Top 14 Books About Dogs Updated 04 /2024

Were you aware of this? It's National Dog Day on August 26th! It's a day to honor all dogs, big and little, famous Westminster Kennel Club members and cherished rescue pups. Collen Paige, an author, pet and lifestyle specialist, and dog trainer, created the holiday in 2004. In addition to National Puppy Day, National Mutt Day, National Cat Day, and National Wildlife Day, Paige has created other festivals. Paige chose August 26 as the date since it was the day her family acquired her first dog from a local shelter when she was a child. Paige has a special place in her heart for rescue pets. There are millions of dogs slaughtered every year because people don't want them. Love and be loved are the only things a dog want. They deserve our respect and care since they are truly beautiful creatures."

Now, I know the internet is crazy over cats, but I've always been a dog person (and please don't hate me for saying this). My father acquired and brought home a lovable purebred Rottweiler named Samson when I was a toddler. Samson was never nasty or aggressive to me or my family, despite the fact that he was unaware of his own strength. I used to play a game with him where I'd throw snowballs in the air and see if he could catch them in his mouth. He was both a fierce defender and a tenderhearted romantic. However, despite their reputation, Rottweilers make excellent family pets. They are friendly and a gentle playmate for children and a protective guard dog for families, as described by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

So, if you're a dog owner or just a fan, the following books are both entertaining and educational. You have a choice!

E.B. White, Martha White (Editor), E.B. White on Dogs

Any E.B. White enthusiast will tell you that the author adored dogs. The finest of White's poetry and prose about our four-legged companions is collected here in an anthology edited by his literary executor and granddaughter. Included are family photos of White and his dogs. The "ideal" dog is a "accident of nature," according to White when discussing the subject. It's not something you can breed for or acquire with money. "It just happens to be there."

Alexandra Horowitz, Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know

A dog's mind is a fascinating place to explore. The IQ-boosting helmets portrayed in Rick and Morty may be a long way off (which is probably a good thing, considering Rick's device helps ignite a full-out dog revolt), but the information provided in Horowitz's book is plenty. Dog behavior may be explained scientifically, according to the author, a professor at Barnard College. Is it possible for dogs to feel what we feel? To your surprise, the answer is yes. "We actually all tend, as dog owners and even non-dog owners, to anthropomorphize—to project our human emotions and feelings and thoughts onto other animals in order to understand their behavior," Horowitz said on NPR regarding our tendency to impute human behavior and temperament to dogs. Most of these projections, on the other hand, have not been scientifically validated."

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Shiloh

Marty Preston, an 11-year-old beagle rescuer, is the focus of Naylor's Newbery Medal-winning children's novel, Shiloh. Now, you may be wondering, What kind of dog is this? This novel has the potential to move me to tears. While the conditions are difficult, I can promise you that this is not a story about a dog that dies at its end. Reading this book as a child brought back memories of a heartbreaking narrative.

John Grogan, Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog

In the beginning, it was an autobiography about a real-life Labrador puppy named Marley, starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. However, Grogan and his family grow to love Marley unconditionally even though Marley is not a "nice" dog.

Sigrid Nunez, The Friend

Among its many accolades, Nunez's best-selling novel won the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction. The story revolves around a woman who adopts the Great Dane that belonged to her mentor and best friend, who has since passed away. Clinging even more tightly, the woman is threatened with having to get rid of the dog when she hears this. "Quietly superb and darkly humorous," Kirkus said in a starred review of The Friend.

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster, with illustrations by Jules Feiffer

The book's intended audience can be debated, but it's best to pick up a copy and lose yourself in Milo and Tock's imaginative adventures, a dog who is actually a watch-dog. Since its first publication in 1961, the book has delighted readers ranging in age from eight to eighty-nine with its stunning graphics and clever wordplay.

“Dog Years: A Memoir”

There aren't many dog memoirs on this list because we wrote about our favorites in-depth in a previous piece. However, I wanted to highlight one of my all-time favorite doggy-themed books, Mark Doty's Dog Years.

Doty adds a new member to his pack when the world around him becomes increasingly depressing and a longtime girlfriend succumbs to AIDS. With a light and poetic touch, this memoir describes the lows of human tragedy and the highs of simply being alive.

“The Art of Racing in the Rain”

Enzo, a philosophical old dog, is the narrator of this evocative and sweeping story. One of this dog's owners is a promising racing driver. To put it mildly, it's impossible to put down this novel, which examines life in all its glory and tragedy.

You'll be rooting for Enzo to reincarnate as a human by the time the novel is over, as he emerges as the story's hero. As a bonus, it's also been made into a film that you may have heard of.

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”

Investigating the death of his neighbor's dog, Christopher is tasked with solving the case. When it comes to character development, it's hard to argue with him. Christopher, who is obsessed with prime numbers, is, hmm, let's say an eccentric guy who has a hard time dealing with other people.

In the course of his inquiry, he discovers a dog at the core of this enigma.

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