The Forever Dog Life by Karen Becker and Rodney Habib

The Forever Dog Life is a hardcover companion volume to The Forever Dog, written by Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker and published by HarperCollins. Where the first book establishes the research basis for canine longevity, this volume focuses on practical application through the authors' L.I.F.E. framework — Lifestyle, Ideal Microbiome, Food, and Environment and Stress. It contains over 120 recipes for food bowls, fresh toppers, broths, stews, and DIY treats, alongside instructions for non-toxic household cleaning products, natural lawn care solutions, and homemade pet grooming preparations including shampoos, skin rinses, and flea treatments. The book is fully illustrated in colour across more than 275 pages.

The recipe content is designed to complement commercial feeding rather than replace it outright, with variations for different life stages and activity levels. Dogs and cats are both covered. The book does not address specific medical conditions and is not intended as a therapeutic or veterinary dietary guide — owners managing dogs with diagnosed health conditions should consult a veterinarian before making significant dietary changes. The L.I.F.E. framework is presented as a general approach for owners who want to introduce fresh whole foods and reduce household environmental toxin exposure, rather than as a clinical protocol.

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.