The Best Dogs in Fiction

Mild spoilers for Wolfsong, and The Sight.

I’ve read a lot of books about wolves, dogs, and other canines, but which are the best? Where are the goodest bois, and what adventures do they go on? Read on to find out!

Call of the Wild

This short novel by Jack London is a classic. It follows the incredible journey of Buck, a crossbred Bernese Mountain dog from his time as a young pup, to his abduction, through his life as a sled dog racing across the frozen tundra of North America.

Buck is a fierce, independent dog who is intelligent, playful, and extremely loyal to those who treat him well. It’s for this reason that he’s considered one of the best hounds in all fiction.

Call of the Wild is told through the perspective of its canine protagonist, which offers a beautiful, at times savage, lens through which to view humanity and society.

White Fang

White Fang is a companion piece to Call of the Wild, also written by Jack London. Where Buck’s story is about a domesticated dog who hears the call of the wild and questions whether to succumb to that desire, White Fang is that story in reverse.

White Fang is a wolf who, after the intense struggles of a life lived in the wild, feels the call of domestication. Similar to Buck, White Fang is a fiercely loyal hound with a determination to get what he wants. Interestingly, the path to a quiet home life is filled with unavoidable violence.

It’s a story many of us can relate to, and perhaps that’s why this story is still celebrated today.

Like Call of the Wild, White Fang is also told from the perspective of its wolfish protagonist.

Wolf Brother

This is the first book in the series, ‘The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness’ by Michelle Paver. It’s about two children, one wolf, and their quest against evil during the Stone Age, six thousand years ago.

The series follows the children as they become teenagers and nearly adults, but canines age much faster and we seen the growth of Wolf from puppy to adult. He even gets his own perspective chapters which are always a joy to read.

Though this series is for children, it can be quite emotionally heavy at times. Death is a constant threat and grief is a theme in every book. Nonetheless, I’m sure everyone can enjoy it.

You can read my review of the first book, Wolf Brother.

Mistborn

The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson isn’t really about dogs, but there is one hound in book two, The Well of Ascension, who deserves a shout out.

The original Mistborn trilogy (The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages) explores the Chosen One narrative through an orphaned girl and her chance to change her world. In book two, she gets a magnificent talking dog companion.

For me this, this would have been a teenage dream. Independence, power, and an amazing talking dog to fight alongside me.

Game of Thrones/ A Song of Ice and Fire

G.R.R. Martin’s world-popular series is best known for its magnificent dragons, but there are also some very important wolves. You’ve probably heard of Jon Snow’s best companion, Ghost, but Arya Stark’s Nymeria also makes an occasional return to make us question whether all of the Stark children were blessed with a deep connection to their canines.

Not all of the named canines in this series survive, as of A Dance of Dragons, but they’re important reflections of their owners and characters in their own right. If Winds of Winter ever surfaces, I hope that we get to see more of these beautiful creatures.

The Sight & Fell

David Clement-Davies duology, The Sight and Fell, are somewhat inspired by the Jesus story but told through a wolf pack in the animal kingdom. It features magic, wolves, and a prophecy. I loved this book as a teenager.

These books stand out to me in particular because they’re about a full family of wolves. Not simply about wolves existing for human needs and requirements. In these books, the reader can truly escape into the animal kingdom and wolf society.

Wolfsong

Honestly, this is an adult book about werewolves, and I’m not entirely certain if it belongs on this list. On the other hand, it’s also a masterpiece, and canine behaviour and society is a crucial part of its storytelling.

The wolves within this tale are beautifully described. Even when human, their every movement is crafted to remind you of their true nature.

T. J. Klune’s Wolfsong is carnal, heart-breaking, and magical.

If you have any more suggestions for brilliant reading material about canines, please comment below! I’d love to read more!