2020 Fall Reading Guide for Pet Lovers

Ah, fall reading!

While I love reading in all seasons, of course, there’s something magical about fall reading. For one thing, fall brings us lots of new books! But, even better than a new book? Pairing that new book with a fireside snuggle session with your furry friends, a cup of tea or glass of wine, and lots of blankets. Throw in a jar candle flickering on the mantle, and you have my actual, literal definition of peace.

So, on that note, welcome to this year’s fall reading guide for pet lovers!

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None of the books below are deep, introspective studies of animal welfare or how we live and work with our animal friends. Honestly, this isn’t the year for deep introspection in our casual reading time, imo. There’s a place for thoughtful reading, but 2020 isn’t that place.

Things are already miles deep in the world, so let’s focus instead on fun, joy, and cute, shall we?

Before we crack open the spines of this year’s recommendations, please be sure to read all the way to the bottom! You’ll have a chance to enter to win each of the books featured here.

Dog Mom: A Love Story

by Isabel Serna

They don’t get any cuter or more charming than this. Illustrator and Designer Isabel Serna brings the love we have for our dogs to life in the pages of this sweet little gift book. Perfect for a coffee table or a quiet evening to yourself, it’s whimsical and full of love (oh! and a sticker sheet in the back!) that you won’t want to put it down.

BTW, I know we’re a bit ahead of schedule, but if you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift for the dog mom in your life, I think this is it.

Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Pounce! A How to Speak Cat Training Guide

by Tracey West and Gary Weitzman, DVM

Violet is obsessed with this book! The big, bright, colorful photography makes it a must-have for any cat lover, but the information–covering everything from addressing anxiety to teaching your cat to walk on a leash to trick training to basic behavior and much, much more–makes it priceless. Since it’s geared toward children, the instructions are clear, simple, and clean. No room for confusion when teaching a little one to train a cat! That also makes it the perfect title for any new cat owner, kid or grownup.

Next up: Violet wants to teach Newt and Ripley to jump through a hoop, one of the fun and achievable tricks outlined in the book!

Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

The Joy of Dog Training

by Kyra Sundance

We’ve featured Kyra Sundance’s training books a couple times in the past, and I’m excited to share her new–and so vibrant!–training book.

I love her books because she presents the material in easy-to-follow steps. The photos are clear and bright and show step-by-step guidance. In this book, she includes useful information about how dogs think and work, broken down into an interactive program that helps you and your dog have fun and bond.

I love this book because of the emphasis on joy–the cornerstone of loving dogs–and the epigraph:

We aim not to suppress behavior and teach subservience, but rather to have a joyful relationship with a confident and happy dog who is motivated to do the right thing rather than fearful of making a mistake.

Kyra Sundance

Can I get an amen? 🙂

Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Doggie Language: A Dog Lover’s Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend

by Lili Chin

You need this book. The end. That’s all this review has to say. You need it.

Seriously.

Okay, okay, I’ll expand, but I promise you need this. I’ll admit that I’m a BIG Lili Chin fangirl. Is it weird to fangirl a dog behavior illustrator? Regardless, her work is smart, thoughtful, careful, and adorable. She furthers our understanding of dog behavior through relatable images and clearly-drawn examples. These “dog body language images,” as she calls her work in the intro, are as invaluable as they are adorable. Flip through this several times, and I promise you’ll learn so much about your dog. I’m going to keep this on hand to refresh because it’s just that good.

I say again: You need this book! You also should check out her website, which also happily includes lots of free downloads!

Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Dog Mom Wall Planner

Because we WILL need a calendar again! So it might as well be a super cute one!

Created by the same illustrator from the Dog Mom book above, this hanging wall calendar features darling drawings of woman’s best friend. It has plenty of space to track appointments on notes on each month, and it comes with a full sheet of stickers that are both functional (grooming appointment reminders, vet visit reminders, etc.) and adorable (“I woof you!”).

Plus, picking up a 2021 calendar right now sure feels like an epic act of hope, doesn’t it? #onward

Available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Your chance to read them all!

Thanks to the generosity of each publisher, YOU have a chance to win a copy of the books and calendar featured here. I strongly recommend pairing each with a pile of cozy blankets, a crackling fire, and a cup of your favorite beverage with your pet perched happily on your lap because hashtag FALL, y’all! 🙂

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Sometimes it takes a sec for the widget to load, or if you’re reading via email or feed, you might have to click below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway