American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
RECOMMENDED READING LIST
For Individuals Interested in Applied Veterinary Behavior
The following books are organized topically, then alphabetically by author(s).
SUGGESTED READING LIST FOR ACVB CANDIDATES
The ACVB has developed the suggested reading list for individuals applying for membership, from
the more general recommended reading list. Suggested readings are indicated by an asterisk (*). The
intent of the more specific list is to help guide the candidate towards the more pertinent books that will
assist them in preparing for the examination. The recommended list is not intended to suggest that the
candidate should read every book on ethology or every book on learning theory, but rather is presented
so as to demonstrate the breadth and scope of veterinary behavior. Neither list should be construed as a
commitment regarding specific examination material. For the purposes of studying for the ACVB
examination, it is suggested that an applicant review texts pertaining to general principles of behavior as
well as species specific material, then use other books to fill in clinical information. Current texts in the
fields of internal medicine, neurology (Lorenz or Chrisman et al), and neuroscience (Bear et al or Kandel
et al) should also be reviewed, with emphasis on veterinary behavior. More timely material, available in
periodicals listed below, should be consulted as well. Refer to the general reading list for additional
references.
Learning Theory, Cognition
AUTHOR/EDITOR
TITLE AND PUBLISHER WEBSITE
Hauser M
Wild Minds: What Animals
Really Think, www.henryholt.com
Reisberg D
Cognition: Exploring the Science of the Mind (5th
edition), ISBN:9780393198515
www.wwnorton.com
Schwartz B, Robbins SJ Psychology of Learning and Behavior (5th edition),
www.wwnorton.com
Reznikova Z
YEAR
2000
*
2012
2001
2007
Mazur J
Animal Intelligence: from individual to social
cognition,
Cambridge University Press
Learning and Behavior (7th edition)
Wasserman EA, Zentall
TR (eds)
Comparative Cognition: Experimental Explorations
of Animal Intelligence, www.oup.com/us
2009
2012
*
Neurology/Neuroscience/ Physiology/Endocrinology
AUTHOR/EDITOR
TITLE AND PUBLISHER WEBSITE
Bear MF, Connors B,
Neuroscience—Exploring the Brain (3rd edition),
Paradiso M, et al
www.lww.com
Carlson NR
Physiology of Behavior (11th edition);
Allyn and Bacon Publishers
Kandel ER, Schwartz JH, Principles of Neural Science (5th edition)
Jessell TM
Lorenz MD, Kornegay JN Handbook of Veterinary Neurology (5th edition),
www.elsevier.com
Chrisman CL, Mariani C, Neurology for the Small Animal Practitioner
Platt S
Teton New Media
Nelson RJ
An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology (4rd
edition),
www.sinauer.com
Nelson RJ
Biology of Aggression; Oxford University Press,
www.oup.com/us
Pharmacology
AUTHOR/EDITOR
Crowell-Davis SL,
Murray T
Sadock, Kaplan HI,
Sadock BJ
Schatzberg AF,
Nemeroff CB
Schwartz S
Stahl SM
Stahl SM
YEAR
2006
*
*
2012
*
2012
2010
2002
2012
*
2005
TITLE AND PUBLISHER WEBSITE
Veterinary Psychopharmacology
www.blackwellprofessional.com
Pocket Handbook of Psychiatric Drug Treatment (4th
edition), Williams & Wilkins, www.lww.com
The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of
Psychopharmacology (4th edition)
American Psychiatric Press www.appi.org/
Psychoactive Herbs in Veterinary Medicine
www.blackwellprofessional.com
Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific
Basis and Practical Applications (3rd edition),
Cambridge Univ. Press (also online edition),
www.cambridge.org/us/medicine/stahl/
YEAR
2005
The Prescriber's Guide (4rd edition)
http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/
2011
*
2005
2009
2005
2009, 4th
edition
pending
2013
*
Clinical Texts
AUTHOR/EDITOR
Beaver BV
Beaver BV
Hart BL, Hart LA,
Bain MJ
Horwitz D, Mills D,
Heath S
Horwitz D, Neilson J
Landsberg GM,
Hunthausen WL,
Ackerman L
Overall KL
TITLE AND PUBLISHER WEBSITE
Canine Behavior
www.elsevier.com
Feline Behavior (2nd edition)
www.elsevier.comhttp://www.iowastatepress.com
Canine and Feline Behavioral Therapy (2nd edition)
www.blackwellprofessional.com
BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural
Medicine (2nd edition)
BSAVA, www.wiley.com
Blackwell’s Five Minute Behavior Consult: Canine and
Feline Behavior
www.blackwellprofessional.com
Handbook of Behavioural Problems of the Dog and Cat
(3rd edition), www.elsevier.com
YEAR
1999
Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals, Mosby,
www.elsevier.com
1997
Domestic Species Specific Behavior
AUTHOR/EDITOR
TITLE AND PUBLISHER WEBSITE
Appleby M, Mench J,
Hughes B
Albright JL,
Arave CW
Bradshaw JW
Coppinger R,
Coppinger L
Broom DM, Fraser AF
Houpt KA
Keeling L, Gonyou H
Lindsay SR
McDonnell S
McGreevy P
Miklosi A
Phillips C
Poultry Behaviour and Welfare,
www.cabi-publishing.org
The Behaviour of Cattle,
www.cabi-publishing.org
The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat, (2nd edition)
www.cabi-publishing.org
Dogs: a Startling New Understanding of Canine
Origin, Behavior and Evolution, Scribner,
www.simonsays.com
Domestic Animal Behaviour and Welfare (4th
edition), Oxford University Press,
www.oup.com
Domestic Animal Behavior for Veterinarians and
