“Among the many canine classics I’ve read, Starter Dog is the leader of the pack. It’s a beautiful tribute to a long marriage in which kindness toward a dog unlocks stored affection between spouses. It is also a powerful meditation on the pleasures of a life spent discovering the world from a dog’s perspective instead of slogging at the office. With humor and insight, Rona proves that some things about being human are best learned from a dog. I loved this book.”—Catherine Gildiner, New York Times bestselling author of Good Morning, Monster

“As a late convert to the world of dogs myself, I devoured Rona Maynard’s gorgeous, engaging prose as fast as my pup wolfs down her morning kibble. Starter Dog is far more than a tale of a woman and her dog. This gem of a book showed me it’s still possible to find simple, everyday beauty in an uncertain world and that love and connection, discovered one daily walk at a time, beat ambition and accomplishment. I loved the heart and wisdom woven through this inspirational book, and—dog lover or not—you’ll love it too.”—Laura Davis, author of The Burning Light of Two Stars and The Courage to Heal

“An elegant and engaging tale. With this tender invitation to get to know her beloved pup Casey, Rona Maynard makes dog lovers of us all—even the most ardent of cat people like me!”—Mark Henick, mental health advocate and bestselling author of So-Called Normal