There’s nothing better than curling up after a long day with a cup of tea, your dog, and your favorite dog book.
It’s a great way to relax, unwind, and spend some quality time with your pup.
However, as someone who reads a lot of dog books, I often find myself at a loss for what to read next. For that reason, I thought it would be fun to write a post that highlights some of my favorite dog books.
If you love dog books, but aren’t sure what to read next, I hope this list will help you out! In return, I’d love for you to leave your favorite dog book recommendations in the blog comments below that I can take a look at…deal?
All of the stories I’ve picked to share are true stories or are collections of stories, and they cover a variety of topics on everything from loyalty and companionship to why rescuing is important.
I have a strong feeling that you’re going to love them just as much as I do!
Of course, if you’ve already read any of them, then do let us know what you thought at the end.
So, here they are, in no particular order…
My Favorite Book #1 — Finding Gobi
Finding Gobi, written by Dion Leonard, is an amazing story of a tiny little dog who linked up with a man who was running an ultramarathon in the Gobi Desert. That’s a 155-mile race!
Will little Gobi have the endurance to keep pace with her owner for the entire race? Watch this amazing video clip of them running together, and then read the book to find out!
For me, one of the best things about this story is this dog's immediate knowledge of whom he was going to stick with in the race! He knew straight away this man is a keeper!
Watch the video below!
Ultra runner Dion Leonard talks about adopting Gobi the stray dog in China
My Favorite Book #2 – A Wolf Called Romeo
A Wolf Called Romeo, written by Nick Jans, is the true story of the black wolf who spent seven years interacting with the people and dogs of Juneau, Alaska.
It all began when a black wolf, affectionately named Romeo, began to join cross-country skiers on their outings and started playing fetch alongside local dogs. Author Nick, and the rest of the people who lived in Juneau, eventually came to accept Romeo, and Romeo accepted his human counterparts as well.
Here’s a neat clip of Romeo interacting with a local dog in Juneau.
Watch the video clip:
Make sure you check out the size of the wolf versus the dogs at 1 min 40!
To get the full story, I highly recommend you pick up this book and give it a read! It will really give you a better insight into animals, the true nature of wolves, and their incredible connection to dogs.
My Favorite Book #3 – Old Yeller
Old Yeller, written by Fred Gipson is book about a bond between a boy named Travis and a stray dog named Old Yeller.
While this book has a melancholy ending, it’s a classic and is certainly a great read for every dog lover out there!
My Favorite Book #4 – Dogs Are Smarter Than Jack
Dogs Are Smarter Than Jack, written by Lisa Richardson, is a collection of stories about dogs around the world.
In this book, there are a variety of unique stories including the tales of Snoopy, the hitchhiking dog; Merlo, the dog who protected his family from stranger danger; and Sherry the dog who saved her 10-year-old owner from getting sucked out to sea.
If you’ve enjoyed my blog post about intelligent intuition and dogs, you’ll love this book!
My Favorite Book #5 — A Dog’s Best Friend
This is a great collection of stories, pieced together by author Jan Fennell, all about amazing dog owners who did what was best for their dogs, which is not always what we want to do.
It covers off some of the hardest, most difficult topics to talk about, such as when to say goodbye to your dog. And it looks at what a dog really values and what creates a very special bond and connection between dogs and humans. This is one of my favorite books for sure because it really goes to the heart of what dogs’ love and why we love them.
Prefer to view instead of read?
Click here to download a FREE copy of Doggy Dan’s Top 10 Favorite Dog MOVIES here
My Favorite Book #6 — Arthur
Arthur, written by Mikael Lindnord, is a very similar story to Finding Gobi where Arthur is fed once by a Swedish man completing a 435-mile race in the jungles of South America. After that interaction, Arthur crosses the entire jungle to find a home with the man who fed him.
It’s a truly wonderful book about connection, friendship, loyalty, love, and adventure.
To get a deeper understanding of this story, check out ESPN’s featured video story on Arthur.
Watch the video below…
My Favorite Book #7 — Never Cry Wolf
As you’ve probably guessed, this book, written by Farley Mowat, is actually about wolves. But, I wanted to included it on my list because it is such a good read and it's one of my favorite books!
The book was actually written originally in 1963 when the author accepted an assignment to investigate why wolves were killing Arctic caribou.
