12 Best Books About Dogs – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Whether you prefer audiobooks or the feel of a hardcover in your hands, there’s one thing all book lovers can agree on: finding new books is exciting! If you’re a lover of both dogs and literature, combining the two makes a lot of sense. From Lassie to James Herriot, the world of dog-themed stories is vast and ever-expanding. If you’re looking for the very latest in dog books, you’ve found the right landing spot. In this article, we’ll review 12 of the best books about dogs.

A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2024)

The 12 Best Books About Dogs

1. The Book Your Dog Wishes You Would Read – Best Overall

Our pick for the best overall book about dogs this year is The Book Your Dog Wishes You Would Read by Louise Glazebrook. The author is a dog behaviorist and trainer from Great Britain who specializes in helping owners communicate with their pups. As we all know, our dogs can’t speak to let us know their wants, needs, or feelings. Instead, they communicate through various methods, notably body language. Frustrations and misunderstandings are inevitable if you don’t know how to interpret what your dog is saying. Users praise this book as insightful, easy-to-read, and especially useful for people considering getting a dog. A few found the author’s tone a bit judgmental and suggested it was not as helpful for those who already owned their dogs.

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2. Dog Breed Guide For Kids – Best Value

Our pick for the best book about dogs for the money is Dog Breed Guide for Kids: 50 Essential Dog Breeds to Know and Love by Christine Rohloff Gossinger. Targeted toward kids ages 8-12 years, this dog encyclopedia features pictures, facts, and care tips for 50 of the most popular dog breeds. Divided into the seven AKC show categories, the book lets dog-crazed kids study up on their favorite pups. Best of all, it has an index so your kids can quickly look up the breed they have to have in the future. Parents who’ve purchased the book report that kids as young as 6 will enjoy it. They found it actually gave kids good information about the breeds, allowing them to participate in the decision to get a new dog. Because it only features 50 breeds, it is somewhat limited in scope. Some kids may be disappointed that their rare breed dog is not included.

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3. Mutts: A Celebration of Mystery Mixed Breeds – Premium Choice

This book is for anyone who’s ever loved a dog of wildly uncertain parentage. Mutts: A Celebration of Mystery Mixed Breeds is an upcoming coffee table book by photographer Olivia Grey Pritchard. It features stunning portraits of mixed-breed pups in all their confusing glory. Besides the photographs, the author publishes the dog’s name, speculated parentage, and a little bit about them. These details help celebrate and endear the mutts and, hopefully, convince more people to adopt rather than shop. Some of the proceeds from the book will be donated to animal rescue groups, and you can feel a little better about shelling out a higher price for this title.

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4. What Is a Dog?

If you’re in the mood for a cleansing cry, this book might be just what the doctor ordered. What Is a Dog? by Chloe Shaw is a memoir written after the author lost one of her dogs. The experience caused her to examine her relationships with previous dogs throughout her life. Through this practice, she was able to identify unhealthy patterns and attachments in her life and learn from them. Anyone who’s ever lost a dog knows how heartbreaking it can be, and this book could stir up some emotional trauma. Readers mentioned that the book is likely to make you cry, but they also found moments of humor and thought it was well-written.

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5. Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family

Just released in paperback, this book is written by Piglet’s human mom, a veterinarian named Dr. Melissa Shapiro. It tells the story of Dr. Shapiro and her family agreeing to foster a deaf, blind puppy rescued from a hoarding situation. Piglet was traumatized and withdrawn when he arrived at their home, and the book recounts how the humans nurtured and connected with the little pink puppy until he emerged from his shell. Dr. Shapiro and Piglet formed a unique bond over this time and developed their own way to communicate. After all that work of bonding, will Piglet go to a new, permanent home or become a “foster fail?” You can probably guess the answer, but this heartwarming book is worth reading to find out for sure. Readers call this book inspiring, engaging, and well-written. A few believed it was too slow and thought it focused more on the author’s family than they expected.

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6. The Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook

Training our dogs, especially those with behavior challenges, is a constant concern for pet parents. The Do No Harm Training and Behavior Handbook, written by dog psychologist Linda Michaels, is one of the latest to tackle this issue. It focuses on using force-free training methods and includes lesson plans and guides for solving common behavior problems. The book can be used by owners or professional trainers, and it covers everything from teaching basic manners to dealing with separation anxiety and making visits to the vet go more smoothly. It also helps owners understand the basis of their dog’s behavior and how that should guide their response to it. Previous readers praise it for being detailed, easy to follow, and well-organized.

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7. Dogology: The Weird and Wonderful Science of Dogs

Published just at the end of last year, Dogology: The Weird and Wonderful Science of Dogs by Stefan Gates is the oddest selection on our list. This slim volume, checking in at less than 200 pages, is chock full of scientific knowledge about dogs. Sounds kind of boring, right? Well, we’re not talking about traditional anatomy diagrams. This book tackles such burning questions as “Why do dogs fart?” or “What does your dog hear when you talk?” In other words, the kind of things we all wonder about but are sometimes afraid to ask out loud. This book is the perfect last-minute gift for a dog-lover. The only thing you might wish is that it was longer and full of even more fun facts!

