Different qualities and aspects of dogs are illustrated by each letter of the alphabet, explaining the characteristics that make them so lovable and valuable to society.

In the bestselling tradition of Inside of a Dog and Marley & Me, a smart, illuminating, and entertaining read on why the dog-human relationship is unique--and possibly even "spiritual." Dr. Andrew Root's search for the canine soul began the day his eight-year-old son led the family in a moving Christian ritual at the burial service for Kirby, their beloved black lab. In the coming weeks, Root found himself wondering: What was this thing we'd experienced with this animal? Why did the loss hurt so poignantly? Why did his son's act seem so right in its sacramental feel? In The Grace of Dogs, Root draws on biology, history, theology, cognitive ethology (the study of animal minds), and paleontology to trace how in our mutual evolution, humans and dogs have so often helped each other to become more fully ourselves. Root explores questions like: Do dogs have souls? Is it accurate to say that dogs "love" us? What do psychology and physiology say about why we react to dogs in the way that we do? The Grace of Dogs paints a vivid picture of how, beyond sentimentality, the dog-human connection can legitimately be described as "spiritual"--as existing not for the sake of gain, but for the unselfish desire to be with and for the other, and to remind us that we are persons worthy of love and able to share love. In this book for any parent whose kids have asked if they'll see Fido in Heaven, or who has looked their beloved dog in the face and wondered what's going on in there, Dr. Root delivers an illuminating and heartfelt read that will change how we understand man's best friend.

Yes, humans and canines are different species, but current research provides fascinating, irrefutable evidence that what we share with our dogs is greater than how we vary. As behaviorist and zoologist Dr. Patricia McConnell tells us in this remarkable new book about emotions in dogs and in people, more and more scientists accept the premise that dogs have rich emotional lives, exhibiting a wide range of feelings including fear, anger, surprise, sadness, and love. In For the Love of a Dog, McConnell suggests that one of the reasons we love dogs so much is that they express emotions in ways similar to humans. After all, who can communicate joy better than a puppy? But not all emotional expressions are obvious, and McConnell teaches both beginning dog owners and experienced dog lovers how to read the more subtle expressions hidden behind fuzzy faces and floppy ears. For those of us who deeply cherish our dogs but are sometimes baffled by their behavior, For the Love of a Dog will come as a revelation–a treasure trove of useful facts, informed speculation, and intriguing accounts of man’s best friend at his worst and at his very best. Readers will discover how fear, anger, and happiness underlie the lives of both people and dogs and, most important, how understanding emotion in both species can improve the relationship between them. Thus McConnell introduces us to the possibility of a richer, more rewarding relationship with our dogs. While we may never be absolutely certain what our dogs are feeling, with the help of this riveting book we can understand more than we ever thought possible. Those who consider their dogs part of the family will find For the Love of a Dog engaging, enlightening, and utterly engrossing.

A guide to dog care and training, covering puppy development and socialization, children and dogs, housetraining, health care, behavior problems, and more.

Dogs fill our hearts with love and our minds with wonder, but their emotional lives have remained unexplored since Darwin 125 years ago. Now in Dogs Never Lie About Love, controversial psychoanalyst Jeffrey Masson brilliantly navigates the rich inner landscape of "our best friends." As he guides readers through the surprising depth of canine emotional complexity, Jeffrey Masson draws from myth and literature, from scientific studies, and from the stories and observations of dog trainers and dog lovers around the world. But the stars of the book are the author's own three dogs whose delightful and mysterious behavior provides the way to exploring a wide range of subjects--from emotions like gratitude, compassion, loneliness, and disappointment to speculating what dogs dream of and how their powerful sense of smell shapes their perception of reality. As he sweeps aside old prejudices on animal behavior, Masson reaches into a rich universe of dog feeling to its essential core, their "master emotion": love. Like the dogs he loves, Masson's writing will capture the reader with its playful, mysterious, and serious sides. Its surprising insights provide a new dimension of understanding for dog owners everywhere.

Dogs aren't exactly shy when it comes to expressing their feelings. They do everything we humans are afraid to: dogs are ecstatic and boisterous, tactless, openly enthusiastic, take delight in rolling in disgusting things, sleep when they're tired, and don't care if you snore. Dogs teach us that joy is a way of life and that it does not depend on what happens each day; they always assume something fabulous is going to happen today. This book shows dogs as they truly are--bursting with happiness, tired after a hard play session, chewing on a $300 running shoe, and locked in battle with a roll of toilet paper. It shows puppies so worn out by life's thrills that they fall asleep precisely where they were just standing on their wobbly little legs, and it shows dogs getting slower, older, and wiser, with a gaze that will break your heart. AUTHOR: Journalist Katharina von der Leyen is one of the most famous writers on dogs, with more than 13 books as well as countless columns, articles, and helpful advice pieces on living with them, in publications including 'Dogs' and 'Bild am Sonntag'. She writes regularly on her blog Lumpi4.de. SELLING POINTS: * With captions by Katharina von der Leyen, who can write about dogs as few other people can, with humour that pokes a bit of fun, but is full of love and understanding for both dogs and people * An homage to man's best friend--and not just for dog lovers 150 colour and b/w

Following the successful book The Life and Love of Cats, this beautiful photographic survey of dogs also contains insightful text exploring our unique relationship with dogs throughout history.