I am the perfect audience for this! As a dog lover, this book was everything I wanted it to be and made me want to just immediately go hug my fur babies. Fur mommas (and papas!) I highly recommend!

This book was excellent. I had recently lost my dog and was struggling with my grief. This book was what I needed and more. It started with our connection when dogs are still puppies and takes us to that moment where we sometimes have to make the hardest decision and say goodbye. She also talks about just how much the connection with dogs helps us as humans and allows us both to grow and be better versions of ourselves. This book is perfect for the dog lover in your life

A sweet read about the bond between dogs and their humans. It however quite the tearjerker. But it was worth reading.

I have been a longtime follower of Jen Golbeck and The Golden Ratio, so when I heard about this book I was immediately enthusiastic to read it. Does this make me slightly biased? Perhaps. Even so, the book is a wonderful combination of science and personal stories all about (as the subtitle states) the canine connection between humans and dogs. Sometimes co-authored books can seem uneven, but I thought Jen and Stacey's collaboration worked well here. I highly recommend this book to dog owners and enthusiasts alike.

“Dogs bring a purity to all they encounter. We don’t deserve dogs, and yet they continue to bring their magic to our lives and make us better versions of ourselves.”

Indeed. And what could be better than reading this heartwarming book about dogs - except perhaps, dogs themselves, in all their glorious dogginess.

Coupled with appendices featuring meticulously footnoted research (and a recipe for pupcakes), the authors lead us on on a fascinating journey across a slobbery slice of health, psychology and sociology, as we learn the myriad of ways humans and dogs deliver joy, stability, safety, nurturance and emotional solace, reciprocally and intrinsically, as we interact with each other. Which corresponds directly to a whole host of hugely positive health outcomes, documented here, with an impressive collection of both research studies, and charming anecdotal pet stories.

Somehow the authors: Jen, PHD, a Professor, scientist, and popular social media star at #thegoldenratio4, whose work in the rescue of hurting Golden Retrievers will warm you to your core; and Stacey, MS, a science writer and dog enthusiast; manage to deliver both a compelling scientifically-dense analysis, and a deeply emotionally satisfying one.

For this reader, an unapologetic celebrant of dogs (mine, yours, and all others), couldn’t help but be profoundly touched and exhilarated by the stories and data in this lovely book.

Bring on the dogs!

A great big thank you to #Netgalley, the publisher #simonschusterCA, and the authors for an ARC of this book.

I loved this book. As a dog-owner/pet parent, I'm always looking for ways to understand more about my dog and my relationship to her. Goldbeck and Colino discuss what makes the bond so pure. The book also talks about things like the benefits we get from having dogs, and how dogs can help with things like emotional regulation. I really enjoy this book and would recommend it as a gift for any pet owner.

I am an avid dog lover and animal lover and when this book came across NetGalley as an ARC, I was so incredibly excited to apply for it. I loved diving into the deep bond between dogs and their humans. I appreciated this book helped to balanced the science with stories and examples. I have two fur-kids and this book has opened my eyes in new ways to appreciate some of the nuance of their action and how I can be a better fur-mom in return.
There are light hearted moments and incredibly touching moments as well. I do believe my pup Argos has been a lifesaver during some of my most difficult times and the bond I have with him is one I cherish every day. I whole-heartedly support reading this book if you are interested in delving into the companionship bond between dogs and their human family and even how to process the loss when it is time to let them go.

Told so well and an informative read, I found myself learning more and more with each chapter and really putting to the test what I learned through my observations and interactions with the dogs I volunteer with.

3.5 stars. As a dog lover, I always enjoy learning more about our four-legged furry family members, and this book included interesting research, facts and statistics about dogs and their PAW-sitive impacts on our lives. There were sweet and heartwarming stories woven throughout the book about how dogs improve our quality of life, happiness and health. However, I must admit that the book started to become a bit lackluster for me about 3/4 of the way through. I especially found it difficult to continue picking it up to read each evening while reading the chapters about caring for aging pets and coping with their loss. Perhaps though, if I was personally experiencing this particular stage of dog ownership, I would have made a deeper and more resonating connection with those particular chapters. Overall I enjoyed this book, and recommend it for dog lovers who enjoy a good dog story and want to learn some interesting new facts and stats about our furry friends. NOTE: I received a free eBook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished this last night (advance readers copy) and it did not disappoint. I laughed, I cried, I annotated (for realz), and I learned. This would make a great holiday gift for any dog lover in your life. The Goldens I constantly talk about that are living their best lives in the Keys? It's their mom that wrote this book. The dog on the cover? Her name is Venkman and we're trying to get her on the NYT bestseller list.

