Dog’s Purpose Books In Order

Publication order of dog's purpose books, publication order of dog's purpose puppy tales books.

A Dog’s Purpose series is a series of novels by American humorist, columnist, and author William Bruce Cameron. While Cameron has written in a variety of fiction and nonfiction genres, A Dog’s Purpose series is his best known and most popular work. The first novel in the series, A Dog’s Purpose was published in 2010 with the fourth one coming out in 2015. The series is a story of love between a canine and its owners as told from the dog’s perspective. The chief protagonist in the novels is a very special puppy, Bailey that Cameron follows on a journey of life. Over the series, the dog dies, and is reincarnated several times while on a quest to find purpose for its life. William Cameron explores the world from the standpoint of a dog, which makes for a humorous yet gripping and fascinating narrative. For instance, at one time Bailey concludes that horses cannot be relied upon and that cats are completely untrustworthy. However, what makes the narrative series so poignant apart from its humor is its portrayal of the innate desires of dogs to please their oldest friends – man. What makes the novels such a popular read for animal lovers is that unlike other animal books, the lead does not die at the end, but rather is reborn as a different type of dog, but now armed with lessons from the previous life.

The concept of having an animal as the lead in a novel is not a new one having been used in works such as Aesop’s fables. In recent times, novels such as Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox and Charlotte’s Web by EB White that tell stories from animals’ perspectives have been highly popular. However, Cameron gives the Dog’s Purpose series of novels a twist by throwing in the aspect of reincarnation of the lead, which over time makes for a character that humans can relate to. While he changes his name from novel to novel, the chief protagonist never loses his consciousness of being the very same dog, Bailey. No matter the type of family, he finds himself in, he lives to discover his life’s purpose. Despite its highly unusual format, the series has received critical acclaim with the first novel topping the New York Times Bestseller list for forty-nine weeks. It has also received rave reviews from renowned sources such as Kirkus Reviews, Marty Becker who is Good Morning America’s resident veterinarian, and Temple Grandin a top expert on animal behavior. In 2011, Dreamworks announced that it will be adapting, the highly popular first novel in the series, A Dog’s Purpose into a movie by the same name. The movie set to be released in 2017 is scripted by William Cameron and stars Dennis Quaid, with Lasse Halstrom in the director’s chair.

Cameron writes an uplifting tale, narratives about redemption, joy, and purpose that come with their fair share of teary scenes of death alternating with happy reincarnations. While full of humor, these are inspiring reads that are a must read for anyone that has ever been loved or loved a dog. According to the author, the idea of a dog being reborn with all of its previous life memories came about when he got into thinking that maybe what people refer to as instinct could be memory. He argues that instinct is actually a hardwired species wide memory that comes from evolution and this may explain why dogs or other animals behave as they do. In scenes full of humor, he describes situations such as the dread of a dog when going to the vet to be neutered or sprayed, or the embarrassment of getting a head cone which. All of these emotions are because of experiences from a previous life. A Dog’s Purpose tells you everything you have ever wanted to know about a dog’s perspective, including how they feel about the family cat, boredom, family relationships, and even food. For the author the novels are about the theme of eternal love and connections we make with our animal friends and other significant people in our lives.

A Dog’s Purpose is the first novel in the series of novels that first introduced the chief protagonist. It is an extraordinary story of an adorable dog as he is on a quest for purpose over his lives. Unlike other dog stories that just explore the love between a dog and his family, this is a novel that asks one of the most important questions that almost all human societies have always asked: What is our purpose? The novel starts with the dog reincarnated as a boisterous golden puppy after coming from a life as a stray mongrel. Bailey has now been born into the family of a young boy named Ethan, an eight-year-old boy who loves him to bits. As he sets out on a new adventure with his new family, Bailey comes to discover that he may have to let go of his mongrel ways, to be the dog that his family wants to be. However, given that he knows that his life as a family pet is not going to last forever, Bailey is wondering if he would ever find his purpose, taking into account the inevitable reincarnations that always seem to present a new purpose. The story is not only insightful and heartwarming, but also a hilarious and emotional commentary of the unbreakable bonds between humans and dogs.

A Dog’s Journey is the sequel to the first novel of the series, A Dog’s Purpose. After several reincarnations, Buddy believes that he has finally fulfilled his purpose in life. Nonetheless, as he gets interested in Clarity the teenage child of the family, he becomes convinced that his purpose is to be her dog, so that he can prevent her from getting into all kinds of mischief. He is exuberant when he is given to Clarity the troubled but vibrant teenager, who he believes would benefit from having him around. When Clarity’s suddenly leaves, Buddy is thrown into a state of despair – who will stop the girl from getting into trouble? A Dog’s Journey is a heartwarming and charming narrative of unending devotion, love, and hope. It is more than just an endearing dog tale, but rather one that asks whether our pets take care of us or we take care of them.

Leave a Reply

The links beside each book title will take you to Amazon where you can read more about the book, check availability, or purchase it. As an Amazon Associate, I earn money from qualifying purchases. If you would like to link to us, Get the Code Here .

book a dog's journey

V Foundation

book a dog's journey

Are you a fan of psychological thrillers? A big fan of authors such as Gillian Flynn? These are our most recommended authors in the thriller genre, which is my personal favourite genre:

  • Freida McFadden
  • Linwood Barclay
  • Megan Goldin
  • Peter Swanson
  • Sarah Alderson
  • Shari Lapena
  • Jack Reacher
  • Court Gentry / Gray Man

I just want to thank everyone for visiting the site. Any issues at all don’t hesitate to use the contact form. To read more about the site or if you want a graphic to link to us, see the about page for more details.

Theresa Smith Writes

Delighting in all things bookish, book review: a dog’s journey by w. bruce cameron, a dog’s journey…, about the book:.

book a dog's journey

Buddy is a good dog.

After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, Buddy is sure that he has found and fulfilled it. Yet as he watches curious baby Clarity get into dangerous mischief, he is certain that this little girl is very much in need of a dog of her own.

When Buddy is reborn, he realises that he has a new destiny. He’s overjoyed when he is adopted by Clarity, now a vibrant but troubled teenager. As Clarity navigates the ups and downs of adolescence, Buddy is there to protect, cheer, rescue, and love her unconditionally. When they are suddenly separated, Buddy despairs – who will take care of his girl?

More than just another endearing dog tale, A Dog’s Journey is the moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers, that asks the question: Do we really take care of our pets, or do they take care of us?

My Thoughts:

Hollywood loves W. Bruce Cameron at the moment, but who can blame them when we all keep flocking to the cinema to watch the next dog movie! And these are great dog movies too, absolute tear jerkers (check out the movie trailer below) but also incredibly life affirming, because so much can be said through showing the bond between an animal and a human. W. Bruce Cameron is a bit of a master at this, and it’s no accident Hollywood are adapting his dog novels into movies instead of coming up with ideas from elsewhere. He has a knack for flipping the dog owner relationship around to show just how much our pets look after us through their unwavering love and devotion.

A Dog’s Journey is the sequel to the gorgeous A Dog’s Purpose, and it more than lives up to its predecessor. This is a really heartfelt story about a dog (Buddy) who takes on the responsibility to always look after his owner’s granddaughter – and in the manner we saw in A Dog’s Purpose, this involves living several lives alongside her. So it has all the feels, and being told from Buddy’s perspective adds an extra layer of poignancy. This is another one for all the family to enjoy and return to, a timeless story for all ages and for all of the dog lovers out there.

Thanks is extended to Pan Macmillan Australia for providing me with a copy of A Dog’s Journey for review.

About the Author:

W. Bruce Cameron is the New York Times bestselling author of A Dog’s Purpose and 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, which was turned into the hit ABC series.

book a dog's journey

A Dog’s Journey – Film Tie-In Edition Published by Pan Macmillan Australia Released on 26th March 2019

Film Trailer:

Share this:

6 thoughts on “ book review: a dog’s journey by w. bruce cameron ”.

A Dogs Purpose was a lovely movie, very sweet.

Like Liked by 1 person

I cried buckets!! But loved it! 😁

Gahhhhhhh!! I couldn’t possibly read this, I hide my eyes whenever I see movies about dogs, books about dogs – you can imagine my surprise on page 2 of Call Of The Wild 😫😭 hats off to you for having the emotional fortitude!

It’s a wrench at times, I love dogs so much, but he gives as many smiles as tears so it all balances out! 🐕🤗

the call of the wild is a good book!

I’ve actually never read it Hailey!

Leave a comment Cancel reply

' src=

  • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
  • Subscribe Subscribed
  • Copy shortlink
  • Report this content
  • View post in Reader
  • Manage subscriptions
  • Collapse this bar

A Dog's Journey

  • 4.6 • 738 Ratings

Publisher Description

The New York Times bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose continues his heartwarming series that perfectly captures the unconditional loving relationships between people and their loyal best friends in stories no dog lover can resist. Basis for the Major Motion Picture starring Josh Gad and Dennis Quaid! Audiences are invited along on A Dog's Journey , the next chapter of the beloved bestselling series by author W. Bruce Cameron. The family film told from the dog’s perspective serves as the much-anticipated follow-up to the soulful story of one devoted dog who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love. After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, Buddy is sure that he has found and fulfilled it. Yet as he watches curious baby Clarity get into dangerous mischief, he is certain that this little girl is very much in need of a dog of her own. When Buddy is reborn, he realizes that he has a new destiny. He's overjoyed when he is adopted by Clarity, now a vibrant but troubled teenager. When they are suddenly separated, Buddy despairs—who will take care of his girl? Directed by Gail Mancuso (TV’s Modern Family , Roseanne ), A Dog's Journey is once again produced by Gavin Polone ( A Dog’s Purpose , Zombieland ). Mancuso directs from an adapted screenplay by Cameron & Cathryn Michon and Wally Wolodarsky & Maya Forbes, based on the book by Cameron. The film from Amblin Entertainment and Walden Media will be distributed by Universal Pictures. A charming and heartwarming story of hope and unending devotion, A Dog’s Journey is the moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers. A Dog's Purpose Series #1 A Dog’s Purpose #2 A Dog’s Journey #3 A Dog's Promise Books for Young Readers Ellie's Story: A Dog’s Purpose Puppy Tale Bailey’s Story: A Dog’s Purpose Puppy Tale Molly's Story: A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale Max's Story: A Dog’s Purpose Puppy Tale Toby's Story: A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale Shelby's Story: A Dog's Way Home Novel The Rudy McCann Series The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man Repo Madness Other Novels A Dog's Way Home The Dog Master The Dogs of Christmas Emory’s Gift At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY MAR 26, 2012

In this utterly charming and often heartbreaking follow-up to A Dog's Purpose, Buddy, a faithful dog who, through numerous reincarnations has valiantly protected the lives of his humans, narrates the story of his relationship with Clarity June. Clarity's mother is negligent, so Buddy has his work cut out for him, and Clarity, while still a toddler, has already been saved from drowning, poisoning, and horse trampling when she and her mother, Gloria, leave the safety of Clarity's paternal grandmother's home for a series of increasingly bad situations. After Buddy's life ends, the pup is reborn as Molly and reunited with Clarity, now a troubled teenager called CJ with multiple insecurities and problems. CJ's self-destructive tendencies and carelessness send Molly to the great beyond, but the canine comes back, first as Max and then as Toby, each time affecting CJ's life in positive ways. Ultimately, the good dog, after years of service, learns the reward given to devoted angels masquerading as pets. Robert Frost said, "no tears in the writer, no tears in the reader"; if this is true, then Cameron must have wept buckets. Readers will devour this wonderful story and cry from beginning to end. Sweet and heartfelt, Cameron likely has another bestseller on his hands.

Customer Reviews

Cannot wait.

Loved A Dog's Purpose and absolutely cannot wait for this one! (:

A Dogs Journey

Wow! I thought this book was beautiful and heart warming! Anyone would love this book

OMG I CANNOT WAIT!

I flipped over A Dog's Purpose! Simply can't wait for this one. I'm sure this book will be as stunning.

More Books Like This

More books by w. bruce cameron, customers also bought, other books in this series.

W. Bruce Cameron

W. BRUCE CAMERON

W. Bruce Cameron is a #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author, columnist, and screenwriter. Cameron is most famous for his novel A Dog's Purpose, which spent 63 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. The book is the basis for the movie version starring Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, and Pooch Hall. A Dog's Purpose is followed by a sequel called A Dog's Journey, which W. Bruce Cameron, along with Cathryn Michon, adapted into a film of the same name. His books have been translated into over 60 languages.

book a dog's journey

A DOG'S PROMISE

A dog's way home, a dog's purpose, a dog's journey, a dog's journey.

Profile Picture

  • ADMIN AREA MY BOOKSHELF MY DASHBOARD MY PROFILE SIGN OUT SIGN IN

avatar

A DOG'S JOURNEY

by W. Bruce Cameron ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2012

This maudlin sequel is overkill.

The second half of a marathon voyage through the rhythms of life from a dog’s-eye view.

Cameron’s 2010 bestseller  A Dog’s Purpose  recounted the spiritual journey of a dog as he struggled to find meaning in his relationships with people. This sequel picks up with Buddy, the good dog who looked after his master Ethan his whole life. Shortly before dying, Buddy has a visceral reaction to toddler Clarity June, causing the pooch to rethink his position: “I loved CJ as much and in the same way as I had loved Ethan,” the dog, now reborn as “Molly,” says. “So had I been wrong that my purpose was to love Ethan?” The new poodle shepherds troubled CJ through the perils of adolescence, from a tango with bulimia to a romantic triangle. After Molly disappears, we meet Max, a hyperactive Chihuahua who falls into CJ’s lap. By now, CJ is an aspiring actress living in New York City who sidelines as (what else?) a dog walker. The novel is an undemanding but harmless retread up to this point, at which it leaps headlong into syrupy storytelling that makes  The Bridge to Terabithia  look like  Trainspotting  by comparison. CJ suffers a debilitating illness that puts her into a coma, Max meets his first cat and an old friend reenters CJ’s life at a critical juncture. No one remains unscathed in the book’s circuitous second half.

