Book Perfume

It’s National Dog Day!

Of course, every day at Book Perfume is dog day, especially when I’ve got Ollie the Intern organizing my shelves for me. (And sometimes, just sometimes, trying to sink his teeth into a juicy read. Literally.)

Dogs and books are two of the most important things in my life, so in honor of this very important holiday, I thought I’d share some of my favorite fictional dogs. They may live on the page, but I’d love to give each and every one of them a treat and a snuggle.

Ribsy: Ribsy by Beverly Cleary

There is nothing I love more than a mischievous dog (believe me, I have one), and I think that might all relate back to childhood when I first met Henry Huggins’s dog, Ribsy. Ribsy’s curiosity lands him in the zaniest situations, like helping a local high school team win their football game, but at the end of the day, all he wants is to be by his Henry’s side.

Joe: Stay by Allie Larkin

Things in life hardly go as planned, and sometimes when you’re expecting a snuggly little pup to cuddle with, you get a hundred-pound German Shepherd who only understands Slovak. Joe proves that the best things in life are often not what we plan for and shows that a giant, slobbering puppy can be the perfect prescription for an aching heart.

Horatio the Mutt: Must Love Dogs series by Claire Cook

I have a soft spot for quirky mixed breeds, which is one of the many reasons why I adore Horatio the greyhound/Yorkie mix. He is just as much of a character as you’d expect a greyhound/Yorkie mix to be, and he’s as fully realized and charismatic as any of the two-legged characters in the series. On top of that, Horatio’s person, John Anderson, loves taking him on doggie getaways. Since I too enjoy bringing my pup everywhere with me, John and Horatio are top dogs in my book.

Pilot: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Pilot might just be my favorite matchmaker in all of literature. I mean, sure, as governess of Thornfield Hall, Jane was going to meet Rochester eventually, but throwing Pilot into their meet-cute makes it all the more—well—cute.

Rollo: Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon

Rollo is more than Young Ian’s dog. He’s his soul mate, his protector, his sidekick, and his best friend. Their relationship is one of my very favorites in the entire Outlander series, beautifully conveying the undying, unequivocal love between a dog and his person.

Little Dog: The Dog Year by Ann Garvin

Dogs have a way of opening up our lives even when we’re at our lowest. That’s exactly the case with Little Dog and Lucy Peterman. Little Dog and Lucy find each other when they both need it most, proving that a cold nose and a wagging tail can change our lives in the most glorious ways imaginable.

Garrick: Poldark series by Winston Graham

Demelza Carne instantly won my heart by thinking of her dog first when Ross Poldark offers to take her in off the streets. “There be Garrick, sir,” she says. “Him and me’s friends. Where I go, he goes.” Garrick and Demelza are inseparable and loyal to each other through everything, just as a dog and his girl should be.

Jip: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Here’s the thing about Jip: He’s kind of a jerk. He barks at everyone and nips and is all-in-all a persnickety little dude. But you know what? Jip loves his girl, Dora Spenlow, who spoils him rotten, and he is faithful to her until the very end. I can’t hate on that. And sometimes the world needs persnickety little dudes.

What about you, friends? Who are some of your favorite literary dogs?