Have you ever been curious as to what your dog feels about you? Imagine she suddenly snuggles up to you, making hushed sounds that make you wonder, is she dreaming of me? Or perhaps she’s feeling guilty about stealing a piece of meat off the kitchen counter earlier? What if she’s trying to pass a message across? Or does my fart annoy her? This and many other questions are often left unanswered.

Many dog lovers have attempted to interpret just what every action and emotion their pet feels means. While some have been somewhat successful in doing so, others continue to take wild guesses. In fact, there has been research conducted by neuroscientists and psychologists to give us a bit more access to the once-secret lives of our beloved canine companions, even going as far as interpreting what their wags and barks mean, so they’re easily understood by humans.

Just like humans, dogs have a similar brain structure for producing emotions. They also have the same type of hormones and even undergo similar chemical changes as humans during emotional states. However, unlike humans, they mature quickly and can achieve full emotional range by age of 4 to 6 months old—but still, the mind of a dog can be likened to that of a human no more than 3 years old. A dog can feel and express basic emotions like distress, excitement, anger, fear, disgust, joy, contentment and even love—though more complex emotions like shame, guilt, pride, and contempt are above their range.

In a book that can be easily termed a must-read for dog lovers, author Suzann Capra, makes an interesting attempt to interpret life through the eyes of a pet dog. Her latest book, Secret letters from Spice: New York City Dog, talks about a pet dog living in the metropolitan city of New York and details her experience living with humans.

You will get a first-hand look into what many dogs think and dream about in their everyday life. Spice the Dog, in her diary which has been translated into secret letters, reveals her inner life in what is an interesting read for any pet lover out there. Apart from sharing insights into her mood swings and disappointments with certain house rules, there is even a love encounter with her soul mate.

If you’re a dog owner or even an all-round lover of animals, I’m certain you have wondered at one point what your dog or the animals around you have had to say. Do they have opinions on anything that affected humans? Or are they only concerned about being fed and cuddled all the time? Capra, in her book, gives an imaginative yet first-person view into the mind of our beloved pawed pet.

Many works of literature attempt to pry into the consciousness of animals, but this potential best-seller goes above and beyond. It not only provides readers with a more immersive viewpoint but also its narration casts light on humanity in a way that a human narrator may not be able to. Spice in her letters, shares her experience, detailing her reaction to food choices, outdoor trips and meeting with other humans and pets.

This fantasy-themed book by Suzann Capra is highly entertaining and adventurous, telling the story of one of the world’s most popular pets living in one of the biggest cities in the world, New York. Reading this book as a dog owner, you could be easily conned into assuming it was written by an actual dog, thanks to the captivating, humorous and relatable manner it was written.

While the science of dogs is still quite a fascinating subject, irrespective of whether you’re a new dog owner or not, you’re sure to have a good time reading this book.