The Forever Dog by Karen Becker and Rodney Habib

The Forever Dog is a non-fiction book by Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker, published by HarperCollins in 2021. It examines why dogs have been getting sicker and dying prematurely in recent decades, drawing on research from geneticists, microbiologists, and longevity researchers to build a case across four areas: nutrition and food, movement, environmental exposure, and stress reduction. The authors interviewed owners whose dogs lived into their twenties and thirties, using those cases to illustrate the practical application of the longevity principles outlined. The book reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list and also appeared on the Sunday Times bestseller list.

The central argument is that standard commercial pet food formulations, everyday lifestyle choices, and household environmental factors contribute collectively to shortened canine lifespans — and that evidence-based adjustments across each area can meaningfully extend a dog's healthspan. The book examines what commercial pet food manufacturers typically omit from their marketing, and provides a framework owners can apply when evaluating feeding decisions. It is written for engaged general readers rather than veterinary professionals, with references to scientific literature supporting its recommendations. This is a research and advocacy text rather than a recipe guide; owners looking for practical meal preparation content are directed to the companion volume, The Forever Dog Life.

About the Authors

Rodney Habib is a public speaker, filmmaker, and the founder of Planet Paws, the largest pet health page on Facebook. He established the Paws for Change Foundation to support animal nutrition and lifestyle research, and produced the documentary The Dog Cancer Series: Rethinking the Canine Epidemic. His TEDx talk on pet health is among the most viewed in the field.

Dr. Karen Shaw Becker is a veterinarian and small animal clinician with a focus on species-appropriate nutrition and proactive preventive care. The most-followed veterinarian on social media, she received the Stange Award from Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2023 for her contributions to the profession.