Top Five Dog Books

Crufts dog show starts tomorrow! So, to celebrate our four legged friends, we’re taking a look at five great books about dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Peggy and Me by Miranda Hart

Actress and comedian Miranda Hart has also turned her hand to writing and recently produced Peggy and Me, a memoir about her and her life-changing dog, Peggy. You can expect Hart’s usual comic style but also a series of heart-warming stories about her adventures with Peggy the adorable Shih-Tzu Bichon Frise cross. You can also pick up Peggy’s side of the story in Miranda and Me, which was in fact released first!

The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

Made famous by the 1961 animated Disney film (and the subsequent 1996 live action version) this is a story most of us will be firmly familiar with. The scheming Cruella de Vil dog-naps the Dalmatian puppies, planning to make their fur into the ultimate coat for herself. The puppies are saved by Pongo and Missis (renamed Perdita for the film versions) who are the parents of one group of stolen dogs, working together with a host of other animals and humans. You can also look into the lesser known sequel, The Starlight Barking.

Where’s Spot by Eric Hill

The first book in the highly popular series of books for children about the adventures of a dog called Spot. The first book follows the simple concept of Sally, Spot’s mother, looking for Spot. The book utilised the ‘lift the flap’ style, with each page showing Sally investigating what was behind a door which children could lift for themselves. This was an unheard-of technique at the time of release and perhaps helped to cement the book’s unique popularity.

Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight

Another classic; the well-loved story of one dog and her determination to make it home to her family. Joe and collie Lassie are dedicated to each other but when Joe’s father loses his job, Lassie has to be sold. Making her way home to Joe three times, Lassie is eventually sent to a remote part of Scotland, from where everyone is sure she won’t be able to return. And so begins her most epic journey of all.

Cujo by Stephen King

And now for something completely different. Far from the cute stories of loveable dogs and doting owners, this is a classic Stephen King horror novel. Cujo starts out as a large, friendly St. Bernard, but after chasing a rabbit into a cave and being bitten by a rabid bat, Cujo becomes infected. Driven mad by his illness, Cujo turns into a vicious killer who terrorises the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine.

Why not check out some of our dog related books?

In The Dog House by Christine Cornforth – A book offering advice for all dog owners.

Put That Dog Out! By Jayne Leaney – A delightful and humorous book written from the point of view of a border collie who will one day save the family farm.

My Hero by David J. Robinson – Another tale of a heroic little dog. David J. Robinson lives with a life-threatening illness and owes a lot to his medically alert dog who has twice saved his life and went on to be voted Hero Pet in the 2012 Dogs Trust Honours Award.

Risk it For A Biscuit by Linda Tegerdine – As with Put That Dog Out, Risk It For A Biscuit is from the point of view of a dog. Biscuit relates her own story to us of life in a normal family.