Welcome to our August 2026 Book Club! This month’s selection explores the extraordinary inner world of dogs—from moving memoirs on separation anxiety and the grief of saying goodbye, to ancient samurai ethics reimagined for modern dog owners. Paired with expert-led cognitive games and force-free predation substitute training for relentless scavengers, these reads offer a profound look into how dogs think, feel, and heal us.
In Kids' Corner, young readers can dive into inspiring stories of loyalty, resilience, and second chances. From a high-stakes mountain survival journey with a Siberian Husky to gentle tales of shelter rescues, sightless dogs finding their confidence, and working assistance dogs on duty, this month’s line-up is packed with heart, adventure, and the power of animal advocacy.
LIVING WITH FREDDIE
by Anna Heyward
Living with Freddie by Anna Heyward is a beautifully written memoir by an animal behavioural scientist and New Yorker writer. It invites readers to see the world through a dog’s eyes, offering an extraordinary look into the mind and perspective of man’s best—and often misunderstood—friend.
When Anna Heyward adopted a rescued Italian greyhound, she was thrilled to bring a dog into her life. But Freddie, she quickly realised, had severe separation anxiety, unable to be left alone for more than thirty seconds without crying uncontrollably, biting his own tail or scratching at his body.
While some would have given the dog back, writing him off as a 'bad dog', Anna transformed her life. She took Freddie to work and hid him from her boss. Her social life withered. Her relationship with her fiancé began to flounder. She dedicated her life to entering the mind of her dog. As Anna observed Freddie's behaviour, she began to experience the world as he did: the quality of light, the timbre of sound; a leaf falling from a tree. And she changed - but not in the way you might expect.
This is a meditation on what it means to be bad or good, on how much we can - or should - try to alter another being's behaviour, and on what is possible to know about another mind. But at its heart, Living With Freddie is a beautiful, heart-wrenching portrait of the relationship between a human and a dog. And at the end of Freddie's story, you, too, may find yourself changed.
Paperback, 288 pages
Publisher: Hachette Australia, 18th August 2026
Price: $24.00. Available now for pre-orders from www.amazon.com.au
THE BUSHIDO OF DOG
Eight Virtues of Bushido, the Canine Code, & the Art of Living Well
by Carla Francis
Dogs don't care that the world has changed.
While we overthink, overwork, and overanalyse, dogs move through life with a clarity shaped by instinct and a startling alignment with the samurai spirit. They play by a strict code of fairness, forgive without keeping score and greet mortality with a wagging tail because every day is enough.
The way of the warrior, or virtues of Bushido, invite us into the realm of Samurai ethics, and through the lens of cognitive ethology, we can begin to rethink modern life.
The Bushido of Dog reveals how the same creatures once bred to guard feudal lords now guard our hearts and gently correct our course whenever we stray from righteousness, respect, courage, and self-control.
Discover how to borrow their unspoken code, to worry less, forgive faster, love without ledger, and meet every morning (even the very last one) with a joyful heart.
Because if a creature who eats socks for breakfast can live with honour and die without regret, maybe, just maybe, there's still hope for us.
Paperback, 317 pages
Publisher: Silvervine Press, 26 March 2026
Price: $23.48 from www.amazon.com.au
🎁 WIN A COPY: Love the sound of this book? We’re giving away 5 copies of The Bushido of Dog! Enter our giveaway here before entries close on August 5th.
STAY
A Dog's View of Love, Grief, and Ordinary Days
By Kirsten O'Connor
What if the wisest voice in the room wasn't human?
Stay is a tender, funny, and unexpectedly profound book about love, grief, and everyday survival, told through the eyes of Buster, an ageing, observant, slightly opinionated dog who takes his job of staying very seriously.
Through short, intimate chapters, Buster watches humans navigate loss, memory, change, and the strange rituals of ordinary days. He offers commentary on attachment, presence, ageing, sorrow, snacks, loyalty, sun puddles, difficult cats, and why being followed to the bathroom is a legitimate form of emotional support.
This is not a training manual. It is not a self-help lecture. It is a companion.
Blending warmth, humour, emotional honesty, and quiet philosophical insight, Stay sits beside the reader rather than instructing them, especially those living with grief, love that continues, and lives that did not turn out as planned.
For anyone who has loved deeply, lost someone important, or been rescued by a four-legged witness who refused to leave. Come sit. You're not doing this alone.
PREDATION SUBSTITUTE TRAINING
Force-Free Food Avoidance Training for Dogs who Love to Scavenge
By Simone Mueller, Charlotte Garner, Päivi Kokko
Living with a dog who relentlessly scavenges food on walks can be exhausting and dangerous. Because scavenging is a deeply rooted instinct, managing it requires more than traditional obedience commands.
This practical guide delivers a kind, force-free protocol to transform stressful walks into safe, relaxed outings. Effective for dogs of any age, breed, or background, these positive techniques help protect your dog from ingesting harmful items without relying on aversive methods.
In this book, you will learn:
✔ Why dogs scavenge and the science behind the behaviour.
✔ Effective prevention strategies to stop your dog from devouring outdoor items.
✔ Fun training games that build motivation and cooperation.
✔ Emergency cues for real-life safety scenarios.
📰 Author Spotlight: Want to dive deeper into working with your dog's natural instincts? Read Simone Mueller’s latest guest article on our website: Rethinking Prey Drive & Predation Substitute Training for Dogs.
Series: Predation Substitute Training
Paperback, 192 pages
Publisher: Training4Paws, 31st December 2022
RRP: $26.99 from www.amazon.com.au
BRAIN TRAINING FOR DOGS
Cognitive Games and Activities to Unlock Your Pet’s Full Potential
by Claire Arrowsmith (Author)
With fun exercises and invaluable advice from leading dog-trainer Claire Arrowsmith, learn how to improve your dog's mental agility as well as strengthen your bond with them.
