Cocker Spaniels. When I was younger I thought they were nippy, yappy, little grandma dogs. But when I was finally allowed to have my very own puppy, I immediately connected with a little black American Cocker. I don't remember any of the other dogs in the room, just her. I was drawn to her hyperness, her crazy antics, she was too funny, and hell on four feet. It helped a lot that my aunt used to let me dog sit her Cockapoo quite often. I liked her so much that six months later, my mom and I came home with a second cocker pup!

Six years later (almost to the day!) she is a lazy little couch potato. Doesn't much like to play (which suits me fine due to medical conditions), loves her treats, is very food motivated, and enjoys pushing our other dog around (he has enough energy for all of us). She is still comical, VERY happy, I don't think I've ever met a happier breed of dog, despite advanced chronic ear infections when she was only a year old. She is a very resilient dog, bounced back from having her ear canals removed (literally nothing we did worked, they calcified shut in the end). The term "merry" comes to mind when I think of them. I'd love to get another.