Dog Lovers Book Club - October 2026

Written by Australian Dog Lover 19:25:00 - 0 Comments

Welcome to our October Dog Lovers Book Club! This month’s adult selection blends moving rescue stories, cosy suspense, and practical canine insights. From inspiring tales of adoption and second chances to a fun murder mystery featuring noble Salukis, an emergency pet care guide, and a quirky look at veterinary history, there is something for every dog enthusiast.

Over in our Kids’ Corner, young readers will explore stories celebrating teamwork, empathy, and puppy joy. Highlights include an uplifting shelter adventure with real and robot dogs, hilarious chew-toy escapades, an interactive mix-and-match dance book, and a gentle rhyming bedtime tale designed to delight dog lovers of all ages.

RESCUE DOGS ON DOORSTEPS
Stories of hope, healing and finding home at last

By Suzanne Stevenson

From Sydney photographer and animal advocate Suzanne Stevenson comes the heart-warming third instalment in her beloved Dogs on Doorsteps series. Born out of a simple isolation project photographing local pups on their front steps, Suzanne’s series has captured hearts across Australia—and this new collection is her most moving yet.

Rescue Dogs on Doorsteps shines a spotlight entirely on adopted and rehomed pups, capturing them in stunning photography outside the front doors of their new forever homes. Paired with emotional, second-chance backstories of resilience and unconditional love, these stories celebrate the incredible journey from shelter to family.

It’s a beautifully photographed tribute to rescue animals, the power of belonging, and the life-changing joy of adoption. Perfect for your coffee table or as a gift for any dog lover, this book will break your heart and put it back together again.

Hardcover, 336 pages
Publisher: Affirm Press, 29th September 2026

Price: $35.75 from www.booktopia.com.au

THE DOG SITTER DETECTIVE

By Antony Johnston (Author)

Meet Gwinny, an unlikely bloodhound, and her four-legged friends determined to dig up the truth.

Penniless Gwinny Tuffel is delighted to attend her good friend Tina's upmarket wedding. But when the big day ends with a dead body and not a happily-ever after, Gwinny is left with a situation as crooked as a dog's hind leg.

When her friend is accused of murder, Gwinny takes it upon herself to sniff out the true culprit. With a collection of larger-than-life suspects and two pedigree Salukis in tow, she is set to have a ruff time of it.

Paperback, 288 pages
Publisher: Allison & Busby, 5 March 2024

RRP: $26.15 from www.amazon.com.au

SOPHIE FROM ROMANIA
A Year of Love and Hope with a Rescue Dog

By Rory Cellan-Jones (Author)

How do you welcome someone new into your heart and home? A week before Christmas, newly retired BBC journalist Rory Cellan-Jones receives a special delivery that will change his life.

This is the story of rescue dog #SophieFromRomania.

In January 2022, the Cellan-Jones-Coyle family said goodbye to their beloved elderly Collie cross, Cabbage. She and Rory had become inseparable during daily pandemic walks, which alleviated his Parkinson's symptoms. After a grief-stricken year, Rory and his wife Diane come across a listing for 'a kind girl who loves everybody and is just looking for her forever home'.

Bright-eyed, big-eared and trembling, Sophie arrives in London on 17 December 2022. Rory holds the Romanian rescue in his arms, excited for their first walk together - but the road ahead will be a long one . . . This book follows the real journey of Sophie's adoption - from her battles with anxiety, to the joys of play and her first time outside - as Rory and Diane work with expert dog trainer Si to win Sophie's trust and navigate Rory's Parkinson's disease.

This is a moving story of love, kindness and a lot of patience, paying tribute to rescue dogs and their tender community.

Paperback, 320 pages
Publisher: Vintage (Square Peg PB), 11 October 2025

Price: $24.17 at www.amazon.com.au

DOG FIRST AID
The Emergency Guide Every Dog Owner Needs Before the Worst Happens

By Julia Bulok

Most dog emergencies don't start with a siren. They start with a dog that won't settle, a belly that looks a little swollen, a limp that wasn't there this morning — and a pet owner trying to decide whether it can wait until the clinic opens.

