Trooper was as he liked to be called a very special breed-a Black Lab Male Mix-he was the only non GSD I owned so we tried to make him feel special by calling him a BLMM breed. Because of my divorce Trooper was taken by my ex-wife. I was unable to see him more than twice in the past 6 months and he died 12/25/11. He was such a special dog who never liked his paws to touch anything but carpet and refused to sleep on anything but a bed or couch. Trooper's last months were not filled with the love he deserved. I fear at best he was neglected and at worst abused to death by the very person who took him away from me. I will never forget him and always love him. May he be with his friend Dutch waiting for his "uprights."