Use as a quick resource or read it all at once.

This direct, practical book started as the textbook for students in my Ahimsa Dog Training classes in Seattle.

I'm happy to see that other dog trainers have found it helpful to use to supplement their training with clients and to get new ideas for exercises. Breeders buy this in bulk to share with new puppy parents and some shelters provide it to every dog who is adopted.

  • Different ways that dogs learn.

  • Clicker training, from beginner to more advanced.

  • How to stop unwanted behavior (puppy biting, fear/aggression, separation anxiety, etc.).

  • How to teach behavior you like.

  • Coming when called, the name, watch, relaxation, sit, down, stay, wait, touch, walking on leash, give, go to your bed, and more!

  • Also available as a paperback book and in eBook bulk (10 codes) or paperback bulk (box of 20 copies) to share with your clients or adopters. Set your clients up for success by including a book with your dog training classes!

  • The Ahimsa Dog Training Manual eBook is included with the Diamond Membership All-Access Pass (see below).

  • We also have a Library Pass which lets you stream this course and a lot of other pre recorded content. Find out more on the Library Pass Page.

UPDATED!

Now includes more illustrations, leash handling skills, and BAT 2.0 for reactivity.

  • 150 page eBook

    Downloadable in 3 different formats, so it should work in pretty much any eReader (ePub, Mobi, and PDF).


    Like paper?
    The Ahimsa Dog Training Manual is also available as a paperback book.

  • What is Ahimsa?

    “Ahimsa” is a Buddhist doctrine of nonviolence to all living things, reflecting my focus on force-free dog training and behavior modification.

    I use progressive, science-based training to build two-way communication between humans and their dogs.

  • Who is This For?

    Everyone! This guide has specific, practical exercises: straightforward enough for dog families to put into practice, but also helpful for professional dog trainers.

    The Ahimsa Dog Training facility in Seattle alone has helped tens of thousands of dogs with this book.

Reviews

Unique & meaningful book

Paul Owens, Best-selling author of "The Dog Whisperer; A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training" (Adams Media, 1999) and "The Puppy Whisperer A Compassionate, Nonviolent Guide to Early Training and Care" (Adams Media, 2007)

"Of the thousands of dog training books out there, it's rare finding one that has something new to say or presents the science of positive training in a unique and meaningful way. Grisha's new book, the Ahimsa Dog Training Manual, does just that. Clear, concise, informative and extremely user-friendly, this book deserves a prominent place on every trainer's bookshelf."

Writing as engaging and friendly as her methods

Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, Pawsitive Results, LLC, Lexington, SC APDT Past President and of "Your Outta Control Puppy," "Super Simple Guide to Housetraining," "Quick & Easy Crate Training," "Puppy Care and Training" and "Animal Planet Dogs 101 Dog Training"

Grisha's book can help you manage Fido's environment and train him to make good choices. She offers a variety of force-free ways to train common behaviors, and her writing is always engaging and as friendly as her methods. Your dog will definitely enjoy your training sessions based on this book."

Practical, step-by-step training solutions

Kyra Sundance, Renowned Stunt Dog Performer and author of best seller "101 Dog Tricks"

"This is it! This is the easy-to-read, concise handbook that every responsible dog owner will want to read. This manual spells out practical, step-by-step training solutions while educating the reader on the science behind the theory. Grisha is the leading authority on Behavior Adjustment Training, and shares her unique method of bringing about change in a positive, force-free, and fear-free environment. This book also shows us a way to teach loose-leash walking that is free from frustration and maps a clear strategy for us to follow."

About the Author

Dog Trainer, Author, Singer-Songwriter

Grisha Stewart MA, CPDT-KA, KPACTP

I'm a collaborative dog trainer, author, international presenter, singer-songwriter, and keynote speaker of European ancestry (best guess based on DNA and some genealogy is Scotland, "England & Northwestern Europe," Wales, "Germanic Europe," Ireland, and Norway). I've been helping people and dogs professionally since 2003. My passion projects are grief tending, community singing, and woodturning.

I'm fascinated by animal behavior (including humans), somatic awareness, spirituality, psychology. My work is directed at wholehearted living for all beings, including dogs with a history of aggression, frustration, or fear as well as puppies and my other favorite species: humans.

My Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT 2.0 book and BAT 3.0) is used worldwide to help dogs gain confidence and social skills. Well over 200,000 people have learned about BAT so far.

Diane Redding and I co-host a podcast called The Lesson is Love.

As an outgoing introvert, I refresh my batteries by singing, expressing grief in community, and savoring life with my husband (Tom), Labrador (Joey), cat (Garbanzo aka "Adventure Kitty" and "Baby Panther"), and Little Brown Dog (Zuki). I identify as a queer (pansexual), neurodiverse, middle age, white, raised in poverty and now of middle class, and US citizen, spiritual non-Christian leaning toward neo-Druid (but raised in Christian culture). My pronouns are she/her. I am still wrestling with living on the stolen river watershed of the Siuslaw people, who are part of the CTCLUSI.

