Elena Mannes is an Emmy-award-winning journalist with a reputation as was a rational-minded, skeptical investigator. Yet, after acquiring her first puppy, Brio, she found herself on an unusual quest to solve the problem of understanding and communicating with him in order to develop a positive relationship and ultimately better behavioral expectations. The challenges of connecting with Brio—who Professor of Buddhist Studies, the late Robert Thurman, referred to as her Yoda-like spiritual mentor—led Elena on an unexpected journey of consulting with a number of experts including trainers, scientists, healers and psychics.