For many dog lovers, these four-legged friends are practically family. Although they can be quite communicative, you may sometimes wish that your dog could talk, just so you could know what’s going on behind those big, warm eyes.
While your dog can’t use words to tell you how they feel, reading books about dogs can offer intriguing insights to your pet’s behavior and thought processes.
Reading informative nonfiction books can help you better care for your dog, while heartwarming novels will remind you why being a fur parent is so rewarding.
We’ve rounded up some of the best books about dogs that you’ll enjoy whether you’re a long time dog owner, or just considering pet adoption for the first time.
Nonfiction Books About Dogs
Here is our list of the best nonfiction books about dogs that you can get for yourself or for a dog-lover you know:
1. Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz
This is an excellently-written book that translates the scientific workings of dogs’ minds and relays them in layman’s terms so that the average dog owner can understand the way their dogs see the world.
This will help level up your sympathy, awareness, and curiosity about what your dog is doing and why.
2. Reaching the Animal Mind by Karen Pryor
This book is a trailblazer in teaching pet owners to use a no-punishment training system. Kren Pryor encourages pet owners to use clicker training as an all-positive, animal-friendly, and effective way to modify animal behavior.
She also shares engaging stories along with practical instructions for applying clicker training to the dog or animal in your life.
3. The Genius of Dogs by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods
This New York Times bestseller lays down game-changing discoveries made at the Duke Canine Cognition Center as well as other research centers around the world to help you understand your dog’s thought process. The goal is to help you develop a deeper relationship with man’s best friend.
4. Dog Sense by John Bradshaw
Despite dogs having been faithful companions to humans for thousands of years, many of us still deviate between seeing them as domesticated wolves or furry people.
This book, written by a renowned anthrozoologist, uses latest research to help humans live in harmony with these beloved friends.
5. E.B. White on Dogs by Martha White
Did you know that bestselling children’s author E.B. White was a dog-lover? In this book, his granddaughter Martha White compiles some of his funniest and best essays, letters, poems, and sketches about his many canine friends.
6. Marley and Me by John Grogan
This true story shares how the Grogans discovered more about love and life through this dog that’s bigger than life and gained the reputation of a bad boy. This book also inspired the hit 2008 film of the same title.
Fiction Books to Warm the Dog-Lover’s Heart
The following books are considered fiction, but a few of them were inspired by real life dogs and their owners:
7. Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
This novel follows the journey of a curious Labrador retriever, an excitable bull terrier, and a risk-taking Siamese cat as they travel through the Canadian wilderness in search of their owner.
They follow their instinct to the west, and face all the challenges in the wilderness, such as hunger, natural elements, and even predators in the forest, all to make it home.
8. Lad: A Dog by Albert Payson Terhune
This series of short stories follows the adventures of Lad, the loyal, heroic collie who acts with a mind and courage that’s almost—if not more than—human. Watch as he battles a raging bull, saves a baby from a poisonous snake, and risks his life to keep his home free from burglars.
9. Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight
Lassie is perhaps the most popular collie, thanks to several film adaptations of this classic work by Eric Knight.
What happens when a collie is taken away from her beloved master? Here, Lassie shows us the loyalty and courage that a dog can have in finding his way back home, even through unbelievable distances from the Scottish Highlands.
10. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Set in the Ozarks during the Great Depression, this story follows Billy who, through his yearning for two Redbone Hound Dogs, faces adventure, suspense, and tragedy on his road to achieving his dream.
11. Call of the Wild by Jack London
In this book, classic bestselling author Jack London draws on his experiences during the Yukon Gold Rush, and weaves a masterful tale detailing the struggles of dogs in the dog trade during this period.
12. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
This story takes us on an exciting adventure about compassion, loyalty, and hope, seen through the eyes of a dog named Enzo. This book also inspired a movie adaptation starring Kevin Costner, Amanda Seyfried, and Milo Ventimiglia.
Books About Man’s Best Friend
In an unpredictable world, there’s nothing quite as comforting as the unconditional love that a dog has to offer.
Whether you want to learn more about your dog’s breed or enjoy a heartwarming tale about man’s best friend, reading books about dogs is a great way to pass time (especially if you’ve got a furry pal curled up with you!).
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
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Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.
