Book review: ‘The Year of the Puppy’

Cover of the book, "The Year of the Puppy: How a Puppy Becomes Your Dog"

There’s something for readers of all ages in a new book centered on a puppy’s point of view.

By Sally Rosenthal

August 1, 2024

The Year of the Puppy: How a Puppy Becomes Your Dog by Alexandra Horowitz. Viking Books for Young Readers, 2024. Hardcover, 224 pages.

Ordering information

Alexandra Horowitz is well known to dog-loving readers. The author of several books about canine cognition and behavior, beginning with Inside of a Dog, Alexandra now turns to an audience of young readers in The Year of the Puppy: How a Puppy Becomes Your Dog. In this reworking of an earlier book for adults with the same title, Alexandra chronicles the first year in the life of Quid, the puppy who joins the Horowitz household.

[Book review: 3 summer reads for dog lovers]

What makes The Year of the Puppy different from the plethora of other volumes about early canine development is the point of view. In a month-by-month explanation of Quid’s growth, Alexandra approaches the topic from the puppy’s point of view and how Quid settles into the daily routine of her new family, consisting of the author, her husband and son, two older dogs, and one much-beleaguered cat.

It is a real joy to follow Quid as she matures and claims her place in the household. As in all of Alexandra’s works, scientific knowledge blends seamlessly into her personal narrative.

Let's make every shelter and every community no-kill in 2025

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets.

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.

Make your community no-kill in 2025

Last year, hundreds of thousands of loving dogs and cats were killed in shelters around the country just because they didn't have a safe place to call home.

Is your community no-kill?

You can help save homeless pets

You can help end the killing in shelters and save the lives of homeless pets when you foster, adopt, and advocate for the dogs and cats who need it most.

Foster a pet

Fostering a homeless pet is a short-term commitment with a long-term impact. By opening your home to a cat for even a few days, you can save lives. 

The fun of fostering

Two happy people sitting with a cat on a couch in a home

Adopt a pet

When you adopt a homeless dog or cat from a shelter or rescue group, you’re making a lifesaving difference for a loving and grateful animal.

Adopting a pet near me

Smiling person looking at a tiny dog that they're holding

Advocate for pets

You can inspire and create local change to save the lives of dogs and cats, and to help keep them out of shelters by working with others in your community.

Defending pets near me