Pure Joy: The Dogs We Love

by Danielle Steel

Filled with funny, poignant stories, down-to-earth wisdom, and delightful photos, Danielle Steel’s Pure Joy is a charming memoir about the dogs who have enriched her life—the perfect gift for any animal lover.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Audiobook, Dogs, Memoir, Biography, Ebooks

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 29, 2013

About the author

Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy's Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a longtime dog lover and Danielle Steel fan, thus was excited to read this latest work. However that eagerness was soon quelled when I realized that the two don't mix for me personally. I got 3/4 of the way through this drivel and had to stop for the sole reason that I felt nauseous at the thousands and thousands of dollars Ms. Steel has thrown away over the years on purebreds bought at pet stores and from breeders (to say nothing of the cute little French outfits for her own adorable Minnie, but I digress). Certainly it is her money and she can do with it as she wishes, but publishing her extravagances is a bit much, though I'm sure those who live similar lives of wealth and privilege won't think anything of it. But I would much rather read a book about the lives of mutts and unwanted animals a family has saved from shelters over the years. On that note, someone needs to inform Ms. Steel that pet shops and breeders are not the be all end all for purebreds, as evidenced by the thousands of purebred cast offs on death row at animal shelters. These unfortunate by-products, if you will, should not be overlooked just because they are "used"; after all, the majority originally came from guess where? Yep, those pet stores and "professional" breeders. But then somebody has to keep them in business, and it's refreshing to know Ms. Steel is more than happy to oblige with her well earned money!

[Olivia Sugiharto · Rating 1 out of 5]

Repulsive. I read about dogs being given away as gifts at the drop of a hat, puppies being auctioned off, implications of shelter dogs being not good enough to have a home, a female being re-homed because she had a pseudo pregnancy and a person that puts pedigree in a pedestal so high it's unbelievable. I should have known though. Steel began the book explaining how she's "not a dog person". To that, Miss Steel, I say: stop getting more dogs. I see that you like dogs, but you don't love them. Prospective readers, if you're a dog lover, go read something else instead.

[Susan Thuvanuti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love dogs so loved reading about all Danielle’s dogs. I would have liked it better if she rescued a dog or two instead of buying pet store, pedigrees.

[Margie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought this would include cute stories about Danielle Steels dogs, but no. More about having a tiny dog to travel with her to Paris, California and New York, and having a dog to dress up in cute costumes. Probably an enjoyable read for her children and friends.

[Susie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the worst books I have ever read. I could not believe what I was reading when she said she gave people dogs as gifts! She didn't check with them first to see if they really wanted one. Would be able to care for it. If it's personality would match its new owner, was it a breed they would like, would they rather have a rescue?
This whole book does not bring out Danielle's best side and I would have thought her editors would have guided her in a better direction. Because for people who love and care about the best interest of dogs, they are "pure joy".

[Ruth Loizides · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disturbing read as whilst it was interesting to hear of the different breeds and the love and good care they got many of the other dogs were treated as dispensible by both Danielle and her family. Strange.

[Sandy Bergeron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely LOVED this book, but then again, I also happen to have a little teacup chihuahua myself named Mia. I affectionately call her "Mini Mi". She looks a lot like Minnie but mine has short hair.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read about Danielle Steel and her family's obsession with dogs. They have owned a variety of breeds. Some I had not heard about, but she gave some good information about the breeds traits and quirky moods.

