Dogs
Tim Flach
Big, quiet studio portraits that treat each dog as a character with a history, shot with the care usually kept for people; the book for someone who loves a single striking portrait.
Lyla, page 63, inside German Shepherds of AustraliaEvery dog in these books is somebody's best friend.
Big hardcover books of real Australian dogs, each beside a few lines from the family who loves them. Every book supports an animal rescue.
Vegas, "Cuddle Bug", and Tilly, "Sassy Girl"German Shepherds of Australia, Volume OneSee the book, $150
Shoot the Dog, Volumes Three and Four
Over 250 more dogs in each, in their families' own words.
Why this store exists
In 2013, Living Image Photography started photographing dogs with the people who love them, for a book called Shoot the Dog. The aim was simple: celebrate the joyful lives of dogs and the part they play in our families, and help the dogs still waiting for a family of their own.
Every family photographed for Shoot the Dog paid a $100 participation fee, and all of it went directly to an animal rescue group. A share of the profit from the books goes to the rescues too. German Shepherds of Australia followed, and has raised over $22,000 for German Shepherd Rescue Victoria on its own. Across the books, more than $100,000 has gone to Australian animal shelters, to care for sick, injured and displaced pets.
This store keeps the books together in one place, and every book that goes home with you keeps that help going.
The shelf
Dog books we love
Our own books are above. These are other people's dog books we would happily give: photographers from around the world, illustrators, and the picture books children ask for again. Each line says why we chose it.
Each book opens at Booktopia, the Australian bookseller, which posts within Australia and to New Zealand. Further afield, choose Waterstones where it is linked beside the book: it posts from the UK to much of the world.
We earn a small commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Our favourites
If you only look at a few: the books closest to our own, and the ones we give most.
Good Dog: A Collection of Portraits
Randal Ford
One hundred and fifty clean studio portraits, each dog caught with its own expression; the publisher says proceeds help Emancipet, a US vet charity.
DogDogs
Elliott Erwitt
Five hundred black-and-white street moments from a lifetime of watching dogs, with a quiet joke in nearly every frame; a gift for anyone who has laughed at their own dog.
Gray Malin: Dogs
Gray Malin
Bright, playful colour photographs of dogs posed with flair; a cheerful coffee-table book that suits a lighter-hearted gift.
Take Me Home!
Andrew Grant
Portraits of 325 rescue dogs, made to help shelter dogs find homes; it will speak to anyone who has adopted.
Rescue Dogs
Sally Muir
Loose, warm paintings of rescue dogs, each with its own personality; a good fit for anyone who has taken in a rescue.
Museum of Dogs: A Romp through Art History for Dog People
Jessica Poundstone
A pocket-sized tour of dogs through art history, from ancient figurines to modern art; a sweet, low-cost add-on gift.
Hot Dog
Doug Salati
A small city dog escapes the summer heat for the beach, told almost entirely in pictures; the 2023 Caldecott Medal winner and a lovely one to read together.
Dog photography from around the world
Photographers from Britain, America, Europe and Canada, each with their own way of seeing a dog.
Big Dog, Little Dog
Seth Casteel
Pairs of dogs, one huge and one tiny, side by side; easy to dip into and a gift that suits any size of dog lover.
The Year of the Dogs
Vincent J. Musi
A National Geographic photographer spends a year on everyday dogs with his wildlife lighting, from the serious to the pure goof; a generous book for a keen photography fan.
The Dogist: Photographic Encounters with 1,000 Dogs
Elias Weiss Friedman
Street-style portraits of dogs, each with a short note about the dog and its person; easy to flick through and hard to put down.
Maddie on Things
Theron Humphrey
A coonhound balancing on tractors, trolleys and signs with total calm; a laugh-out-loud gift for anyone with a patient, willing dog.
Maddie Lounging On Things
Theron Humphrey
Maddie asleep in the most unlikely places; a gentle, funny gift for owners of dogs who nap anywhere.
Find Momo Everywhere
Andrew Knapp
A hide-and-seek photo book where children and adults hunt for a border collie in every scene; made for sharing on the couch.
The Dog in Photography 1839-Today
Raymond Merritt
A weighty history of dogs in photography from the 1800s to today; for the collector who wants range rather than one photographer's view.
Dogs in Cars
Lara Jo Regan
Dogs with their noses to the wind and ears flapping on a car ride, photographed from the roof of a moving car; the pure joy every dog owner recognises.
Old Faithful: Dogs of a Certain Age
Pete Thorne
Portraits of senior dogs with grey muzzles and a short story for each; a tender gift for anyone with an older dog.
