August is National Dog Month. It’s also National Brownies for Brunch Month, and while that sounds worth celebrating all 31 days, it just doesn’t work for a month of reading. Dogs, however, make our lives and our stories better. I’ve had dogs much of my life and now enjoy it when my granddog comes to visit. As a child I was, not surprisingly, a book worm, and read a lot of stories about animals. I definitely covered all the dog stories. I have to admit that as an adult I’m squarely in the “If the dog dies, I’m not reading it” camp. I’m not up for the emotions of Where the Red Fern Grows or Old Yeller anymore.
Here are a wide range of dog books. Whether you want to learn more about how your dog thinks or how to knit with your dog's hair, you’ll find something here.
- Knitting with dog hair : better a sweater from a dog you know and love than from a sheep you'll never meet by Kendall Crolius. Easy to use advice on how to harvest, clean, and spin your dog's fur and how to modify your favorite patterns to accommodate pet-spun yarn.
- The word of dog : what our canine companions can teach us about living a good life by Mark Rowlands. Perhaps none of us can be happy in the way a dog can, but The Word of Dog shows us we could do a lot better than we're doing simply by listening to the unspoken wisdom our dogs reveal to us every day of their happy, uncomplicated lives.
- This dog will change your life by Elias Weiss Friedman. A uniquely insightful, uplifting, emotional, and informative book that shows us how dogs make our lives better by making us better people.
- Four thousand paws : caring for the dogs of the Iditarod : a veterinarian's story by Lee Morgan. An intimate account from a trail veterinarian, including a look into the mind of the canines who brave the challenges of the Iditarod.
- Puppy brain : how our dogs learn, think, and love by Kerry Nicholas. Puppy Brain will show you how to raise a happy, healthy, well-behaved, and emotionally resilient pet. Through years of research on puppy brain development and intentional breeding practices, the author opens a whole new world of communication between you and your dog.
- Cone of shame by Winnie Au. Each dog featured in this book models a cone made from unique materials - everything from eggshells to repurposed pool noodles to luxe suede and silk flowers. These works of art are designed to amplify the one-of-a-kind charm and self-possessed dignity that makes every dog special and charming in their own way.
Library tip of the month: Remember to vote by Tuesday, August 5. Find out about the library levy lid lift at fvrl.org/levy.
