Summer is in full swing, and we’re back with our annual tradition – the DogWatch Summer Reading List for Dog Lovers. Since 2010, we’ve been sharing the latest and greatest novels, memoirs, adventure tales, kids’ books, poetry collections, and more titles all about our favorite subject – DOGS!

This year, to mark the 15th anniversary of our Summer Reading List for Dog Lovers, we’re rounding up our 15 favorite books from years’ past. Check out our list below!

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

This novel is not just about a dog – it’s narrated by one!  Our storyteller is Enzo, a lab mix owned by an aspiring racecar driver.  Enzo is there for the ups and downs of his owner’s career.  He is also a steady companion who is frustrated by his inability to communicate with his human best friend.  For those of you who yearn to know what your dog is thinking, Stein offers an engaging, imaginative glimpse into a dog’s mind and heart.

Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca by Maria Goodavage

In her 2014 book Top Dog, best selling author Maria Goodavage tells the story of a true canine hero. The Top Dog in question in Lucca, a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix who served on over 400 missions in her eight years of service with the United States Marine Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lucca was trained as a Specialized Search Dog, walking off leash in front of her handlers searching for explosives. Goodavage (whom we interviewed for the blog in 2016) takes you into Lucca’s world, detailing her tense missions and the bond she forms with her courageous and devoted handlers, Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham and Marine Corporal Juan Rodriguez. Heartwarming and suspenseful, tough and beautiful, Top Dog is a must-read. (And after you’re done, check out this video to see Lucca with Sgt. Willingham and Cpl. Rodriguez.)

The Dogist: Photographic Encounters with 1,000 Dogs by Elias Weiss Friedman

Fans of Elias Weiss Friedman’s popular Instagram feed @TheDogist will love this beautiful compendium of the photographer’s work. Separated into categories like “Puppies,” “Cones of Shame,” “Mutts” and “Dogs in Fancy Outfits,” you’ll love flipping through page after page of stunning dog photos. Friedman is a master of capturing a dog’s distinctive personality – amateur pet photographers, take note! And for those who just love a good puppy photo, The Dogist is the perfect coffee table book you’ve been waiting for.

Bespotted: My Family’s Love Affair With Thirty-Eight Dalmatians by Linda Gray Sexton

Dog lovers of all shapes (and spots!) will love Linda Gray Sexton‘s book, Bespotted: My Family’s Love Affair With Thirty-Eight Dalmatians, a memoir about growing up with, raising and falling in love with Dalmatians. Sexton, an acclaimed author and daughter of Pulitzer Prize winning poet Anne Sexton, chronicles the 38 spotted dogs who have made an impact on her life, sharing stories of birth, tragedy, triumph and love. Sexton has been a DogWatch of the Bay Area customer for many years and lives in California with her husband and, you guessed it, her Dalmatians.

Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes

Rescue and Jessica is a story of friendship, determination, hope and love. The book, for kids aged 5-9, tells the story of a black Lab service dog named Rescue and Jessica, the young woman he is paired with. Rescue worries he won’t be able to do his job, but soon discovers the impact he has on Jessica and the bond that develops between them. Authors Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes are survivors of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and Rescue is based on Kensky’s real-life service dog. Beautifully written and illustrated, Rescue and Jessica shows young readers the purpose and power of service dogs, and all the important work they do to help others.

Dogland: Passion, Glory, and Lots of Slobber at the Westminster Dog Show by Tommy Tomlinson

The annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a must-watch for dog lovers everywhere. Now you can go behind the scenes of the world famous dog show with this delightfully entertaining new book by author and podcast host Tommy Tomlinson. Tomlinson spent three years on the road covering more than one hundred competitions across the country leading up to the 2022 Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Dogland is “a big ol’ slobbering smooch of optimism, laughter, and happiness,” says fellow author Joe Posnanski. Sounds like a perfect summer pick to us!

Fast into the Night: A Woman, Her Dogs, and Their Journey North on the Iditarod Trail by Debbie Clarke Moderow

We’ve covered the Iditarod several times on our blog, and always find it fascinating. So it was exciting to see a first-person account from one of these intrepid racers, 47 year-old Debbie Clarke Moderow. Moderow depicts the grueling life on the trail and strong bond she develops with her team of spunky huskies: Taiga and Lil Su, Piney and Creek, Nacho and Zeppy, Juliet and Kanga. Fast into the Night is an amazing adventure story, and a perfect snowy antidote to hot summer nights.

Pug Actually by Matt Dunn

Doug is a pug-turned-matchmaker in this charming story about relationships and unbreakable bonds. Doug desperately wants his rescuer, Julie, to find love and be happy. Doug knows that Julie’s current lover, the already married Luke, will never be the right choice. Her friend Tom, on the other hand, is perfect for her, and everyone can see it except for them. Doug navigates the hilarious and many times awkward world of human relationships, and through loyalty and love does what he can to make sure his human is happy.

