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When I was a kid, one of my favorite books to read was an old, beat-up copy of “A Dog Named Penny,” a children’s novel from the 1950s that one seller of old books on Amazon summarizes somewhat hilariously as “a heart-warming story of two children and a stolen collie dog.” As soon as I’d get to the last page of the book I’d cry a bit—because, like many good dog stories, this one was a tearjerker, where Penny ultimately had to choose between the children and her original owner. Then I’d immediately flip to the first page and start over again. And then again. And then again.
Even as a kid, I already knew two things: books are good, but if you throw in a story about a dog, well, now that’s taking a good thing and making it amazing. “A Dog Named Penny” is regrettably long out-of-print, but there are plenty of other modern books about dogs you can lay your paws, er, hands, on.
We’ve pulled together a list of some of the very best books for dog lovers. They start with my top five favorites of all dog books no matter the genre. Then you’ll find more top lists by category: newer releases, literary books, beach reads, mysteries and thrillers, classics, and even a few titles for your coffee table. All of these books put dogs right where I like them: in the middle of the story.
Top 5 Books Featuring Dogs
I wish it were true that, like the saying, “All dogs are good dogs,” all dog books are good dog books. While there are a ton of very good books written about dogs, there are some that stand out. Here are my top five dog books of all time.
“Dog Years: A Memoir”
A special shoutout to one of my all-time favorite doggy-themed books by Mark Doty. With the world becoming ever-sadder around him, and a longterm partner losing his battle with AIDS, Doty adopts a new dog to join his pack. This memoir details the lows of human tragedy and the highs of just being alive with a light and poetic touch.
Find on Amazon“The Art of Racing in the Rain”
In this beautiful and sweeping novel, we get to see the world through the eyes of a philosophical old pooch named Enzo. This dog’s human is an up-and-coming race car driver. The novel reflects on life, from the saddest moments to the most triumphant, and is almost impossible to put down.
By the end, Enzo shows himself as the hero of the story and you’ll be hoping that he really does reincarnate as a human. (Oh, and it’s also been made into a movie you might have heard about.)
Find on Amazon“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”
When Christopher’s neighbor’s dog dies in mysterious circumstances, he’s on the case. Though he’s known for being somewhat of a misfit, he’s a winning protagonist. Obsessed with prime numbers, Christopher is, er, let’s say a quirky guy who finds dealing with other human beings challenging.
His investigation of the neighborhood mystery turns into a thoroughly unpredictable story with a dog at its heart.
Find on Amazon“A Dog’s Purpose”
This utterly charming novel by W. Bruce Cameron has everything you want in a dog novel: poignancy, humor, insight, and beauty. By living and reliving the many lives of the story’s protagonist, Bailey, the reader is treated to a delightful investigation of man’s bond with dogs and the many roles they play in our lives. Be ready to laugh and get ready to cry when you pick up this book.
Find on Amazon“How to Be a Good Creature”
While this isn’t strictly a dog book, it is perfect for animal lovers. This quirky and deeply moving personal memoir sees naturalist and writer Montgomery exploring her life through the personalities of 13 animal friends she’s met in her world travels.
Stunningly beautiful and poetic, Montgomery’s memoir succeeds in exploring themes about loss, grief, and human goodness through the lens of interspecies kinships.
Find on AmazonBest Recent Dog Book Releases
If you’re a voracious reader like I am, you’re probably always on the prowl for the next great new book to dive into. Here’s a list of my favorite dog books from the past few years.
“Biloxi” A Dog Novel
This is a surprisingly funny story about a down-on-his-luck guy, Louis, who just can’t get a break. His wife dumped him, his dad died, and he gave up his job in expectation of a windfall that isn’t materializing. Then he meets a very good dog named Layla.
Louis’ bond with Layla changes him, transforming him from a comically unlikable individual to a person with a proverbial second chance.
Find on Amazon“A Dog’s Luck”
This historical novel is a sweeping look at three generations of a family, by which I mean mothers, fathers, daughters, and dogs. Told through the perspective of Ellie, a philosophy student who is “hard” at work on her Ph.D. dissertation, this novel explores not just a family’s hidden secrets, but also the tension inherent in human (and dog!) relationships.
It’s a tough one to put down, so make sure you have plenty of time for reading blocked out before you pick it up.
Find on Amazon“Jonathan Unleashed”
Though I usually am drawn toward weightier dramas, I have to admit that I also just love a good, lighthearted romantic comedy. Shhh, don’t tell anyone. Add a dog to the mix? I’m hooked.
This dog novel follows a young New Yorker named Jonathan Trefoil as he navigates career, friendship, romance, and, you guessed it, dogs. When he starts taking care of his brother’s Border Collie and Cocker Spaniel, his worldview starts to shift. This funny, poignant novel is a perfect summertime read.