I didn't think I could love and appreciate my dogs more than I already did, but this book helped make our bond even greater. Definitely for all dog lovers and those thinking of getting a dog.

Filled with lots of beautiful stories of dogs and their humans, this book covers a lot of the psychology of dogs in a heartfelt easy to read way. It would make a fantastic primer for being a dog foster and a must read for anyone interested in adding a dog to their household.

Let me begin by saying I do not have a dog. I have 3 cats. I have not had a dog since being a teen. But I am a lover of internet dogs, especially The Golden Ratio dogs. I've been a follower since right around when Riley joined the squad, so the stories of the wonderful goldens really got me good.
This book is part how-to of raising a dog, part science lesson, part dog stories, and it does a great job with all three! The authors are very good at weaving personal stories about their dogs into the more scientific information of how dogs and humans coexist together.
I especially enjoyed the chapters about kids bonding with dogs. The ending chapters about grief were also excellent and heartbreaking. I feel that the advice about losing a dog can also be applied to cats, and helped me with some of my grief about our cat who passed a few years ago.
Overall, this book will be loved by dog lovers, dog owners, and dog wanters.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book! (I have the audiobook preordered so Jen can read it to me too!)

i am a HUGE dog lover (so much so that i used to read the AKC books with all the dog breeds in them as a kid). i always enjoy learning more about dogs, mostly because i want to know what my dog is thinking. this was a great book about the unique bond between people and dogs. i highlighted a lot of interesting facts in this book that i hadn’t known before. i could relate to a lot of the quotes, especially about how dog owners treat their dog like a family member (dogs have always been in my family since i was a baby). i liked how this book was structured—how it had a mixture of journalistic studies and anecdotes to illustrate their points. it was very easy to understand. i would recommend this if you love dogs and want to learn more about what makes the connection between dogs and humans so unique!

thank you to Netgalley, the authors, and Atria books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Did you see a beautiful doggo (her name is Venkman, by the way) on the cover of this book and wonder if this was really a good read? I'm here to let you know this is a good read to better understand your dog and grow your bond. This book goes over what to expect when you bring a new dog into your lives, what to expect when the end comes and everything in between. The in between also includes many notes about studies that show how helpful dogs can be, in all sorts of situations for their humans. I can definitely attest to a lot of this personally, so the authors and studies are not wrong. The mentioning of the names and where the study was done is definitely necessary to give people credit for their work, but it also made it feel a wee bit like a textbook at times. And if you are familiar with Jen because of the Golden Ratio and have been a long time follower, the dedication will make you smile and make your eyes misty. I believe every dog who has been a part of the squad prior to 2023 got some sort of mention, mostly in the most heartwarming of ways, as did Stacey's dogs and so many other dogs.

The Purest Bond by Jen Golbeck and Stacey Colino solidifies for anyone who has ever owned a dog, loved a dog, or even been with a dog, what they already know- the bond between dogs and humans is real. This book explores the science behind that bond, and shows that dogs can be healing not only emotionally but physically. The research that went into the book is extensive, but it is presented in such a way that makes it interesting and engaging. Along with the explanation of the scientific studies are real life stories about dogs and the people who love them. If you are on the fence about whether a dog would fit into your family, this book will definitely help you realize that you definitely need a dog! It is a quick, enjoyable read that will make you want to pet and cuddle the closest dog you can find.

This was such a heart warming book filled with cute stories and snippets of meaningful insight into our companion’s behavior. I feel closer to my dogs because of reading this, and I can’t wait to purchase a copy for my mother in law.

This book is a keeper! It's the best that I've read about the dog and human bond!
I enjoyed reading it very much!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book!

I received a copy of "The Purest Bond" from NetGalley. Jen Golbeck and Stacey Colino writes of taking care of a dog, and what they can bring to a person. I am a huge dog lover. Cannot imagine my life without the joy a dog brings to our lives. This book touches on many subjects that involve having a dog in your home. From bringing the dog into your home and the time it may take for them to get used to their new home. The bond you can form with a dog. What emotional support they can be for a person. There are many chapters each focusing on having a dog in your home from the beginning to the end of their lives and how hard it can be when they die.
There is a lot of good stuff to read in The Purest Bond. Dog lovers may enjoy.!