Training books?

[noradog]

I am a first time dog owner, and I've lurked and learned a lot on the pet board when you were on the nest. My dog is a 1 year rhodesian/english bulldog (so we've been told) mix. We met the dad he's Rhodesian. I have a suspicion that the mom may have been a pit and not an English just from pics and things I've read, but it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. She is 90% + a GREAT dog, but we're having trouble getting to 100%.

She still gets mad and yells (barks repeatedly and forcefully) at me when I take things away that she shouldn't chew on and about 60% of those times she'll start trying to bite me.

We went to 6 weeks of puppy boot camp/leash training about 6 months ago b/c three doctors asked if I was being abused since my arms were literally covered in bruises. This is NOT the case now. She is SOOOO much better and sits and lays down on command. Waits to go inside, and waits for a command to get food. About once a month she chews and destroys something she shouldn't, and every day she tries to steal things she knows she shouldn't have -- pot holders, socks, nail clippers, etc...

I'm all about positive training, but my husband, who has had dogs growing up and thus considers himself more experienced reverts to temper, yelling, and spanking. He's good once I can convince him of the benefit of my way (we feed Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul b/c I could show him on the website the nutrition benefit vs. cost).

What I need is a BOOK that will teach me good training techniques to finish curbing her bad behaviors. I'm an English teacher and I've been over the websites that were on the FAQ page of Pets, but I need a book to really get it. Do you have any good recommendations. Nora is super smart and picks up training FAST. I'm the slower of the two of us.

Also, I do walk and exercise her. Usually 6 or 7 days a week. Right now 5 days is average b/c I teach and the end of the school year is crazy nuts, plus I sponsor an extra curricular and am there a long time. My husband will not walk with her and I've given up the fight (we work opposite hours). In two weeks we'll be back to 6 or 7 days.

Thanks so much for any help or advice -- even if it isn't a book.

[redheadbaker]

Victoria Stilwell (of "It's Me or the Dog" on Animal Planet) also has a dog training "how to" book. Karen Pryor and Jean Donaldson are also highly recommended.

Patricia McConnell's books aren't "how to train," but are very informative on how dogs communicate and learn.

[amavelle]

I'd second the Victoria Stilwell book for general training. If you want to look into more about her being possessive of items, she might be resource guarding and I've really been helped by the book Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs by Jean Donaldson.

If you want to train her to do more tricks as mental and physical stimulation, I had fun using 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog by Kyra Sundance with my mom's border collie mix who loves to learn something new constantly.