Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from My Dog: 101 Stories about Our Best Friends

by Amy Newmark, Nanette Norgate

We learn so much from our canine companions as they shower us with love and share the ups and downs of our lives.

What do we learn from our dogs? Everything. They make us better versions of ourselves and show us the power of gratitude, forgiveness, resilience, living in the moment, and so much more.

If we rescued them, they rescue us back. If we’re sad, they comfort us. If we’ve forgotten how to have fun, they show us how. If we need protection, they rise to the challenge.

You’ll laugh, cry, and nod your head in recognition as you listen to these tales about sharing life with a dog. The lessons we learn from them come in many forms, from the hilarious to the heroic. Prepare to be entertained and inspired as you listen to these 101 stories organized into eleven

My Very Good, Very Bad Dog
Learning to Love the Dog
Who Rescued Whom?
Changed by the Dog
Always an Adventure
A Natural Therapist
What a Clever Dog
That Heroic Dog
A Dog’s Purpose
Special Bonds
Meant to Be

Chicken Soup for the Soul books are 100% made in the USA and each book includes stories from as diverse a group of writers as possible.

Genres: Animals

352 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Amy Newmark is the bestselling author, editor-in-chief, and publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. Since 2008, she has published 191 new Chicken Soup for the Soul titles, most of them national bestsellers in the U.S. and Canada, more than doubling the number of Chicken Soup for the Soul titles in print today.

Amy is credited with revitalizing the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, which has been a publishing industry phenomenon since the first book came out in 1993. By compiling inspirational and aspirational true stories curated from ordinary people who have had extraordinary experiences, Amy has kept the thirty-year-old Chicken Soup for the Soul brand fresh and relevant.

Follow Amy on Twitter @amynewmark. Listen to her free podcast, The Chicken Soup for the Soul Podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, the Podcasts app on iPhone, or by using your favorite podcast app on other devices.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a really good, Chicken Soup for the Soul book. I really liked the stories in this book.

[Marianne Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one if the BEST compilations of short stories I have ever read! Once I started reading the book, I couldn’t put it down. There are so many incredible, fun, inspirational and heartwarming stories in this collection.
If you’re a dog or animal lover, this is definitely a book for you! If you’re not a dog lover and don’t understand how or why people love their dogs so fiercely, you will after reading this book!
Dogs deserve nothing less than the best that life and humans have to offer them…these stories are testaments to the remarkable creatures they are.

[ashley marie]

Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
I really wanted to love this, but I forgot how basic the stories are being that they are all only 500ish words. While some were cute or funny, nothing was grabbing at me to where I wanted to continue to finish this. Nothing wrong with it, just not what I’m looking for.

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable and heartwarming collection of stories. My favorite is the story by Robin Stearns Lee. "Dog with a Loving Heart" reminds the reader of the compassion and love dogs have for their dedicated owners. These stories made me laugh, cry, and appreciate the dogs that God has created.

[Jessi Waugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is amazing that chicken soup for the soul has continued to produce such talent and unique stories for all these years. There is not a story in this book that doesn’t belong there - they are all meaningful and a joy to read. Mine was among them, and for that, I feel proud.

[Anne Aschmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in the midst of reading this most delightful book! So many amazing, amusing & uplifting stories, which are sure to brighten one’s day! A must-read for dog lovers!

[Karl Haffner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite serving of Chicken Soup of all time! Great stories!