Dog First Aid is written for that exact moment. It covers essential procedures that apply no matter where you live: recognising the red flags that mean "drive to the vet now", checking vitals with normal ranges broken down by your dog's size, CPR following RECOVER veterinary guidelines, choking relief, wound care, heatstroke, seizures, and crucial action during the first thirty minutes of bloat.

Every protocol is scaled for small, medium, and large dogs, and the layout is designed so you can find the right section in under ten seconds.

This guide covers:

• Red flags: clear indicators that signal an emergency rather than a wait-and-see situation.
• Vitals & CPR: step-by-step actions tailored for small, medium, and large breeds.
• Immediate response: step-by-step care for choking, bleeding, burns, heatstroke, seizures, and bloat.
• Household toxins: essential info on chocolate, xylitol, grapes, rodent bait, and human medications
• Printable summary: a handy two-page emergency card ready for your fridge door.

While it doesn't replace your vet, it’s an indispensable guide for those crucial minutes before you reach professional care. For Australia-specific hazards like paralysis ticks and snake envenomation, we recommend pairing this guide with Australian Dog Lover's Health & Wellness resources.

Paperback, 134 pages
Publisher: Compass Press (12 August 2026)

Price: $29.71 on Amazon Australia (eBook $7.35 on Kindle )

HEAL THE BEASTS
A Jaunt Through the Curious History of the Veterinary Arts

by Philipp Schott DVM (Author)

Sharing the stories of 22 different animal healers and veterinarians from across eras and continents, Dr. Schott examines the always fascinating, often unexpected, and sometimes hilarious veterinary methods employed to treat all manner of creatures.

From healing dogs and horses to gorillas and even dragons, at the heart lies the evolution of the human-animal bond, which has been more cyclical than linear.

James Herriot will be familiar to many people, but most of the other featured vets will be new. They range from Palakapya, who treated fighting elephants in India almost 3,000 years ago, to Dr. Louis Camuti, who had the first feline house call practice anywhere, tending to the cats of celebrities in mid-twentieth century Manhattan.

Whether you have a passion for animals, the history of the medical sciences, or just quirky history, this light-hearted exploration of the empathetic relationship between man and beast will entertain and delight.

Paperback, 232 pages
Publisher: ECW Press, 25 August 2025

Price: $41.98 from www.amazon.com.au

THINGS YOUR DOG WANTS TO KNOW
The Hilarious Guide to What Your Dog's Trying to Tell You

By Sam Hart

A hilarious book of tongue-in-cheek advice for dog parents who are looking to understand their furry friend's inner thoughts.

(Spoiler alert: your dog is obsessed with you.)

Ever wondered what's on your dog's mind when they follow you everywhere (including to the bathroom), shower you with wet kisses, or knock you clean off your feet when they welcome you back home?

Discover what your dog really thinks of you and learn to understand their silly, playful and completely besotted language.

Discover the many things your dog is trying to tell you, such as:

- "Please order more presents so I can see my best friend, the postie, every day!"
- "It's so kind of you to constantly share the food from your plate with me." And much more!

Packed with charming illustrations and witty captions, this book is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any dog parent.

Hardcover, 96 pages
Publisher: Octopus, 10th September 2026

Price: $17.98 from www.amazon.com.au

BOOK CLUB – KIDS CORNER

I AM A GOOD DOG
A Dogtown Book

By Gennifer Choldenko, Wallace West (Illustrator), Katherine Applegate

Dogtown is a shelter for all dogs -- real and robot. Metal Head, a robot dog who is a long-time resident of Dogtown, yearns for a forever home. When a girl named Esme begins visiting Dogtown, Metal Head goes on a mission to get her to adopt him.

But Esme doesn't like robot dogs. She has her heart set on taking home a gangly wolfhound mix named Ghost with one blue eye and one yellow eye. Sadly Ghost's former owner mistreated him, so he's terrified of everyone. Can Esme, Metal Head, Mouse, and Molly, a dog who fosters stray kittens, figure it out?