Old Dogs: Are the Best Dogs
Gene Weingarten
Black-and-white portraits of old dogs with a journalist's affectionate stories; a gentle read for anyone devoted to a senior dog.
Dogtown: The Pups of Venice Beach and Their Humans
Dotan Saguy
Black-and-white street photographs of the dogs and owners of Venice Beach, California; for readers who like photography with some grit and humour.
Man's Best Friend: The Hidden Treasures of the Kennel Club Archives
The Kennel Club
A heritage collection of about 130 photographs and illustrations from the Kennel Club archives showing how people and dogs have lived together; a gift for history lovers.
Shake
Carli Davidson
Dogs mid-shake with fur and drool flying; a laugh for anyone who has been sprayed by a wet dog.
Do You Look Like Your Dog? The Book
Gerrard Gethings
Fifty portraits matching dogs with their people; it starts conversations and suits anyone who has been told they look like their dog.
William Wegman
William Wegman, ed. William A. Ewing
Three decades of Wegman's Weimaraners in costume and in straight-faced portraits, the pictures that made dog photography an art form; for the art-minded dog lover.
Illustrated dog books
Paintings, drawings and art history, for the dog lover who reads with a cup of tea.
Old Dogs
Sally Muir
Paintings of grey-muzzled dogs with a short story for each; a tender gift for anyone with an older dog.
Dogs in Art
Susie Green
How artists from ancient Rome to today have painted and carved dogs; for readers who love art and dogs in equal measure.
The Invention of the Dog: 75 Breeds that Changed the World
Tamsin Pickeral
The story of 75 breeds and how people shaped them, illustrated throughout with 160 images; a handsome gift for the curious.
A History of Portraits in 21 Dogs
Nia Gould
Twenty-one famous portraits recreated with dogs, each with a note on the original artwork; a witty gift for art lovers.
A Dog's Life
Hannah Dale
More than fifty dogs painted in a quirky, characterful style, from the faithful Labrador to the bouncy Cocker Spaniel; a cheerful gift.
My Dog: The Paradox
Matthew Inman
A short comic about the contradictions of living with a dog, funny and then suddenly affecting; a quick, giftable read.
Dogs: An Illustrated Guide to 100 Brilliant Breeds
Annabel Griffin, illustrated by Marina Halak
A hundred breeds drawn with short, funny facts; a family-friendly gift that works for children and adults alike.
Dogs of the World: An Illustrated Compendium
Lili Chin
An illustrated compendium of dog breeds from an artist known for dog body-language drawings; a handsome reference for the family bookshelf.
Children's dog picture books
The picture books children ask for again and again, including some Australian and New Zealand favourites.
Dog Man
Dav Pilkey
Half dog, half police officer, in comic-strip adventures that win over reluctant readers; a safe birthday gift for the 6 to 10 age group.
Where's Spot?
Eric Hill
Lift the flaps to find Spot hiding; the first dog book for many babies and toddlers.
A Ball for Daisy
Chris Raschka
A wordless story of a small dog's much-loved ball, told in expressive paintings; a good one for children who read pictures.
Dogger
Shirley Hughes
A boy loses his favourite soft toy dog; a gentle story about kindness between brothers and sisters.
Dogs Don't Do Ballet
Anna Kemp, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie
A dog who dreams of dancing in a tutu; for children with big dreams.
The Muttcracker
Anna Kemp, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie
The ballet dog returns for a Christmas show; a seasonal gift that pairs with Dogs Don't Do Ballet.
Odd Dog Out
Rob Biddulph
A small dog who does not fit in finds that being a bit odd is fine; a warm story for children who feel different.
Dog Loves Books
Louise Yates
A dog opens a bookshop and discovers the magic of stories; for little bookworms.
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Norman Bridwell
The enormous red dog and his small owner Emily Elizabeth in the original book; a perennial favourite.
Dogs
Emily Gravett
A playful picture book about dogs and their antics, with Gravett's dry humour; a cheerful read for the very young.
Hey Duggee: Duggee Hug
Hey Duggee
The much-loved cartoon dog Duggee and his famous hug; a gift for pre-schoolers who know the show.
Hairy Maclary's Bone
Lynley Dodd
Hairy Maclary and his gang of rhyming dogs squabble over a bone; more of the New Zealand read-aloud that children already know by heart.
Schnitzel von Krumm, Dogs Never Climb Trees
Lynley Dodd
The long, low dachshund Schnitzel von Krumm is up to mischief, chasing, digging and hiding; rhymes that are easy to learn by heart.
Clyde the Greyhound
Beck Feiner and Robin Feiner
Lucy adores her adopted greyhound and gives him everything, so why is Clyde still not happy? A gentle story about what a rescue dog really needs.
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