100 Best Dog Books of All-time
Wesley Banks
A list of the best selling dog books of all time, fiction and nonfiction. These top selling dog books span multiple centuries, and cover topics of adventure, love, loss, and companionship.
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WESLEY BANKS
I love books, but especially books about dogs or with dogs. So, I thought it would be awesome to go through every single dog book I could find and make a list of the best dog novels (and non-fiction stories) of all-time.

(Special Note: If you’re more of a movie person, be sure to check out my list of dog movies here.)

Top 100 Dog Books Every Dog Lover Should Read

Table Legend

NR = Not Ranked (this could be a book that wasn’t previously on the Top 100 or a book that has moved out of the Top 100)

True Story Vs. Non-fiction. A “true story” is technically non-fiction, but I’ve separated “true stories” to be more of memoir style novels, whereas “non-fiction” is reserved for more training or scientific/informative books.

Note: You can filter the table by simply clicking on the column headings (i.e. genre or title).

Current Rank (2024)Last Year's Rank (2023)CoverTitleAuthorGenreWhere to Find 11Where the Red Fern GrowsWilson RawlsFictionBuy it here 24Because of Winn-DixieKate DiCamilloFictionBuy it here 33A Dog's PurposeW. Bruce CameronFictionBuy it here 45WatchersDean KoontzFictionBuy it here 52The Art of Racing in the RainGarth SteinFictionBuy it here 66Say Goodbye for NowCatherine Ryan HydeFictionBuy it here 77Hello LoveKaren McQuestionFictionBuy it here 810A Dog's JourneyW. Bruce CameronFictionBuy it here 914Rescuing FinleyDan WalshFictionBuy it here 1017The Forever DogRodney HabibNon-fictionBuy it here 1130White FangJack LondonFictionBuy it here 1226CujoStephen KingFictionBuy it here 1328Thunder DogTrue StoryBuy it here 1431SuspectRobert CraisFictionBuy it here 1532Travels with CharleyJohn SteinbeckMemoirBuy it here 1634Dog On ItSpencer QuinnFictionBuy it here 17NRHow to Raise the Perfect DogCesar MillanNon-fictionBuy it here 189No Ordinary DogWill ChesneyTrue StoryBuy it here 1911Old YellerFred GipsonFictionBuy it here 2013Rescuing SpriteMark R. LevinTrue StoryBuy it here 2115The Bravest Dog EverNatalie StandifordTrue StoryBuy it here 2216Ellie's StoryW. Bruce CameronFictionBuy it here 2339How Dogs Love UsGregory BernsFictionBuy it here 2440Top DogMaria GoodavageTrue StoryBuy it here 2550Bailey's StoryW. Bruce CameronFictionBuy it here 2651The Lost DogsJim GorantTrue StoryBuy it here 27NRA Dog Called HopeJason MorganTrue StoryBuy it here 2812ShilohPhyllis NaylorFictionBuy it here 2918The Speckled BeautyRick BraggTrue StoryBuy it here 3020Merle's DoorTed KarasoteMemoirBuy it here 3123The Other End of the LeashPatricia McConnellNon-fictionBuy it here 3224A Big Little LifeDean KoontzMemoirBuy it here 3347Sergeant RexMike DowlingTrue StoryBuy it here 3448MaxJennifer Li ShotzTrue StoryBuy it here 3552OogyLarry LevinFictionBuy it here 3653The Story of Edgar SawtelleDavid WroblewskiFictionBuy it here 3754Lily and OctopusSteven RowleyFictionBuy it here 3856I Will See You in HeavenJack WintzNon-fictionBuy it here 3962TornadoBetsy ByarsFictionBuy it here 4064The Cruelest MilesGay SalisburyBuy it here 4165JudyDamien LewisBuy it here 42NRStarted Early, Took My