Nothing compares to the bond between humans and dogs. It’s one of the purest, most wholesome relationships a person can ever experience. Those wagging tails, soulful eyes, and boopable snoots — it’s impossible not to adore our canine companions.
If you’re as dog-obsessed as me, this list of the best books for dog lovers is made for you. It includes fiction and nonfiction about dogs, from moving memoirs of pets loved, learned from, and lost to training and behavioral guides by experts. You’ll also find funny and heartwarming books with dogs as characters.
My personal favorite is Marley & Me for its emotional journey and hilarious shenanigans, but every good boy and girl featured here demonstrates exactly why dogs are so special.
1. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
See the trials and tribulations of a fraying family from a dog’s heartwarming point of view. Man’s best friend has much to teach us about winning, losing, and loving — lessons that sustain readers during this novel’s emotionally turbulent ride.
The 2019 movie adaptation stars Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried, and Kevin Costner as the voice of the dog, Enzo.
2. A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
This story is told from the perspective of a dog who gets reincarnated several times, thus subverting the typical “the dog dies at the end” trajectory. (You still need tissues, though.)
From pound pup to family companion to trained K9 partner, A Dog’s Purpose (and its 2017 film adaptation) highlights how selfless dogs are and reveals all the ways they make the world a better place.
Follow it up with Cameron’s A Dog’s Way Home, which follows a dog’s touching journey to reunite with her person. (Perfect for readers like me who grew up watching Homeward Bound.)
3. Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
Ted is a lonely writer whose best friend is an aging dachshund named Lily. No surprise to any dog owner, Ted holds conversations with Lily about life, love, and other woes. He also converses with the “octopus” on Lily’s head.
The octopus is a tumor, by the way — just so you know what you’re getting into. There will be eye rain. (That’s what Lily calls tears.)
4. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
No list of dog books is complete without London’s 1903 American classic. Follow the adventures of Buck, a dog stolen from his California home and sold into service as a sled dog in Yukon, Canada during the Klondike Gold Rush.
Buck becomes increasingly wild in his new environment and eventually heeds the call of the wilderness, but not before experiencing the best and worst of humanity.
White Fang is another London classic that follows a dog across the Yukon Territory, and it’s well worth a read, too.
5. Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
In Gipson’s Newbery Honor book, Travis isn’t too keen on taking in a stray mutt; he’s got his hands full running the family ranch while his father’s away. But Old Yeller soon proves his devotion, and their bond blossoms.
Of course, this only makes the ending all the more gut-wrenching. You probably watched the Disney movie as a kid, so you know exactly what I’m referring to. It inspired some of our generation’s earliest heartbreaks, but also our enduring love for dogs.
6. Watchers by Dean Koontz
A hiker meets a super smart golden retriever named Einstein on a walk in the woods. Sounds like a warm and fuzzy story, right? Not when suspense master Koontz puts his terrifying touch on it.
Something is hunting Einstein, and the hiker must help the dog escape. This tale of genetic engineering (and a lovable dog) balances thrills with tenderness.
7. A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz
Like Watchers, many Koontz novels feature golden retrievers. This memoir explains his affinity for the breed — namely, his adored dog, Trixie, and the profound impact she had on the Koontz family.
8. Marley & Me by John Grogan
When author Grogan and his wife adopted a wriggly ball of fur, little did they know their Labrador would grow into a furry wrecking ball of energy and curiosity.
Though Marley’s laugh-out-loud antics drive the Grogans to the brink of insanity, he makes up for it with his unconditional love. Read the memoir then watch the movie starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson.
9. Good Boy by Jennifer Finney Boylan
Boylan, a New York Times columnist, LGBTQ+ activist, and the president of PEN America, shares important moments throughout her life in this book. But unlike traditional memoirs, Good Boy relates each experience to the dog that made it especially meaningful.
Funny and powerful all at once, this book is proof that dogs see us for who we are — and love us for it.
10. How To Be A Good Creature by Sy Montgomery
Montgomery, acclaimed naturalist and author of The Soul of an Octopus, shares 13 essays on the majestic creatures she’s met during her lifetime, including an insatiable hog, aloof emus, and, of course, adoring dogs.
Montgomery’s stories make clear how much our canine companions affect our lives, in childhood and beyond.
11. No Ordinary Dog by Will Chesney
A former member of SEAL Team 6, Chesney thought he’d been through it all with his dog Cairo — including a mission to defeat Osama bin Laden. But the hardest battle of all turned out to be a brain injury from a grenade blast and subsequent PTSD.
This inspiring story of the bond between a soldier and his dog is a compelling look at the battles we overcome with the support of our four-legged friends.
12. Stay by Dave Burchett
Dogs are more than just pets: They’re our teachers, protectors, companions, and mentors. In Stay, Burchett shares the story of a dog named Hannah, and how her final days taught Burchett to slow down and appreciate the small, beautiful moments in life.
You’ll want to cuddle up to your own furry friend as you read this tear-jerker.
13. Last Dog on the Hill by Steve Duno
All dogs are wonderful, but every now and then an extra special one comes along — a dog so extraordinary that everyone they meet is touched by their presence.
This book is about one such dog: Lou, a rottweiler mutt that created a lasting legacy and forever changed author Duno’s life.
14. The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller
Dog training theories come, go, and evolve, but positive reinforcement has been the gold standard for decades. Unlike negative reinforcement, rewards-based training instills confidence in dogs and strengthens the human-dog bond.
Miller, a certified behavior consultant and professional dog trainer, is one of the industry’s leading advocates for positive training methods. Her book gives an overview of positive reinforcement and how to implement it with your beloved companion.
15. How Dogs Learn by Mary R. Burch and Jon S. Bailey
Positive reinforcement is rooted in operant conditioning — a method introduced by behaviorist and psychologist B. F. Skinner. In How Dogs Learn, authors Burch and Bailey unite science, history, and practical application for incredible insight into effective dog training.
It’s a fantastic primer for dog trainers and owners, or anyone else who wants to understand why positive reinforcement is more effective than punishment.
16. For the Love of a Dog by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.
A well-trained dog is a happy, healthy dog. McConnell, an expert canine behaviorist, goes beyond the floppy ears and fluffy tail and inside the mind of a dog. What do they experience? How do they feel? What can their behavior tell us?
She then teaches readers how to harness this knowledge during training. This is a vital read for anyone who wants to better understand and connect with their best friend.
17. Our Dogs, Ourselves by Alexandra Horowitz
Our relationship with dogs is unlike that with any other animal on Earth. Horowitz dives into the intricacies of this unique bond, from what we name and feed our pets to the problematic breeding industry.
We may never fully understand why we feel so deeply for these animals (or how they feel about us), but this book is an entertaining and enlightening start with a pop science flair.
18. Cujo by Stephen King
Poor Cujo — he was a good boy until a nasty bat bite transformed him into a monster.
King’s classic horror story of a demented dog wreaking havoc on a small town may be a departure from the rest of this list, but it will certainly make you appreciate your docile companion. (It’s also a great reminder to keep up with those rabies shots!)
