My puppy Sonnet and I are thick as thieves. She follows me wherever she can, attacks me with kisses when I come home, and we both agree that the best naps are taken curled up together. Yet despite our close bond, I am still surprised by stories of other animals pairing up in the same way.
Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer S. Holland (Workman Publishing Company 2011) features 47 stories of such cross-species relationships. While not focusing entirely on dogs, our scruffy friends feature prominently in the book. Some of my favourite stories follow a dachshund raising a piglet as one of her own, a stray mutt getting his belly rubbed by a elephant and dog who spends his days swimming with dolphins.

The stories themselves were a bit brief for my taste – only giving an outline of the interaction or relationship, and sometimes focusing a bit to much on scientific information. Yet whatever this book lacks in narrative, it makes up for in sheer cuteness.

My favourite feature of this book is its beautiful presentation. Each story features beautiful photographs of the unusual pairs, and really, who can resist a photo of a pit bull sitting contentedly in the grass with fluffy chicks nestled on his back? Not me. I’m not usually a big fan of coffee-table books, but Christmas guests can be sure to find this book lying around my house when they visit.

I’m not much of a reader, and most books I’ve been reading lately have been about dogs (not surprisingly). For Christmas this year, a co-worker gave me a book called Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love. I connected with it immediately and knew that I wanted to read it.

The book was such an inspirational story about a dog who has been through the worst events imaginable and managed to come through it and still be so sweet and loving. While parts of it are tough to read just because of the horrendous circumstances that surround the world of dog fighting, but it is totally worth the read to learn about this amazing dog.

Promo Video:

Oogy on Oprah:

You can find the book in bookstores and online.

As some of you may know, along with running this awesome blog, I am also a photographer. I love photographing dogs (obviously) and I am super excited to share my newest portfolio book with you in digital format! I called it Every Dog Needs a Human to Lick and will be getting it printed at 8×8 size with beautiful lay-flat paper and using it as a studio sample to show my clients.

If you are interested in having your dog’s portrait taken, please Contact Me, I would love to speak with you!

elizabeth&jane photography * elizabeth&jane photography blog

Congratulations to Allison and Phoebe! They are the grand prize winners of the Ottawa Dog Blog 2nd Birthday Contest Giveaway!! Also, congratulations goes out to Michelle and Jack, our winners of the runner up prize!!

Thank you to everyone who entered and for your wonderfully kind and beautiful words. I am honoured that all of you take the time to make this blog a part of your life and I thank you for it!

Ottawa has the best dog community ever!!!

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After the cliffhanger at the end of J.F. Englert’s first book, I must admit that I read mystery’s sequel, A Dog Amoung Diplomats, in just over one sitting. In fact, I failed to read anything else in between, going from one right book to the next.

If you enjoyed Englert’s first novel, A Dog About Town, then this book is a sure thing. The mystery is much more complex and entertaining, and there are new and sinister players at the table. The mystery of Randolph’s owner Imogen is continued in this new book, intensified by her apparent involvement in a high profile murder.

The lab Randolph must work with his owner Harry to try and find the murderer and the truth, but as the secrets surrounding Imogen multiply and intensify, this becomes their greatest struggle yet.

While Harry endeavors to grapple with the unfolding secrets, Randolph is thrust straight into the heart of the mystery and the danger. Through the help of an outsider foggily connected with Imogen, he is placed within a circle of key people, some of whom may be targets, and one of whom is most certainly a killer.

This book is a fast, but entertaining read, and Randolph’s incredible insights will have you looking at your dog with new eyes.

I have to admit, when I first heard about this book, I was more than a little skeptical. It was my firm belief that animal crime solving was best left to Disney’s The Great Mouse Detective. However, I did pick up the book, and didn’t put it down until I had finished. A few chapters in, I had completely lost all uncertainty and my mind was racing to try and solve the mystery.

J.F. Englert’s A Dog About Town, provides readers with a loving and intelligent hero in the form of the loyal black lab, Randolph. He is a dog with an admittedly higher level of thinking than most, who helps his owner Harry, to solve the mysterious death of Lyell Overton Minskoff. Englert has created a puzzle that will delight and entertain, while simultaneously engaging readers in the hunt for clues concerning the disappearance of Imogen, Harry’s lover and Randolph’s owner.

Randolph’s love of literature combined with his canine perspective will have readers laughing, while the unfolding mystery will have you turning the pages as fast as you can.

In its dramatic climax, startling truths are revealed that ultimately leaves readers reaching immediately for the sequel. This book features one of the most refreshing new characters of the genre, and is sure to delight and entertain. Randolph himself said “I am unique. Where other dog’s babble, I sing”, and indeed, the same sentiment can be applied to this book.