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The Dog Next Door
Dogs are truly one of God's finest creatures, a marvelous gift for us humans. They love us despite our faults and remind us to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. They give us their all in return for food, play, and a scratch behind the ears.
The Dog Next Door is a delightful collection of true stories that celebrate the dogs in our lives. Inside you'll meet a timid standard poodle who conquers his fears to bring joy to others, a brigade of protective German shepherds, a friendly dog who pulls a young man back from the darkness of mental illness, a scruffy mutt who finds her calling, and many more. These warm stories will touch your heart and renew your spirit.
So curl up on the couch with the special dog in your life... and enjoy!
The Dog Next Door is a delightful collection of true stories that celebrate the dogs in our lives. Inside you'll meet a timid standard poodle who conquers his fears to bring joy to others, a brigade of protective German shepherds, a friendly dog who pulls a young man back from the darkness of mental illness, a scruffy mutt who finds her calling, and many more. These warm stories will touch your heart and renew your spirit.
So curl up on the couch with the special dog in your life... and enjoy!
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2011
135 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
About the author
Callie Smith Grant
24 books94 followersCallie Smith Grant is the editor of A Prince among Dogs and A Dickens of a Cat. She is also the author of several nonfiction books for young readers and adults as well as many animal-themed stories and poems which can be seen in Guideposts anthologies and in magazines such as Small Farmers Journal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
June 13, 2012
I love dogs and the stories that come along with dogs. We have a dog. Got her has a puppy about 12 years ago. She is border collie. She has a freckled face and tail that struts when she walks. She has taught me about devotion. Something that you need to learn by example and she has been that for me. She is totally devoted to my husband. She greets him with a bark and the wag of her tail and jumps all over him. She also watches him closely to make sure that if he needs anything, she will come to that need. Scratching under her chin, rubbing her tummy, those kind of needs. She makes my day just wanting to start the day with a rush down the stairs. It's like she is saying Rejoice The sun has come up, it's a new day. If I need a pick me up, I just say squirrel and she runs to the window to look for her friends that she loves to chase. We have gotten a few in the house that she has chased back up into the chimney where they have found there way in. She also is my helper in the kitchen. Very silent helper, that is waiting for me to drop any type of food onto the floor. If she is upstairs, she can still hear the food drop and come running down the stairs to help me. She is also very considerate of my husband me, she never wakes up with a park but a sigh. She has a loud sigh, or she will somehow fall to the ground with a thump. She loves to on car rides and walks. She loves to catch the frisbee and bring it back. She is not color blind because we have several different colored frisbees and by command she will bring the right color. Writing about my dog is what this collection of stories is all about. It shares the commitment of dog owner and dog and devotion that comes along with it. I think God uses dogs to teach by example of those values that we need for each other as humans.
June 7, 2025
The Dog Next Door and The Dog at my Feet are really good books with
true dog stories, most of them Christian based.
I really enjoyed these books.
true dog stories, most of them Christian based.
I really enjoyed these books.
October 22, 2019
A series of dog stories and their families. Each story, interesting and enjoyable.
March 6, 2014
An easy read that is filed with living stories about how dogs enrich our lives
An easy read that is filed with living stories about how dogs enrich our lives
if you are a dog lover, you will like this book. As I read the book my feelings about all the animals I have loved in my life came flooding to the surface. I have lost three animals in the last year but, I have so much love that I have new animals in my life. This book reminded me why I keep opening my heart to my furry friends. Because they are my family and I would do anything for them.
An easy read that is filed with living stories about how dogs enrich our lives
if you are a dog lover, you will like this book. As I read the book my feelings about all the animals I have loved in my life came flooding to the surface. I have lost three animals in the last year but, I have so much love that I have new animals in my life. This book reminded me why I keep opening my heart to my furry friends. Because they are my family and I would do anything for them.
June 3, 2012
Yesterday a biker story, today a book about dogs. Can my reading get any better? Anyway, this book is stories written by dog owners about their beloved critters. Maybe only a dog lover like me could appreciate these stories. Whatever. These are mostly touching accounts of how these people found their dogs, how they bonded with them and stories of their lives together. Each one is special. If you love dogs and appreciate them as friends like me, you will enjoy this read.
