The love between dog and owner is one of the strongest bonds imaginable. So why does one out of four puppies fail to last a year with a new owner while over a million dogs have been named as beneficiaries in their owners' wills? What is the secret to finding a loving match instead of a dalliance doomed to fail? Here Stanley Coren, whose wit and erudition have long delighted dog lovers, provides a foolproof guide to choosing a canine life partner. Working with a team of animal experts, Coren has identified seven new groups of dogs based on such personality traits as friendliness, protectiveness, independence and steadiness. Rich with anecdotes of famous humans and their dogs, Coren's blend of expertise in human psychology and animal behavior makes this a one-of-a-kind primer on picking the perfect dog.