DogKate AtkinsonFictionBuy it here 4319Until TuesdayLuis MontalvanFictionBuy it here 4421Following AtticusTom RyanTrue StoryBuy it here 4522Marley and MeJohn GroganMemoirBuy it here 4625One Good DogSusan WilsonFictionBuy it here 4727A Wolf Called RomeoNick JansTrue StoryBuy it here 4829When Harry Met MinnieTrue StoryBuy it here 4933To Dance With White DogTerry KayFictionBuy it here 5044Amazing GracieDan DyeTrue StoryBuy it here 5155SounderWilliam ArmstrongFictionBuy it here 5258The Incredible JourneyShiela BurnfordFictionBuy it here 5359Dog MedicineJulie BartonMemoirBuy it here 5470FlashDonna BallFictionBuy it here 5571The Dog Who Saved MeSusan WilsonFictionBuy it here 5672UnsaidNeil AbramsonBuy it here 5775Storm Rising (An F.B.I. K-9 Novel Book 3)Sara DriscollFictionBuy it here 5896OutfoxedDavid RosenfeltFictionBuy it here 59NRMarshal Jodi BurnettFictionBuy it here 60NRArthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a HomeMikael LindnordTrue StoryBuy it here 61NRThe Amazing Afterlife of AnimalsKaren A. AndersonNon-fictionBuy it here 62NRPawprints On Our HeartsKerk MurrayTrue StoryBuy it here 6335Cesar's WayCesar MilanNon-fictionBuy it here 6438On Talking Terms With DogsTurid RugaasBuy it here 6567A View to Die ForRichard HoustonFictionBuy it here 6674Maverick (Tin Star K9 Series Book 2)Jodi BurnettFictionBuy it here 6777The Dog MasterW. Bruce CameronFictionBuy it here 6878The Genius of DogsBrian HareNon-fictionBuy it here 6979Lone Wolf (An F.B.I. K-9 Novel Book 1)Sara DriscollFictionBuy it here 7080GabbyBarby KeelTrue StoryBuy it here 7186Avenging Adam (FBI-K9 Series Book 1)Jodi BurnettFictionBuy it here 72NRDog Helps ThoseNeil S. PlakcyFictionBuy it here 73NRHope In Every RaindropWesley BanksFictionBuy it here 74NRKat the DogAlyson SheldrakeTrue StoryBuy it here 758The Call of the WildJack LondonFictionBuy it here 7636Inside of a DogAlexandra HorowitzNon-fictionBuy it here 7737As The Stars FallSteven N. LeeBuy it here 7841A Hairy TailJamie CampbellFictionBuy it here 7942In Dog We TrustNon-fictionBuy it here 8073Someone To Look Up ToJean GillBuy it here 8176Unspoken BondBlake O'ConnorFictionBuy it here 8282Lost and FoundJacqueline SheehanFictionBuy it here 8384Black VelvetSteven HenryFictionBuy it here 8485Renegade (Tin Star K9 Series Book 1)Jodi BurnettFictionBuy it here 8591Be Right Back!Julie NaismithNon-fictionBuy it here 86NRSmoky Mountain TracksDonna BallFictionBuy it here 87NRThe Dog Who Came to StayHal BorlandMemoirBuy it here 88NRThe Dog ThiefMarta AcostaFictionBuy it here 8945WinterdanceGary PaulsenTrue StoryBuy it here 9088Free Days with GeorgeColin CampbellTrue StoryBuy it here 9189HeroJennifer Li ShotzBuy it here 9246A Dog's LifeAnn MartinFictionBuy it here 9349WoodsongGary PaulsenTrue StoryBuy it here 9457Lone WolfKathryn LaskyFictionBuy it here 9561Navy SEAL DogsMike RitlandTrue StoryBuy it here 9681Rescue Me, Maybe Jackie BouchardFictionBuy it here 9787The Stolen DogTricia O'MalleyTrue StoryBuy it here 9897LadAlbert TerhuneFictionBuy it here 99NRChaserJohn W. PilleyBuy it here 100NRMeet Your DogKim BropheyBuy it here NR60The Dog Who Could FlyDamien LewisTrue StoryBuy it here NR68Kelly's Koffee ShopDianne HarmanFictionBuy it here NR93The Dog Who DancedSusan WilsonFictionBuy it here NR99DogsongGary PaulsenFictionBuy it here NR69

