4 Ebook Must-Reads That Will Help You Better Understand Your Dog

The late naturalist Roger A. Caras once said, “If you don’t own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.” While this may be a bit hyperbolic, it seems most Americans tend to agree. As of 2023, Pew Research pet ownership surveys found that 53% of respondents have a dog. Moreover, it appears that up to 97% of dog owners don’t just consider their furry pal as their best friend but as family. Naturally, this bond inspires many dog owners to try to better understand their pets. After all, knowing what makes your pooch tick is an essential aspect of better caring for them.

Thankfully, many other dog lovers have taken on this task and shared their findings through the written word. In the digital age, these works are more accessible than ever through various mediums, and ebooks may just be the most beneficial for your needs. Convenient and highly diverse, ebooks allow you to easily find and enjoy numerous titles through a single platform. Such is the case in Everand’s selection of pet-centric ebooks, which include New York Times bestsellers like What the Dog Knows: The Science and Wonder of Working Dogs and How Stella Learned to Talk: The Groundbreaking Story of the World's First Talking Dog. They are available for online and offline reading, so you can enjoy your book even if you’re in the middle of a day out with your furry pal. Being that these are also paperless, there’s little risk of your book becoming an accidental chew toy.

So, here is a list of helpful ebooks that are sure to enhance your connection and appreciation for your pup.

The Happiness of Dogs: Why the Unexamined Life Is Most Worth Living

If you’ve ever looked at your dog and wondered how they can hold boundless resilience and joy, then this book by philosopher Mark Rowlands will give you the answer. As a long-time student of great minds like Socrates and Sarte, Rowlands is trained to look beyond the surface. 

Interestingly, over his years of being a dog owner, he’s found that the psychology of canine cognition is rooted in a lack of self-examination. As creatures who live and enjoy each moment with a singular focus, most dogs are not as burdened by the anxiety and uncertainty that most people carry. Since this may seem a totally foreign concept to most humans, this book is a well-crafted journey that helps readers unravel the charming way that dogs approach life.

Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know

This book, by Alexandra Horowitz, author of The Year of the Puppy, will reveal why your dog reacts to you and the world in the unique way they do. Often, owners try to interpret their dog’s actions through a human lens despite the fact that we live very different lives. In this carefully researched piece, cognitive scientist Horowitz helps us see the world from the eyes of our dogs. This includes everything from why dogs are actually compelled to chase squirrels, what it’s like to have such acute hearing, and how dogs know to understand and comfort humans in distress. Part guide and part science paper, this book provides an illuminating insight into what a dog’s world actually looks like.

E.B. White on Dogs

Aside from being a beloved children’s book author, E.B. White was known as a big animal lover. In fact, during his storied time as a staff member of The New Yorker, the wordsmith was known for his fascination with all creatures, big and small. While his most famous fictional books have to do with a pig, a mouse, and a spider, in real life, he was very fond of dogs. Throughout his life, he spent many years with countless canines, regularly writing down his experiences through prose or poetry. Over the years, this resulted in a hefty collection of writings that capture dogs’ unique personalities and how these can shape us as humans. Edited by his own granddaughter, this book is one that will tug at your heartstrings and inspire you to take a closer look at your own canine relationship.

The Forever Dog

Losing a pet is a huge fear for many people. The grief that follows losing such a companion can often be so great that many turn to art, like pet portraits, for comfort. However, with modern veterinary science advancing at a rapid pace, it seems we may be able to prolong our pet’s lives. In The Forever Dog by pet advocates Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker, readers will finally be able to better grasp canine physiology. With the latest scientific data as a foundation, this read is a must for those who want to delay their dog’s aging and give them fuller lives. With practical tips and tricks from other experts, this book will help ensure your four-legged best friend will be around for many more years.

As we mentioned in our Pets in Pop Culture post on books with animals, most literature uses them as devices with which to enrich their stories with loyalty, connection, and some lovable mischief. However, it’s also worth reading books that focus squarely on the animal’s well-being. By arming yourself with the ebook titles above, you can keep your beloved dog happier and healthier.