Seventeen-year old Katie isnt used to being in control. Her mother drives her crazy with her constant criticism and advice, and her boyfriend of two years just destroyed her whole world by dumping her on her birthday. Its just as well that Katies headed to a summer program at the University of Texas in Austinat least there, she can get over Chuck at her own pace. But Austin holds its own challengeslike Christine, a cooler-than-thou roommate whose rocker boyfriend is permanently camped out on the couch. When Christine drags Katie to the city pound to check out a potential pet, its Katie whos mesmerized by a pair of brown doggie eyes. Before she can think it through, shes standing out on the curb with her adorable new dog, Seamus.Theres only one problem: Seamus is a holy terror. He chews up the apartment, barks maniacally, terrorizes their landladys cat, and seems destined to keep the cutest guy in their building at arms length. When Katie takes Seamus in for obedience training, shes told, You have to be the alpha dog.The alpha dog. The head of the pack. Katie has never wielded much power before, but she finds that being top dog can be addictive. Soon shes acting the alpha dog in every phase of her life, and nothing will ever be the same.From the Trade Paperback edition.