12 Books For Dog Lovers To Read This Summer

Now’s the time to start planning your summer reading list. Here’s what you’ll need to get you through the dog days of summer: adventure tales, inspirational stories, fun facts, gorgeous illustrations, and plenty of cute dogs (naturally). The buck stops here—we’ve found a book to suit every literary need, to ensure your summer is a real page-turner!

For those of you hitting the road this summer, you’ll want to take Benoit Denizet-Lewis and his Labrador Casey with you. Not just a great travel book, this sweet read is also all about the incomparable bond that forms between dogs and their humans.

Have you ever wondered what life is like for a dog living in Routt County, Colorado? This pleasurable read gives you the insight we’ve all longed for—straight from the dogs’ mouths. You’ll learn all about family dynamics, food fetishes, pet peeves, and a dog’s philosophy on life. Guaranteed to keep you smiling through the summer!

A small dog, house-fire, and a family trying to pick up the pieces of their lives—The Pug List is bound to elicit an emotional response from all who read it. This immensly likable story reminds us of the healing powers of our canine friends, and is the perfect read for anyone who loves to devour their literature—we mean it, you won’t be able to put it down.

Planning a road trip but worried about bringing Fido along? Don’t be! In this National Geographic guide you’ll find dog-friendly destinations, travel secrets, plenty of photos, and insider tips on the best places to visit with your pawesome co-pilot.

Stay up to date on everything dog with a Modern Dog magazine subscription! If you haven’t already subscribed to Modern Dog magazine here’s what you’re missing out on: easy recipes, fun DIY projects, insight into your dog’s behaviour, health and wellness tips, indispensable advice, heartwarming stories, giveaways, contests and more! And if that didn’t convince you, there’s also a ton of unbelievably cute dogs!

Sometimes our travels don’t take us exactly where we want to go. If you’re longing to live out your summer vicariously, then Hudson is your dog! This American pup finds himself on an epic adventure in France—he even learns some life lessons along the way. A charming story with stunning artwork that will leave you dreaming of your own pastry-filled French escapade!

This page-turner will captivate you from page one! When an unidentified virus spreads across New York City’s Riverside neighbourhood, dogs take the blame, leading to an enforced quarantine of all dogs in the area. Can Samantha—owner of a local no-kill pet shelter—cope with the situation while battling her own demons?

The story of Flash, a Dachshund with immense joie de vivre, will bring a tear to your eye. Though heartbreaking, this memoir is ultimately uplifting, and will resonate with anyone who has ever loved and lost their beloved pet.

There’s no better time than the long summer days to learn something new. How about lessons on developing better communication with your pet to improve their behaviour and your bond? Link’s comprehension of animals’ feelings and personalities is truly inspiring, and is sure to give you and your pooch the tools you need for the best summer ever!

Some of our favourite dog-friendly summer activites involve water, whether it’s a day at the beach, lake, or a sprinkler party in the backyard. To celebrate the love and hilarity of our wet-dogs, Sophie Garmand (award-winning photographer) captured cute postures, weird hairdos and indignant expressions in 120 photographs—they may even inspire you to snap a few post-swim pictures of your own!

Biking with your dog is a great way to spend quality time together and give them (and you) a healthy dose of exercise. To make sure you’re riding as safely as possible, J. Leslie Johnson compiled this comprehensive guide to cycling with your pup!

School’s out for the summer! Keep the children in your life entertained and educated with Cooper: A Rescue Dog’s Tale. Full of fun activities, this book also teaches kids (and adults) about rescuing and helping animals in need!