Featuring McFarland Titles and My Unexpected Path to Becoming an Author
Looking for meaningful dog books that go beyond training tips and cute stories? Some of the best books for dog lovers explore grief, therapy dogs, caregiving, healing, and the extraordinary connection between people and dogs.
Some of the most compelling titles in this space come from McFarland Publishing, a publisher especially respected in the dog world for nonfiction focused on canine behavior, culture, and the human–animal bond.
I know that firsthand because becoming one of their authors was something I never saw coming.
How I Became a Dog Book Author (After Ten Years of Trying)
I had the manuscript for my first book for ten years. I queried. I revised. I waited. Eventually, I decided I was going to self-publish. Then an email came across my desk from the Dog Writers Association of America. They were announcing a call for submissions for their Dogs in Our World series through McFarland.
McFarland is known for academic and nonfiction titles, so I assumed they wouldn’t be interested in a memoir like mine. Still, I had the manuscript. So, I sent it, along with a cover letter that basically said: “I’m sure you don’t want this, but…”
Within a week, I got a call. They wanted it.
That book became I’m Not Single, I Have a Dog: Dating Tales from the Bark Side. It was also the first dog-centered memoir published in that series.
The rest, as they say, is history.
My Dog Books (And What They Explore)
I’m Not Single, I Have a Dog: Dating Tales from the Bark Side
A personal and often humorous look at dating as a dog owner — and how dogs influence the choices we make in relationships.
The Peace Puppy: A Memoir of Caregiving and Canine Solace
A deeper story about caregiving, loss, and the role dogs play in helping us through life’s hardest moments.
Teaming Up With Therapy Dogs: Skills to Build Healing Partnerships
My upcoming book focuses on therapy dog teams and the ways dogs support people in hospitals, schools, and communities; offering practical insight into building those partnerships.
All three books are rooted in one central idea: Dogs don’t just live with us. They change us.
Other Notable Dog Books from McFarland
McFarland has built a strong catalog of dog-related titles in its Dogs In Our World series. These titles explore the unique relationship between dogs and humankind in history, society, and culture. If you’re interested in dog books that combine storytelling with substance, their catalog is worth exploring.
Why Dog Books Matter More Than Ever
We’re seeing more interest than ever in the human–animal bond, and for good reason.
Dogs help us regulate stress, process emotions, strengthen connection, and encourage us to slow down. The right book can deepen that understanding and help you see your own dog differently.
I don’t just write about dogs; the themes I explore through dogs are connection, healing, and the quiet ways animals shape our lives. And those are exactly the kinds of stories more readers are connecting with today.
🐾 Explore More
My first memoir is currently in production as an audiobook, something I honestly never imagined when I first started querying publishers a decade ago.
If you enjoy thoughtful writing about dogs, therapy work, caregiving, and the human–animal bond, you can also find me on my Substack, BlissDog, where I share additional stories, reflections, and dog-centered meditations inspired by life with Seven and Paige Turner.
Paid readers also receive access to Sit With Me, my growing library of dog-centered guided meditations inspired by the calming connection between dogs and humans.”
McFarland’s catalog also includes a wide range of unique dog-centered books exploring history, culture, film, folklore, and more.
You might also enjoy:
Horror Dogs: Man’s Best Friend as Movie Monster
Explores the history of dogs in horror films and examines why animals often seen as loyal companions have repeatedly been portrayed as frightening, dangerous, or supernatural on screen.
Dogs of the Railways: Canine Guardians, Companions and Mascots
Tells the fascinating story of dogs that traveled America’s railroads beginning in the 19th century, with many becoming beloved mascots, loyal companions, local legends, and even national heroes.
Man Writes Dog: Canine Themes in Literature, Law and Folklore
Explores how 20 influential Western authors and thinkers have written about dogs throughout history, examining the role of canines in literature, legal thought, mythology, and human culture across the centuries.