People and dogs have been companions since ancient times. Dogs possess both a unique psychological essence as well as physical presence within the human/dog bond. As guides, guards and healers, dogs share individual relationships with people couched in the present and framed by universal influences, evident in cultures throughout history. In this book, philosophers, psychologists, dog ethological researchers and the author assist readers in a journey of discovery, as their explorations seek answers to the questions of how and why the roles of guide, guard and healer resonate within the human/dog bond. Comparative mythology, selected scientific studies and primary source materials offer contexts and insights.