It was 1974, while vacationing at Cannon Beach Oregon on a gray, rainy, day, when I ducked into a rambling, weather-beaten used bookstore to get out of the storm.  As the wind blew the door shut behind me, the delicious aroma of old books, good coffee, and the rumbly greeting of the shop’s calico cat drew me deeper and deeper into the dusky interior holding row after row of bookshelves filled with unknown treasures. A great place to wait out the storm, I thought, never realizing that my literary explorations on this day would change my life forever.

If that sounds dramatic, I’ll just say, you never know where fate is leading you and what form it may take.  In my case, fate led me to a dusty, used book titled The Herbal Book For The Dog by Juliette de Bairacli– Levy. Being a life-long dog lover, I was interested in anything that would improve the lives of my pets, and this book promised to be “A Complete Handbook Of Natural Care And Rearing.” As I remember, I paid $1.50 for the slightly battered hardback tome that opened my mind to a whole new world of nutritional knowledge, changed my thinking, my actions, and the lives of all of my pets forever after.

I still have that book and many, many more since I have been studying the subject of canine and feline nutrition for the past 50 years. For the holiday gift-giving season, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite and most informative books on pet care.  These books make wonderful gifts for your animal-loving friends and family, and you might just want to give one to yourself. Knowing more about how to give your pets a healthier and longer life will be a gift for every pet you cherish now and in the future. As Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Happy reading for a healthier, more responsible future with your dogs and cats. The books below are listed in no particular order and all have proved invaluable to me. Who knows, one of these books might change your life, too!

Raising Cats Naturally, by Michelle T. Bernard, Blakkatz Publishing, 2003.

This is a book rich in many sensible solutions proven by the author, a longtime cat breeder of American Shorthair cats. She offers easy-to-follow, nutritionally sound and supported by science diet recipes and so much more. Her chapters about the litterbox, the scratching post and others contain practical suggestions for making your cat a happier member of your household. Offering intelligent advice on the treatment of common cat diseases, the author also generously provides a shopping list of products she recommends.

Paws To Consider, by Brian Killcommons and Sarah Wilson, Warner Books, Inc., 1999.

Kilcommons and Wilson are dog trainers with over 50 years of experience in their field.  They know that “The right dog can bring you incomparable joy and companionship, (but the wrong dog can break your heart)”. This is a must read for anyone considering adopting a dog. The authors individually assess 95 of the most popular and available dog breeds, detailing the pros and cons of each breed. They also offer suggestions on how to find a reliable breeder, discuss genetic tendenciesand once you have decided on a breed how to choose the right individual puppy for your lifestyle. Easy to read with great photos.

Why We Love The Dogs We Do, by Stanley Coren, The Free Press, 1998.

At the time this book was published, Stanley Coren was a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and a devoted dog owner.  With his extensive knowledge of the mind/behavior connection, he posited seven basic categories of dogs: Friendly, Protective, Independent, Self-Assured, Consistent, Steady, and Clever, and listed breeds that had those general traits under each category.  His valuable personality measurement test for people helps you select an ideal breed according to your own personality traits. Another great assent to read when determining which breed will be best for you.

So Your Dog’s Not Lassie, by Betty Fisher and Suzanne Delzio, Harper Collins, 1998.

If you have a dog with no particular desire to please you, and there are many individual dogs and dog breeds that are like that, you know how difficult they are to train.  With over nine generations of raising Bulldogs the authors, who are also obedience trainers, have had to master every training skill possible and invent a few new ones to produce well-mannered dogs. Explaining why they “refuse to equate trainability with intelligence,” the authors help you understand that the more independent, strong-willed, and confident dogs will always present training challenges.  If you have a dog that is an independent thinker, this book will save your sanity and help you enjoy your often unpredictable, quirky pet who has a mind of his/her own.

Paleo Dog, by Jean Hofve, DVM, and Celeste Yarnall, PhD, Rodale Press. 2014.

This is my absolute favorite book on dog health and care.  I was fortunate to meet Jean Hofve at an American Holistic Veterinary Association convention a few years ago and found this twinkly-eyed, woman as intelligent, warm, funny, and no-nonsense as the information in her book. By relating modern dogs (Canis lupus familaris) to their closest ancestors the wolf (Canis lupus), the authors show us the evolutionary path to a healthy lifestyle for our dogs of today. Much food for thought and a great resource list make this book a standout! If I had to choose only one book from this list as the most relevant, most rewarding source of helpful information, this would be my highest recommendation.

A few other great books to consider:

The Forever Dog, by Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker, Harper Wave, 2021.

Lots of trustworthy, up-to-date information and good resources.

Dogs, by Raymond Coppinger and Lorna Coppinger, Scribner, 2001.

Delves deeper into canine history, but it will change the way you see your dog forever.

Animals In Translation, by Temple Grandin, Harcourt Books, 2005. 

Another book with a unique perspective on how animals think and behave, written by a high functioning autistic author.

97 Ways To Make A Dog Smile, by Jenny Langbehn, Workman Publishing, 2003.  

A fun little book for entertaining yourself and your dog on a boring day.

Some of these books may be hard to find but are well worth the effort. The knowledge contained in them is beyond price. Unlike the often questionable information on the internet, these books have been edited by responsible publishers who fact-check every statement.  With accurate knowledge comes wisdom, and wise people travel toward productive life choices. My hope is that these books may point you down wise paths for the health and happiness of your beloved pets.