Like many of the pups here, Kota had his own vocabulary, (I'm going to "went" to the store..cant say GO,etc), his own set of smarts, and pretty much owned the place. Grew up with his own Volvo wagons, that he pooped in on day one; he was partial to automatics...tried the 2002, but didn't care for the less than smooth transitions. Was the star of many drive-thrus, and even grocery store parking lots ("..stop, stop, let me give him something..) Half, but mostly Pyrenees, so more independent than Katherine Hepburn. I read the book many moons ago, when he was middle aged; died last year at 14.5 yrs. Long, long time for a big fellow. ..This was at the vet, on his last ride. Hard to believe that grown men can read a thread about dogs and cars, and people that they have never met, and get so emotional. I haven't yet been able to re-dog yet. Thought that I posted this already...all getting older, I guess.