I have a Lhasa and Poodle mix (Lhasa-Poo) named Spooky because he is spooked by most things. He is really afraid of plastic grocery bags.

Even though he is my daughter's dog, he has selected me to be his caretaker. If I am gone, he doesn’t eat and will go out to take care of business only if absolutely necessary. He will hold off and just lay in the corner until I get home! Also, he has a compulsive nature like me and will line up all of his dog toys in a row or a neat circle.

Recently, we noticed that when I had a really bad day and was limping around, he will follow me around and also limp – either in imitation or sympathy. When I hurt and just want to stay down, he will ignore everyone else in the house and pester me to take care of his needs.

What a creature. Dogs have a real personality. Is it a wonder so many of us love them?

Mike