The love between dog and owner is one of the strongest bonds imaginable. So why does one out of every four puppies fail to last out the first year with its owner, in contrast to the fact that over a million dogs have been named as beneficiaries in their owners' wills? What is the secret to finding a loving match rather than a dalliance that is doomed to fail? Here Stanley Coren, whose wit and erudition have long delighted dog lovers, provides a foolproof guide to understanding which dog will form the best lifetime partner. Coren brings together his expertise in the fields of human psychology and animal behavior to provide a wholly new approach to the dog/human partnership. 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. Each new group contains dogs from different breeds that share similar personality traits-- a unique departure from the familiar American Kennel Club breed groups. Even more fascinating are the results of Dr. Coren's extensive work matching human personality types with canine characteristics. Using his personality tests, anyone can determine which dog is the right one, and which dog is almost certain to lead to heartbreak. Extroverted men will find companions in clever dogs like Poodles; shy women will embrace steady dogs like Bulldogs; men lacking trust will do best with independent dogs like Chinese Shar-Peis; dominant women will rely on self-assured canines like Jack Russell Terriers; warm people of both sexes will thrive with friendly dogs like Golden Retrievers. Dr. Coren assesses the dog/human personality link along a broad spectrum of traits, including those that change as we age. He also addresses a subject of eternal fascination to dog lovers: cat people. In addition to drawing upon his original research-- including a survey of six thousand people-- master storyteller Coren illustrates his findings with tales of famous humans and their dogs, including royalty, celebrities, presidents, artists, and writers. Rich in anecdotes and grounded in scientific study, "Why We Love the Dogs We Do" offers dog lovers and would-be dog owners the tools they need to find happiness in what can be the most satisfying relationship of a lifetime.