Books like A dog on his own by Mary Jane Auch

Where the Red Fern Grows is a 1961 classic children’s adventure that follows a young boy who raises two hunting dogs in the Ozark Mountains, a heart‑warming tale of friendship, growing up, and the challenges of loss.

When ten‑year‑old Opal arrives in Naomi, Florida, she discovers friendship, community, and the healing power of a big ugly dog named Winn‑Dixie during her first summer in town.

Marty Preston finds a stray beagle named Shiloh and befriends him, but the dog’s abusive owner, Judd Travers, threatens the boy’s family. Marty must protect Shiloh, exploring childhood courage and animal welfare.

A devoted dog reflects on life, love, and racing while watching his owner, a race car driver, navigate family trials and professional ambition.

Lucky, a lone dog in the bustling city, must join a group of separated Leashed Dogs to survive a devastating earthquake.

Two animal best friends, a curious dog named Houndsley and a clever cat named Catina, team up to win a friendly contest of cooking and storytelling.

A 5th‑grade girl who stops speaking must navigate grief, family silence, and unexpected friendships—including a homeless man, a disabled boy, and a faithful dog—to find her voice again.

Max, a yellow Labrador Retriever, searches for Madame Curie to find his missing humans in a world where all humans have vanished, facing dangers like angry wolves, subway rats, and a supposed 'perfect' society for dogs called the Corporation.

Six engaging tales follow three best‑friend toys as they embark on playful adventures that celebrate friendship and imagination.

When Kim moves to a bustling city, she must navigate new friendships while desperately searching for her lost dog, Chip.

A lonely girl who moves to a new town shelters a magic‑powered wolf cub and friends a neighbor’s boisterous puppy.

A humble baker’s daughter and a well‑meaning stray dog each lead quiet, lonely lives until a stormy encounter brings them together, weaving friendship and hope into their small town.

The latchkey dog follows Sam, a young single‑parent child whose mother must work, leaving their playful dog Amber alone in the house. Together they learn to navigate the challenges of responsibility and companionship.

Ottoline Brown and her friendly bog‑creature companion, Mr. Munroe, investigate a jewel heist, missing lap dogs, and a mysterious yellow cat in this humorously illustrated children’s detective tale.

While vacationing in the Seychelles, Tim finds a hidden private island and uncovers a corrupt scheme that endangers the region’s giant tortoises.

A boy and his dog set out on an adventurous hunt to recover the park’s stolen hot dogs.

Three parallel tales of loss and longing: an orphaned dog named Bone seeks a home, a grieving boy named Charlie learns to cope with a sibling’s death, and a lonely boy named Henry yearns for a pet that could change his life.

In 1860s Texas hill country, a boy recounts the trials of a mischievous yellow dog who becomes part of his family's ranch life.

The story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life. Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans. John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wriggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same. Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, and stole women's undergarments. Obedience school did no good--Marley was expelled. And yet his heart was pure. Just as Marley joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. A dog like no other, Marley remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.

Popeye, a dog, and Elvis, an older boy, embark on an adventure in Fayette, South Carolina.