The A Dog’s Guide To... series takes the plainest, most reliable teachers we’ve ever had—our dogs—and turns their instincts into plain-spoken wisdom for marriage, caregiving, and the rooms of life that matter most.
Years ago at their house on Darby, Candace set a plate of dinner in front of her husband Ron right after feeding the dogs. Moments earlier, the dogs had celebrated their bowls like a banquet; Ron barely looked up from the table.
When she teased him that he ought to take a cue from the dogs, Ron immediately jumped up from his chair, clapped his hands, wrapped her in a hug, and shouted, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Both of them dissolved into laughter — and a simple household joke became the lens for an entire book series.
“In twenty-six years of marriage, no one has taught me more about showing up than dogs who’ve never once held a grudge.”
Fourteen chapters trace how dogs turn ordinary daily moments into lasting affection. The introduction and opening chapters are drafted in Candace's private manuscript desk:
Whether you were gone eight hours or stepped out to check the mail, a dog meets you like you are the best part of their day — a four-second doorway habit that resets the whole house.
Born from Ron's applause at the dinner table on Darby: how noticing the meal in front of you — homemade roast, burgers on the grill, or takeout — honors the person who cared for you.
Book One: Marriage
14 lessons on welcomes, forgiveness, play & loyalty
Book Two: Caregiving
Quiet companionship and staying close on hard days
Future Volumes
Grief, friendship, patience & starting over
Every chapter begins with the dogs who have shared Candace and Ron's home. Gabriel and Mikey's portraits are on the wall; Bogart, Monroe, and Daisy Scout have their arched bookplates reserved.
Part of the Story household pack—teaching quiet presence and soulful devotion from the living room ottoman.
Always ready at the door with a favorite pink plush toy and whole-body enthusiasm.
Some of the best chapters in this series start as a true story from a reader’s home. Send your dog story—and a photo if you have one—for consideration in the books.
How reader submissions work:
Modeled after Chicken Soup for the Soul, Candace pays $200 for every reader story that is accepted and published in a book in the series. Submissions stay private in her editorial inbox and are never posted publicly on this website.
Select any prompt below to open the submission desk with that topic pre-selected:
Candace Story
Gabriel • Mikey • Bogart • Monroe • Daisy Scout
Candace Story has spent twenty-six years learning what makes people stay—in homes, in careers, and in marriage. Most of that education came from her dogs and a marriage of her own to Ron in the Atlanta area.
Whether you are newly married, celebrating decades together, or learning how to care for someone through a tender season, her books are written to make love lighter, warmer, and a great deal more fun — reminding us that the wisest teacher in the house is often the one curled up at our feet.