December 26, 2011
Anyone who is a dog lover, like me, will enjoy this book. It's filled with stories of dogs as they become part of a family, save lives, find the lost and brave danger. Parts are so sad it makes you cry, but in a good way because you know that dog and family had a wonderful life together. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
December 16, 2014
Furry Tears, Rough Tongues and Laughter
No one could read these stories without remembering tears that flowed as their own dogs licked tears and pain away with rough tongues and unconditional love. Add to that laughter which makes a heart sing. I have had such "friends" and "children". JBM
No one could read these stories without remembering tears that flowed as their own dogs licked tears and pain away with rough tongues and unconditional love. Add to that laughter which makes a heart sing. I have had such "friends" and "children". JBM
May 27, 2014
Being a dog lover at heart, I always enjoy dog stories. This compilation both entertained and taught how many different ways dogs try to take care of their people. A real tribute to our canine friends.
August 3, 2011
Great stories for all dog lovers.
January 30, 2014
This book of shorts stories shows us that dogs are meant to be a part of our lives.
February 16, 2014
Great Stories About God's Amazing Creatures
This was a great book filled with heartwarming stories about dogs. I was sad to come to the end of the book.
This was a great book filled with heartwarming stories about dogs. I was sad to come to the end of the book.
July 4, 2014
As a definite dog lover, I loved this book, a collection of short stories from dog owners. Don't trust me, get and read it, if you are a dog lover, you will enjoy this book.
December 18, 2014
Great book for anyone who has ever loved a dog. There is a bit of a christian theme which is OK for me, just might turn off some folks. Just sayin.
December 20, 2014
What a sweet idea for a book! Normally not a fan of short stories, but each one is a real-life account of how one dog changed someone's life. Great for any dog lover!
December 30, 2014
As a mom to four fur babies....this book hit home. The stories were heartfelt.
March 24, 2015
If you love dogs, you will love this book!!!
February 25, 2015
Love and life through dogs
Tidbits of life stories learned and shared by pet owners. Thought provoking, learn to live and share love with others
Tidbits of life stories learned and shared by pet owners. Thought provoking, learn to live and share love with others
July 22, 2015
Stories that made me smile, laugh! Stories that touched me and that reminded me of my little pooch !!! Love it
April 26, 2015
I am a cat person! I have had a few dogs in my life,but my preference is my cat! However, these stories were heartfelt and full of joy and tears. Animal stories are heartwarming.
Good read.
Good read.
November 2, 2018
If you have a dog, you get it. If you don't and aren't a dog person...I can't help you. You could easily enough imagine a cat in these stories if that would work better for you. I won't tell.
This book is a collection of short stories and memories in one place for your convenience. It's a great 'pick up and lay it down' book. You can pick it up, read for five minutes, finishing a whole story and go back to your life without missing a thing, in either the book or life. When you're busy you appreciate these things.
Dogs are both rescued and rescuer on this book. Some are true heroes and others are much more likely to be couch potatoes. Some lead us home when we've gone astray and others help us find ourselves when all seems lost.
Some of the stories ring truer inside the reader than others. Some are funnier and others make you remember a special dog of your own. Some lean heavily on religion, specifically Christianity, in case that bothers anyone.
This book is very Chicken Soup...but still an enjoyable read even in short bursts.
This book is a collection of short stories and memories in one place for your convenience. It's a great 'pick up and lay it down' book. You can pick it up, read for five minutes, finishing a whole story and go back to your life without missing a thing, in either the book or life. When you're busy you appreciate these things.
Dogs are both rescued and rescuer on this book. Some are true heroes and others are much more likely to be couch potatoes. Some lead us home when we've gone astray and others help us find ourselves when all seems lost.
Some of the stories ring truer inside the reader than others. Some are funnier and others make you remember a special dog of your own. Some lean heavily on religion, specifically Christianity, in case that bothers anyone.
This book is very Chicken Soup...but still an enjoyable read even in short bursts.
September 12, 2017
The Dog Next Door
The dog next door is a collection of short stories about everyone's favorite, and the best animal, dogs. Many of these short stories have a heartwarming message and show loving dogs. Some stories tell of how their dogs were courageous or helped them in physical or mental ways. I have personally never been a big short story fan myself, I mean you don't really get to learn a character from just 3-4 pages. I feel that in this book you can get to know every dog very well, from their name to their personality. A good quote from the short story “Skippy” was, “We didn't adopt him. He adopted us.” I am not a person who cries a lot to anything. But may of these stories made me almost shed a tear. There are dogs helping children with massive mental issues, or dogs who love their owner unconditionally. This book truly tells the magic of mans best friend. I feel that there is an overarching theme that is in all these stories, which is how loving and caring dogs are. Every story is different, there are stories of three legged guard dogs, some stories are transformations of dogs from the pound and how there lives were changed by the dog. There are Poodles, Goldens, German Shepards, Labs, show dogs, hunting dogs,and service dogs. Every dog has a story, it's our job to learn about their stories.