[Misty · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was ok. I thought that she kept repeating herself a lot. And i didn't agree with some of the things that she said about dogs.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, insightful book about Danielle Steel and ALL the dogs she's had. She's a true dog lover! I found the book really interesting, but I'm a complete dog lover.....so I get it!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I can’t resist dogs. And I guess I can’t resist dog lovers either, because when this book by Danielle Steel about her dogs showed up as available on the digital library, I decided to take it for a spin. I’ve never read one of her novels, but hey—dogs.
It was a sweet read, and I was surprised to find out that Danielle Steel has so many kids—nine! And she was married to a mad dog lover who thought each kid should have their own dog. At one point, she had nine kids, eleven dogs, and a potbellied pig. I love finding out weird stuff like this, and it was fun to read about an author I only thought of as some fancy lady who cranks out bestsellers every other month. I was delighted with the funny, down-to-earth descriptions of her life and dogs, especially her chihuahua Minnie, the dog on the book’s cover.
I’m glad I read it. I was in the mood for an animal book, and it was something light to read as my chapter a day nonfiction this month.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably not an objective rating because I’ll always be biased to books about animals haha. Recommended for dog parents, not dog lovers, if you know what I mean! 😍

Plus, as someone who lived with aspins (“rescues”) all her life, I think the reviews are way too harsh on the author. I don’t really expect much from her nor do I think it’s shameful to desire a purebred dog that fit your lifestyle. She’s Danielle Steel, not Mother Teresa.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danielle Steele's homage to dogs is a treat for the mind and soul. While gaining insight into the prolific author's life (I knew she had quite a few children, but nine?!?!?), this book also offers some sage advice for current and future dog owners. It was an easy breezy read and the perfect audiobook if you're looking for lighter fare between heavier tomes.

[Lorene Roseberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely fell in love with this book! A book about life! About love, heartbreak, loss, finding new love, children, spouses... reality!!! Thank you! I needed a reality check! There was humor, laughter, parts where my heart felt full, and parts where I wanted to cry!

[Trio · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the interest of thorough disclosure, I listened to the audio version of this story to fulfil the requirement for a challenge, and I was able to borrow it through Audible Plus for free.

I found Danielle Steel's Pure Joy: The Dogs We Love to be a sweet, informative, and fun little story. The author talks about everything from how she acquired her pups, some helpful tips on training, with lots of information about the particular breeds she favors.

The anecdotes are interesting, and the narrator, Renée Raudman, does a fine job with it.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a sweet non fiction book about all of the dogs in Danielle Steel’s life. Each of her 9 children also had a dog. That’s a lot of dogs in one house. A little too much with the amount of money she spends on purebred dogs and lots of toys and accessories.

[Mary Catherine Jellison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read. It was so heart warming and so relatable. In my life I have owned
many dogs so I absolutely loved hearing all the stories of different breeds and their
personality. There was so much truth, joy, laughter and just overall emotion with this read.

[Gina Shupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book, up close and personal about one of my favorite authors. I truly enjoyed reading The Dogs We Love pure joy.

[Vikki Herrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

being a dog lover this title appealed to me , i loved the stead flow of this book and the easy laid back style in which it is written . Danielle Steel shows her true love for dogs and her life exsperiance with the ones she has encounter threw out her life . this is a great peek into her life and a great mini love story along the way .

[Mallory · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a quick read, but boy was it “ruff!” I’ve never read a Danielle Steel novel, but if all of them are like this, it’s a wonder she’s as famous as she is. I’m truly not sure what the purpose of this book was, and it’s amazing her editors let it get out the door. It reads like a long blog written by a middle school influencer who is trying to brag about their glamorous lifestyle. I thought this would read more like a series of short stories, or like a “Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul,” but boy was I wrong.

This is 150 pages of Steel reminiscing about every dog she’s ever had, bought, or known- the ones she loved, and the ones that disappointed her for being “just a dog.” She pats herself on the back for giving dogs as gifts (to people who were critically ill), and talks about her elaborate celebrity studded fundraisers at which dogs were literally auctioned off for upwards of $20,000. She throws around advice as though this is a “how to” guide from someone who probably shouldn’t own dogs at all.

As a dedicated dog mom to my rescue chihuahua mix, I cringed as Steel went on to gush about how she bought a teacup chihuahua to travel with her to Paris, and fills pages as she goes on to describe the outfits she bought her dog, and the torturous process of finding a carrier glamorous enough to show off her canine accessory. With shelters full of chihuahuas abandoned because people bought them for literally the purpose Steel describes then discarded them because they actually require care, it’s discouraging to see this even made it onto shelves.

