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'The Dog Who Couldn't Stop Loving': The Hero Of Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson's New Book (PHOTOS)

Posted: 10/04/10 09:00 AM ET

In 1997 I wrote a New York Times bestseller called "Dogs Never Lie About Love." Yes, the title is a bit dorky, but it struck a nerve and sold over a million copies. Since then I have never stopped thinking about dogs and love. Some dogs just exude love the way teenagers exude defiance. Case in point is my dog, Benjy, the "hero" of my new book "The Dog Who Couldn't Stop Loving."

That's him all right. Colossal failure as a guide dog for the blind ("just doesn't want to work, but a real sweetheart"); and (just between you and me) not the brightest dog I have known. He couldn't figure out how to be a seizure alert dog in spite of a trainer who loved him to bits. He flunked the exam to be a therapy dog (visiting old people on a dementia unit), but the trainer took pity on him and let him pass.

But there is one trait in which Benjy excels: this dog knows nothing but loving. He can't help it. He loves other dogs, and every human he ever meets, and our pet rat, and all four of our cats, and birds he meets on the beach, and rabbits, and especially, most visibly and most emphatically, children. You can see that in the pictures. Dogs' faces are not as expressive as those of primates, including us. So sometimes he looks sad. But like all dogs, he has learned to express his pleasure in ways we cannot mistake. He rolls on the floor and lets his tongue hang out; he makes a great imitation of a human smile; his tail practically dents our floor; he gives mini howls of happiness. In short, he is: the dog who simply could not stop loving. That is why I felt impelled to write yet another book in praise of this dog, and of dogs in general, and to make yet one more attempt to get closer to the mystery of love, which seems to be embedded in the hearts of dogs.

Dogs Are Us
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Humans and dogs evolved together as two species who came to depend on one another. There is controversy about whether dogs have been with us for the past 120,000 years or just for 15,000 years. Whatever the number, dogs have lived with us far longer than any other domesticated animal or even domesticated plant. Small wonder that we have so much in common.
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In 1997 I wrote a New York Times bestseller called "Dogs Never Lie About Love." Yes, the title is a bit dorky, but it struck a nerve and sold over a million copies. Since then I have never stopped thi...
In 1997 I wrote a New York Times bestseller called "Dogs Never Lie About Love." Yes, the title is a bit dorky, but it struck a nerve and sold over a million copies. Since then I have never stopped thi...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Don Knowles
01:59 PM on 10/07/2010
I live with 2 wonderful loving dogs and 2 eccentric cats and late at night when every other soul is asleep, my furry family surrounds me with a sense of peace, knowing I am not alone and that their lives are fun, fulfilled and healthier for the love I give them. I plan on buying your book as soon as I can.
05:36 PM on 10/05/2010
Our cats and dogs (I am a cat person who likes dogs, but cats are easier to live witrh, maintenance wise) make us better people and sometimes literally save our lives just by being there and caring. If it weren't for my dear little cat, who went to his certain reward just a few weeks ago, I wouldn't be here typing this message.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
John Orr
retired newspaperman
02:39 PM on 10/04/2010
Dogs get all the good press. But my cat literally talked me out of something deadly one dark night. She's a delightful reminder that we are perfect creations.
02:28 PM on 10/04/2010
I absolutely loved this little article! It's so very true. My dogs are always excited to see me and never fail to give me kisses when I need them. I feel like one of them is my child and I know, when he goes, that I won't be the same. Another dog is the caretaker. He protects us from harm and takes care of us when we're sick or sad. The third dog is a bit aloof and cat-like, but a great dog nonetheless.