While studying the wolf population, Farley developed a deep affection for these wild creatures who were discovered to be no threat to Caribou or man.
For me, this book shows a great example of how similar dogs and wolves are. They both have a love for their pack, the desire to protect and nurture, and are not out to do damage or harm to people.
This is the book which really helped me understand how misunderstood wolves are. It’s also helped me understand my dogs better, especially when they are in a pack situation, meeting other dogs or just playing around together.
My Favorite Book #8 — The Divinity of Dogs
The Divinity of Dogs, written by Jennifer Skiff, is all about the moments when we learn something profound about life from a dog.
This book contains a collection of true dog stories in which you’ll discover firsthand accounts from people whose lives have been transformed by a dog’s love.
These stories all confirm what many of us have always known: dogs are the ultimate gift, sent here to help us on our journey.
My Favorite Book #9 — My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts
I’m an avid supporter of rescuing dogs, instead of shopping for them.
That being said, it’s no surprise that I would be drawn to a book all about how amazing old rescue dogs can be.
This book, written by Laura T. Coffey, shows that adopting a senior can be even more rewarding than choosing a younger dog. And throughout this book, you’ll meet endearing elder dogs like Marnie, the irresistible Shih Tzu who has posed for selfies with Tina Fey, James Franco, and Betty White and Remy, a soulful nine-year-old dog adopted by elderly nuns.
Here’s a very fun interview with the author and photographer of this book. Check out what they have to say about this collection of amazing senior dog stories…
Watch their interview below.
My Favorite Book #10 — Rescue Road
The final book I want to recommend is called Rescue Road, written by Peter Zheutlin.
As a dog lover, I know you’d do just about anything for a dog in need. But, would you be willing to travel over a million miles to rescue thousands of dogs from hunger, abuse, and neglect to give them a second chance at life and love like Greg Mahle, the main character in this story, did?
Read this book, and you’ll be taken on a crazy and endearing journey to save the lives of dogs in need.
I truly hope you have the time to check out some of these amazing books. There are so many heartwarming moments and life lessons waiting to be discovered in every book I added to the list!
Speaking of heartwarming, I’ve also put together a list of my top 10 favorite dog movies that are perfect for the whole family, and I’ve packaged them up nicely just for you!
Download a FREE copy of Doggy Dan’s Top 10 Favorite Dog Movies below…
Between my favorite books list and my favorite movies list, you should have enough material to keep you busy for a while.
Enjoy!
~Doggy Dan
P.S. Remember our deal that I’d share with you my favorite books if you shared some of yours? Do leave a post below if you have any good ones you think I might enjoy!
24 Responses
Here are my favorite dog books so far.. but I have only read 575 dog books so far…
A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog Koontz, Dean
A Dog Called Hope: The wounded warrior and the dog who dared to love him Morgan, Jason
A Dog of Flanders and Other Stories. by Ouida. a New Edition, Etc. Ouida
A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me Katz, Jon
A Dog’s Journey (A Dog’s Purpose, #2) Cameron, W. Bruce
A Dog’s Purpose (A Dog’s Purpose, #1) Cameron, W. Bruce
Bob, Son of Battle Ollivant, Alfred
Buddy- How far will a boy go for the dog he loves? Herlong, M.H.
Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words Pilley, John W.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Dogs Newmark, Amy
Dog Man: Chronicles of an Iditarod Champion Buser, Martin
Dogtripping: 25 Rescues, 11 Volunteers, And 3 RVs On Our Canine Cross-Country Adventure Rosenfelt, David
Fabulous Finn: The Brave Police Dog Who Came Back from the Brink Wardell, Dave
Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship Ryan, Tom
His Dog Terhune, Albert Payson
How Dogs Really Work Snow, Alan
Ice Dogs Johnson, Terry Lynn
Judy: A Dog In A Million Lewis, Damien
Lad: A Dog Terhune, Albert Payson
Lassie Come-Home Knight, Eric
Lessons from Tara: Life Advice from the World’s Most Brilliant Dog Rosenfelt, David
Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog Grogan, John
Merle’s Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog Kerasote, Ted
No Better Friend: One Man, One Dog, and Their Extraordinary Story of Courage and Survival in WWII Weintraub, Robert
No Ordinary Dog: My Partner from the SEAL Teams to the Bin Laden Raid Chesney, Will
Old Yeller Gipson, Fred
Racing the White Silence: On the Trail of the Yukon Quest Killick, Adam
Rose in a Storm Katz, Jon
So That Others May Live: Caroline Hebard & Her Search-And-Rescue Dogs Whittemore, Hank
The 101 Dalmatians (The Hundred and One Dalmatians, #1) Smith, Dodie
The Call of the Wild London, Jack
The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic Salisbury, Gay
The Dog Who Could Fly: The Incredible True Story of a WWII Airman and the Four-Legged Hero Who Flew At His Side Lewis, Damien
The Dog Who Danced Wilson, Susan
The Kill Switch (Tucker Wayne, #1) Rollins, James
The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick’s Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption Gorant, Jim
The Underdogs: Children, Dogs, and the Power of Unconditional Love Greene, Melissa Fay
This Much Country Pace, Kristin Knight
Upland Passage: A Field Dog’s Education Jones, Robert F.
