One of the best ways to find dog books is by specialized publisher. Below I’ve listed a few selections from the major houses.

Howell Book House

The publisher has long been associated with quality books for all sorts of companion animals. A few years ago they were acquired by Wiley (www.wiley.com).

Here is a sampling: 

One of my favorites from this year is The Rosetta Bone by Cheryl Smith. I have written about this book before and can’t say enough good things about it. Its focus on communication with your canine, aspects of body language, learning the A’s, B’s, C’s and D’s and teaching yourself “Doglish” is priceless.

Another offering from Wiley is Having Fun With Agility by Margaret Bonham.

I recently received my review copy and just looking at the cover makes me want to try agility. This book was written for the dog owner “who want the interactive thrill of agility sports without the rigid rules, pressures, and expenses of competition. A practical, down-to-earth guide to today’s most popular canine sport will help you and your dog master the basics.” Sign me up! 

Wiley owns the “For Dummies” titles and here’s one book that all dog owners should have in their library, because hopefully one day they will need Senior Dogs for Dummies by Susan McCullough. When dog’s age they have different needs and many times, especially for the first-time pet owner faced with an aging dog, they are unaware of what those needs may be. This guide takes all the guesswork out of growing old together with your pet.

Bow Tie Press

From the publishers of Dog Fancy and Dog World magazines, Bow Tie Press (www.bowtiepress.com) has a wonderful array of dog titles (and other companion animals as well) to choose from. They include Ask the Vet About Dogs by Leslie Sinclair, DVM. This author, “draw from years of clinical experience to answer over 80 of the most commonly asked care questions. Spiral bound for easy use, this manual helps readers become more aware of behavior, nutrition, lifestyle, and other health concerns relating to their pets.” according to the Bow Tie’s website.

THF

For 50 years, THF (www.thf.com) has been considered a leader in pet titles. This publisher prints all those wonderful little books you find at the pet stores when shopping for fish food. “The Norwegian Elkhound” is my favorite! You can still find all those breed specific titles on their website. 

In addition, a few books, really stand out this year … like The Super Simple Guide to Housebreaking an Outta Control Puppy by Teoti Anderson. The first book is part of the “Super Simple Guide” series and the second offers quick solutions to common puppy behavior problems such as chewing, housetraining, barking, and digging.

If it’s a small dog you or someone on your gift-giving list owns you may want to investigate Little Dogs: Training Your Pint Sized Companion by Deborah Wood.

Humor And Fiction

For books that aren’t about training or health here are a few I recommend. These three books made it into the finals in the humor category of the Dog Writers Association of America 2004 Writing Contest:

You Know if Your Dog Owns You by Chaz Chapman and Stacy Curtis (BowTie Press); The Pekinese Who Saved Civilization by Trisha Howell (Howell Canyon Press); and Postcards From the Pug Bus by Phil Maggitti (Doral)

I also love books by this author and his most recent, The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me by Jon Katz is the latest about meeting life challenges and dealing with and learning from Border Collies along the way. Go to www.Amazon.com to find this gem or order learn more about the other books of Jon Katz including A Dog Year, Running to the Mountain, and The New Work of Dogs.

In the fiction department, I highly recommend the latest from mystery author Susan Conant, Bride and Groom. If you love mysteries and dogs this author is for you.

And for a great website for “all things dogs” especially books, visit www.dogwise.com.

 

Lisa Peterson, a long-time breeder of Norwegian Elkhounds, is the Club Communications Manager at the American Kennel Club. Contact her at ask@lisa-peterson.com  or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470