Dogs truely are EVERYONE's best friend!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
thepoliticalcat
Eradicate your microbioflora
03:19 PM on 10/05/2010
They love unconditionally. My rescue dog had grown up chained outside in the hot sun and rain, beaten and abused and maltreated for years. Yet he was the most forgiving of creatures, giving humans chance after chance, trusting them with an open heart once he got past his fear. If humans could be as loving as dogs, paradise would be here on earth now.
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triplettam
Mind Bender
01:47 PM on 10/04/2010
In Celtic mythology, dogs (and cats) are a form of pooka (called finbars, I think); and are agents of heaven. Now, their sole job is to take care of humans. And that job is SO HARD, they can only stay for a little while and then they have to pass the job on to another. I believe it.
Freesia2
I'm nicer than I appear in print. :-)
02:49 PM on 10/04/2010
Me too.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
thecoffeegod
12:31 PM on 10/05/2010
You brought me to tears. What a perfect explaination of why some of my favorite 'people' don't get to live as long as I. I completely believe it.
05:37 PM on 10/05/2010
x2 and then some
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
DharmaRecruit
4 8 15 16 23 42
12:42 PM on 10/04/2010
There's only thing that makes me regret the fact that I've never owned a home — I haven't been able to have the big sloppy dog I've always wanted. This article is spot on in just about every way, including the fact that some of our fondest memories can be attached to dogs owned by the family growing up. I miss that. A lot. After listening to humans squabble all day long over the most mundane things, I'd love to come home to a dog that wants to keep it simple... play, eat, curl up on the couch, repeat.
Freesia2
I'm nicer than I appear in print. :-)
02:52 PM on 10/04/2010
Did you ever consider a greyhound? I've never had one, but they are the ultimate couch potato. They are truly content to be "cats" in the house. And then they can be a big dog outside. Just a thought. (Also an older dog. Old retrievers and hounds make lovely old guys and don't need much space in their twilight, just a nice walk a couple of times a day.)
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
DharmaRecruit
4 8 15 16 23 42
03:38 PM on 10/04/2010
Hmm, I honestly didn't know that about greyhounds, I'll have to look into that. As long as they're not stand-offish/uppity kinda dogs, "couch potato" definitely sounds up my alley.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
tmf945
12:17 PM on 10/04/2010
I fractured my heel early this summer, (don't ask how, just know that I will remember that I was 17 long ago), and my non-descript brown pound puppy Pete, hovered over me during my healing like an over bearing mother. He watched me like a hawk when I crutched my way around and gave his companionship and comfort during the long healing process. I still use a cane, and he is still hovering, but I thank him everyday for making a difficult situation more bearable, just by his goofy dog grin and that slight snore when he curls up next to me.
11:20 AM on 10/04/2010
I believe it was the essayist Lance Morrow who said "...when the time is right, get a dog. You will never find that devotion in a human face" Ain't that the truth. Love dogs.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
tmf945
12:17 PM on 10/04/2010
Allow me to be your first fan....
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Aldyth
Advocating for those who cannot defend themselves.
01:58 PM on 10/04/2010
Third.
11:00 AM on 10/04/2010
Dogs ROCK!!!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
HLL
Women, their rights & nothing less ~ SusanBAnthony
12:07 PM on 10/04/2010
"My little dog — a heartbeat at my feet."
~ Edith Wharton ;-)
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janie@atthelake
Keep Austin Weird
11:00 AM on 10/04/2010
Ok...I'll buy it...I love labs
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VeggieLove
apparently, my micro-bio is empty
10:23 AM on 10/04/2010
My dogs helped me through my depression. Some days all I could was lay in bed and watch t.v. and there they were, snuggling up next to me. They exuberance at my mere existence, their slobbery kisses and soulful eyes, helped me through my sadness. I honestly do not think I would have survived without them.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
topkatnc
Give a stray cat or dog a chance .
10:59 AM on 10/04/2010
It's funny how our four legged friends .. can help us much better than the two legged ones .. My beloved Milo , my cat ... helped me thur my divorce ... but I also had to put him down during that time ... which was bitter sweet ... glad you had that friend to help you ... they can be the best friends of our lives ..
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VeggieLove
apparently, my micro-bio is empty
12:04 PM on 10/04/2010
So happy your cat Milo was able to provide you solace:)
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
awarg
11:12 AM on 10/04/2010
My dogs helped me the same way. They have a second sense and they knew something was off about me. Bedrest is something that just doesn't work for them. Thankfully!
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VeggieLove
apparently, my micro-bio is empty
12:04 PM on 10/04/2010
Dogs are the most wonderful creatures!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Nick2
10:03 AM on 10/04/2010
Twelve and a half years ago, when my late mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she asked me to do her a special favor and get myself a dog. She was really worried that I wouldn't take care of myself while she was dying, and she couldn't help me with that. I did get a dog, at her urging, and that dog, a miniature American Eskimo, saved my life. She kept me sane while my mother was dying, and she helped me keep going in the the aftermath. Zelda had to be put down this June, two days after my birthday, and I was so glad to be able to take care of her to the end, as she had taken care of me. Dogs are wonderful. Everyone should have one! I still have Zelda's elderly sister for now, and I've recently rescued another sweet dog.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Abena in Africa
Cat obsessed liberal
10:37 AM on 10/04/2010
Very touching, thank you for sharing! May your mother and Zelda rest in peace.
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Aldyth
Advocating for those who cannot defend themselves.
02:00 PM on 10/04/2010
And when the time comes, Zelda will be waiting to welcome you home.

F & F for another person who is owned by their rescued dog.
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RealityBaseCamp
My micro-bio did not meet someone's guidelines!
09:46 AM on 10/04/2010
Check out National Geographic Channel's "And Man Created Dog." I liked it, although it kinda lost direction and was a fair amount of filler (here's a herding dog; here he is, herding) after they ran out of history to recount. Most of it was really interesting.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/and-man-created-dog-3136/Overview
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
kel
09:23 AM on 10/04/2010
A Yellow Lab in each picture. Our yellow Lab Annie passed away three years ago.
Not a day goes by that we don't miss her being an actual part of our family.
Seeing these photo's just brings a smile to my face, and a tear to my eye.

Dogs love you. Period.
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janie@atthelake
Keep Austin Weird
11:01 AM on 10/04/2010
Sorry about Annie. My lab is everything to this family.
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Aldyth
Advocating for those who cannot defend themselves.
02:01 PM on 10/04/2010
Unconditionally and far more than most of us deserve.