12 Best Books About Dogs Every Pet Parent Should Own

Serena Faber Nelson Founder & Pet Lifestyle Writer

Pet lifestyle expert Serena Faber-Nelson is the founder of Pretty Fluffy. A contributor to Everyday with Rachael Ray, Modern Dog Magazine, Cesars Way and more; her modern, stylized take on DIY dog treats has seen her recipes viewed millions of times over.

Serena is the author of the go-to dog mom bible, Dog Mama, and the popular dog treat recipe book, Healthy Homemade Dog Treats.

Are you a dog lover AND a book lover? Then it’s well and truly time to combine your two loves, with this list of the best books about dogs!

The thing is, loving a dog is easy. But everything that goes with it? Dog training, pet nutrition, keeping a clean pet-friendly home, socialisation…there are so many things to learn, you sometimes feel like you need a little help.

And it doesn’t stop – by the time you feel like you know everything there is to know about your puppy, suddenly they’re growing up! And before long, you need to learn all about raising an adolescent, then middle-aged, then senior dog.

So, we’ve compiled a list 12 of the best nonfiction books about dogs that are perfect for pet parents, and designed to make your life with your dog sweeter and easier.

From dog treat recipe books to dog training books, dog psychology books to dog lifestyle titles and more – these nonfiction books about dogs are the perfect addition to any pet parent’s library!

RELATED: 21 Must-See Movies About A Dog (With Trailers)

12 Non-fiction Books About Dogs Every Pet Parent Should Own

Making Dogs Happy

AUTHOR: Melissa Starling, Paul McGreevy

This fabulous book about dogs is all about learning how to make your dog as happy as they make you.

Written by world-leading experts in dog behaviour, Making Dogs Happy is all about really understanding what your dog values and applying that to your everyday interactions and training.

Studies have shown that many dog owners incorrectly interpret their dog’s behaviour and emotions. Making Dogs Happy will ensure you’re being a good human to your furry companion and helps you understand your pup’s wants, needs and desires – giving back the joy to them that they give to you.

Eat, Play, Love (Your Dog)

AUTHOR: Lara Shannon

Eat, Play, Love (Your Dog) is the book that every dog lover needs, to provide their dog with the healthiest and happiest life possible. Author Lara Shannon has drawn upon her many years of working (and playing!) with dogs as a certified dog trainer and pet food nutritionist, and through her TV show Pooches at Play.

Lara’s book is the essential go-to guide covering everything you need to know about caring for your dog, from puppyhood until end of life. Divided into three handy chapters – Eat, Play and Love – Lara tackles all the important subjects, from ensuring your dog gets the right diet it needs to thrive, through to how to successfully address common dog behaviour issues.

Healthy Homemade Dog Treats

AUTHOR: Serena Faber-Nelson

Want to know the secret to a happy dog? Cuddles, walks and treats. Lots of treats!

With Homemade Dog Treats, pet lifestyle expert Serena Faber-Nelson puts the fun back into dog treats—with more than 70 easy, beautiful, every day dog treat recipes you’ll actually be bothered to make (and find yourself using over and over again.)

Be inspired by nutritious, delicious, budget friendly, and oh-so-simple to make dog treat recipes, including tasty Kong stuffers, and healthy chews you can batch bake, to keep your pup entertained while you go to work. And of course a whole section devoted to birthdays, holidays, and special occasions.

Packed with mouth-watering images, easy step-by-step instructions, handy hints, allergy alternatives, nutritional info, and more, Homemade Dog Treats is the must-have dog treat recipe book for every dog owner.

Home Cooking for Your Dog

AUTHOR: Christine Filardi

Never before has there been a time when making meals for your dog at home has been more popular. But how to know that what you’re making is nutritionally sound and tasty for your pup?

In Home Made Cooking for Your Dog, certified holistic chef for animals Christine Filardi offers 75 vet-approved, holistic recipes for cooked and raw meals. With easy, user-friendly recipes like Fido’s Fishcake Friday, Potluck Polenta and Cesar’s Favorite Chicken Liver Treats, the author uses fresh, healthy ingredients you can find in your local grocery store (or may already have at home) to create balanced, nutritious, chop-licking meals for your dog.

Proud Dog Chef: Tail-Wagging Good Treat Recipes

AUTHOR: Melissa Gundersen

One of our all time favourite dog mamas, Proud Dog Mom Melissa Gundersen, shares the ultimate collection of healthy dog treats that are bound to make even the pickiest pup’s tail wag.

Leaving behind questionable ingredients and red-flag preservatives, dog treats have never tasted so good! Filled with 60 gluten-free and grain-free recipes that range from biscuits and pupcakes to jerky and veggie chips, your canine companion is in for a real treat with this mus!

