Finding Greyfriars Bobby: The amazing story of the Scottish canine film star

by Dave Hunter

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2026

Reviews

[sniksnak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This touching true story follows a stray dog from the Isle of Lewis who became the star of the 1961 film Greyfriars Bobby. Written by a member of the Edinburgh family that adopted him, the book shares intimate anecdotes and rare photos, capturing life with the celebrity terrier, the film’s making, and his public appearances. Bobby’s charm and loyalty made him a beloved figure for fans in Edinburgh and beyond.
Years later, the dog’s resting place is lost, prompting the author to search for it and secure a permanent home near the famous kirkyard. This quest becomes a community effort, showcasing unexpected kindness and expertise.
The story is a tribute to a remarkable dog and a reminder of loyalty’s enduring power, inspiring through love and dedication.

**I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
#ARC
#NetGalley
#FindingGreybriarsBobby

[Christina Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Greyfriars Bobby by Dave Hunter completely stole my heart. I was genuinely sitting in Costa trying not to cry, which, as you can imagine, didn’t go particularly well! As a Scottish girl and a huge animal lover, there was absolutely no way I could give this anything less than ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

This book follows the incredible search for the final resting place of the beloved family dog who played Greyfriars Bobby in Disney’s retelling of the famous story. If you know the legend of the little Skye Terrier whose unwavering loyalty saw him continue to visit his owner’s grave long after he had passed away, you’ll already know just how special this story is.

I honestly wasn’t expecting this book to affect me as much as it did. The passion, determination, and sheer love that went into tracking down this little dog’s grave decades later was so moving. It’s a beautiful reminder of the bond between humans and animals, and it left me with the biggest smile (and a few happy tears).

If you love animals, enjoy true stories, or have a soft spot for one of Scotland’s most famous dogs, please do yourself a favour and pick this up. I couldn’t put it down, and I already know it’s a book I’ll come back to and reread.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book. It’s one I’ll be recommending to everyone.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of the book, "Finding Greyfriars Bobby. from Netgalley. I would give this book a 3.5. a bit of an unusual topic. The author whose family knew the little dog who played "Bobby" in the Disney movie "Greyfriars Bobby" writes some of the book about the actor dog when he was still alive. A good portion of this book is finding the gravesite and body of the dog who played the dog in the movie. I guess he found out the area that actor bobby was buried was going to be sold to build houses. Dave Hunter wanted to find the body before it was lost forever. The biggest part of the book is writing of the 18 months of digging and searching before they found his actual body. So I wish so much of the book was talking about he search it took, but i guess this is why they called it "Finding Greyfriars Bobby" Got to give him credit for saving the body of the dog so he could be buried somewhere else. Guess I will reveal a spoiler Yes they did finally find the dog's body so he could be {cremated and buried somewhere else} So kind of an unusual subject but a decent read.

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

At heart Dave Hunter's book is about two famous dogs: the historical Greyfriars Bobby and the dog chosen to portray him in the 1960 Walt Disney Production which led to a celebrity career promoting worthy charities in Scotland and beyond for over a decade.
This book is a labour of love by a writer with a family connection to the second Greyfriars Bobby - it's poignant, and evocative and ultimately uplifting - and I found it fascinating, compelling and revealing.
The dogs remain centre stage throughout but into their stories walk the famous Hollywood film producer, Walt Disney, and the Chief Constable of Scotland, John Merrilees.
The author went to great lengths to solve mysteries and discover truths about both dogs, regularly challenging personal memories and local myths, before reaching conclusions sometimes at odds with local legend.
As a child, the Eleanor Atkinson novel was a favourite book of mine (along with 'Black Beauty') and I have watched the Disney film a great many times - but this book offers so much more to anyone interested in this famous true story.

[Su Thor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard of Greyfriars Bobby when I was 8 years old on a trip to Edinburgh with my father. We visited his memorial and I cried. This book brought these early experiences back to me. It is well written and the author is clearly passionate about this story and this comes through in the page of it. I loved it. You will love it too. It is a story which must be heard of the devotion and love shown by this wee dog. Thank you.

[Kiwi1331 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to #netgalley for the arc of this book.

Such a heartwarming story of how a dog means so much to people, that even after it’s buried years earlier people will go to great lengths to locate its grave and find it a place so everyone will remember.