Preface: The Perfect Dog and Chapter One: And Puppy Makes Three Summary and Analysis

In 1967, as a ten-year-old boy, the author talks his father into getting a gold colored mutt puppy named Shaun. He chose Shaun because he was the boldest of the litter. Grogan and Shaun were best buddies for fourteen years and Grogan measures all future dogs against his experience with Shaun.

About a year into his marriage, John finds his wife, Jenny, circling items in the newspaper. They both work for competing newspapers and often pour over their articles making corrections and notes, but John sees Jenny is circling pet ads. After some discussion, John learns that the plant he gave Jenny is dying and so she wants to raise a puppy to see if she can do okay with it before...