Carl is a Rottweiler in a series of children’s books, and Good Dog, Carl was the first one published. The book tells the story of Carl who looks after a human baby named Madeleine. Written and illustrated by Alexandra Day in 1985, it’s mostly a picture book and has been in print since then. Thirteen additional “Carl” books were added after the original.
The first book’s main character, Carl, was modeled after the author’s own Rottweiler named Toby. Throughout the series, two of her other Rottweilers have posed for Carl: Arambarri and Zabala. In fact, Alexandra Day shares in her bio that Zabala serves as an Our Best Friend therapy dog and loves to visit hospitals to bring joy to patients. It’s good to know that the fictional Carl and the real dog behind the character are changing the world for the better.
The Good Dog, Carl book has been instrumental in helping teach people English as a second language, with Alzheimer’s patients, and children who have difficulty reading. Since the stories are mostly without words it’s easy to comprehend and become invested in the storytelling. Rottweiler lovers enjoy the books too and often purchase them for keepsakes.