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
Masson's own three dogs - Sasha, Sima, and Rani - 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, how they perceive of
other species (including humans), and how their powerful sense of smell
shapes their perception of reality. As he sweeps aside old prejudices on
animal behavior, Masson navigates through the rich universe of dog
feeling to its essential core, their "master emotion": love.