Everyone Has the Best Dog Ever

COS COB, Conn. – Chicken Soup for the Soul has published their latest book about dogs, with an adorable Beagle on the front cover, one who has just eaten up a whole pile of papers. He’s still someone’s “best dog ever,” the theme of this new title from the iconic publisher. The 101 feel-good stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Best Dog Ever (August 18, 2026, 978-1-611594652, $16.99) were selected from thousands of submissions and cover the gamut, from heroic dogs to hilarious ones, from dogs with purpose to mischievous ones, from natural therapists to stress management specialists (i.e. lap dogs), and from clever dogs to social directors.

In keeping with Chicken Soup for the Soul’s support for pet adoption and shelters, the stories chosen for the book are not only inspirational and fun, but also feature rescue dogs, including black dogs, senior dogs, and pit bulls, the types of dogs that are often left behind at shelters. It’s part of Chicken Soup for the Soul’s mission to make people think “shelter first” and “not just puppy” when they’re considering adding a new canine family member.

Whether they’re adopted from a shelter, or purchased from a reputable breeder, dogs change people’s lives. Michael Van Vliet, for example, writes about how the dog he adopted keeps him sober. Lori Fuller tells us about the traumatized Chihuahua mix she fostered and then adopted. He ends up helping her foster 60 more dogs and then comforts and supports her when she develops a chronic illness. After adopting her mother’s sedentary dog, Glenda Ferguson discovers that he actually loves going for long hikes, resulting in a new healthy lifestyle for her, much to her surprise.

Other contributors describe their dogs as role models for living in the moment and pursuing their passions. Tina Sacco’s dog is obsessed with the smell of coffee and turns out to be a stealthy connoisseur of other cooking scents as well, having stolen and hidden all the spice jars in the house. Deb Palmer’s rescue derives so much joy from shredding stuffed animals that she starts buying them at yard sales and putting them, one at a time, in cardboard boxes by the mailbox for the dog to discover and open.

“The theme that prevails throughout the book is how embedded these dogs are in their families, and how much they enrich the lives of everyone they encounter, from their owners to perfect strangers,” says Amy Newmark, publisher and editor-in-chief of Chicken Soup for the Soul. “Don’t be surprised if you find yourself heading to a shelter to meet your next dog after you read these stories!”

ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Chicken Soup for the Soul publishes the famous Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. With well over 100 million books sold to date in the U.S. and Canada, more than 300 titles, and translations into more than 40 languages, the phrase “chicken soup for the soul” is known worldwide and is regularly referenced in pop culture. Today, 33 years after it first began sharing happiness, inspiration and hope through its books, this iconic storyteller continues to publish a new title a month. It has also evolved beyond the bookstore, with a podcast, education programs, dog and cat food, licensed products, and the Chicken Soup for the Soul streaming service.

                                                                                                                                                                  ###

For a review copy of this book or an interview with Amy Newmark or one of the contributors: