With a relationship going back many thousands of years, it seems that dogs really are man's best friend. Aiming to be both informative and entertaining, Loyd Grossman examines the evolution of the dog from wild beast to Hollywood superstar and favoured royal pet. He looks at the status of dogs in the ancient world, their role in different religions and their uses at work, in sport and in polar exploration. He also describes canine film-stars such as Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin, records the exploits of dogs at war, and traces the development of their enduring friendship with man.