If you are searching for the Dog Man books in order, you are in the right place. Dav Pilkey’s blockbuster graphic novel series follows Dog Man, a crime-fighting hero with the head of a dog and the body of a police officer, as he takes on villains, learns life lessons, and wins over young readers everywhere. Below you will find every main-series book in publication order, from the 2016 debut to the newest release, plus the spinoff titles and reading tips that help new fans start in the right place.
All Dog Man Books in Order
The series should be read in publication order, since characters, friendships, and running storylines build from one book to the next. Here is the complete list, according to the publisher:
- Dog Man (2016) — the origin story that introduces Dog Man, Chief, and the mischievous Petey the Cat.
- Dog Man: Unleashed (2016) — Dog Man’s canine instincts get him into trouble while Petey hatches a new scheme.
- Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties (2017) — a look-alike causes confusion, and an important new kitten arrives.
- Dog Man and Cat Kid (2017) — the heroes face a movie-loving villain with a taste for destruction.
- Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas (2018) — Petey’s clones stir up chaos around the city.
- Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild (2018) — Dog Man lands in jail and has to prove his innocence.
- Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls (2019) — a ball-obsessed crook and a lesson about kindness take center stage.
- Dog Man: Fetch-22 (2019) — Li’l Petey’s comic club creates heroes of its own while Dog Man faces a super-powered foe.
- Dog Man: Grime and Punishment (2020) — Dog Man’s good deeds are sabotaged by a smelly new villain.
- Dog Man: Mothering Heights (2021) — family, forgiveness, and one of the series’ most emotional entries.
- Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea (2023) — an undersea adventure with giant stakes.
- Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder (2024) — a mysterious new villain and a shifting status quo.
- Dog Man: Big Jim Begins (2024) — the first half of an origin story for a longtime fan-favorite character.
- Dog Man: Big Jim Believes (2025) — the origin story concludes with heart and humor.
- Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time (2026) — the newest entry in the series, released in November 2026.
What Is Dog Man About?
According to the publisher, Scholastic, Dog Man began life as a comic created by George and Harold, the prankster heroes of Pilkey’s Captain Underpants books — making Dog Man a spinoff of that beloved series. The premise is pure kid logic: after a police dog named Greg and his human partner are injured on duty, surgeons save them by putting the dog’s head on the man’s body. The result is a hero who is brave and loyal like a good cop, but also distractible, slobbery, and easily sidetracked by squirrels, just like a good dog.
Across the series, Dog Man clashes with Petey, often described as the world’s most evil cat, while slowly learning that even villains can change. The books mix slapstick comedy with surprisingly sincere themes: empathy, forgiveness, doing the right thing, and the idea that good does not always come in the package you expect. That blend is a big reason the series dominates bestseller lists and has sold millions of copies worldwide.
Should You Read the Dog Man Books in Order?
Yes — reading in order is the best approach. While each book tells a self-contained adventure, the emotional through-lines reward readers who start at book one. Key relationships, especially the evolving dynamic between Dog Man, Petey, and Li’l Petey, develop gradually across the series. Jumping in mid-series works in a pinch, but you will miss the callbacks, the running gags, and the character growth that make later books land harder.
For brand-new readers, the first two books are the ideal entry point: they establish the origin, the main cast, and the series’ tone in one compact package.
What About Cat Kid Comic Club?
In 2020, Pilkey launched a spinoff series, Cat Kid Comic Club, starring Li’l Petey and his frog friends as they write and draw their own comics. It is best enjoyed after you have read at least the first several Dog Man books, since the spinoff assumes you know the characters. The spinoff has its own numbered order and is published by Scholastic’s Graphix imprint.
Tips for New Dog Man Readers
- Start at book one. The series is written for ages 7 and up, and the reading level grows gently with each volume.
- Watch for the flip animations. Pilkey’s signature Flip-o-Rama pages let readers animate action scenes by flipping pages quickly — a beloved franchise tradition.
- Read together. The books are short, funny, and packed with sight gags, which makes them ideal for reading aloud with younger kids.
- Check the movie. A DreamWorks animated Dog Man film released in 2025, which is a fun companion to the books for established fans.
- Keep going. With 15 books and counting, the series offers months of reading for kids who fall in love with it.
Whether you are a parent building a home library, a teacher stocking a classroom shelf, or a young reader picking your next adventure, following the Dog Man books in order is the surest way to get the full story — and all the laughs that come with it.
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