Wallace: The Underdog Who Conquered a Sport, Saved a Marriage, and Championed Pit Bulls– One Flying Disc at a Time Gorant, Jim
What the Dog Knows: The Science and Wonder of Working Dogs Warren, Cat
Winterdance Paulsen, Gary
That sure is a lot
Through a Dog’s Eyes – Jennifer Arnold
I’ll be looking that one up Jeannie, thanks for the recommendation! Best, Doggy Dan
Read White Fang and A call of the Wild great books by Jack London, then I read No bad Dogs best yet
I’ll definitely be adding ‘No Bad Dogs’ to my reading list! Thanks for the recommendation Tobi… Best Doggy Dan
I haven’t read it yet, but Fabulous Finn is a true story about a British police dog who saved the life of his handler while almost losing his own life by being stabbed. It has started a movement in the UK to introduce a law giving extra protection to all service dogs.
Hi Stephen,
I’ve not heard of this book, I’ll be sure to check it out! Service dogs are amazing. Best, Doggy Dan
Thanks for the list. One of my favorites is Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.
Hi Nancy,
I don’t think I’ve heard of that one before. I’ll be sure to look it up right now! Best…Doggy Dan
Merle’s Door by Ted Kerasote has been mentioned already, but it is by far the best dog book I have ever read. Though I haven’t done it in a few years now, I used to purchase copies of it to give to people I got to know at the local dog park. What a terrific read!
Roger, what a terrific idea to hand out copies of the book to your dog-park friends! Best, Doggy Dan
Bad dog: a love story, and The Lost Dogs – I read this one in a couple of days then re-read it straight away.
Hi Claire, more great recommendations here! Thanks, Doggy Dan
Judy by Damien Lewis
About a dog that was a POW in WW2 and subsequently awarded the Dickin Medal. Utterly compelling and inspiring reading.
For adult and older teenager readers due to some of the harrowing descriptions of POW treatment.
I have heard of this book but haven’t gotten around to reading it. After your recommendation it sounds like one to add to the list. Thanks, Doggy Dan
A Dog’s Purpose and A Dog’s Journey by W. Bruce Cameron
I agree that both are great books Taylor…Doggy Dan
The Last Days of the Dog Men by Brad WATSON
and
My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen
Both are wonderful books about dogs.
Hi Laura, yes I agree those are really good books. Maybe I needed a longer list! Best, Doggy Dan
May I offer you some of my favourite dog books? Here they are: Oogy by Larry Levin. James Herriot’s Dog Stories. Merle’s Door by Ted Keresote. Pukka’s Promise by Ted Keresote. ( read Marie’s Door first). Tell me Where it Hurts by Nick Trout. Any of Jon Katz’s dog books such as One Good Dog and The Dogs of Bedlam Farm. All excellent books. I have read each of these books a minimum of twice. Happy reading!
Thanks Kim, I’ll look into all of those as well. I have a feeling my bedside table is going to be loaded with dog related books! Best, Doggy Dan
Read Helen Thayer – her books are awesome and include her unique journeys with her dog and her experience living among wolves. Polar Dream: The First Solo Expedition by a Woman and Her Dog to the Magnetic North Pole, Three Among the Wolves: A Couple and their Dog Live a Year with Wolves in the Wild,
Hi Cindy,
I’ve heard of quite few of those titles but there are certainly a couple you mentioned that I will add to my future readings list. Thanks! Doggy Dan