Pukka's PromiseTed KerasoteFictionBuy it here NR92An Unexpected GraceKristin von KreislerFictionBuy it here NR66It's Just a DogRuss RyanFictionBuy it here NR83Follow My LeaderJames GarfieldFictionBuy it here NR90WallaceJim GorantTrue StoryBuy it here NR98Lassie Come HomeEric KnightFictionBuy it here NR94The SightDavid Clement-DaviesFictionBuy it here NR95Through a Dog's EyesJennifer ArnoldMemoirBuy it here NR100Rose In A StormJon KatzFictionBuy it here NRNRStepdog: A NovelNicole GallandBuy it here NRNRFrom Baghdad, With LoveJay KopelmanTrue StoryBuy it here NRNRThe Second Chance DogJon KatzFictionBuy it here NRNRYou Had Me at WoofJulie KlamMemoirBuy it here NRNRAll Dogs Go to KevinJessica VogelsangMemoirBuy it here NRNRConnected Souls: A Dog StoryDana LandersShort StoryBuy it here NRNRThe Luckiest Dog in the WorldSusan PalmerFictionBuy it here NRNRA Dog Named ChristmasGreg KincaidFictionBuy it here NRNRA Man of His OwnSusan WilsonFictionBuy it here NRNRIrish RedJim KjelgaardFictionBuy it here NRNRWhat the Dog KnowsCat WarrenNon-fictionBuy it here NRNRMust Love DogsClair CookFictionBuy it here NRNRMiracle on Wolf Hollow LaneBlake O'ConnorFictionBuy it here NRNRKavik The Wolf DogWalt MoreyFictionBuy it here NRNRDog CrazyMeg DonahueFictionBuy it here NRNRLessons from TaraDavid RosenfeltMemoirBuy it here NRNRHouse BrokenSonja YoergFictionBuy it here NRNRPromise of the Wolves: A NovelDorothy HearstFictionBuy it here NRNRPukkaTed KerasoteFictionBuy it here NRNRStayAllie LarkinFictionBuy it here NRNR101 DalmationsDodie SmithFictionBuy it here NRNRStayDave BurchettTrue StoryBuy it here NRNRThe Plague DogsRichard AdamsFictionBuy it here NRNRDog SenseJohn BradshawNon-fictionBuy it here NRNRA Forever HomeKaleigh MillsFictionBuy it here NRNRFellDavid Clement-DaviesFictionBuy it here NRNRKatieGlen PlaskinTrue StoryBuy it here NRNRJust LifeNeil AbramsonFictionBuy it here NRNRLittle Man in a Dog SuitB.R. WilsonTrue StoryBuy it here

Honorable Mentions

The Philosopher and the Wolf. It kind of breaks my heart to not have this book on this, because it’s my absolute favorite. Not enough people have heard of it unfortunately.

Say Goodbye for Now. As of writing this, Catherine Ryan Hyde’s latest book is not yet out. It looks like it will be phenomenal, but time will tell.

Red Dog. I haven’t read this book, but I’ve had A LOT of people tell me it should be on the list. It barely missed the cut, but I think I’ll be checking it out soon, especially since there was a major motion picture made after it.

This list has officially been updated for 2024! Woohoo!

Just a few notes and thoughts…

For the 4th year in a row I have not removed books that fell out of the Top 100. They simply remain on the list with a rank of “NR” below the new Top 100.

This year 13 more books fell out of the Top 100, which means we’ve got 13 new books on the list. You’ll notice there area total of 43 books that have fallen out of the Top 100 over the past few years due to newer books making the list.

We also saw a change at the top of the list for the first time in 3 years. One of my personal favorites, Where The Red Fern Grows, overtook the top spot! Well deserved.

In addition, I’m planning to add a list of the other 100+ books that don’t appear in the above table. Many of you send me fairly passionate emails about books left off the list and I want to make sure to include them somewhere even if they don’t make the Top 100. It’s going to take me a little bit, but this list will be at the very bottom of this post soon.

My Personal Favorite Dog Books

I’ve talked about my favorite books before, but never my favorite dog books. This is going to be tough, but I’ll give it a shot.

The Philosopher and the Wolf. I know I said this above, but this is my favorite by far. I don’t think this book is for everyone though. It’s laden with philosophy and discusses the life and loss of the wolf owned by Mark Rowlands.

Where the Red Fern Grows. This is probably the first book that ever made me cry. It’s a quick read, but every dog owner will be able to instantly understand the bond between a boy and his dogs.

Call of the Wild. Of every single book on this list I think Call of the Wild is the best in terms of literary accomplishment. Reading Jack London is like being transposed into the story itself.

The Sight. I’m a huge fantasy reader, so finding a book that has a pack of wolves as the main characters, and a story told in their point of view, was just stellar. I think a lot of books on this list are “better” dog books, but this is still one of my favorites in the fantasy genre.

What are Your Favorites?

While I did my best not to miss any, I’m sure I did. It was quite the undertaking to compile such a list, but my plan is to update at least annually if not semi-annually.

With that said, I’ve got two questions for you:

Which one is your favorite?

Did I miss any?

Let me know in the comments below!

I promise I read all the comments, but that doesn’t guarantee the book you recommend makes the Top 100. I get emails every month with people offended about what books are or are not on the list. I get it. I really do. But please read the details above about the ranking. These are not my personal picks, but based on ratings and reviews from Amazon, Goodreads, and other sites.