It's International Dog Day tomorrow (26 August)! A day dedicated to honouring and appreciating the special bond between humans and dogs – and, in my opinion, the most important day of the year! And I guess Father's Day is next week... So, in honour of dogs (and their best friends), I've pulled some great gift ideas for Father's Day, or for yourself!
🐾 Four-legged history
As I write this, my rescued greyhound Dorian is cuddled up next to me on the couch, living his best life. Greyhounds have been traced back over 4,000 years to early cave drawings and are the only breed mentioned in the bible (can you tell I'm a greyhound nerd?).
Want to learn more about the history of greyhounds (and other breeds, I guess)? Well these books will teach you a whole lot of fluffy history!
Collared
Chris Pearson
Dogs are our constant companions: models of loyalty and unconditional love for millions around the world. But these beloved animals are much more than just our pets, and our shared history is far richer and more complex than you might assume. in Collared, Historian and dog lover Chris Pearson tells us how the fortunes of dogs has held up a mirror to our changing society, from the evolution of breeding standards to the fight for animal rights. Wherever humans have gone, dogs have followed, changing size, appearance and even jobs along the way. And, despite vast social change, the power of the human-canine bond has never diminished.
The Dog Encyclopedia: The Definitive Visual Guide
From Afghan Hounds to Yorkshire Terriers, from gun dogs to designer breeds – and from Beethoven to Toto – for centuries, dogs have been adored for their unswerving loyalty. This new edition of The Dog Encyclopedia provides the perfect celebration of the special relationship that binds humans with our four-legged friends. Combining fabulous photographs with information on the latest breeds, historical facts, and advice on every-day care, it's an indispensable owner’s guide and reference tool.
🐾 The power of dogs
Those who have dogs in their lives will already know how much they benefit our lives. Here are some books to back up that knowledge and perhaps teach you some new things about the power of dogs!
Sit, Stay, Grow
Angelika von Sanden
Did you know that having your dog sleep on your bed can reduce anxiety and loneliness? (Yes, I'm defending letting Dorian sleep on mine…) But dogs do help lower stress with their unconditional love, their great listening skills and with their playfulness and joy.
In Sit, Stay, Grow, counsellor Angelika von Sanden explains how dogs can inspire us to have fun, teach us how to tackle difficult questions and to understand different perspectives. And how observing their habits and how we interact with them can help us live with less worries and more moments of happiness.
More Than Just a Dog
Simon Wooler
Anyone who has a dog knows, they aren't 'just a dog'. They are our best friends; a member of the family. We'd be lost without them.
More Than Just a Dog is a celebration of the joy of life with dogs, in all its messy, loveable reality. Simon Wooler explains how dogs learn (and why they sometimes seem immune to our efforts to train them), how they communicate and what influences the powerful bond they form with their people. He unpacks the problems of fear and reactivity and with insight and humour acts as a guide for all dog lovers navigating life's changes and challenges.
🐾 Fluffy friend fiction
It's always a delight when there's a dog in a book or movie! Just as long as the dog doesn't die! (Personally, I will never get over Marley & Me...) Here are two uplifting novels with stories centred around dogs!
My Name Is Gucci: A Dog’s Story
Sun Jung
After living in a Singapore dog shelter for five years, Gucci, a vaguely Dalmatian-like crossbred is losing hope of ever being rescued. One day to his surprise he is adopted by her, a writer, and moves to inner city Sydney. On arrival, however, an anti-dog war breaks out in their apartment block; Gucci's owner receives a letter threatening the possibility of 'euthanasia'. The incident triggers nightmares in her and brings back distressing childhood memories.
My Name Is Gucci is a charming novel about the relationships between pets and their owners and about how the past shapes the present. This fable, narrated by a bold ex-shelter dog, beautifully unravels Gucci's and his guardian's secrets, which have been intertwined for decades through their recurring reincarnations.
The Friend
Sigrid Nunez
Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction 2018 and recently adapted for the big screen, The Friend is about a woman who unexpectedly loses her best friend and mentor, and finds herself burdened with the unwanted dog he has left behind. Her own battle against grief is intensified by the mute suffering of the dog, a huge Great Dane traumatised by the inexplicable disappearance of its master, and by the threat of eviction: dogs are prohibited in her apartment building.
