There is something rather magnificent about a dog in a story, don’t you think? They pad through our pages with such unwavering devotion that one cannot help but feel they understand the very secrets of the universe—or at least the location of every biscuit in the house.
If you have ever loved a dog (and who among us has not?), you know they possess a peculiar magic. They see us not as we are, but as we might become. They believe in us when we have quite forgotten how to believe in ourselves. And in the pages of great fiction, they do all this and more—they save lives, they cross continents, they speak (sometimes literally), and they remind us what it means to be truly loyal.
What follows is a collection of books featuring the most splendid canine characters ever committed to paper. Each has been chosen because the dog within is no mere accessory to the tale, but rather its beating heart.
The Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown
In this magnificent Peter Pan retelling, readers will discover Nana—not the nursemaid of the Darling children as you might expect, but a most extraordinary companion to our heroine, Wendy Darling. This is no ordinary adventure tale, and Nana is no ordinary dog.
Set in 1780s England, The Wendy reimagines the classic story with Wendy as an orphan with dreams of becoming a ship’s captain—a rather impossible ambition for a young woman of her time. Throughout her adventures with England’s secret service, battling magical creatures called the Everlost, and matching wits with Captain Hook himself, Nana remains her steadfast companion.
What makes the dogs in this series so delightful is the whimsical treatment of canine nature. As one reviewer noted, “The portrayal of dogs (woman’s best friend) with personality and reasoning was unique.” Another declared, “The way the dogs are written about is positively delightful.” Nana and her kind are written as creatures who understand far more than they let on—loyal to their cores, protective beyond measure, and blessed with that particular wisdom only dogs possess.
The complete Tales of the Wendy trilogy is now available, including The Wendy, The Navigator, and The Captain. For those who love dogs with personality to spare, adventures on the high seas, and heroines who refuse to accept what society tells them they cannot do, this series is pure enchantment.
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Now here is a tale that has made more readers weep than perhaps any other in the history of literature involving dogs—and that is saying something considerable.
Young Billy saves for two years to purchase his redbone coonhounds, Old Dan and Little Ann. Old Dan possesses the brawn; Little Ann possesses the brains. Together with Billy, they become the finest hunting team in the Oklahoma Ozarks. Their bond is the sort that makes one believe in things unseen—like angels who plant red ferns.
This is a coming-of-age story of the most bittersweet variety. One reads it knowing tears shall come, yet one cannot look away.
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Buck begins his life as a pampered pet in sunny California, living as comfortably as any gentleman’s dog might hope. Then fate intervenes most cruelly, and he is stolen, beaten, and shipped north to become a sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush.
What follows is Buck’s transformation from civilized companion to leader of a wolf pack—a journey that strips away the veneer of domestication to reveal something ancient and wild beneath. London writes Buck’s awakening to his primal nature with such conviction that readers find themselves hearing the call alongside him.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Enzo is a philosopher with fur and four legs. He watches television documentaries about Mongolia (from which he learns that dogs are reincarnated as humans when they die) and observes his owner, race car driver Denny Swift, with the keen attention of a devoted student.
The entire novel unfolds from Enzo’s perspective as he reflects upon his life and the lessons he has learned from racing: “That which you manifest is before you.” It is funny and heartbreaking and wise in the way only a dog pretending not to be wise can manage.
Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight
The tale of the most famous collie in literature begins simply enough: a boy named Joe loves his dog, and his dog loves him. When hard times force Joe’s family to sell Lassie to a wealthy Duke, she is taken four hundred miles away to Scotland.
But Lassie has other ideas entirely.
What follows is an epic journey home through treacherous terrain, driven by nothing more (and nothing less) than the bond between a dog and her boy. It is a testament to loyalty so pure it seems almost impossible—except that any dog owner knows it is not impossible at all.
A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
Here is a question worth pondering: What if dogs lived multiple lives, remembering each one, searching through them all for their purpose?
This novel follows one canine soul through several reincarnations—from feral puppy to beloved golden retriever to police dog and beyond. Through each life, our narrator seeks to understand why he keeps returning. The answer, when it comes, is exactly what one hopes it might be.
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
Set in frontier Texas after the Civil War, this is the story of Travis and a stray yellow dog he initially wants nothing to do with. Old Yeller is not pretty. His bark sounds like a human yell. He is trouble on four legs.
But when danger threatens—bears, wild hogs, and worse—Old Yeller proves himself the bravest and most loyal of companions. What Travis learns about love and loss on the frontier has been breaking young hearts since 1956.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Ten-year-old Opal finds a scruffy dog causing chaos in a Winn-Dixie supermarket and decides to claim him as her own. She names him after the store, naturally.
Winn-Dixie possesses a gift for making friends that Opal can only marvel at. He smiles (truly—he pulls back his lips in what can only be called a grin), he howls when left alone, and he is terrified of thunderstorms. Through his gentle magic, Opal finds her way to friendship, forgiveness, and understanding of her absent mother.
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
When eleven-year-old Marty discovers a beagle cowering in the hills of West Virginia, he knows immediately two things: he loves this dog, and this dog has been hurt by someone.
What follows is a moral puzzle wrapped in a love story. The dog belongs to Judd Travers, a man who mistreats his animals. Marty’s father insists the dog must be returned. But Marty knows he cannot send Shiloh back to suffering. The choices he makes—and the lies he tells—force young readers to consider what it truly means to do the right thing.
White Fang by Jack London
If The Call of the Wild follows civilization into wildness, White Fang traces the opposite journey. Our protagonist is born a wolf-dog hybrid in the frozen Yukon, knowing only savagery and survival.
Through a series of owners—some cruel beyond measure, others kind—White Fang slowly learns that not all humans wield clubs. His eventual transformation into “The Blessed Wolf” is a testament to what patience and kindness can accomplish, even with the wildest of hearts.
Watchers by Dean Koontz
Einstein is a golden retriever of most unusual intelligence—the result of secret government experiments. When Travis Cornell discovers him, he finds a dog who can communicate using Scrabble tiles and who reads books with evident pleasure.
But Einstein is hunted, both by the government and by something far worse: The Outsider, another laboratory creation, monstrous and terrifying. This thriller combines suspense, science fiction, and the heartwarming bond between human and canine in ways that keep pages turning deep into the night.
Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis
The gods Hermes and Apollo, enjoying drinks at a Toronto tavern, make a wager: would animals be happier or more miserable with human intelligence? To find out, they grant fifteen dogs the gifts of human reasoning and language.
What follows is philosophical, strange, and surprisingly moving. Some dogs embrace their new abilities; others find them unbearable. Prince the mutt becomes a poet. Atticus the mastiff tries to restore the old hierarchies. And readers are left pondering questions about consciousness, happiness, and what it truly means to be alive.
Finding Your Next Faithful Companion
Whether you prefer your canine heroes wild like Buck, wise like Enzo, loyal like Lassie, or philosophical like the fifteen dogs of Toronto, literature offers no shortage of unforgettable four-legged friends.
For those seeking a fresh adventure with a delightfully portrayed dog companion, I particularly recommend beginning with The Wendy. Its whimsical treatment of canine characters, combined with swashbuckling adventure and a heroine to root for, makes it precisely the sort of book one stays up far too late reading—and the sort one recommends to friends the very next morning.
After all, as any dog could tell you (if only they could speak), the best stories are meant to be shared.