Pub Date: May 8, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-7653-3053-6

Page Count: 336

Publisher: Forge

Review Posted Online: April 1, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012

FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP

Share your opinion of this book

More by W. Bruce Cameron

A DOG'S PROMISE

BOOK REVIEW

by W. Bruce Cameron

A DOG'S WAY HOME

THE NIGHTINGALE

by Kristin Hannah ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 3, 2015

Still, a respectful and absorbing page-turner.

Hannah’s new novel is an homage to the extraordinary courage and endurance of Frenchwomen during World War II.

In 1995, an elderly unnamed widow is moving into an Oregon nursing home on the urging of her controlling son, Julien, a surgeon. This trajectory is interrupted when she receives an invitation to return to France to attend a ceremony honoring  passeurs : people who aided the escape of others during the war. Cut to spring, 1940: Viann has said goodbye to husband Antoine, who's off to hold the Maginot line against invading Germans. She returns to tending her small farm, Le Jardin, in the Loire Valley, teaching at the local school and coping with daughter Sophie’s adolescent rebellion. Soon, that world is upended: The Germans march into Paris and refugees flee south, overrunning Viann’s land. Her long-estranged younger sister, Isabelle, who has been kicked out of multiple convent schools, is sent to Le Jardin by Julien, their father in Paris, a drunken, decidedly unpaternal Great War veteran. As the depredations increase in the occupied zone—food rationing, systematic looting, and the billeting of a German officer, Capt. Beck, at Le Jardin—Isabelle’s outspokenness is a liability. She joins the Resistance, volunteering for dangerous duty: shepherding downed Allied airmen across the  Pyrenees to Spain. Code-named the Nightingale, Isabelle will rescue many before she's captured. Meanwhile, Viann’s journey from passive to active resistance is less dramatic but no less wrenching. Hannah vividly demonstrates how the Nazis, through starvation, intimidation and barbarity both casual and calculated, demoralized the French, engineering a community collapse that enabled the deportations and deaths of more than 70,000 Jews. Hannah’s proven storytelling skills are ideally suited to depicting such cataclysmic events, but her tendency to sentimentalize undermines the gravitas of this tale.

Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-312-57722-3

Page Count: 448

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: Nov. 19, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014

HISTORICAL FICTION | FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP

More by Kristin Hannah

THE WOMEN

by Kristin Hannah

THE FOUR WINDS

More About This Book

Film Productions Halted Due to Coronavirus Worry

BOOK TO SCREEN

‘The Nightingale’ Is Reese’s Book Club Pick

SEEN & HEARD

THEN SHE WAS GONE

THEN SHE WAS GONE

by Lisa Jewell ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 24, 2018

Dark and unsettling, this novel’s end arrives abruptly even as readers are still moving at a breakneck speed.

Ten years after her teenage daughter went missing, a mother begins a new relationship only to discover she can't truly move on until she answers lingering questions about the past.

Laurel Mack’s life stopped in many ways the day her 15-year-old daughter, Ellie, left the house to study at the library and never returned. She drifted away from her other two children, Hanna and Jake, and eventually she and her husband, Paul, divorced. Ten years later, Ellie’s remains and her backpack are found, though the police are unable to determine the reasons for her disappearance and death. After Ellie’s funeral, Laurel begins a relationship with Floyd, a man she meets in a cafe. She's disarmed by Floyd’s charm, but when she meets his young daughter, Poppy, Laurel is startled by her resemblance to Ellie. As the novel progresses, Laurel becomes increasingly determined to learn what happened to Ellie, especially after discovering an odd connection between Poppy’s mother and her daughter even as her relationship with Floyd is becoming more serious. Jewell’s ( I Found You , 2017, etc.) latest thriller moves at a brisk pace even as she plays with narrative structure: The book is split into three sections, including a first one which alternates chapters between the time of Ellie’s disappearance and the present and a second section that begins as Laurel and Floyd meet. Both of these sections primarily focus on Laurel. In the third section, Jewell alternates narrators and moments in time: The narrator switches to alternating first-person points of view (told by Poppy’s mother and Floyd) interspersed with third-person narration of Ellie’s experiences and Laurel’s discoveries in the present. All of these devices serve to build palpable tension, but the structure also contributes to how deeply disturbing the story becomes. At times, the characters and the emotional core of the events are almost obscured by such quick maneuvering through the weighty plot.

