The long plot of this novel can be roughly divided into three parts; the beginning part telling the sudden rise of the Satomi family in the Nanso region and the fateful connection between Princess Fuse and Yatsufusa (Story of Princess Fusa), the story of eight dog warriors who, born in different places within Kanhasshu, wander and band together (Lives of Dog Warriors) and the part leading to the denouement in which the eight dog warriors, serving the Satomi family, fight the kubo (shogunal representative) allied forces led by Koga, Kanto Kanrei (A shogunal deputy for the Kanto region) (the great battle of Kanto or the war against Kanrei).
長大な物語の内容は、南総里見家の勃興と伏姫・八房の因縁を説く発端部（伏姫物語）、関八州各地に生まれた八犬士たちの流転と集結の物語（犬士列伝）、里見家に仕えた八犬士が関東管領・滸我（古河）公方連合軍との戦争（関東大戦、対管領戦）を戦い大団円へ向かう部分に大きく分けられる。