Truth is dogs know a lot more than humans think we do. In fact, many of us doggies can read. My humans have caught me snuffling through their books on many occasions. When that happens, I just cover by doing something cute to distract them. (Hedy, my fur sister, is still working on her reading skills.)
But since the Covid-19 lockdowns and lifting of lockdowns, my humans' schedule has been really weird and I've had more time to read.
So, here's my first list of Henry Reads Holiday Season Reading Recommendations for your humans. Naturally, they're all dog related or dog themed books!
Here are my top reads for any animal loving, and specifically dog loving, readers on your holiday gift list or just for your holiday reading, these are my top five picks.
Top of my reading list is anything by Alexandra Horowitz makes my tail wag. She's dedicated her life to understanding us doggies. Dr. Horowitz is a professor and Senior Research Fellow at Barnard College, Columbia University, and is the top human for the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard (for the Labrador Retrievers who read TollerTails.com, "lab" is the human word for a science place called a laboratory. It's confusing I know).
What makes Alexandra Horowitz's books so good is they make our dog world accessible to humans. They're also really well written. Her books don't read like science textbooks. They are very enjoyable.
Being a Dog: Following the Dog Into a World of Smell by Alexandra Horowitz focuses on how dogs see the world, nose first. Great read for humans who have doggies with hunting breed backgrounds.
Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know by Alexandra Horowitz. This book is more general in its discussion of how a dog makes its way through the world.
The Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West by Nate Blakeslee. Okay, it's not about domestic dogs, but it's a really thrilling read about the wolf conservation project in Yellowstone National Park. It focuses on the life of one amazing female wolf named O-Six.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewseki. This novel is amazing. It has it all adventure, drama and dogs. While the dogs raised by the Sawtelles are apparently fictional, they sure sound a lot like us Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.
The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Want Around Dogs by Patricia McConnell PhD. This book is good for those dog parents/guardians who are interested in looking at dog training from another perspective. Instead of looking at the dog end of the leash, the author looks at the human end.
So, if you're looking for something to encourage your humans to curl up and stay put. Then fetch them a book. This doggy recommends these five books. Happy reading! But let's try to keep our ability to read just our little secret.