
Precision Heeling by Janice Gunn
Precision Heeling by Janice Gunn is a deep, technical treatise on heelwork and movement, prized by competitors seeking top-level scoring finesse and fine motor control. It outpaces the more general texts in technical depth—offering specialist drills that can shorten the path to high placements—though it functions best alongside a general obedience or puppy-development guide rather than as a standalone all-purpose manual.
Heel like clockwork
Micro-step mastery
Heel like clockwork
Micro-step mastery
Review Summary
"Highly regarded by competitors for in-depth, precise guidance on heeling mechanics and drill progression; reviewers note the book’s detail helps refine top-level performance, though it assumes some prior handling experience. Those who practiced the methods report measurable gains in precision and consistency."
Eye-contact magic
Detailed breakdown of heeling mechanics, foot placement, and body alignment.
Eye-contact magic
Detailed breakdown of heeling mechanics, foot placement, and body alignment.
Skill Development & Mastery
Recreational Enjoyment
Precision Heeling by Janice Gunn is a deep, technical treatise on heelwork and movement, prized by competitors seeking top-level scoring finesse and fine motor control. It outpaces the more general texts in technical depth—offering specialist drills that can shorten the path to high placements—though it functions best alongside a general obedience or puppy-development guide rather than as a standalone all-purpose manual.
Heel like clockwork
Micro-step mastery
Eye-contact magic
Detailed breakdown of heeling mechanics, foot placement, and body alignment.
Drill progressions to build accuracy, speed, and endurance in heeling.
Heel like clockwork
Micro-step mastery
Eye-contact magic
Detailed breakdown of heeling mechanics, foot placement, and body alignment.
Drill progressions to build accuracy, speed, and endurance in heeling.
$20-40 CAD
Rally-O: The Style of Rally Obedience by Charles 'Bud' Kramer
Rally-O: The Style of Rally Obedience by Charles 'Bud' Kramer is the go-to reference for rally competitors, combining course strategy, handling cues and stylistic pointers in an accessible format. Its focused coverage of rally exercises and course flow makes it the market leader for rally training among these titles, offering efficient practice plans that often reduce time and expense preparing for events versus assembling guidance from general obedience books.
Course-style flair
Speedy station drills
Course-style flair
Speedy station drills
Review Summary
"Considered a go-to reference for Rally obedience style and ring strategy, readers value its clear explanation of exercises and competitive tips, while a minority find it focused more on style than on novice basics. Regular users credit it with improving flow and handling in rally courses."
Judge-friendly cues
Explains Rally-O etiquette, ring flow, and the stylistic expectations of judges.
Judge-friendly cues
Explains Rally-O etiquette, ring flow, and the stylistic expectations of judges.
Recreational Enjoyment
Skill Development & Mastery
Time-Saving Convenience
Rally-O: The Style of Rally Obedience by Charles 'Bud' Kramer is the go-to reference for rally competitors, combining course strategy, handling cues and stylistic pointers in an accessible format. Its focused coverage of rally exercises and course flow makes it the market leader for rally training among these titles, offering efficient practice plans that often reduce time and expense preparing for events versus assembling guidance from general obedience books.
Course-style flair
Speedy station drills
Judge-friendly cues
Explains Rally-O etiquette, ring flow, and the stylistic expectations of judges.
Station-by-station strategies and handling tips to maintain momentum.
Course-style flair
Speedy station drills
Judge-friendly cues
Explains Rally-O etiquette, ring flow, and the stylistic expectations of judges.
Station-by-station strategies and handling tips to maintain momentum.
$18-45 CAD
The Focused Puppy by Deborah Jones and Judy Keller
The Focused Puppy by Deborah Jones and Judy Keller emphasizes early attention, impulse control and socialization with competition trajectories in mind, giving handlers a cost-effective blueprint for raising future obedience or rally prospects. Serving as the best early-stage companion to the other books listed, it provides developmental protocols that lower long-term training costs by preventing common behavioral setbacks before they become expensive problems.
Puppy focus games
Short-session wins
Puppy focus games
Short-session wins
Review Summary
"Popular for building early attention and impulse control, reviewers praise its practical exercises and puppy-friendly approach, though some say results depend heavily on consistency and handler skill. Many buyers report noticeably better focus and readiness for formal training after applying the methods."
Champion foundation
Short, play-based exercises to build attention and early focus in puppies.
Champion foundation
Short, play-based exercises to build attention and early focus in puppies.
Skill Development & Mastery
Self-Improvement & Personal Growth
The Focused Puppy by Deborah Jones and Judy Keller emphasizes early attention, impulse control and socialization with competition trajectories in mind, giving handlers a cost-effective blueprint for raising future obedience or rally prospects. Serving as the best early-stage companion to the other books listed, it provides developmental protocols that lower long-term training costs by preventing common behavioral setbacks before they become expensive problems.
Puppy focus games
Short-session wins
Champion foundation
Short, play-based exercises to build attention and early focus in puppies.
Foundational skills that set up puppy readiness for competitive obedience.
Puppy focus games
Short-session wins
Champion foundation
Short, play-based exercises to build attention and early focus in puppies.
Foundational skills that set up puppy readiness for competitive obedience.
$15-30 CAD