by Dr Karen Shaw Becker and Rodney Habib

• Non-Fiction
• Scientific
• Dogs
• Animal lover
• Health and well-being

The Forever Dog is a non-fiction book packed with factual insights about the health and well-being of our beloved furry companions. Written by veterinarian Dr. Karen Shaw Becker and Planet Paws founder Rodney Habib, it uses the latest science to help dog owners better understand their pets and guide them towards living younger, healthier, and longer lives.

This book came highly recommended to me, and as a dog lover, I was immediately interested. However, a heads-up for anyone planning to read it: it’s a big book—a real beast!

The authors devote a significant portion of the book to food and diet for dogs. While the depth of this discussion was impressive and clearly well-researched, I felt it could have been condensed a bit. Other aspects of a dog’s life received less attention by comparison. That said, I appreciate the thoroughness of their work.

I went into the book assuming I already knew quite a bit about dogs and their care, as I like to research these topics myself. However, I still learned a lot, especially about food processing and the effects of certain diets. I was also pleasantly surprised to find how much the book challenged some of my assumptions and opened my eyes to new perspectives.

The amount of research referenced in this book is immense. Thankfully, the authors opted to host their references on a dedicated website, which is great for readers who want to dive deeper into specific topics without making the book even heavier!

The writing is accessible, even when explaining scientific concepts that might otherwise be confusing. The authors balance objectivity and personal anecdotes, with Dr. Becker sharing examples of how her patients clinically benefited from certain approaches.

Despite being scientifically grounded, the book is easy to follow, with each chapter flowing seamlessly into the next. I particularly liked the “takeaways” at the end of each chapter, summarizing the key points, as well as the practical tips, hints, and even recipes scattered throughout.

I truly enjoyed reading The Forever Dog and came away with a deeper understanding of how to care for our best friends. While it does get a bit repetitive in places, I can see why it’s become a bestseller. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who owns a dog or is considering getting one.

I’m excited to see what Dr. Becker and Rodney Habib do next and hope their work continues to spread awareness, as it’s so beneficial. This is an excellent book, and I can’t wait to learn more from them in the future!