Herr Kersten is Himmler’s masseur in “Hundstage.” During Himmler’s appointments, the dog observes Herr Kersten listen attentively to Himmler’s thoughts on how hunting, one of Herr Kersten’s favorite pastimes, is unethical. Herr Kersten never responds, which the dog interprets as Herr Kersten being a good listener—but the dog also seems unaware of the unequal power dynamic between Kersten and Himmler, with Kersten having considerably less.