Find on Amazon“Tomorrow”
Damien Dibben’s dog book follows an eponymous dog who must travel across centuries in search of the man who granted him immortality. It’s historical-time-travel-fiction on an epic scale, featuring an unforgettable dog narrator who travels through European history to be reunited with his person.
Dibben calls it, “A love story between a master and his dog,” something every dog lover can relate to.
Find on Amazon“A Dog’s Way Home”
I hate to make you do this, but try to imagine what it would be like if you lost your dog somewhere far, far away. Ugh, sorry. I know that thought is more than a little terrifying. But! All is not lost. Perhaps your dog would be something like Bella, the perseverant pooch we follow in “A Dog’s Way Home” as she faces impossible challenges trying to make her way home through the wilderness. That’s after accidentally being left 400 miles behind her family.
It’s a well-worn premise: the dog braving everything to reunite with family. But there’s something about the way Cameron manages to fully inhabit the mind of a dog that makes this novel a brilliant sendup to dogs and their unstoppable spirits.
Find on Amazon“Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond”
Alexandra Horowitz, the bestselling author of “Inside of a Dog,” takes a close look through the lens of behavioral science—why and how humans and dogs are such good companions for each other. She writes: “We gaze into dogs’ eyes and want to know who dogs see when they gaze back.”
Find on Amazon“Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You”
Clive D. L. Wynne, a canine behaviorist, explores similar terrain as “Our Dog, Ourselves,” examining whether or not dogs are obedient because they are trained to be submissive or if they truly have feelings. From the book description: “It really seems like our dogs love us, too. But for years, scientists have resisted that conclusion, warning against anthropomorphizing our pets.” Wynne’s research shows that “love, not intelligence or submissiveness, is at the heart of the human-canine relationship.”
Find on AmazonBest Beach Reads About Dogs
What makes a really solid beach (dog) book? An easy read that’s lighter in subject, fun to read, and doesn’t distract from the ultimate goal of beach lounging: relaxation. The following are some titles that would make the perfect addition to any dog lover’s beach bag.
“Say Goodbye for Now”
This feel-good novel focuses on Dr. Lucy, a veterinarian on an isolated Texas ranch in 1959. When two boys find an injured dog-wolf hybrid and bring it to Lucy for care, her whole world changes. Hyde’s writing is direct and evenhanded even while she touches on themes of love, abuse, racism, and redemption. And, of course, the love of dogs.
Find on Amazon“Stray Hearts”
If you like your dog novels on the lighter side, Jill Shalvis’s romance novels can’t be beat. Her fun, flirty Animal Magnetism series is set in Sunshine, Idaho, where women and men are united by their love of dogs. I know, I know, let’s all move there. Stray Hearts compiles the first two novels in the series, centered around the same veterinary clinic into one great beach weekend read. If you’re a fan of a steamy romance, this book is for you.
Find on Amazon“The Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances”
In this uplifting dog book that explores the incredible bond between humans and pups, protagonist Evie learns that, much like the dogs who end up at the Sanctuary—a literal sanctuary for stray and rescued dogs—who are hoping for a new life, she too can escape her troubled past. Of course, getting to that realization involves plenty of twists, turns, and tail-wagging adventure. This novel is a true testament to the synergy between humans and dog and the many ways we rely on one another.
Find on Amazon“Travels With Casey”
In this wonderful, whimsical, hysterical novel, we take an unforgettable road trip with a nine-year-old Labrador, Casey, and the wild and wonderful cast of characters that he (and his human) discover on the road. Four months, 32 states, and 13,000 miles in a motor home with man and dog together–what could possibly go wrong?
Find on Amazon“Strays”
Forced to spend her summer doing community service because of an uncontrollable temper, 16-year-old Iris Moody hasn’t been dealt that greatest hand and she is frustrated that she’ll have to spend her whole summer rehabilitating dogs. But then she meets Roman, a three-legged pit bull, and a touching, humorous, and unforgettable story unfolds. Jennifer Caloyeras tells this story with beautifully succinct prose and an eye for what it’s like to be a teen girl (hint, it’s miserable).
Find on AmazonBest Literary Dog Books
I’m a poet, a creative writer, and an English professor, so my attention is often directed toward books that are a bit more literary. What does that mean? Generally, books that are weightier, that take some time to digest, and that rely on complex structures and resonant language. Here are my favorites that would fit right in next to any prize-winning novel on your bookshelf.
“Dog Songs: Poems”
Many people recognize Mary Oliver’s work because so many lines from her poetry have become memes on the internet, and for good reason. Her work is direct, visceral, and full of vision and observation that is both familiar and transcendent. Her last collection before her death, “Dog Songs” is an extension of her poetic meditations that are focused on the human-dog bond.