Elegiac and searching, The Friend is both a meditation on loss and a celebration of human-canine devotion.
🐾 Dogs in art
For millennia, artists and designers have been inspired by the enduring relationship between humans and their canine friends. From cave drawings, renaissance paintings and greek statues, to modern paintings and fine art photography, dogs have always made art better. Check out these gorgeous books focused on the art of dogs.
Cats and Dogs in Art & Design
National Gallery of Victoria
Yes, I know this book includes cats, which is nice for those who love cats and dogs equally. If this is not you, just skip the cat pics!
Early this year, The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) hosted an exhibit dedicated to cats and dogs. The exhibit was full of works of art and design depicting loyal dogs and spirited cats. Cats and Dogs in Art & Design is a richly illustrated book, showcasing more than 100 works selected from the NGV exhibit. Whether you're a dog lover or a cat person, these works reveal how deeply embedded our favourite animals are, not only in our lives but also within the history of art and design.
Gray Malin: Dogs
Gray Malin
Dog lovers will absolutely love this never-before-published book full of the world's chicest canines in a delightfully playful series of photographs!
In Gray Malin: Dogs, fine-art photographer Gray Malin has captured the adorable, the pampered, the well-dressed and the glamorous pooches of the world, from Beverly Hills to Aspen, to New York City to Paris. With Dalmatians sunbathing at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Bernese Mountain Dogs perfectly perched on ski field chairlifts, and Poodles taking a joyride in a vintage Corvette, this iconic book is filled with joy and puppy love.
🐾 Dog adventures
Sick of walking your dog around the same park everyday? I bet they are just as sick of it too! So why not take them on adventure instead?
Dog Trip Melbourne
Evi O and Andrew Grune
Dog Trip Melbourne offers 52 getaways that both dogs and their people can enjoy, all within a 130 km radius of the Melbourne CBD. Escape the urban chaos with sandy escapades at the beach, splash about in waterfalls or bound through tranquil coastal rainforests. Every adventure has been tested, photographed and given an enthusiastic paw of approval. With maps showing walking routes and facilities, on and off-leash information, and a guide to trip highlights, this easy-to-use guide will ensure you and your furry bestie never get bored again!
Live in Sydney? Make sure to check out Dog Trip Sydney.
🐾 Gift ideas that aren't books
Want to add something extra to pair with one of the books above? Or is your giftee not a big reader? These gifts ideas are sure to delight every dog lover!
Reading Friends Dog Bookmark
Let this adorable plush dog mark your spot!
Nothing goes better together than a book and a bookmark, and this plush dog bookmark is the cutest one of all – just look at it!
Perfect for dog loving adults, it's also a great item to encourage children to read. When slipped between the pages, this sweet dog pokes its head and paws out the top of your book. It will never fail to make you smile!
Dog Page-A-Day: Gallery Calendar 2026
Imagine every morning you wake up and drag yourself to your desk. You sit down and as you're turning on your computer, you see a picture of a cute dog in the corner of your eye. It instantly brightens your day. This could be your reality with this Page-A-Day calendar, full of beautiful photos of adorable pups panting, playing, and posing. Plus, each day includes witty captions, trivia, and quotes.
I buy this calendar every year and there is truly nothing that raises my spirits more than getting to tear off yesterday's page to see the next dog featured! It's the perfect gift for dog lovers – and yourself of course!
Iconic Dogs: 1,000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
This jigsaw will delight dog and puzzle lovers alike! Spot your favourite dogs as you place each piece! Just be careful your furry friend doesn't eat any of the pieces!
Host the ultimate dog show from the comfort of your home, where the world’s most beloved breeds are waiting for you to come play fetch with them. Beautifully illustrated by Marta Zafra, this 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle features 48 of man’s best friends (yes, I made sure there was a greyhound before I recommended this!).
Dog Bingo
Polly Horner
Usually bingo games are reserved for playing with my 4 year old nephew, but recently I played Dog Bingo while at a games day with some friends. I cannot believe how much fun we all had! Plus, I learnt so many new dog breeds. I cannot recommend this game enough.
This beautifully illustrated bingo game, featuring 64 breeds of dog from around the world, brings a fun and educational twist to the traditional game. Players will learn the names and colourings of their favourite breeds and lots of weird and wonderful exotic dogs.
