A running list of books I recommend to dog owners
Some are explicitly about dogs, some are about the larger animal kingdom, some are solely directed at humans… all have impacted my dog ownership philosophy and relationship with Scout.
Here’s a running list of books I recommend to dog owners! (In no particular order.) This article was first published on January 29th 2022 and last updated on June 25th 2023.
You can also find specific excerpts and annotations in our Books and Books 2 and Books 3 and Books 4 story highlights on Instagram, as well as a longer list of all titles I’ve read (including ones I don’t necessarily recommend) here.
* If you purchase a title through an Amazon link in this blog, we will get a small commission through their affiliates program. The cost of the product will not change for you! Alternatively, I’ve read most of these by checking them out from our local library. I always recommend that as a great option
Dog-Specific Books
Pit Bull by Bronwen Dickey
Canine + human history, breed-specific legislation, nature + nurture, and more. You can read some of my initial Pit Bull takeaways in this Instagram post, also embedded below, and read my full-length review article here!
Dog is Love by Clive Wynne
Wynne’s practical approach to understanding our dogs’ affection for us echoed some of the traits I love in Frans de Waal (my all-time favorite animal author). Full of research made accessible!
I didn’t love the way he talked about dog training tools at the very end but recognize 1) he isn’t a trainer, 2) his heart is absolutely in the right place, and 3) his discussion with Ivan Balabanov on the Training Without Conflict podcast was more measured.
The Genius of Dogs by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods
I loved Hare’s encouragement of skepticism and sharing differing perspectives, particularly in infant fields of research (like canine cognition). It wasn’t my all-time favorite book but had several great nuggets worth recommending. The Genius of Dogs overlapped a fair amount with Dog is Love.
For the Love of a Dog by Patricia McConnell
Despite being nearly two decades old, For the Love of a Dog was a great read. While some of the specific research is a little outdated now (just in the sense that we’ve learned a lot more about nonhuman animal emotions in the last twenty years) McConnell touched on two of my biggest passions: avoiding unproductive anthropomorphism while embracing our shared traits / coevolution / similarities, and balancing accepting who our dogs are with helping them grow.
Bones Would Rain From the Sky by Suzanne Clothier
Great emotional insights on seeing our dogs as more than just “robots”. You can read my initial reflections in this Instagram post, again also embedded below.
Canine Enrichment for the Real World by Bender & Strong
An accessible conversation on our dogs’ enrichment that I think is especially nice as an introductory guide for people new to the idea.
Animal-Specific Books
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are by Frans de Waal
My favorite book of all time. Frans de Waal has inspired so much reflection on the way I live with Scout, even though he’s first and foremost a primatologist. You can read an Instagram post I wrote right after finishing it here (also embedded below) as well this article that dives deeper into my three favorite De Waal books for dog owners.
Mama’s Last Hug by Frans de Waal
Also by Frans de Waal, a great conversation about both human and animal emotions. More in this article!
An Immense World by Ed Yong
This book has many themes in common with Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are, with a more specific focus on nonhuman animal senses. If you’re only going to read one? I recommend Frans de Waal. But in a perfect world? Read both!
Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat by Hal Herzog
This is a philosophical read without as many direct applications to day-to-day dog ownership as other books here—but I still found it worthwhile. It really got me thinking. You can read my full reflections on Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat in this blog!
Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin
You can read my full book review of Animals Make Us Human in this article. The conceptual framework of blue ribbon emotions was particularly enlightening for me! My initial reflection Instagram post is also embedded below.
Human-Focused Books
Play: How it Shapes the Brain… by Stuart Brown
I’m really passionate about the power of play with our dogs, and I loved this read by Stuart Brown.
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Brené Brown’s work has helped me develop more confidence and become a steadier owner for Scout. I find her “square squad” idea (embedded below) and marble jar analogy particularly useful!
The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
A great read on deep practice, hard work, and the power of nurture overall.
The New Behaviorism by John Staddon
This is a lengthy, textbook-esque foray into the foundations of behavioral science. It’s not light reading. I wouldn’t recommend it across the board to every dog owner! But depending on your interest level in science, particularly operant conditioning, it can be incredibly interesting to peruse.
John Staddon was also a guest on Ivan Balabanov’s Training Without Conflict podcast.
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
This book—while based on generalizations and somewhat arbitrary distinctions (along with questionable gender stereotypes)—has helped Sean and me think more critically about our relationship (Instagram post discussing that embedded below) and I’ve been able to apply those insights to Scout.
It’s a somewhat hesitant recommendation… but I see value in simply thinking about these overarching concepts. If you need a basic intro, give it a quick scan.
