Celebrate the dog-human bond at Bark! Fest with these bestselling authors.
By Zazie Todd PhD
Canine Blockbusters: Alexis Devine, Kerry Nichols, Teresa J. Rhyne
Celebrate the dog-human bond with these bestselling authors. Social media stars Alexis Devine and her dog Bunny examine our ability to communicate with dogs through buttons that let them “talk” in I Am Bunny. Learn the best ways to raise a puppy so that they become happy and resilient with the national bestseller Puppy Brain by Kerry Nichols. And in Poppy in the Wild, #1 New York Times bestselling author Teresa J Rhyne tells the breathtaking tale of a dog lost and then found in the wilderness.
Monday 9th September, 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern / 9pm UK time
Register here.
The event is hosted by Zazie Todd and Kristi Benson.
A recording will be available to all those who register. It will be sent out 72 hours after the live event ends.
This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you
Attendees at the live event will have the chance to win a copy of I Am Bunny by Alexis Devine, Puppy Brain by Kerry Nichols, Poppy in the Wild by Teresa J. Rhyne, and Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog by Zazie Todd.
About the books
I Am Bunny: How a “Talking” Dog Taught Me Everything I Need to Know About Being Human is by Alexis Devine, published by William Morrow.
Social media stars of @WhatAboutBunny, Alexis Devine and Bunny the “talking” dog, deliver a memoir loaded with wit and passion for animals, as well as the vulnerability and authenticity of a woman who learned to take care of herself by learning to talk to her dog
When Bunny, a fluffy, black-and-white sheepadoodle, was eight weeks old, her guardian Alexis presented her with an odd gift: a button programed to say “outside” when pressed. Within a few weeks, Bunny was using it all the time and Alexis, encouraged by Bunny’s progress, continued to introduce more buttons and more words . . .
Three years later, Bunny can now communicate using over one hundred buttons, stringing together important, relatable, philosophical phrases such as “Love you Mom,” “Dad went poop,” and “Ugh why?” In I Am Bunny, a memoir in essays and beautiful, full-color photographs, Alexis chronicles not only how Bunny learned to “talk,” but also the profound impact their journey has had on her life. Caring for Bunny has revealed to Alexis a path to self-acceptance, if not complete self-love, and as their relationship developed and their ability to communicate deepened, Alexis was able to reflect on and reframe her past traumas in a newly vulnerable and healing way. Helping Bunny through her fear and reactivity allowed Alexis to examine these qualities in herself, and as she created a safe space for Bunny, she too found space for her own healing.
Through charming anecdotes about day-to-day life with Bunny, explorations into prior animal language studies, and plenty of irreverent humor, daring, and heart, Alexis tells the story of how she and Bunny have become so inspiringly close, and explores the ancient and unique bond between dog and guardian that so many of us know leads to a deeper, more meaningful life.
Puppy Brain: How Our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love by Kerry Nichols, published by Celadon Books.
* NATIONAL BESTSELLER*
How do you raise a happy, healthy, and emotionally resilient dog? Full of actionable guidance, Puppy Brain will show you how to create a harmonious, fulfilling relationship with your pet, from Kerry Nichols, founder of Nicholberry Goldens.
Do you want to learn how to help your dog feel safe? Do you dream of owning a dog who enjoys meeting new people and exploring new places? Kerry Nichols, founder of Nicholberry Goldens, brings readers into the whelping box and onto the frontlines of a puppy’s developmental journey with her trademark clarity and wit.
With guidance about everything from crate training to spaying and neutering, Puppy Brain distills the latest insights and breakthroughs from canine research into practical, actionable, evidence-based guidance.
Through years of research into brain development and the use of intentional rearing protocols that focus on honoring a puppy’s choices and needs, Kerry has developed an approach that results in a harmonious, fulfilling relationship with our dogs rather than one steeped in rote obedience. Puppy Brain will reshape the way you think about your dog and show you how to meet your dog’s most basic needs.
With irresistible photos, clear guidance, and engaging humor, Puppy Brain reveals the best training practices based on how your dog’s mind works. As her hundreds of thousands of followers can attest, Kerry’s guidance will help you raise dogs who are confident, loving, and happy. The perfect gift for dog lovers and psychology enthusiasts alike, Puppy Brain is the definitive resource for anyone looking to raise their puppy with respect and love.
