The Dog Trainer’s Teaching Manual – From Theory to Practice
Science-Based Principles and Practices for Planning, Leading, and Evaluating Dog Training Classes
A book about how to teach people—not just train dogs.
Many dog trainers spend years learning about canine behaviour, training techniques, and behaviour modification. Yet one of the most important skills in dog training is rarely taught: how to teach the humans who live with the dogs.
The Dog Trainer’s Teaching Manual: From Theory to Practice was written to fill that gap. Originally written by Lisbeth Borg de Waard in 2015 and published only in Norwegian, the book quickly became a valuable resource for dog trainers who wanted to develop stronger teaching skills and a deeper understanding of how people learn.
More than a decade later, the book has now been thoroughly updated and expanded into a new English edition. In collaboration with Danish university lecturer Johnas Christensen, the manual now includes additional theoretical foundations and practical insights, making it accessible to an international audience of dog trainers and educators.
Authors
Lisbeth Borg de Waard and Johnas Christensen
A unique combination of pedagogyand dog training
Lisbeth Borg de Waard brings a rare perspective to the dog training field. Before founding Nordic Dog Trainer and the International Dog Trainer School, she spent more than twelve years teaching in higher education, upper secondary school, lower secondary school, and adult education. Her academic background and long experience in teaching provided the foundation for developing structured and ethical methods for educating both dog guardians and professional dog trainers.
Over the past decade, Lisbeth has educated dog trainers from around the world and developed programs that focus not only on canine behaviour but also on the human side of dog training—communication, reflection, and ethical leadership.
Together with Johnas Christensen, a Danish university teacher with extensive experience in educational theory, the authors combine real-world dog training experience with well-established pedagogical frameworks.
Bridging science and practice
The book translates complex educational theories into practical tools that dog trainers can immediately use in their classes and courses.
Drawing on internationally recognised frameworks such as Bloom’s Taxonomy, the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition, and Kahneman’s Dual-Process Thinking, the authors show how trainers can design structured learning experiences that help dog guardians truly understand their dogs.
Instead of focusing only on techniques, the book helps trainers develop the skills needed to:
- plan effective dog training classes
- guide and motivate learners
- communicate clearly and ethically
- evaluate learning outcomes
- create safe and supportive learning environments
The Scandinavian approach to teaching
Grounded in the Scandinavian educational tradition, the book highlights values such as trust, equality, reflection, and collaboration.
Rather than teaching through control or authority, trainers are encouraged to create learning environments where people feel safe to ask questions, reflect on their experiences, and develop their understanding step by step.
This approach reflects the Nordic values that have shaped Lisbeth’s work for many years and that form the foundation of Nordic Dog Trainer’s educational philosophy.
A practical guide for dog trainers who teach
Inside the book you will find:
- clear explanations of educational theory
- real examples from dog training education
- practical course planning tools
- teaching templates for classes and workshops
- reflection exercises for instructors
- insights into teamwork and communication
The manual also introduces models from psychology and organisational learning such as Sjøvold’s SPINN theory, Salsa’s Big Five, Schein’s concept of “Helping”, and Eid & Johnsen’s Operative Psychology—giving trainers a deeper understanding of how people learn and collaborate.
For trainers who want to make a difference
Whether you teach private lessons, group classes, workshops, or professional dog trainer programs, The Dog Trainer’s Teaching Manual will help you teach with greater clarity, structure, and confidence.
More than a book about teaching dog training, it is a guide to becoming a thoughtful, ethical, and inspiring educator.
publisher
language
English
First Norwegian edition:
2015
Updated international edition:
2026
The book is available in soft cover and ebook on Amazon.