Pub Date: April 24, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5011-5464-5

Page Count: 368

Publisher: Atria

Review Posted Online: Feb. 5, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2018

GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE | SUSPENSE | FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | SUSPENSE

More by Lisa Jewell

NONE OF THIS IS TRUE

by Lisa Jewell

THE FAMILY REMAINS

  • Discover Books Fiction Thriller & Suspense Mystery & Detective Romance Science Fiction & Fantasy Nonfiction Biography & Memoir Teens & Young Adult Children's
  • News & Features Bestsellers Book Lists Profiles Perspectives Awards Seen & Heard Book to Screen Kirkus TV videos In the News
  • Kirkus Prize Winners & Finalists About the Kirkus Prize Kirkus Prize Judges
  • Magazine Current Issue All Issues Manage My Subscription Subscribe
  • Writers’ Center Hire a Professional Book Editor Get Your Book Reviewed Advertise Your Book Launch a Pro Connect Author Page Learn About The Book Industry
  • More Kirkus Diversity Collections Kirkus Pro Connect My Account/Login
  • About Kirkus History Our Team Contest FAQ Press Center Info For Publishers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Reprints, Permission & Excerpting Policy

© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Go To Top

Popular in this Genre

Close Quickview

Hey there, book lover.

We’re glad you found a book that interests you!

Please select an existing bookshelf

Create a new bookshelf.

We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!

Please sign up to continue.

It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!

Already have an account? Log in.

Sign in with Google

Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.

Almost there!

  • Industry Professional

Welcome Back!

Sign in using your Kirkus account

Contact us: 1-800-316-9361 or email [email protected].

Don’t fret. We’ll find you.

Magazine Subscribers ( How to Find Your Reader Number )

If You’ve Purchased Author Services

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up.

book a dog's journey

book a dog's journey

  • Crafts, Hobbies & Home
  • Pets & Animal Care

Recommended Retail Price (RRP)

Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer— no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Image Unavailable

A Dog's Journey: A Dog's Purpose Book 2

  • To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

W. Bruce Cameron

A Dog's Journey: A Dog's Purpose Book 2 Paperback – 1 June 2012

Purchase options and add-ons.

A Dog's Journey is the much-anticipated sequel to the beloved A Dog's Purpose , soon to be a major motion picture!

Buddy is a good dog.

After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, Buddy is sure that he has found and fulfilled it. Yet as he watches curious baby Clarity get into dangerous mischief, he is certain that this little girl is very much in need of a dog of her own.

When Buddy is reborn, he realises that he has a new destiny. He's overjoyed when he is adopted by Clarity, now a vibrant but troubled teenager. As Clarity navigates the ups and downs of adolescence, Buddy is there to protect, cheer, rescue, and love her unconditionally. When they are suddenly separated, Buddy despairs – who will take care of his girl?

More than just another endearing dog tale, A Dog's Journey is the moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers, that asks the question: Do we really take care of our pets, or do they take care of us?

  • Book 2 of 3 A Dog's Purpose
  • Print length 336 pages
  • Language English
  • Publisher Pan Australia
  • Publication date 1 June 2012
  • Dimensions 13.3 x 2.2 x 19.8 cm
  • ISBN-10 1742611532
  • ISBN-13 978-1742611532
  • See all details

Frequently bought together

A Dog's Journey: A Dog's Purpose Book 2

Related items viewed by customers

A Dog's Purpose

Product description

Book description, from the publisher, about the author, product details.

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pan Australia (1 June 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1742611532
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1742611532
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.3 x 2.2 x 19.8 cm
  • 163 in Dog Care & Health
  • 16,901 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
  • 30,305 in Literary Fiction (Books)

About the author

W. bruce cameron.

W. Bruce Cameron is the New York Times bestselling author of 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, The Dog Master, and the A Dog's Purpose series. In 2011 he was named Columnist of the Year by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. He lives in California.

Customer reviews

Our goal is to make sure that every review is trustworthy and useful. That is why we use both technology and human investigators to block fake reviews before customers ever see them.  Learn more

We block Amazon accounts that violate our Community guidelines. We also block sellers who buy reviews and take legal actions against parties who provide these reviews.  Learn how to report

Review this product

  • Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from Australia

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

book a dog's journey

Top reviews from other countries

book a dog's journey

  • Corporate Information
  • Press Releases
  • Amazon Science
  • Protect and build your brand
  • Independently Publish with Us
  • Sell on Amazon
  • Drive with Amazon Flex
  • Advertise Your Products
  • Associates Program
  • Host an Amazon Hub
  • COVID-19 and Amazon
  • Your Account
  • Your Orders
  • Delivery Rates & Policies
  • Returns & Replacements
  • Manage Your Content and Devices
  • Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
  • Conditions of Use & Sale
  • Privacy Notice
  • Interest-Based Ads Notice
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews

A Dog's Journey

A Dog's Journey

  • A dog finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he meets.
  • After fulfilling his purpose of taking care of Ethan, Bailey must do the same thing for Ethan's granddaughter, CJ. As CJ does everything that she can do to achieve her goal to become a musician, Bailey is able to find her again through multiple lifetimes. — RECB3
  • I. Bailey Bailey, an elderly St. Bernard/Australian shepherd mix, lives happily with his owner Ethan (Quaid) and his wife Hannah (Helgenberger), and their two year-old granddaughter Clarity June "CJ" (Emma Volk) and her mother Gloria (Giplin). Bailey, communicating with the audience via his thoughts, has a fondness for CJ. Gloria is shown to be an incompetent mother and have a hatred for dogs, as well as a dysfunctional relationship with her dead boyfriend, Henry's, parents (Hannah and Ethan), all leading her to eventually move out with CJ. Soon thereafter, Ethan discovers a lump in Bailey's stomach, and a veterinarian clinic deems he must be euthanized. Ethan holds Bailey lovingly and tells him to take care of CJ, before he is lethally injected. Bailey, now dead, is then seen running through a grassy field towards young CJ. II. Molly Bailey, who has been reincarnated as a female beagle named Molly, lives at an animal shelter. He sees a young boy named Trent (Ian Chen) and his family adopt his brother, Rocky. He also sees a young girl with him, who he recognizes is CJ, now nine years-old (Abby Ryder Forston). Bailey, remembering his promise to Ethan, runs outside to her. CJ, now living in an apartment with Gloria, takes Molly home with her and hides her from her mother. Gloria eventually sees Molly and reprimands CJ for getting a dog behind her back, but CJ persuades her mother to let her keep the dog given how neglected she feels. Over time, CJ and Molly grow increasingly close, along with Trent and Rocky. CJ, now a teenager (Prescott), reveals to Trent that she wants to drop out of high school and move to New York with her father's insurance settlement to pursue a career in music. While CJ is busy, Hannah and Ethan visit Gloria's home with a box of Henry's old belongings, wanting to see CJ. However, Gloria, still angry over their discord, closes the door on them, but not before Molly takes a liking to Ethan, and he recognizes her as Bailey and reminds him of his request to protect CJ. CJ befriends a bad boy named Shane, who Molly tries to protect her from. Shane invites her to a party, which gets busted by police for underage drinking; CJ is then sentenced to community service at a facility that teaches dogs how to diagnose cancer with their sense of smell, and Molly learns how to do this. Shane is revealed to be abusive towards CJ, and Gloria's nonchalant response and revelation that she has spent Henry's insurance settlement provokes her to leave with Molly. While driving, she discovers Shane is following her, and, in trying to avoid him, gets in an accident that kills Molly. Molly is then shown running through the same grassy field that Bailey was when he died. III. Big Dog Bailey, again reincarnated, this time as a mastiff named Big Dog, lives with his new owner, Joe, and is a guard dog at his gas station. Although he enjoys his new life, he misses CJ. One day, CJ, now a young adult, visits the convenience store, and Big Dog recognizes and engages with her. After she leaves, Big Dog lives the rest of his life missing Molly, and eventually dies. He is then shown running through the grassy field again. IV. Max Bailey, once again reincarnated, this time as a Yorkshire terrier named Max, is up for adoption during a public showing. He bites every person who shows interest in adopting him, until he sees CJ and chases her all the way to her apartment complex. CJ is reluctant to keep Max, but she learns that if Max isn't adopted by the next day, he will be sent to a pound. CJ, living with her boyfriend and working as a dog walker while building her music career on the side, adopts Max, who befriends her boyfriend's dog. Max eventually discovers that Trent, now a young adult (Lau), has moved into their apartment complex with his girlfriend (he also realizes that Rocky has since died). Max, sensing that CJ and Trent have feelings for each other, destroys CJ's relationship with her boyfriend, causing them to break up and for her to move out of his apartment and in with Trent. Soon after, Max remembers what he learned as Molly and informs CJ that he smells cancer on Trent. Max is revealed to be right, and Trent begins chemotherapy. His girlfriend eventually leaves him, leaving CJ as his primary caretaker. Eventually, Trent's doctor calls him and informs him that he is cancer-free, and CJ is visited by Gloria after not having seen her in years. She has warmed up to dogs and gives CJ some of the contents that were in Henry's box that Hannah and Ethan brought to her house during Molly's life, which are revealed to be letters that Henry wrote to Gloria while she was pregnant with CJ. These notes inspire CJ to write more songs and perform them in front of an audience, thus finally kicking off her musical career. CJ and Trent, now financially stable, travel with Max to Hannah and Ethan's farm, where they reunite for the first time since Gloria left during Bailey's life. Ethan realizes that Max is Bailey, as was Molly, and informs CJ that Bailey kept his promise and protected her. CJ realizes that Bailey has also brought her and Trent together and saved Trent's life, leading her to finally understand that Bailey, Molly, Big Dog, and Max are all the same dog. CJ and Trent embrace their love for each other, and eventually marry and have a child. Gloria also patches up her relationship with CJ, Hannah and Ethan, and Ethan dies with Max at his side. The movie ends with CJ praising Max, and all four lives Bailey has lived are seen running through the grassy field again, this time towards Ethan, and they run away into the grassy field of Heaven, departing this life as old friends.

Contribute to this page

  • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
  • Learn more about contributing

More from this title

More to explore, recently viewed.

IMAGES

  1. A Dog's Journey

    book a dog's journey

  2. a dog's journey by w bruce cameron, author and writer in the book

    book a dog's journey

  3. A Dog’s Journey: Bruce Cameron & Cathryn Michon on Collaborative Writing

    book a dog's journey

  4. Dog's Journey (reprint) (paperback) (w. Bruce Cameron) : Target

    book a dog's journey

  5. A Dog's Journey

    book a dog's journey

  6. Universal Pictures “A Dog’s Journey” Now Available On Blu-ray, Digital

    book a dog's journey

VIDEO

  1. Along the long journey

  2. How Man Gained His Best Friend

  3. A Dog's Diary

  4. How Man Gained His Best Friend

COMMENTS

  1. A Dog's Journey: A Novel (A Dog's Purpose, 2)

    Directed by Gail Mancuso (TV's Modern Family, Roseanne), A Dog's Journey is once again produced by Gavin Polone (A Dog's Purpose, Zombieland). Mancuso directs from an adapted screenplay by Cameron & Cathryn Michon and Wally Wolodarsky & Maya Forbes, based on the book by Cameron. The film from Amblin Entertainment and Walden Media will be ...

  2. A Dog's Journey (A Dog's Purpose, #2) by W. Bruce Cameron

    A Dog's Journey is a great story, a great sequel, and one of the best books written about dogs. The first book, A Dog's Purpose is the kind of emotional gut-wrench to a dog owner like me that makes you proud to care for a canine, and proud of the loyalty they show to us.

  3. A Dog's Journey

    A Dog's Journey is a 2012 book written by W. Bruce Cameron and published by Forge Books. It is the sequel to Cameron's 2010 book A Dog's Purpose. The film of the same name was released in May 2019. Plot. Buddy feels as if he has served his purpose by taking care of his deceased master, Ethan when he was alive, and Hannah and Ethan's other ...

  4. A Dog's Journey: A Novel (A Dog's... by Cameron, W. Bruce

    A Dog's Journey attempts to carry on that story; but in adhereing too closely to the format established by the first book, Journey loses it's ability to surprise readers. As the story of the dog progresses, were are again treated to tales of multiple reincarnations. The major difference is that in Purpose, some of those lives didn't involve the ...

  5. A Dog's Journey: A Novel|Paperback

    W. BRUCE CAMERON is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose, A Dog's Way Home, and A Dog's Journey (all now major motion pictures), The Dog Master, A Dog's Promise, the Puppy Tales for young readers (starting with Ellie's Story and Bailey's Story), The Dogs of Christmas, The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man, and others.He lives in California.

  6. A Dog's Purpose

    A Dog's Purpose is a 2010 novel written by American author W. Bruce Cameron.It chronicles a dog's journey through four lives via reincarnation and how he looks for his purpose through each.. The novel was a New York Times bestseller for 49 weeks, garnering critical praise from such sources as Temple Grandin, famous for her study of cattle behavior; Kirkus Reviews; and Marty Becker, resident ...

  7. A Dog's Journey: A Novel

    A Dog's Journey: A Novel. W. Bruce Cameron. Macmillan, May 8, 2012 - Fiction - 336 pages. The New York Times bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose continues his heartwarming series that perfectly captures the unconditional loving relationships between people and their loyal best friends in stories no dog lover can resist.

  8. A Dog's Journey (2019)

    A Dog's Journey: Directed by Gail Mancuso. With Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Kathryn Prescott, Marg Helgenberger. A dog finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he meets.

  9. A Dog's Journey (A Dog's Purpose) Paperback

    A Dog's Journey (A Dog's Purpose, 2) £9.19. (7,700) Only 14 left in stock (more on the way). From W. Bruce Cameron, the author of A Dog's Purpose, the phenomenal New York Times Number One bestseller about the unbreakable bond between a dog and their human. Now a major film starring Dennis Quaid. Buddy is a good dog.

  10. A Dog's Journey

    A Dog's Journey - The Instant New York Times Bestseller! This novel, told from a dog's perspective, has the highest reader-ranking of any recent New York Times Bestseller.This is the highly anticipated sequel to A Dog's Purpose. A Dog's Journey picks up right where A Dog's Purpose left off—with Buddy, an aging Labrador, pondering his life and concluding he's a good dog.

  11. Dog's Purpose

    Publication Order of Dog's Purpose Puppy Tales Books. A Dog's Purpose series is a series of novels by American humorist, columnist, and author William Bruce Cameron. While Cameron has written in a variety of fiction and nonfiction genres, A Dog's Purpose series is his best known and most popular work. The first novel in the series, A Dog ...

  12. A Dog's Journey: A Novel (A Dog's Purpose series Book 2)

    A Dog's Journey is the second book in the A Dog's Purpose series and it continues right where A Dog's Purpose leaves off. I wouldn't say A Dog's Purpose ends in a cliffhanger necessarily but I could tell there was more to the story. A Dog's Journey starts out with a dog named Buddy and we see how his spirit appears in a few other dogs.

  13. Book Review: A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron

    A Dog's Journey… About the Book: Buddy is a good dog. After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, Buddy is sure that he has found and fulfilled it. ... A Dog's Journey is the sequel to the gorgeous A Dog's Purpose, and it more than lives up to its predecessor. This is a really heartfelt story about a dog (Buddy) who ...

  14. Amazon.com: A Dog's Journey: Cameron, W. Bruce: Books

    A Dog's Journey Hardcover - Bargain Price, May 8, 2012. by W. Bruce Cameron (Author) 4.8 8,062 ratings. Book 2 of 3: A Dog's Purpose. See all formats and editions. Direct sequel to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron Buddy is a good dog. After searching for his purpose through several eventful ...

  15. ‎A Dog's Journey on Apple Books

    The New York Times bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose continues his heartwarming series that perfectly captures the unconditional loving relationships between people and their loyal best friends in stories no dog lover can resist. Basis for the Major Motion Picture s…

  16. A Dog's Purpose Series

    The book is the basis for the movie version starring Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, and Pooch Hall. A Dog's Purpose is followed by a sequel called A Dog's Journey, which W. Bruce Cameron, along with Cathryn Michon, adapted into a film of the same name. His books have been translated into over 60 languages.

  17. A DOG'S JOURNEY

    The second half of a marathon voyage through the rhythms of life from a dog's-eye view. Cameron's 2010 bestseller A Dog's Purpose recounted the spiritual journey of a dog as he struggled to find meaning in his relationships with people. This sequel picks up with Buddy, the good dog who looked after his master Ethan his whole life.

  18. A Dog's Journey: W. Bruce Cameron: 9781447218906: Amazon.com: Books

    There is a newer edition of this item: A Dog's Journey (A Dog's Purpose) $15.47 (8,065) In Stock. BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering. Read more. Report an issue with this product or seller.

  19. A Dog's Journey

    The film from Amblin Entertainment and Walden Media will be distributed by Universal Pictures. A charming and heartwarming story of hope and unending devotion, A Dog's Journey is the moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers. A Dog's Purpose Series. #1 A Dog's Purpose. #2 A Dog's Journey.

  20. A Dog's Journey: A Dog's Purpose Book 2

    Paperback - 1 June 2012. A Dog's Journey is the much-anticipated sequel to the beloved A Dog's Purpose, soon to be a major motion picture! Buddy is a good dog. After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, Buddy is sure that he has found and fulfilled it. Yet as he watches curious baby Clarity get into dangerous mischief, he ...

  21. A Dog's Purpose Series by W. Bruce Cameron

    A Dog's Purpose Series. 3 primary works • 4 total works. No one understands man's best friends quite like #1 New York Times bestselling author W. Bruce Cameron, whose Dog's Purpose Novels give insight into the unconditional love and loyalty canines naturally share with the humans in their lives. Told from a dog's-eye perspective over the ...

  22. A Dog's Journey (2019)

    CJ, now a teenager (Prescott), reveals to Trent that she wants to drop out of high school and move to New York with her father's insurance settlement to pursue a career in music. While CJ is busy, Hannah and Ethan visit Gloria's home with a box of Henry's old belongings, wanting to see CJ. However, Gloria, still angry over their discord, closes ...

  23. Amazon.com: A Dog's Journey: A Novel: 9781427222893: Cameron, W. Bruce

    A Dog's Journey: A Novel Audio CD - Unabridged, May 8, 2012. by W. Bruce Cameron (Author), George K. Wilson (Reader) 4.8 8,064 ratings. See all formats and editions. Direct sequel to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. Buddy is a good dog. After searching for his purpose through several eventful ...