The book was named a Charlotte Zolotow Award "Highly Commended Title" in 1999, being praised for its description of life with playful dogs as seen by a young child, "illustrations are at once sophisticated and childlike", and overall "old-fashioned feel", comparing it to the writing of Margaret Wise Brown. The book also received a positive review in The [New York Times], with James McMullan calling it "an evocative piece of writing that would be a joy to read aloud to a child." He also praised the illustrations, but felt that they were not necessarily a good match for the story.