The Ten Perfections

Spiritual Lessons from a Life with Dogs

Our dogs, our teachers.

At eight years old, Ellen Finnie got her first puppy—and her first life lesson. Years later, Ellen reflects on her lifetime of loving dogs, and what they have taught her through their steadfast love, compassion, and companionship.

Through touching stories, she relates each of her ten dogs to one of the ten Buddhist qualities of the heart—known as the Ten Perfections—identifying the ways they have helped her bushwhack a path to happiness as trusted companions for life’s challenges.

Meditative and poignant, The Ten Perfections is an uplifting journey of the spirit for anyone who has marveled at how our lives can be enriched and transformed by our beloved dogs.

“A celebration of the indelible bond between humans and their four-legged ‘teachers.’”
— Fran Weil, Pet Chaplain, The Perfect Paws Pet Ministry

“With a remarkably open heart, author Ellen Finnie reveals the magic and the essential gold of the human-dog relationship, the numerous gems of spiritual connection any dog owner is sure to understand.”
— David W. Berner, best-selling author of Walks with Sam and Daylight Saving Time

©2025 Ellen Finnie (P)2026 Ellen Finnie