Resident Dog

AUTHOR: Nicole England

Looking for beautiful books about dogs? How about inspiration on seriously stylish pet-friendly homes?

In this stunningly photographed book of architectural homes, we see how the presence of a dog brings warmth and life to the most dramatic spaces. Stylish aspirational interiors feature each home’s ‘resident dog’. Rather than the typical house-by-house structure, this quirky and beautifully photographed collection is organised dog by dog with insights about each of the canine residents.The perfect coffee table book for any dog lover.

Dog Mama

AUTHOR: Serena Faber-Nelson

If you’re looking for the ultimate gift to give a dog lover, this is it. One part stunning coffee table book, one part practical advice for dog lovers, Dog Mama is the perfect gift and one of the most beautiful books about dogs and dog-friendly living you’ll find!

Funny, informative, and full of dog mom inspiration, lifestyle tips, recipes, DIY projects, and real-life dog mom stories, Dog Mama is the go-to bible for every pet parent. Want to take an Insta worthy photo of your pup? Make organic dog treats? Make your home stylish AND pet friendly?

This book about dogs, by and for dog lovers, has all the answers. With stunning photography throughout, this gorgeous book will look as pretty on the shelf as it is useful with every day tips.

The Dogist

AUTHOR: Elias Weiss Friedman

You could literally get lost in this book for hours on end. The Dogist is a beautiful, funny, and inspiring tribute to the beloved dogs in our lives. Every page presents dog portraits that command our attention. Whether because of the look in a dog’s eyes, its innate beauty, or even the clothes its owner has dressed it in, the photos will make you ooh and aah, laugh, and fall in love.

Photographed by Elias Weiss Friedman, aka The Dogist, every portrait in this book tells a story and explores the dog’s distinct character and spirit. When it comes to the best books about dogs, put this at the top of your wish list.

Good Dog

AUTHOR: Kate Leaver

Celebratory, joyous and moving, Good Dog is a book about the profoundly healing, curative qualities of dogs. Drawing on science, research and in-depth personal interviews, this book demonstrates how vastly a dog can improve our mental and physical health as well as our quality of life.

Examining the dog-human bond, Good Dog examines into the most extraordinary cross-species friendship on the planet. As dog lovers we know how much dogs give people: affection, companionship and profound emotional support. This touching book about dogs takes a deep and positive look into the clear health benefits of living with a dog by our side.

Dog People

AUTHOR: Sandra Müller

A guaranteed conversation starter for all dog lovers, the author of Dog People sums up the book best: “No, this book is not meant to be a fashion show for dogs and dog owners–dogs are not dolls and should only have clothes put on them when necessary. This book is simply a thought experiment: what kind of person would my dog be? Let’s be honest: who hasn’t given his or her dog a lengthy explanation of which the dog seems to listen intently and surely seems to understand every word? Yes, yes, I know… YOUR dog understands every word, just like mine!”

On the surface this book seems like a fun photographic exercise, but when we look a little deeper we really start to think about what our dogs are trying to tell us and who they really are.

Old Faithful: Dogs of a Certain Age

AUTHOR: Pete Thorne

A stunning and indelible collection of portraits and stories that capture dogs of a certain age in all their patchy, scruffy, jowly, and devoted glory.

This book is an homage to man’s best friend, based on the popular international photography project. This beautiful book about dogs in their twilight years will surely touch the heart of anyone who has loved a senior dog.

Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy

AUTHOR: Zazie Todd

Modern Dog Magazine called this book, “The must-have guide to improving your dog’s life” and who are we to argue? Whether you are training a new puppy, considering adopting a dog, researching dog breeds, or simply curious about your own dog’s happiness and behavior, Wag has all the answers––and then some.

Respected dog trainer and social psychologist, Zazie Todd, demystifies the inner life of canines and shares recommendations from leading veterinarians, researchers, and trainers to help you cultivate a rewarding and respectful relationship with your dog—which offers many benefits for you, your family, and your four-legged friend.

Featured Image Credit: Abby Capalbo

Main Title Image Credit: Alexander Mayes

Want to treat your pup? Try our dog treat e-Book bundle!

For yummy superfood and fruity dog treat recipes, download your our Ebook bundle and get a copy of each of our two eBooks: 52 Weeks of Treats – Simple & Healthy Dog Treat Recipes for Every Season and Frozen: 30 Fresh & Fruity Dog Treat Recipes Your Pup Will Love!

With a handy allergies guide, ingredient benefit glossary AND a whole section just for special occasions (Doggie Birthday Cake anyone?) this bundle gives you over 60+ healthy, homemade dog treat recipes.