Poppy in the Wild: A Lost Dog, Fifteen Hundred Acres of Wilderness, and the Dogged Determination that Brought Her Home by Teresa J. Rhyne, published by Pegasus Books.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Dog Lived (And So Will I) comes a tale of love and devotion defying all the odds.
After losing her beloved beagle Daphne to lymphoma, author Teresa Rhyne launches herself into fostering other dogs in need, including Poppy, a small, frightened beagle rescued from the China dog meat trade. The elation of rescue quickly turns to hysteria when Poppy breaks free from a potential adopter during a torrential thunderstorm and disappears into a rugged, mountainous, 1,500 acre wilderness park, bordered by a busy road.
In the quest to find Poppy, Teresa will work with rescue specialists, volunteers, psychics, a Native American who communes with owls, helpful neighbors, decidedly unhelpful strangers, a howling woman, the police, crushing dead ends, glimmers of hope, and her own emotional and physical limits as she sits in the wind and rain in the wilderness park for hours each dusk and dawn with bags of roasted chicken and her dirty socks, the human lure for a terrified beagle and packs of less terrified coyotes.
Meanwhile, Poppy encounters heavy rains, a homeless encampment, the Sheriff and his wife, a series of strangers, speeding traffic, hawks, and, ultimately, a world of people willing to do anything to protect rather than harm her. Through an unexpected late night encounter, Poppy is finally caught. After her time in the wild, a surprisingly transformed Poppy reunites with Teresa. Now newly confident and brave Poppy is ready to be welcomed into her forever home.
About the authors
About Alexis Devine
Alexis Devine is an artist and entrepreneur hailing from Seattle, Washington. A longtime creator of wearable art before her sheepadoodle Bunny, known as “What About Bunny” on social media became an internet sensation in the fall of 2020. Videos of her communicating with assistive technology from FluentPet went viral. Bunny now has over one hundred buttons individually programmed with various words that she uses to communicate needs, wants, and even express when she is in pain. She is part of an ongoing canine cognition research study at the Comparative Cognition Lab at UCSD. These days Alexis is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer Knowledge Assessed, Licensed Family Dog Mediator, and a Fear Free Certified professional. Her goal is to further our understanding of the power of connection and importance of empathy, meeting her dogs where they are and understanding them on their terms to facilitate trust and promote an environment that supports them as the incredible creatures they are.
Follow Alexis Devine on Facebook, Instagram.
About Kerry Nichols
Kerry Nichols is a former attorney turned canine educator and advocate whose journey into the world of dogs began nearly fifteen years ago. With the founding of Nicholberry Goldens, she devoted herself to raising the healthiest Golden Retrievers possible. This evolved into a mission to instill emotional resilience and agency in her own puppies, a pursuit she now shares with an audience of hundreds of thousands of followers across social media. Her methods continue to garner support from leading veterinarians, trainers, and psychologists, and notable owners of her Goldens include executives from Facebook, Microsoft, and Tinder.
Follow Kerry Nichols on Facebook, Instagram, Substack.
About Teresa J. Rhyne
Teresa J. Rhyne is a lawyer, animal lover, coffee addict, wine devotee, writer, vegan, avid reader, and breast cancer survivor, though definitely not in that order.
Teresa J. Rhyne is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “The Dog Lived (and So Will I),” a surprisingly hilarious memoir about her dog and her both surviving cancers. The sequel, “The Dogs Were Rescued (and So Was I)” won the Pat Santi Memorial award from the Dog Writers Association of America. Her newest book, “Poppy in the Wild: a lost dog, 1500 acres of wilderness and the dogged determination that brought her home” was the “Riverside Reads 2023 book selection by the Riverside County Public Library system. Poppy in the Wild continues her tradition of writing humorously about tragedies that happen to her and her dogs. Tragedy plus time plus cute dogs, equal heartfelt comedy.
She splits her time between Riverside and Paso Robles, California, where she lives with her long-time partner, Chris, and their adorable, mischievous rescue beagles.
Website: https://teresarhyne.com/
Follow Teresa J. Rhyne on Facebook, Instagram.
For more information about Bark! Fest, subscribe to my newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time.
See the full book list for Bark! Fest.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.