The dog next door is a collection of short stories about everyone's favorite, and the best animal, dogs. Many of these short stories have a heartwarming message and show loving dogs. Some stories tell of how their dogs were courageous or helped them in physical or mental ways. I have personally never been a big short story fan myself, I mean you don't really get to learn a character from just 3-4 pages. I feel that in this book you can get to know every dog very well, from their name to their personality. A good quote from the short story “Skippy” was, “We didn't adopt him. He adopted us.” I am not a person who cries a lot to anything. But may of these stories made me almost shed a tear. There are dogs helping children with massive mental issues, or dogs who love their owner unconditionally. This book truly tells the magic of mans best friend. I feel that there is an overarching theme that is in all these stories, which is how loving and caring dogs are. Every story is different, there are stories of three legged guard dogs, some stories are transformations of dogs from the pound and how there lives were changed by the dog. There are Poodles, Goldens, German Shepards, Labs, show dogs, hunting dogs,and service dogs. Every dog has a story, it's our job to learn about their stories.
March 15, 2018
This was a collection of short stories about peoples relationships with their canine companions. Some were good. Most had a religious mention, which is fine, if that is how you feel. I just didn't really pick up on the warmth that I was expecting to read about. Then, again, I am not a true "dog person" and have always owned cats.
Wonderful collection of writers for this volume. Just didn't really make me want to go acquire a dog, like I really thought the book might have done.
Wonderful collection of writers for this volume. Just didn't really make me want to go acquire a dog, like I really thought the book might have done.
February 22, 2021
Dogs Full of Love
I loved all the stories in this book. The interdependence of a dog and his person/family based on mutual love and respect. Many had lost a dog previously and during or after grieving was introduced to and shared their new relationship of friendship and love between human and dog.
I gave it five stars because again, I thoroughly enjoyed each story.
I loved all the stories in this book. The interdependence of a dog and his person/family based on mutual love and respect. Many had lost a dog previously and during or after grieving was introduced to and shared their new relationship of friendship and love between human and dog.
I gave it five stars because again, I thoroughly enjoyed each story.
July 21, 2024
This non-fiction book is filled with short, delightful stories about dogs and their owners and what a wonderful role dogs can play in peoples' lives. From saving a woman from a fire to helping children to gain some independence, each of these short stories has a special tail to tell. Having grown up with a cocker spaniel. I truly enjoyed these stories.
September 23, 2017
Stories from the heart
These stories were about amazing dogs and their bonds with their humans. I identified with the love, companionship, and especially the Loss we feel when we let ourselves love.......unconditionally back!
These stories were about amazing dogs and their bonds with their humans. I identified with the love, companionship, and especially the Loss we feel when we let ourselves love.......unconditionally back!
May 17, 2019
This is a collection of short stories about people and their dogs. It has some religious undertones but not so much that a non-religious person would be uncomfortable reading it. My toddler enjoyed the stories and they are short enough to add to bedtime routine.
May 23, 2019
A sweet book devoted to dogs. This book has many contributors who write essays about their own dog or dogs. Many writing how that dog changed their lives for the better. A nice read for those who enjoy reading about dogs.
December 26, 2020
Cute book. A little too religious for me (a lot of thanking god, part of god's plan, etc.) for me, but not all stories ended that way and there was a story about a Belgian Sheepdog in there (my breed!) and that is really unusual.
August 22, 2024
Wonderful stories!
Wonderful set of stories about finding the perfect dog/companions, or them finding you which is often the case. An uplifting, heartwarming book well worth the time!
Wonderful set of stories about finding the perfect dog/companions, or them finding you which is often the case. An uplifting, heartwarming book well worth the time!
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November 19, 2024Stories touched my heart
Each story touched my heart, I had many dogs in my life. All different but all loved till their life, it brought many memories, some sad but many happy ones
Each story touched my heart, I had many dogs in my life. All different but all loved till their life, it brought many memories, some sad but many happy ones
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews