.png){kind=logo}
The Bushido of Dog
About the author
CJ Fentiman is a British-Australian author whose work has appeared in a wide range of the publications, from the Japan Times and Caravan World to Horses & People and Pets Bar.
An expert on pet travel, she has featured in the media in the UK, USA, and Australia including Readers Digest, SBS radio, Books on Asia, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, the Courier Mail, and one of the biggest blog platforms on cats, Katzenworld. Her memoir, The Cat with Three Passports, received the award in animal narrative in the 2021 International Book Awards.
Carla Francis
The Bushidō of Dog is a cultural exploration of what our four-legged companions can teach us about living with purpose. Building on the success of The Zen of Cat, author Carla Francis turns to the samurai code of Bushidō to illuminate the virtues dogs seem to practise instinctively – compassion, courage and loyalty.
Even though they don’t carry blades or wear armour, dogs often display the same noble qualities once celebrated in medieval Japan. They don’t try to be brave, or kind; they just are, and that simple example stays with you longer than most.
Across eight thematic chapters, the author blends Japanese history and folklore – from the legend of Hachikō and Hokkaido’s famous potato-selling pup to Australia’s Red Dog and Earl the blind sheepdog.
The result is a thoughtful contemplation on canines that shows how their uncomplicated approach to each moment can help us worry less, judge less, and live more.
Written with warmth, humour, and care, The Bushidō of Dog re-casts our pets as everyday sensei, offering readers practical insights for cultivating optimism, emotional strength, and deeper connection, especially on life’s “ruffest” days. You begin to realise that sometimes the best teacher is the one who simply stays by your side.
