After studying the lives of men who appear in this book, I concluded I was part of a community that I did not know existed. Dickens, Darwin, Byrd, and Freud. All friends that I never knew but nonetheless feel connected to through their love of dogs. It struck me one day that I took a cue from these men. To really understand who they were you must look to their dogs. The bond reveals an aspect of men that was not commonly known or in some cases, purposefully hidden from view. To really see these places where man meets dog offers a fresh perspective, windows into the best parts of who we are.
I think back 50 years ago to when I was 5 years old. At the time I was somewhat obsessed with drawing dogs driving cars. Recently, I unfolded one of these masterpieces that I had tucked away long ago. On the back of the image was my child-like scrawl explaining the drawing on the other side. The words referred to the canine in the driver's seat. But what caught my attention was the mention of "Chris Dog" a reference to my own pedigree. By my reckoning, I was part dog. The piece itself was not exactly a foreshadowing of a promising art career. Instead, it spoke to the way I would motor through my life, with a canine companion at my side.