The biggest “oof” was when Steel described the process of gathering documentation for being able to travel, and then offhandedly mentions the idea of making her dog a fake service animal so she could’ve bypass the process, and how it is “unfair” that some people can simply bring their animals on board if they are truly a service animal. That pretty much put a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the book. No need to actually research policies, or explain the difference between emotional support, and service animals, Danielle Steel’s ignorance and ableism really shines here.

Overall, this was disappointing for a quick holiday read, and I wouldn’t recommend for anyone who actually cares about the canine species.

[T. Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for sharing her love and life with dogs!

This past year has been very hard for me because I lost my soul mate doglet. He brought unbelievable love, loyalty and joy to me. He made me laugh so many times throughout my day. The chapter in this book titled "In Loving Memory" really spoke to me personally and provided so much comfort to me. I feel as though few non-pet people can understand the love many of us experience with our animals and so often this book described this so well. It is the memories we keep of our beloved pets that help get us through the losses.

There is a lot of very good advice on dogs in the book as well as insight into the responsibilities and difficult choices made to be good dog owners. I like the way Ms. Steel consulted frequently with quality veterinarians. I was touched by the descriptions of each dog that passed through her life and how each one was appreciated and respected.

Ms. Steel has been so very fortunate to have loved and cared for so many dogs, especially to have had that special closeness with Minnie, among her other precious ones. This was a super good read for me at the right time of my life. My kids are grown and gone and now my doglet, a Westie, of 14 years, has passed. My heart hurts so! This book helped me address the issues that come with both life events. Much appreciation, Ms. Steel for reminding me of the joys our pets that remain with us forever.

The importance of photos is paramount... Takes lots of photos of your pets. I like the way this books has so many photos of Ms Steel's precious dogs. The dogs are just heartwarming to look at. Made my heart smile! 💜

[Bambi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think she is very honest in this book. All dogs are not created equal. She acknowledges that fact and also the fact that just any dog will not match with just any person. More dog lovers should be honest. Not every dog fits in and becomes a memorable intrinsic family member. Some dogs are just dogs. But Danielle Steele describes how she cared for dogs that she didn't find a special bond with as well as doting on the special pups she loved. I personally have only ever owned dogs that I found at local shelters. But I took my time and adopted only the dogs that I saw had the potential of developing a memorable fit in my family. But if I were wealthy ,I might visit reputable breeders like she did. Not sure. Purebreeds can be found at shelters. I've adopted several over the years. The author repeated herself often in this book. Not the greatest writing I've ever read. But I really enjoyed the candid descriptions of her family life with dogs ! Interesting fun little read. terrible writing.

[Jami · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Minnie and the other dogs mentioned in this book; this rating is not for them. I don't love reading about Danielle Steel dressing up Minnie in clothes that she doesn't like and their flying back and forth from Paris.

I also remember why I stopped reading Danielle Steel's books; I don't care for her writing style. But what really bothered me about this book was her attitude towards some of her dogs. Poor Elmer was relegated to just a dog status when Maude, another dog, joined the household. Not sure what she expected, but once Elmer started acting like a dog, he and Maude were given away. And her comment about some dogs that are dogs. WTF does she expect? She actually says that some dogs are just dogs because they are boring.

When I think of what someone with her money and public platform could do for rescue and shelter dogs, and I read this, I just get sick.

[Julie MacKay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not great. I am a dog person and thought this would be a good book, but it was very disappointing and frustrating. Buying dogs from petshops. Giving dogs to people as gifts. Not great things to do. Also didn't seem to invest much time in behavioural training for dogs that had issues, such as tendencies to bite people. It can be overcome with good training. Lots of things that real dog people would find frustrating in this book. About half the book is about her chihuahua and it's a bit like a book that she and her family and friends would enjoy, but not necessary for publication to the world. I thought there might be a chapter given to each dog or something. That would have given it a bit more variation, rather than so much on just the one dog.