Table of Contents

  • INTRODUCTION
  • COMMUNICATION & LEARNING GO BOTH WAYS
  • UNDERSTANDING YOUR DOG'S COMMUNICATION
  • LEARNING THEORY (How All Animals Learn - Including us)
  • CLICKER TRAINING WORKS!
  • WHAT IS A CLICKER?
  • WHY DOES THE CLICKER WORK?
  • GETTING RID OF PROBLEM BEHAVIORS
  • JUMPING & OTHER ACCIDENTALLY TRAINED BEHAVIORS
  • HOUSETRAINING
  • PUPPY BITING & CHEWING
  • 15 TIPS TO STOP BARKING IN CLASS
  • FEAR, FRUSTRATION, AND AGGRESSION
    • Counterconditioning and systematic desensitization
    • Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT 2.0)
  • DON'T LEAVE ME! PREVENTING SEPARATION ANXIETY
  • HEY, THAT'S MINE! PREVENTING & DEALING WITH RESOURCE GUARDING
  • GOOD HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK!
  • TEACHING RELIABLE BEHAVIORS
  • CHOICE POINTS-SET YOUR DOG UP FOR SUCCESS
  • NAME GAME
  • WATCH
  • RECALL CUE-COMING WHEN CALLED
  • RELAXATION ON CUE
  • SIT
  • DOWN
  • RELEASE WORDS-ARE WE THERE YET?
  • STAY
  • WAIT
  • TOUCH-TARGETING NOSE TO HAND
  • LOOSE LEASH WALKING
  • LEAVE IT
  • GIVE OR DROP IT
  • TUG
  • RULES
  • 101 THINGS TO DO WITH A BOX
  • GO TO YOUR BED
  • CRATE TRAINING
  • ADDING A CUE TO ANY BEHAVIOR
  • GOOD LUCK AND KEEP IT UP
  • RESOURCES FOR EVEN MORE HELP

More reviews

5 star rating

Concise and complete

Christina Hargrove

This book covers everything you need to know about dog training, in a very concise way. Grisha Stewart is one of the best, kindest, most knowledgeable dog t...

Read More

This book covers everything you need to know about dog training, in a very concise way. Grisha Stewart is one of the best, kindest, most knowledgeable dog trainers out there. She is a star in the dog training world, and this book is a must-have for every dog owner and dog trainer.

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5 star rating

The one book

Dan Gesting

I volunteer as an adoption counselor at our local municipal shelter, and am often called to help folks navigate their new relationship. There are a ton of do...

Read More

I volunteer as an adoption counselor at our local municipal shelter, and am often called to help folks navigate their new relationship. There are a ton of dog books and web resources I can point to, but this is my go-to for making sure folks have the kind of trusted information they need.

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5 star rating

Helpful for trainers and dog lovers

Emma Fishman

Grisha’s book is extremely thorough. She addresses many important topics. Basic cues, separation anxiety, how to help leash reactive dogs succeed (BAT) and d...

Read More

Grisha’s book is extremely thorough. She addresses many important topics. Basic cues, separation anxiety, how to help leash reactive dogs succeed (BAT) and dealing with resource guarding are just some of the important things covered. I highly recommend it. It’s one that I will be referring to time and time again.

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5 star rating

Brilliant advice for dog trainers

clare larkin

This book is full of tips to help both the dog trainer and the dog guardian. I highly recommend it! You will not be disappointed

This book is full of tips to help both the dog trainer and the dog guardian. I highly recommend it! You will not be disappointed

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5 star rating

Great book!

Lucas Brands

One of those books all pup-owners should read!

One of those books all pup-owners should read!

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5 star rating

Brilliant ebook

Jenifer Brett

First I would like to say thank you for the free gift. I have look though it and I will again so I can take it all in betfer

First I would like to say thank you for the free gift. I have look though it and I will again so I can take it all in betfer

Read Less
5 star rating

So far, so good!

Trish O Neill

Im still reading it but its been really helpful so far. Thanks so much

Im still reading it but its been really helpful so far. Thanks so much

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5 star rating

Great Book

Sylvienne Kane Littell-Herrick

I thought this was a great training book for dogs. I really liked where in the book it showed you games you could play with your dog to help with their trai...

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I thought this was a great training book for dogs. I really liked where in the book it showed you games you could play with your dog to help with their training. Really helpful, I used these tactics with my dogs.

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5 star rating

Excellent

Alice Pool

This book clearly explains various concepts in dog training in an easy to understand way, and is great for anyone new to dog training or looking to use more ...

Read More

This book clearly explains various concepts in dog training in an easy to understand way, and is great for anyone new to dog training or looking to use more positive based training techniques.

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5 star rating

Love it

Jade William Ritzon Hewison

Very easy to understand

Very easy to understand

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5 star rating

Beautifull and full of substance

Oorvask Cooper

I love the illustrations and the content material is extremely practical. with some great tips for positive dog training.

I love the illustrations and the content material is extremely practical. with some great tips for positive dog training.

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5 star rating

Everything you need to get started

Alexis Boulet

The Ahimsa Training Guidebook gives you a step by step understanding of how to get started on the right foot with a new puppy or dog. Even as a more expe...

Read More

The Ahimsa Training Guidebook gives you a step by step understanding of how to get started on the right foot with a new puppy or dog. Even as a more experienced trainer I appreciated the easy to understand approach of the book and the practical advice Stewart provides. There are solid exercises and techniques provided to help train any dog without force or fear. The further reading list at the end is great for anyone interested in continuing to develop as a handler or pet gaurdian.

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