These are the kind of poems you can read through quickly but that you’ll find yourself coming back to time and time again.
Find on Amazon“Lily and the Octopus”
This debut novel from screenwriter Steven Rowley is the funny, heartbreaking story of a man named Teddy and his dog named Lily. Oh, and the Octopus, which is what Teddy calls the cranial tumor threatening Lily’s life. I know, it doesn’t sound very funny, but Rowley’s imaginative novel blends fantasy, autobiographical fiction, and humor into a moving novel about the impact dogs have on our lives.
Find on Amazon“Afterglow: A Dog Memoir”
Poet, memoirist, and trailblazer Eileen Myles writes unflinchingly about the experience of loving and losing a dog. Afterglow is a memoir about Myles’s 16-year relationship with Rosie, a New York street puppy turned companion.
It’s also a book about grief, so yes, you’ll want to have some tissues handy. In page after beautiful page, Myles infuses her prose with the musicality of her poetic voice that makes for a darn good memoir.
Find on Amazon“One Good Dog”
Looking for something with a little more bite? This dog book by acclaimed author Susan Wilson follows the journey of one man, Adam, through sadness, unspeakable loss, and then, a second chance. Thanks to one stray, an inner-city pit bull who just happens to be named Chance, Adam is able to open his heart and work toward a better future.
Ultimately, Wilson’s novel isn’t just about one good dog, but also the beauty and redemption that our canine friends can offer us.
Find on Amazon“Flush: A Biography”
For the erudite dog lover. Inspired by the personal letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Virginia Woolf wrote this account of the life of their dog, Flush, imagining a dog’s eye view of the lives of the great poets. When it was originally released, most readers and critics were delighted at the unique view into the lives of the famous Brownings. You’ll probably enjoy it as a work of lighter prose from the writer of famous (and famously challenging) modernist classics like “Mrs. Dalloway” and “To The Lighthouse.”
Find on AmazonBest Dog Genre Fiction: Fantasy, Mysteries, and Thrillers
Whodunit? What’s going to happen next? Can this get anymore mind-bending? If you like books that keep you on the edge of your seat, challenge you to figure out the mystery or spark your imagination, these next five novels will be right up your alley.
“Watchers”
Looking for a dark thriller to set your teeth on edge while keeping you turning page after page? Look no further than this suspenseful story by the infamous king of suspense, Dean Koontz. This twisted tale of a cursed young man and his encounter with a peculiar dog in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains is bound to thrill and chill.
Find on Amazon“Death of a Dog Whisperer”
Six boisterous poodles and rowdy kids won’t keep Melanie from solving the strange murder of the town’s well-known “Dog Whisperer.” Packed with punchy language and a quirky cast of characters, this mystery dog novel doesn’t take itself too seriously and will leave you trying to figure out just what’s going on.
Find on Amazon“Just Life”
“Just Life” is a fast-paced thriller about Dr. Samantha Lewis, a veterinarian who runs a no-kill dog rescue in New York. When a mysterious virus breaks out in her neighborhood, affecting children and animals, Sam sets out on a mission to uncover the cause.
Author Neil Abramson isn’t just a writer, but also an attorney who has won awards from the ASPCA for his legal work on behalf of animals. This novel is raw, real, and, at times, devastating.
Find on Amazon“The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog”
Welp, it wouldn’t be a dog novel list if W. Bruce Cameron, the master of stories told from a dog’s perspective, didn’t feature on it many times. “The Dog Master” tells the story of one early man’s bond with a wolf, how they tame one another, and the relationship that grows between them.
This imaginative dog novel presents a thrilling origin story for the human-canine bond.
Find on Amazon“The Knife of Never Letting Go”
Warning: Don’t pick this one up unless you like crying. This is a compelling, addictive sci-fi novel about a young boy living in a world of men infected with a virus that makes all thoughts audible. Sounds pretty rough, right?
At the center of the story is the boy’s friendship with his dog, whose thoughts he can hear. Get ready to fall hard for them both.
Find on AmazonBest Classic Dog Books
You can never get enough of a good thing, they say. These oldies but goodies have weathered the test of time and still make for some of the best reads for dog lovers, young and old.
“Marley and Me”
Though it is a more recent book, “Marley and Me” has entered the pantheon of classic dog books. The New York Times bestseller inspired a hit movie starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. A total tearjerker (Slate recommends you stop reading at page 224 if you can’t stomach doggie death scenes), it is a true story about a man and his dog (billed as the “world’s worst”).
Find on Amazon“Travels With Charley: In Search of America”
In this classic road trip story, novelist John Steinbeck and his standard poodle, Charley, explore America’s highways and byways in a custom RV. The book was written over 50 years ago, but John and Charley’s journey is timeless and will make you want to pack up the car and hit the road with your own canine co-pilot riding shotgun.
