I have a deep love for old dogs. Maybe it is because, for the most part, they’re nice and mellow. Old dogs seem to reach an age of maturity and you can see it in them. They’re wiser, more experienced and, for better or worse, set in their ways.

I recently picked up Gene Weingarten and Michael Williamson’s 2008 book Old Dogs: are the best dogs and I can absolutely, without a doubt, say that it is one of the sweetest dog books I’ve read. According to the Amazon Editorial Review

This book is a tribute to every dog who has made it to that time of life when the hearing and eyesight begin to go, when the step becomes uncertain, but when other, richer traits ripen and coalesce. It is when a dog attains a special sort of dignity and a charm all his own.

Face it, the lives of our furry family members is fleeting at best. It is almost unfair that we humans live 4-5 times longer than our pets. But when we live with them and see them as they age we can’t help but feel that, no matter what, they have enriched our lives and have become a part of us.

If we’re lucky we’ve been able to watch our friends grow from a sprawling young mass of paws, teeth and fur filled with limitless energy to the more sure footed, graying old timers. Looking through the book and reading the stories reminds you how much you appreciate your friend’s life. Undoubtedly, you’ve been through much with your dog and Weingarten does a phenomenal job of telling anecdotes that you can relate to. When you look at the black and white images throughout the book and read of the dogs exploits and experiences you’ll see and feel that you’ve somehow seen your dog in this book.

There is also a companion website, Old Dogs: A book in progress. If you get the opportunity, look through the other dogs pictures and stories. It is a great read and will be sure to spark thoughts and memories of you and your pooch.