With her unmistakable blend of humor, tenderness, and painterly soul, Alison Friend has long captured what dog lovers know instinctively: that every dog carries a universe of feeling behind their eyes. In her new book, Dog Only Knows, Friend gathers a striking collection of her painted dog portraits—each one brimming with personality, vulnerability, and quiet wit. What began as a lifelong love of dogs and painting has become a dream realized in book form, offering readers an intimate look at the stories, expressions, and emotional depth that define her work.
In this DOGUE Exclusive, we spoke with Alison about the portraits she holds closest, the cover that stole her heart, and the moments of connection that make painting dogs such a meaningful practice.
DOGUE: What inspired “Dog Only Knows” and why did you choose dogs as your subjects?
Alison: As a life long dog lover and painter of dogs making a compilation of my recent portraits seemed like a natural thing to do. Making an art book full of my paintings has been a dream come true.
DOGUE: What is your absolute favorite pet portrait of the book, and why? If you can’t pick just one, feel free to pick three.
Alison: Here’s three that I love. All for different reasons.
Douglas– that dog’s face just makes me laugh. In fact the whole idea for that piece had me chuckling to myself throughout the painting of it.
He was lost without Donkey – I think you can see into this little pups soul. It’s all in the eyes don’t you think? He might be my absolute favourite.
Little Jane – I love this piece because everything came together… the palette, the composition, I was so happy with the way I painted it. It’s one of those pieces that I look at and think – how did I do that? It was painted as a gift and it’s often the case that when I paint gifts they turn out well. Maybe it’s because I pour a bit more love into them?? I don’t know.
DOGUE: Tell us about the cover, and why you chose that one, in particular. Is there a story behind this portrait?
Alison: We had a little back and forth with the publisher about the cover. The idea was for Pizza Lover to be the cover star initially but then Jane the designer at Artisan sent over a mock up of Dog In A Gilet with the title across his middle. I fell in love with it and almost immediately knew I had to paint him from the back for the back cover.
Dog In A Gilet was a tiny painting I did a few years ago and when I was in New York for my recent exhibition, someone came up to get their book signed and told me they were the owner of the original painting and she showed me a photo of where he sits in her house.
It’s very rare I get to meet the buyers of my originals so that was really nice. Especially lovely as it was the little cover star Dog In a Gilet.
DOGUE: Is there a dog-themed exhibit connected to the book, or plans for one in the future? If so, we’d love to hear more.
Alison: The next time I am exhibiting will be at the London Art Fair in January but I have something on exciting things to announce in the coming months. I think that book lovers will be pleased.
In Dog Only Knows, Alison Friend reminds us that dogs are not merely muses, but mirrors—reflecting humor, longing, joy, and quiet devotion in ways words often cannot. Through paint, she captures fleeting expressions and unspoken emotions, inviting us to pause, look closer, and feel more deeply. As her work continues to find new homes, new readers, and new admirers, one thing remains certain: these portraits do more than depict dogs—they honor the bond we share with them, in all its tenderness and mystery.
Learn more at alisonfriend.com.