[Kelsey Grachek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love dogs. I would also say that dogs are one of the subjects I know best in this world. I have worked in and for rescues and even became a vet assistant in a rescue previously. I can say without a doubt that you should not take any advice from this book. Danielle Steele may be successful at writing romance novels and being a mom, but she does not have the education needed to give advice about owning and caring for dogs, so please keep that in mind before reading this book.

[Jenn Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say I didn't like it, but I can say it was different for a Danielle book. It was a cute insight to who she is. A small but large glimps of seeing who and what she likes

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming!

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t understand somethings about this book. Why would you give a dog leftover Halloween candy? And then talk about what not to feed a dog. With so many dogs, multiple dogs at once, who takes care of them when she travels? Her kids? That is hard on the pets. None of my business, though. But I would never give a pet to anybody without their permission.

Never buy a pet from a pet store. Did that in 1989, not knowing any better. The cutest, smartest, and the most loving dog I ever had, for the most part. Nine weeks old. A full blooded Shih Tzu. He was sick and it took two years to find out what was wrong. Long story. He had atopy, allergic to everything is what a smart veterinarian told me. He was the head Vet, and after being told this and that from the other Vets, he was right.

From a pet store, you will have mostly sick animals, at least dogs. Loved Charky, but he cost me a lot of money. This breed has other problems that cost, too. Every six weeks, a shot for atopy, not to speak of the other problems. He became very sick at 12 years old, and had to have him put to sleep. He was my baby. All my kids were grown except one, when I got him. I really wish I could have a dog, but I can’t

Steel’s book was interesting. How she chooses her dogs is up to her. Rescuing animals is a good plan, I think. Have done that and it was great. Got Charky because I wanted to love and breed a dog. The breeding wasn’t to be. It seems to me that it would have been a plan for Steel and her family.But again, one of my business. CathyR

[Kelsea Dale · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is terribly written. It is so repetitive and the stories lack any real substance. It’s also evident that although she may be a dog lover, her knowledge of dogs is very limited. As someone who works with dogs for a living this book makes me want to pull out my hair and scream. These are the type of dog owners. We hate to work with because they have absolutely no knowledge of dog behaviour or breed knowledge.

Do not give people dogs his gifts despite with this book may suggest.
Do not buy dogs at pet stores if it is even still legal where you live those are not dogs from reputable breeders they are from puppy mills.
Do not auction dogs like that is the most cringe thing I have ever heard.
Bassett hounds and Rhodesian Ridgebacks do in fact, make fantastic dogs and the majority of Chihuahuas are not friendly despite what this book says.
Most small breed dogs are quite yippie and bark a lot. Whereas most larger breed dogs tend to be quieter despite what this book says.
All dogs require significant amounts of training and should not be purchased for children or elderly people without their consent ahead of time and then being aware of how much work the animal is going to be. Again do not purchase dogs for people as gifts.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book but couldn’t find myself doing so. I did choose to finish since I always finish any book I read. I felt awful for the dogs (she gave away) she bought & though they weren’t a perfect match for her & her family instead of finding away to keep them & solve their issues she decided to give them away. I do have to give her props for choosing a right family for the pets. I also hated that she expressed that two of her miniature Brussel griffs had “no personality” & “simple”. No mam! You just didn’t have time for them & to get to know them, since you had 4 dogs before Minnie! No Mam! You were too busy to make time for your dogs, since you were living in Paris & commuting from NY to California & living there as well. Every dog has personality & their own special quirks. I would know having had 6 dogs total; currently own a chihuahua. I expected more of a backstory to her childhood & more stories about all those dogs she had (did enjoy the ones she mentioned). She seems like a lovely giving lady but the book wasn’t as lovely as I had hoped it would be.