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Dog Diaries Series Reading Order.

Quick Answer

Start Dog Diaries Series by James Patterson with "Dog Diaries", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

Told from the perspective of the very chatty and dramatic canine Junior, this series chronicles his adventures navigating the world of humans.

Reader's Guide

This series spans 6 main titles released between 2018 and 2013. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.

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Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Dog Diaries"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

Community Consensus

Low Debate

"The provided Reddit comments are focused entirely on discussions regarding the Hugo Awards (nominees, categories, voter conscience), fantasy/sci-fi book reviews (such as Discworld, Scholomance, Foreigner series), and short fiction recommendations. The 'Dog Diaries Series' is not mentioned or discussed by any of the commenters."

Key Reddit Advice

No recommended reading order for the 'Dog Diaries Series' could be determined, as the series is not referenced in the analyzed comments.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Dog Diaries Series conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Dog Diaries Series. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Dog Diaries" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "Dog Diaries Series" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order6 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Dog Diaries

Pub: 2018

Here's MIDDLE SCHOOL for young readers--through the eyes of Rafe Khatchadorian's misbehaving mutt, Junior! When rule-breaking Rafe has to train his new dog in obedience school, you know things are about to get really ruff!Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I've been waiting for ages to tell my story, and now it's finally happening! Being Rafe's dog isn't always easy, but it is always EXCITING! I've got so much to tell you about: -How I protect the yard from birds, raccoons, squirrels, raccoons, mail carriers...and did I mention RACCOONS? -Sniffing pooch posteriors for the latest canine news. -And the terrifying monster hiding in the hall closet: the vacuum cleaner!These were all the most paw-some parts of my doggie life--until the evil Mrs. Stricker threatened to send me back to the pound if I didn't learn to behave. Now Rafe and I have to go to obedience school and win the trophy for Best Trained Dog...or else!

2

Ruffing It

Pub: 2021

Plot details hidden until you finish "Dog Diaries".

Junior, the first dog author to make the New York Times bestseller list, tells his latest howlarious tale of going off-leash in the wilderness.​ Junior is so excited--his human family is going on vacation and this time they're taking him with them. And they're going to the most magical place in the world--THE WOODS! All the sticks you could possible want! Endless raccoons to chase! A lake to doggy-paddle in! It's a canine paradise! But all of Junior's best plans are ruined when Iona Stricker--the most miserable, cruel, and obedience-obsessed human you could ever meet--shows up and puts an end to his fun. That is, until a fugitive from the local animal shelter sneaks into camp and everything changes. This vacation might turn out to be fun after all!

3

Plot details hidden until you finish "Ruffing It".

Discover the series that inspired the Middle School movie with this hilarious installment of James Patterson's hit series starring everyone's favorite underdog, with non-stop laughs on every page. It's a dog-eat-dog world, and Rafe Khatchadorian is just trying to live in it. Life in middle school is finally starting to seem bearable-until Rafe spots his grandmother standing on the free-meal line at the local soup kitchen. In order to help bring in more money, Rafe concocts a brilliant plan: a dog-walking business that soon turns into a huge money-making neighborhood empire. He'll even have extra cash to buy his own WormHole Deluxe Multi-Platform GameBox! That is, until two terrible twins launch the Great Dog War by sabotaging Rafe's flyers and stealing his customers. Plus, his bratty kid sister Georgia has skipped a grade, so now she's in all of Rafe's classes. Throw a kid a bone!

4

Plot details hidden until you finish "Dog's Best Friend".

The Treasure Hunters race against time to recover a legendary artifact tied to a ghostly dog before a ruthless enemy claims the cursed treasure.

5

Plot details hidden until you finish "Curse Of The Mystery Mutt".

Rafe feels like a caged lion at his summer job at the zoo--until a real lion desperately needs his help. Rafe Khatchadorian is days away from sweet, sweet summer freedom until bad grades threaten to land him in . . . SUMMER SCHOOL. It's impossible to fail out of a summer job, right? Wrong. He strikes out at the zoo then grosses out at a billionaire's country club: Digging a pit for the annual clambake Scrubbing chewed bubblegum, sooty fireplaces, and . . . toilets Polishing the chrome on his boss's ATV Rafe is destined for the Failed Jobs Hall of Fame until an encounter with an endangered lion puts his wildlife knowledge to the test . . . and it's more than his grade on the line this time.

6

Plot details hidden until you finish "It's A Zoo In Here".

What would you do to win a dare war? In a humorous and insightful novel reminiscent of her award-winning titles The Thing About Georgie and Umbrella Summer, Lisa Graff tells the story of fourth-graders Kansas Bloom and Francine Halata, who start out as archenemies, until--in a battle of wits and willpower--they discover that they have a lot more in common than either would have guessed. This dual-perspective novel will appeal to girls and boys alike--and to anyone who has ever wanted anything so badly that they'd lick a lizard to get it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Dog Diaries Series series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read Dog Diaries Series?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Dog Diaries" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as James Patterson intended.

Can I read Dog Diaries Series books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the Dog Diaries Series universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.