best
foot forward
A heartfelt, honest, and often humorous journey through life with dogs.
Written by Malcolm Balish, Best Foot Forward is not your typical dog book. It blends real-life stories, personal lessons, practical observations, and a deep love for dogs into one thought-provoking read.
From puppy selection and behaviour to nutrition, rescue dogs, grief, and the unforgettable lessons dogs teach us, this book invites readers to look at dogs differently and perhaps understand themselves a little better too.
about the author
Malcolm Balish
Malcolm Balish is a lifelong dog lover, canine behaviourist, dog trainer, and the owner of Dogzdaycare.
Before working with dogs, Malcolm spent many years in hospitality and hotel management. Although it was a long-standing career, his real passion was always animals, especially dogs. A major turning point came after the early loss of his beloved Lurcher, Finn, whose death led Malcolm to study canine behaviour, training, nutrition, and health in far greater depth.
Through Dogzdaycare and Better Dog Behaviour, Malcolm has spent years working closely with dogs of all breeds, sizes, personalities, and backgrounds. His daily experience with dogs has shaped the way he understands behaviour, trust, communication, and the human-dog relationship.
glimpse of the book
book preview
Best Foot Forward is not your typical dog book….. and that’s probably a good thing.
Blending real-life stories, hard-earned lessons, and a fair amount of honesty (with the occasional raised eyebrow), Malcolm Balish takes you on a journey through the world of dogs and the humans who think they’re in charge.
From knowing little more than how to fill a food bowl, to running a successful dog daycare and becoming a qualified behaviourist, Malcolm shares the trials, mistakes, and eye-opening moments that completely changed how he understands dogs… and, perhaps more surprisingly, people
too.
At the heart of it all is Finn, along with a cast of
unforgettable canine characters, each playing their part in a story filled with loyalty, chaos, humour, and the kind of life lessons you won’t find in a standard training manual. Covering everything from choosing a puppy to training, behaviour, nutrition, health, and those difficult final goodbyes, this book doesn’t shy away from the bits most guides politely ignore.
Thought-provoking, occasionally controversial, and often laugh-out-loud relatable, this is a book that might just make you question what you thought you knew… and remind you why dogs are often the best teachers we have.
Because sometimes, the best way forward is simple… let dogs be dogs.
book trailer
Why This Book Matters
Dogs are not just pets. They are companions, teachers, mirrors, comforters, and sometimes the reason we finally start paying attention.
Through his own dogs and the thousands of dogs he has cared for, Malcolm explores how dogs communicate, how they respond to us, how they teach loyalty, and how they help us understand life in a way people often cannot.
At its heart, Best Foot Forward is about one simple idea:
Let dogs be dogs.
“The amazing thing about having a dog is even though neither of you speak the same language, you develop this deep connection that you will never have with a human.”