This entertaining novel won Parade’s “Best Canine Book” of Summer 2021, and was named PopSugar’s “Best Book Of June”!

Pets on the Couch: Neurotic Dogs, Compulsive Cats, Anxious Birds, and the New Science of Animal Psychiatry by Nicholas Dodman DVM

Pioneering veterinarian and best-selling author Nicholas Dodman may be as close as we can get to answering the eternal question of dog owners: “What is my dog thinking?” In his latest book, Pets on the Couch, Dr. Dodman recounts several memorable cases he’s seen throughout his long career, including a parrot who won’t stop plucking his feathers, a racehorse who suffers from frequent fits of spinning and biting his flank and a bull terrier who obsessively chases his tail. Dr. Dodman makes a strong case for “One Medicine,” which emphasizes the similarities rather than differences between animals and humans. Endless fascinating, Pet on the Couch is another memorable example of the strong bond we share with our pets.

The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog by W. Bruce Cameron

The dog-obsessed novelist W. Bruce Cameron appears on our Summer Reading List more than any other author. Here we’re highlighting his ambitious 2015 novel, The Dog Master. This bold tale travels from a present-day college campus – where an ambitious professor seeks to uncover the origins of the first domesticated dogs – all the way back to 30,000 years ago. Here, Cameron’s novel imagines the life of a young, outcast hunter and the newborn female wolf that becomes his only family. How did this prehistoric man and fierce wolf build this bond, and how did they survive in this difficult world? Pick up this book to find out.

Off the Leash: A Year at the Dog Park by Matthew Gilbert

Matthew Gilbert’s day job is TV critic for The Boston Globe, but it’s his experience visiting his local dog park that inspired his first book. Gilbert wasn’t much of a dog person – or really, a people person – but falling in love with a dog lover meant regular visits to Amory Park in Brookline, MA with the couple’s sociable yellow Lab, Toby. There, the author was thrust into the world of pampered pooches, wild puppies, gregarious neighbors and a community he never knew he craved.

Wish by Barbara O’Connor

The story of a young girl who dreams of a dog of her own, Wish is a great pick for 9-12 year-olds looking for a canine-centric story to read during summer break. This best-selling novel by Barbara O’Connor tells the story of Charlie Reese, an 11 year-old girl who lives with her aunt and uncle in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. One day her dream comes true when she meets Wishbone, a stray dog who needs her help. The School Library Journal writes that O’Connor’s book is a “touching tale of resilience sure to resonate with children who have ever felt like they didn’t belong. . . . Poignant and genuine, this is a tale that will resonate with readers long after they finish it and have them cheering for the underdogs―both of the two-legged and four-legged varieties.”

Dogtripping: 5 Rescues, 11 Volunteers, and 3 RVs on Our Canine Cross-Country Adventure by David Rosenfelt

Moving from Southern California to Maine is always hectic, but add over two dozen rescue dogs to the mix, and you’ve got a real adventure! Mystery writer David Rosenfelt and wife Debbie Myers are passionate animal lovers, and have helped rescue over 4,000 dogs through the years. At the time of their cross-country move, their family included 25 dogs, who all had to make the move east. Rosenfelt’s memoir is a hilarious account of this ordeal, and a moving portrait of his journey from everyday dog owner to committed animal rescuer. Bring this one with you on your summer road trip – it’s a fast, funny read that will help you pass the time with a smile.

Dog Songs: Poems by Mary Oliver

Pulitzer prize-winning poet Mary Oliver’s collection Dog Songs is a worthy ode to our canine companions. Paying tribute to her own pets and drawing upon her lifetime of experiences with these furry creatures, Oliver’s poems are poignant, funny, moving and exquisitely rendered. This collection is the perfect accompaniment to a cup on tea on a summer morning on the porch with your own beloved dog.

Who’s the Boss by Ron Pace (a DogWatch® Dealer!)

We’re proud to feature a book written by one of own – DogWatch Dealer and expert dog trainer Ron Pace! Who’s The Boss is a step-by-step dog training guide that draws upon Ron’s 40+ years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Separated into 10 short lessons, this book can help you learn to communicate with your dog in a way he or she understands to build a more valuable lifetime connection with your best friend. Jumpstart your Summer with Ron’s helpful advice, and by Fall, you’ll be able to impress your neighbors with your dog’s newfound skills!

Do you have your own favorite dog-themed book to recommend? Share your feedback with us in the comments or on Facebook or Instagram. Have a wonderful summer and happy reading!