My life experience goes way back with a Mom who simply adored her cats. I finally got my shot at training a bird dog when I "rescued" a Springer Spaniel (what a hoot of a character that wonderful animal was for 13 years). Other dog pets include a Siberian Husky-rescue dog (you gotta be an Alpha to be around one of those); also an Akita named Chief (that he was in every way - super intelligent dog) and now Super Cooper (my wife's 'baby dog' - how did we ever get along without this little dog -- thinks he's a Mack Truck!