Animal Scientists (5th edition)
www.iowastatepress.com
Social Behaviour in Farm Animals
www.cabi-publishing.org
Applied Dog Behavior and Training; Iowa State
University Press, Volumes 1-3,
www.iowastatepress.com
The Equid Ethogram, a Practical Field Guide to
Horse Behavior, www.eclipsepress.com
Equine Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians and
Equine Scientists
www.elsevier.com
Dog Behavior, Evolution, and Cognition
Oxford Press
Cattle Behaviour & Welfare (2nd edition);
www.iowastatepress.com
*
2003
2006
2010
2007
2012
YEAR
*
2004
1997
2013
2001
2007
*
2010
*
2001
20002005
2003
*
2004
*
2009
*
2002
Price EO
Price EO
Scott FP, Fuller JL
Serpell J
Turner DC,
Bateson P (eds)
Waring, George
Principles and Applications of Domestic Animal
Behavior
Animal Domestication and Behavior,
www.cabi-publishing.org
Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog
www.press.uchicago.edu
The Domestic Dog: its Evolution, Behaviour, and
Interactions with People; www.cambridge.org/us
The Domestic Cat: the Biology of Its Behaviour (2nd
edition); www.cambridge.org/us
Horse Behavior (2nd edition), Noyes Publications
Lab/Zoo Animals/Exotic/Wild Animals
AUTHOR/EDITOR
TITLE AND PUBLISHER WEBSITE
Estes RD
The Behavior Guide to African Mammals, Including
Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates, U. of
California Press, 20th Anniversary edition,
www.ucpress.edu
Hosey G, Melfi V, and
Zoo Animals: behaviour, management, and welfare
Pankhurst S
Oxford University Press
Kleiman DG,
Wild Mammals in Captivity: Principles and
Allen ME
Techniques, (2nd edition), www.press.uchicago.edu
Thompson KV, et al
(eds)
Luescher AU (ed)
Manual of Parrot Behavior
www.blackwellprofessional.com
Quesenberry K,
Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and
Carpenter JW
Surgery, (3rd edition), WB Saunders,
www.elsevier.com
Sheldon JW
Wild Dogs: The Natural History of the Nondomestic
Canidae;
www.blackburnpress.com
Tynes V (ed)
Behavior of Exotic Pets
Blackwell
Wolfensohn S, Honess
Handbook of Primate Husbandry and Welfare
P
Ethology/Genetics
AUTHOR/EDITOR
Alcock J
Grandin T
Wilson EO
TITLE AND PUBLISHER WEBSITE
Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach (9th ed.);
www.sinauer.com E-Book available:
(www.coursesmart.com/9780878932252),
Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals,
Academic Press; www.elsevier.com
Sociobiology: The New Synthesis (25th anniversary
edition); www.hup.harvard.edu
2008
*
2002
1998
(Reprint
of 1965)
1996
*
2000
*
2007
YEAR
2012
*
*
2009
2012
2006
*
2003
2004
(reprint
of 1992)
2010
*
2005
YEAR
2009
1998, 2nd
edition
pending
2013
2000
(1975
reprint)
*
*
*
Quantification of Behavior
AUTHOR/EDITOR
TITLE AND PUBLISHER WEBSITE
Lehner PN
The Handbook of Ethological Methods (2nd edition),
www.cambridge.org
Martin P, Bateson P
Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory Guide (3rd
edition); www.cambridge.org
Dawkins MS
Observing Animal Behaviour : Design and Analysis
of Quantitative Data
YEAR
1998
*
2007
*
2007
*
TITLE AND PUBLISHER WEBSITE
Animal Welfare, (2nd edition) www.cabipublishing.org
Domestic Animal Behavior and Welfare (4th edition),
Oxford University Press
www.oup.com
Understanding Animal Welfare: The Science in its
Cultural Context
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
(UFAW) Publication
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
Improving Animal Welfare: A Practical Approach
Wallingford CABI Publishing
The Welfare of Laboratory Animals
Springer
Stereotypic Animal Behavior: Fundamentals and
Applications to Welfare
The Sciences of Animal Welfare
YEAR
2011
*
2007
*
The Biology of Animal Stress: Basic Principles and
Implications for Animal Welfare
www.cabi-publishing.org
Comfortable Quarters for Laboratory Animals (8th
edition); Animal Welfare Institute,
www.awionline.org
Taking Better Care of Monkeys and Apes
Animal Welfare Institute (www.awionline.org)
The Welfare of Cats
Springer
The Welfare of Cattle, Springer
2000
*
2002
*
2008
*
Environmental enrichment for captive animals
2003
Shelter Medicine, (2nd edition)
Blackwell Publishing
2013
.
Animal Welfare
AUTHOR/EDITOR
Appleby MC,
Hughes BO, Elson
Broom DM, Fraser AF
Fraser D
Grandin T
Kaliste E
Mason G, Rushen J
(eds)
Mellor D, PattersonKane E, Stafford KJ
Moberg G, Mench JA
Reinhardt V
Reinhardt V
Rochlitz I
Rushen J, de Passille
AM, von Keyserlingk
AG, Weary DM
Young RJ
Miller L, Zawistowski S,
Editors
2008
2009
2004
2008
*
2009
2007
2007
Other Suggested Readings
Applicants are expected to be familiar with the classic and current behavior literature from
various journal sources. Journals listed below are particularly significant. Papers relevant to clinical case
management should be emphasized. The list should not be considered all-inclusive.
Animal Behaviour
Animal Welfare
Anthrozoos
Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
Journal of Comparative Psychology
Journal of Ethology
Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research
Laboratory Animal Science
Proceedings of the International Veterinary Behavior Meetings
Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Association of Avian Veterinarians
Veterinary Clinics of North America (recent behavior editions)
Zoo Biology
Revised 02-19-2013