The first four on this list are considered the best training books by dog behaviorists at this point in time. There is no kitcsh to these books and each will help teach you to understand how your dog's mind works and how best to work with the dog to achieve amazing results.
Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor
The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson
The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell
The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller and Jean Donaldson
Turid Rugaas is something like the Jane Goodall of dogs. Living in rural Norway, Rugaas has devoted her entire life to watching and learning about how dogs communicate with each other and how we can understand what they're trying to tell us in their language. Rugaas's booklet is short but the communication methods she speaks of are very valid. The training books are essential, yes, but this one short booklet and the companion DVD, have taught me how to commuicate with my dogs in their language. When I first attempted it my dogs were astonished and broke into joyous jumping and licking, thrilled that I was finally able to understand something they wanted me to know. Cross-species communication is very difficult and humans, in dogs' eyes, are very contradictory. This booklet teaches you learn how to speak and understand dog-language. Of all my dog books, this is my most treasured.
On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas
As for Cesar Millan, what he teaches about leadership and exercise are very valid and his advocacy for the, "bully breeds," is wonderful, but his training techniques are at odds with what most behaviorist believe are the best methods for creating a solid dog and, in some cases, are very dangerous to attempt.
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