An essential book for any dog owner who is keen to understand a bit more about how their dog's brain works, Brain Training for Dogs shows us how to get the best out of our beloved pets by improving their mental agility, confidence and their bond with us.
Translating cognitive research and findings into owner-friendly games, and packed full of essential advice and helpful step-by-step illustrations, Claire helps readers to easily understand what the experts know and demonstrates how to introduce tried-and-tested activities into our day-to-day routines with our dogs.
Since the pandemic, many of our pets are displaying concerning behaviour, including separation-related distress and anxiety, so it's more important now than ever that we're attuned to our pups. Including top tips on how to get the most out of time spent with your pet, this is a must-read for new and experienced dog owners alike.
DOG LOVERS BOOK CLUB - KIDS CORNER
THE HONEST TRUTH
by Dan Gemeinhart (Author)
In all the ways that matter, twelve-year-old Mark is a normal kid. He loves taking photos, writing haiku, and hanging out with his best friend, Jessie. But Mark is also sick—the kind of sick that means hospitals, treatments, and uncertain futures.
Determined to take on the adventure of a lifetime before it's too late, Mark runs away from home with his camera, notebook, and faithful Siberian Husky, Beau. His goal? To reach the summit of Mount Rainier.
Facing harsh storms, dangerous terrain, and daunting physical challenges, Mark relies entirely on Beau's fierce loyalty, instincts, and unwavering devotion to pull them both through. The Honest Truth is a moving, unforgettable survival story celebrating big questions, small moments, and the extraordinary bond between a boy and his dog.
Paperback, 229 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press, 29 December 2015
For Ages: 8 - 12
Price: $22.67 from www.amazon.com.au
FOREVER RIPLEY
by McCall Hoyle (Author)
A deeply personal middle-grade novel by award-winning author McCall Hoyle affirms the powerful and enduring relationship between dogs and humans.
Ripley, an ageing German Shepherd Dog, spent her life guarding the wildlife refuge with Max, the best man she's ever known. But that was before the accident, before he gave her one final job: "Take care of the girls."
And Ripley has done just that--especially for Charlie, the girl Ripley loves even more than peanut butter. Ripley watches over Charlie with dedication, especially when faced with bullies who threaten the refuge. But Ripley is slowing down. She knows dogs don't last forever.
Sensing their time together is running out, Charlie plans a farewell adventure filled with Ripley's favourite things--fried chicken, sandpiper chasing on the beach, and ice cream in Nags Head. Through it all, they learn that love isn't about holding on--it's about lifting each other up.
A heart-warming tribute to love, resilience, and the joy of a life well lived, Forever Ripley proves that even in goodbye, there is beauty, courage, and the promise of new beginnings.
Paperback, 192 pages
Publisher: Shadow Mountain, 2 June 2026
For Ages: 8 - 11
Price: $23.86 from www.amazon.com.au
SHELTER DOGS
Stories of Rescued Furever Friends
By Amelie Anastasia, Shafer Stedron (Illustrator)
Written by inspiring young author and animal advocate Amelie Anastasia, Shelter Dogs shares fourteen heartwarming tales of rescued pets—thirteen lucky dogs and one fortunate cat—who were given a second chance at happiness.
Inspired by true rescue journeys, each chapter gives voice to an animal saved by dedicated shelter staff, tracing their path from initial rescue to finding a loving "furever" home.
Ideal for young readers and animal enthusiasts of all ages, this uplifting book is a moving tribute to hope, healing, and the transformative power of pet adoption.
Above all, it serves as a powerful reminder of how animal shelters save lives every day—with all author profits donated directly back to supporting animal shelters in need.
Paperback, 50 pages
Publisher: Little House of Dreams Publishing, 21 July 2026
For Ages: 8 - 12
Price: $38.49 from www.booktopia.com.au
DAPHNE THE BLIND DOG GOES TO SCHOOL
by Dawn M. Gibbons (Author), Chad Thompson (Illustrator), Cheryl Bruce (Editor)
In honour of International Blind Dog Day on August 23, this heart-warming story highlights the resilience, potential, and joy of living with a sightless pet.
Daphne is a blind dog who feels bored because she doesn't know how to play with toys. When she enrols in a dog training school to learn new games, starting nose work classes feels overwhelming and scary. At first, finding treats hidden in boxes doesn't make sense, but with patient practice at home and thoughtful accommodations from her trainer, Daphne gradually finds her courage.
Though she progresses at her own pace, Daphne succeeds in nose work, learns new tricks, and discovers a newfound confidence that transforms her world—proving that dogs with special needs can thrive with a little extra support and love.
Paperback, 32 pages
Publisher: Friesen Press, 9 July 2020
For Ages: 4–8 (Early Readers & Picture Book Read-Aloud)
Price: $29.75 from www.booktopia.com.au
ASSISTANCE DOG BENNI
By Dr Jodi-Maree Cronin, Cara Ord (Illustrator)
In celebration of International Assistance Dog Week (August 2–8), this gentle and engaging picture book introduces young readers to the vital work of assistance animals.
Written by retired doctor and assistance dog trainer Dr Jodi-Maree Cronin, Assistance Dog Benni follows the everyday adventures of Benni, a real-life German Shorthaired Pointer. Through charming rhyming prose, children join Benni on her daily routine to discover how working dogs help their humans navigate the world. Blending fun with gentle education, it's a delightful story that shows young audiences what assistance dogs really do when on duty and at play.
Series: Being Benni
Paperback, 32 pages
Publisher: Dogs 4 Life, 5th January 2026
For Ages: 3 - 8 (Early Readers & Toddlers)
