Since the topics are Christopher Moore and canines, read "Coyote Blue" sometime. Another dog story I have heard and have been meaning to research is a dog named Old Drum that has a statue dedicated to it in Warrensburg,MO. The story goes that there was a property dispute for whatever reason and a farmer was wanting this dog. The lawyer in the case made the argument that the dog was not a mans piece of property but mans best friend. Supposedly that's where the saying came from, but this is stories I have heard from drunks in bars.