Book Club Guide
The My Dog Is Better at This Than Me book club guide includes 11 discussion questions (one per chapter plus the epilogue), icebreaker activities, and suggestions for dog-friendly meetings — because a book about learning from dogs probably shouldn’t exclude them from the conversation.
Yes, Dogs Are Welcome at Book Club
A book about learning from dogs probably shouldn't exclude them from the conversation. If your group meets in a dog-friendly space, invite them. They won't contribute to the discussion in any conventional sense, but they will demonstrate every principle in the book while you talk about it—which, honestly, makes them the most effective guest speaker you'll ever book.
These questions are designed one per chapter, moving in the same order as the book. Each one comes with an icebreaker to loosen the group up before diving deeper. Use them all, skip around, or just read the icebreakers and call it a night. Rosie would approve of any approach that involves snacks.
What Are the Discussion Questions for My Dog Is Better at This Than Me?
One question per chapter, plus an icebreaker to get the conversation rolling.
“When was the last time you were fully, single-mindedly engaged in something? What pulled you out of it?”
“What's your 'zoomies trigger' — the thing that makes you suddenly, irrationally happy?”
“What does your inner scorecard look like, and what would it mean to set it down?”
“If your dog kept a diary about you, what would today’s entry say?”
“What's your longest-running mental replay? What would it take to shake it off?”
“Share your most embarrassing moment in 30 seconds. Notice how much less power it has out loud.”
“What daily activity have you turned into 'dead time'? What might change with full attention?”
“What's one smell that immediately makes you happy?”
“Do you feel guilty when you rest? Where did that guilt come from?”
“Describe your ideal napping position. Bonus points for adopting The Pretzel.”
“How has your world narrowed since you were younger? Where might a Dog Detour take you?”
“What's something surprising you discovered by accident?”
“What's your go-to social armor? What would happen if you showed up without it?”
“What's one thing people wouldn't guess from your public persona?”
“When did you stop playing? What childhood activity brought you pure, unproductive joy?”
“If embarrassment were no object, what would you play today?”
“How do you typically respond to compliments? Can you identify your deflection style?”
“Give each person one genuine compliment. Watch the deflections happen in real time.”
“Who are your Saturday morning people? Is there a garden you've been walking past?”
“Describe your ideal pack. Who’s in it? What does a perfect Saturday look like?”
“How does knowing your dog's time is limited change the way you experience the daily lessons?”
“What ordinary moment with your dog (or a loved one) do you want to remember forever?”
Get the Book
Need copies for your group? The book is available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover.
Keep the Conversation Going
Download Rosie's Field Guide for printable exercises that pair with each chapter, or read the first chapter free to see if the book is right for your group.