“Who’s Your Doggy”: This Artist Interviewed Dogs And Compiled Their Heartwarming Stories In A Book (22 New Pics)

“My full name is Bennie and the Jets, which sounds like I should be doing something important. The truth is, I already am.”

“I’ve heard people call me slow. Around here they even joke that I move at ‘grandma speed.’ They’re not entirely wrong.”

“Some people call me stubborn, but I prefer determined. If my family goes away for a few days, don’t expect me to act like nothing happened the second they get home.”

“I don’t understand when people say I’m a dog. I mean sure, I look a little different, walk on four legs, and for some reason still haven’t figured out how to physically talk, but other than that, I’m basically the same as Erica and Aiden.”

“My mom, Shey, says I’m dramatic. I prefer… decisive. I know what I like, what I don’t like, and I’m not afraid to share my opinion. Loudly. Repeatedly, if necessary.”

“For example, dinner is at five, which means negotiations begin promptly at 4:30. Butt scratches are not optional.”

“I still bunny-hop when I run, my back end occasionally wanders off in its own direction, and slippery floors and I have agreed we’re better off giving each other a little space. None of that ever seemed like a good reason to stop living.”

“I may have a lot of hair and a certain elegance about me, but underneath all this glamour is a girl who likes to know exactly what’s going on.”

“I was made to walk. Not just to move, but to glide, to carry myself in a way that makes people pause without quite knowing why.”

“And when I sleep, I see no reason I shouldn’t get half of the king-sized bed. Mom and Dad can split the rest.”

“But my favourite place is the front seat beside Mom. I’m pretty determined about getting it, because once we’re moving, I put my paw in her hand. I don’t need help balancing. I just like holding hands.”

“My mom, Dana, times races for a living, which means most weekends are spent around finish lines, stressed volunteers, tangled wires, nervous runners, and people asking questions every three seconds. Naturally, I go with her. Somebody has to keep the team focused.”

“I love the water. The bigger the splash, the better. Give me a lake, a fountain or a garden hose and I’ll happily chase it for hours.”

“These days, my territory is Bath & Brush Co., where I hold the very important position of Head Security. Every dog who walks through that door gets inspected. Most are dismissed rather quickly. I have standards.”

“That’s why I love piñatas so much. I don’t even care if there’s anything inside. Rip the cardboard, make a mess, wag your tail, celebrate like something wonderful just happened.”

“I know when people aren’t okay. I always have… maybe because I wasn’t okay once.”

“After breakfast, I proudly parade around with my Toy of the Week. Right now it’s a rainbow snake skin, and yes, everyone is expected to admire it.”

“For the first time, I could really breathe. My tail started to lift, and one day it just… wagged.”

“Every morning around 4:00 a.m., I begin my rounds by placing my chin on the side of the bed and staring directly at her until she wakes up. I like to think of it as a gentle performance review.”

“Most dogs are perfectly happy with four paws on the ground. I’ve never understood that. The best views are always higher.”

“In this house, I am not simply loved, I am the sun. Everything else orbits around me, and I carry that naturally, and without apology.”

“They named me Bandit. I never quite fit the part. From the very beginning, I was the one sitting in the middle of the chaos, watching it settle.”