Top Books to Read about Dogs
If you love dogs, you’re sure to love a heartwarming story about our canine friends. Here are our top five heartwarming dog novels. All of them show us how their laid-back way of looking at life can be both touching and hilarious. Happy reading!
Marley and Me – John Grogan (2005)
Marley and Me is surely one of the most well-known dog stories. It was made into a comedy-drama film starring Jennifer Anniston and Owen Wilson in 2008. Marley and Me is an autobiographical book by journalist John Grogan about his beautiful, but boisterous, Labrador Retriever, Marley. The touching tale is about a young couple who take on an adorable puppy that grows into a huge steamroller of a dog that is so unruly, he is expelled from dog obedience school!
However, Marley has a heart of gold and his love for life is like his energy—limitless. The book is about the unconditional love we feel for our dogs and how they return that love with their loyalty.
The Art of Racing in the Rain – Garth Stein (2008)
Enzo is a lab terrier mix and this story describes how he feels about life and his owner, Denny Swift, a race car driver. Enzo is different from other dogs because he is a philosopher, and he has learnt about life and the human condition by watching television and listening to Denny. The Art of Racing in the
Rain is a funny, emotional story about Enzo taking stock of his life on the eve of his death. An ultimately uplifting tale, the story looks at the wonders and absurdities of human life, as told by a dog.
Call of The Wild – Jack London (1903)
Buck is half St. Bernard, half sheepdog. He is stolen from his comfortable life as a pet and undergoes cruelty and misfortune in Northern Canada, where he is made to work as a mail carrying sled dog. In the Alaskan wilderness, a man called John Thornton saves Buck’s life and Buck is indebted to him. From thereon, Buck protects John with fierce loyalty. However, the lure of the wilderness is strong and it is Buck’s primitive instincts that help him to survive.
Inside of a Dog – Alexandra Horowitz
This book is a little different, as it gives a fresh look at the world of dogs from a dog’s point of view! Horowitz, who has a PhD in cognitive science and is a teacher of psychology, studied her own dog, Pumpernickel, to gain an understanding of how dogs really feel during every day activities. The book will answer many questions dog lovers have and help them to understand their own pet dog much better.
Where the Red Fern Grows – Wilson Rawls (1961)
This story is about a ten-year old boy growing up in the Ozark mountains in Arkansas. Billy wants two coonhounds very badly, but his family cannot afford to buy them. Billy saves the money himself and buys and trains his two Redbone Coonhounds, Old Dan and Little Ann, to be champion raccoon hunters. Have your tissues handy for this story of determination, morality, dedication, and the love between a boy and his two loyal dogs.
