As a single guy who has spent most of his adult life in city apartments and has traveled a lot for work, I've never been able to have my own dog...at least not yet! But growing up, my family had lots of them - a few adorable mutts and three unforgettably loyal German Shepherds (after 13 years, we just had to put the last one down a few weeks ago. Heartbreaking!). You can never replace the ones you lose, but Dakota looks like he's going to be one great companion for a long time to come.
PS - I'm almost finished with "Marley and Me," but I'm definitely not looking forward to what sounds like a sad ending.