This was not what I thought it was going to be at all. Where I expected mediocre writing about how dogs are 'always good boys' instead turned out to be a more deeply thought out process of what they might mean and how they might be the example of unconditional love we crave. There was a clever twist from a play on words and while I did wonder if the author was using the topic as a plot convention, it seems to have impacted his life as well. So instead of cheap, I found it quirky and am more accepting because it is not something to use for just laughs, it was thought provoking without shoving social warrior vibes down my throat. Thoughtful and different, I am glad for the nostalgia.