re: Dogs channeling the departed pup, I had kind of a shock this morning. We stopped at a store on our way to the park. Bud got out of the car and walked in to get something. All of a sudden, I heard a whimper from the backseat. I turned around and there was little Darcy (min pin, tough as nails) standing up on the seat with her front feet on the windowsill and watching that doorway where Bud had disappeared. She was madly wagging her tail and whining for Dad to come back, exactly like Poquita always did! It's like they thought the evil store might somehow hold him hostage and we'd never get to the park! And that was the very first time I ever saw any similarity between those two girls. :W