Sometimes in opening statement, I will "be" anything from an inanimate object to a character in the case.   The main question I hear is - how can you do that without seeming "too over the top?"

This novel by Garth Stein, is moderated by a dog named Enzo.  It is not a children's story.  Enzo tells the very human tale of a young man and his family.   Not once do you feel that Enzo is a gimmick.  I'll give it a B.