Find on Amazon“The Call of the Wild” and “White Fang” Dog Books
I couldn’t choose just one of these two classic novels by Jack London, so a two-for-one it is. In “The Call of the Wild,” we follow the harrowing adventures of Buck, a beloved pet taken from his family, shuttled to Alaska, and forced to be a sled dog in a completely foreign and brutal environment.
“White Fang” is almost the opposite story, where a dog-wolf hybrid protagonist, White Fang, is rejected by his first dog pack, forced into dogfighting, and ultimately saved by a patient and loyal friend.
Find on Amazon“Cujo”
Ok, yes, this counts as a classic! The first time I read this Stephen King original, I was a kid and I. Was. Terrified. This heart-stopping thriller follows the unraveling of a huge St. Bernard named Cujo who becomes rabid and terrorizes an idyllic Maine small town, and, later, the Trenton family.
As only Stephen King can do, this novel chills the bones and stays with you long after you’ve read the last page.
Find on Amazon“Old Yeller”
It’s pretty likely you’ve seen—and cried with—the film version of this children’s classic, but reading this Newberry Honor winner is a whole new experience.
When Travis is left in charge of caring for his family in his father’s absence, he’s confronted by the unending hardships of frontier life. The one bright spot, however, is his blossoming relationship with a stray dog he christens Old Yeller. This beloved novel offers a unique slice-of-life look into an important era of American history, but the two main characters are still as relatable as anything modern.
Find on Amazon“Where the Red Fern Grows”
This modern classic tops the lists of all-time best children’s literature for a good reason. “Where the Red Fern Grows” details the journey of Billy and his two dog pals, Old Dan and Little Ann, as they tough it out through the Great Depression to become the best hunting team in the region.
In the way that true friends do, each brings their own strengths to the relationship. This becomes increasingly important as Billy is forced to confront despair and loss and find his way through to the future.
Find on Amazon“Love That Dog”
This is the only true children’s book I’ve included in this list, so I’m throwing it in as a bonus read. Charming and funny, Creech’s book functions equally well as a read-aloud bedtime story or a quick read on its own.
In “Love That Dog,” Jack finds himself in the unenviable position of having to write poetry when he neither likes it nor thinks it’s something that boys do. Through a series of diaristic free-verse poems, we’re slowly introduced to a budding writer’s pivotal relationship with the dog he loves.
Find on Amazon“Sounder”
This list would be remiss to not include a classic: “Sounder,” about a young African-American boy and his family who struggle to put food on the table. Sounder, the loyal family dog, reveals his true nature as a very good boy, and ultimately helps his young master achieve a lifelong dream. (Keep the tissues handy for this one, too.)
Find on Amazon“The Incredible Journey”
A classic from Canada, “The Incredible Journey” by Sheila Burnford tells the story of two dogs and one cat who travel across the country together in search of their owner, who has left for vacation. When they sense something is wrong, they set out in the Northern Ontario wilderness and head west to find home.
Find on Amazon“Good Dog, Carl”
The first amongst writer/illustrator Alexandra Day’s classic series in a long list of Carl books (including Carl Goes Shopping, Carl’s Christmas, and many more (there are 14). This inaugural volume follows Carl, a babysitting Rottweiler, and Madeleine, his infant charge, who he protects (and is ridden by!) as they head out on an adventure.
Find on AmazonArt and Coffee Table Dog Books
Is there anything more fun than looking at photos and illustrations of dogs? Dogs make for great photographic subjects, as the broad range of art and photo books attest. Here are just a handful of titles worth your consideration.
“Underwater Dogs”
Most photographers shoot dogs swimming and splashing into the water, but Seth Casteel decided to try a different approach. Shooting the pups under the water, he got a different angle of the joy of dogs in water. (See also: “Underwater Puppies.”)
Find on Amazon“William Wegman: Being Human”
You’ve seen these books for years, no doubt. The are now a series of these books featuring the beautiful Weimaraner breed dressed in funny costumes. The dogs look absurd, yet almost human. William Wegman is the photographer who first came to fame for photographing his first Weimaraner, ManRay, in the ’80s. That book, “ABC,” put him on the map, but he’s done many, many others featuring his beautiful dogs, since.
Find on Amazon“Treat!”
Photographer Christian Vieler captured dogs in his signature up-close photographic style in action as they get their favorite thing—a treat!
Find on AmazonTo Be Read With Dogs
Last but not least, I suggest that you read or enjoy these books while in the company of a dog. You’ll be able to pause and get some furry cuddles whenever you need them, for one thing. Plus, you can read your favorite parts out loud to your pet. What better audience is there, really?