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8. The Forever Dog

This book is for every dog owner who wishes their pup could live forever. Understanding that our time with our dogs is limited is something we all must accept. However, The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier, and Longer offers research-backed insights into how to keep your dog around as long as possible. Published late last year, this book talks about multiple factors that factor into a dog’s lifespan, such as diet, exercise, external stress, and genetics. It also gives dog owners plans and tips to reduce the impact of these factors, including how to customize them based on breed or mix. This book earns high marks from thousands of reviewers with many calling it a “must read” for dog owners. Although most reviews call it easy to read, The Forever Dog is one of the longest on our list and can be a bit technical in places.

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9. One of the Family: Why a Dog Called Maxwell Changed My Life

This moving autobiography is written by a British radio host, Nicky Campbell. In One of the Family, Campbell speaks openly about his lifelong struggle coping with the fact he was adopted and how his Labrador, Maxwell, changed his life by offering unconditional love and companionship. The autobiography deals with some difficult topics, including mental illness, an emotional breakdown, and adoption-related trauma. It also strikes hopeful notes as the author relates how Maxwell helped him process and grow, learning to further appreciate his family and understand his birth mother’s decisions. Reviewers found this book to be raw, emotional, and hard to put down, greatly appreciating the author’s willingness to be honest about the most challenging parts of his life.

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10. Noodle and the No Bones Day

TikTok users may remember the “No Bones Day” trend that gripped the clock app last year. Now Noodle the pug and his human dad are the subject of this adorable picture book, Noodle and the No Bones Day. Geared towards kids from 4–8 years old, the book is illustrated by an experienced children’s book artist, with many reviewers especially noting how well the pictures matched the story. The book also features a loving and positive message for kids and adults alike. Some days are “No Bones Days,” when we feel overwhelmed for no real reason, and it’s okay to take some time to reset and recharge. With so many humans leading hectic, over-scheduled lives, it’s no wonder the book and its message have struck a chord with readers. Although it’s directed at preschool-age and older children, many reviewers mentioned that toddlers also seemed to love it.

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11. All Dogs Are Good: Poems and Memories

If you’re looking for a gift for the dog lovers in your life, this sweet collection dedicated to the love of our canine friends might be just the thing. Written by Australian author Courtney Peppernell, All Dogs Are Good: Poems and Memories is a celebration of the human-dog bond in poetic form. The writings in this collection are familiar, funny, and touching to any dog owner. Even reviewers without dogs recommended the book and called it moving for all animal lovers. According to readers, it’ll make you both laugh and cry many times as you turn the pages. Poetry isn’t for everyone, but lovers of dog and verse will find a lot to enjoy in the volume. Some reviewers noted that their books arrived damaged after shipping.

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12. What a Dog Knows

The only adult fiction book on our list, What a Dog Knows, is written by a New York Times bestselling author, Susan Wilson, known for writing dog-themed novels. Published in the later half of 2021, we still wanted to include this book because it’s available as an audiobook and is a fairly rare fictional book about dogs. The story centers on a traveling human psychic, Ruby, who finds a dog one stormy night and finds she can also hear the dog’s thoughts. As she makes the most of this new skill, Ruby also deals with her own traumatic past. Most properly classified as paranormal fiction, this book also deals with some heavy themes and may not be appropriate for those dealing with past traumas. Readers overall seem to enjoy this book, with many noting they found it heartwarming, charming, and a feel-good story.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Book About Dogs

If you’re searching for a new dog-themed read, this buyer’s guide can help make your decision easier.

What Genre Do You Like to Read?

While we are all for branching out and trying something new, not everyone will enjoy all genres of books. Some people struggle with non-fiction, while others can’t get through a book of poetry. We tried to add a little something for everyone to our reading list, so start with what you know you love to read and go from there.

What Format Do You Prefer?

These days, books are available in many forms, not just a traditional hardcover. Your preferred reading format will play a role in your decision, especially if you listen to audiobooks or are looking for kids’ picture books.

Who Are You Buying the Book For?

The intended recipient of the book should also be considered before you buy. Are you buying for a child or an adult? Do you know the person well or just know that they like dogs? Does the person like books that make them cry, or do they use reading to escape an emotionally draining job? Do they want to learn something when they read or just be entertained? All of these answers will help dictate what book you ultimately choose.

Conclusion

Our pick for the best overall book about dogs this year, The Book Your Dog Wishes You Would Read, helps owners understand how their pups communicate and use that knowledge to troubleshoot behavior issues. Our best value pick, The Dog Breed Guide for Kids, is a fun, informative choice for children of all ages to learn about and appreciate popular dog breeds. If dogs are your favorite subject in life and literature, we hope our reviews provide some exciting new options for your reading pleasure.

See also:

• 10 Best Dog Training Books – Reviews & Top Picks
• 10 Best Books for New Dog Owners

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Featured Image Credit: ZigmarsBerzins, Pixabay