And what about Metal Head? When will he get his forever home?

The characters in the New York Times-bestselling Dogtown books have already found homes in readers' hearts. Award-winning authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko bring humour and empathy to the story of this special shelter; with charming illustrations by Wallace West, the Dogtown books are perfect for readers at all levels.

Hardcover, 352 pages
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Imprint: Feiwel & Friends, 22nd September 2026

For Ages: 8 - 12 years old

Price: $36.99 from www.amazon.com.au

THE SECRET LIFE OF DOG TOYS

By Jennifer Harney, Kelly DiPucchio

A hilarious, action-packed tale from #1 New York Times bestselling author starring a lovable, miniature cast of toys who must undertake their biggest mission yet: saving the family dog.

Meet the Dog Toys—a ragtag group of unlikely heroes who have one thing in common: Moose.

Goofy Moose. Clumsy Moose. Loveable Moose. Chews-on-his-toys-until-the-stuffing-comes-loose Moose. As much as they love their dog, every day with him is a fight for survival.

That's why the toy team, led by the fearless Captain Bananas, must be clever and quick to outwit (and outrun!) their dog. But when a dangerous mission goes wrong and Moose escapes, the toys must work together to save their biggest tormentor—and best friend.

Hardcover, 40 pages
Publisher: Hachette Children's Books, Little, Brown Young Readers US, 24th September 2026

For Ages: 6 - 8 years old

Price: $38.75 from www.booktopia.com.au

EVERYTHING you need to know ABOUT LIFE you can learn from a DOG

By Bruce Littlefield, Maribel Lechuga (Illustrator)

A fresh and funny look at how we can learn to be better humans from our dogs.

Want to learn how to live your best doggone life? Ask a dog!

In case you haven't noticed, dogs have life figured out. They wake up each day looking to make the best of every moment. They understand what's important. They know what to shake off. They love a good walk. And they certainly know how to relax! Whether young or old, we can all learn a few tricks from dogs. So, sit, put your paws up, and delight in the wisdom of dogs!

Hardcover, 32 pages
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers, Imprint: Nancy Paulsen Books, 29th September 2026

For Ages: 3 - 7 years old

Price: $30.99 from www.booktopia.com.au

DOGS CAN DANCE

By Naomi Tipping

Ever wondered what your dog gets up to the second you leave the house? They’re practicing their dance moves, of course!

From the illustrator behind the bestselling Cats in Pants comes a hilarious, interactive flip book packed with performing pooches.

Each page is split into three horizontal sections, letting readers mix and match heads, bodies, and legs to create hundreds of silly, expressive dog dancers.

Whether it’s a Poodle leaping in a tutu, a Dachshund tangoing in the ballroom, or a Golden Retriever attempting questionable "dog-dad" dancing, this playful, beautifully hand-drawn book is pure joy for dog lovers and dance fans alike.

Hardcover, 24 pages
Publisher: Batsford GB, 15 September 2026
For Ages: Great for kids 3+ and dog lovers of any age!

Price: $16.99 from www.amazon.com.au

LITTLE BLUE WHERE ARE YOU?

By Sally Morgan, Illustrated by Karen Blair

Little Blue Where Are You? follows Skippy Gillespie, a clever pup who decides to take himself for a walk in the park. He’s quickly joined by his doggy pal, Rocky Road Jack—and not a moment too soon!

When a sneaky neighbourhood cat sets its eyes on a tiny, lost duckling named Little Blue, the two dogs must team up to save the day and help the littlest traveller find his way back home to his mother. Packed with humour, heart, and vibrant illustrations, this waggy tale is a wonderful story about teamwork and helping out those in need.

Hardback Picture Book, 32 pages
Publisher: Fremantle Press, 29 September 2026
For Ages: 2–5 years

Price: $27.75 from www.booktopia.com.au

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