Relates the author's relationship with a quiet, sensitive artist named Maria Wulf and his campaign to win over Maria's fiercely protective dog, Frieda, a Rottweiler-shepherd mix who resisted all efforts to tame her.

The dog who kept men away -- The dog nobody wanted -- The studio barn -- I'll wait, no obligations -- The dating game (sort of) -- Me and Davy Crockett at the Alamo -- Frieda's war -- The beef jerky campaign -- The show-your-art guru -- Willfulness and progress -- Brownie -- Dreams do come true -- "She saved our lives" -- Into the wild -- The lesson of the Asian pear -- Dancing naked in the snow -- "Obedience and love" -- The Christmas miracle -- My happy ending -- Epilogue: Frieda in autumn -- A note to the reader.