I have often said, little girls get crazy about one of three animals: horses, cats, and . . . dogs.

I am in that last group. As a child my parents purchased a subscription to Dog World magazine and I studied breed standards. At the time, I thought the most noble breed was a Golden Retriever but that changed when the family’s first Weimaraner came home - since then, that is my favorite breed (as I write this, two snore near my desk, a silver male and a blue male).

But hey, I love all dogs, purebreds and mutts (excuse me - “American Mixed”), and when a dog who possesses a marvelous beauty comes into my studio, it’s a golden moment for me. So meet Bongo. Bongo is a Bluetick Coon Hound, a breed that is the official state dog of Tennesee and recognized as Smoky, the University of Tennessee’s mascot. And Bongo is a handsome boy, as well as being quite sweet - during his session, I would let him know when he did well “striking a pose” that earned me a rush from the set for kisses on my nose. Bongo belongs to Taylor and Andy, and he is a testament to their great training and handling.

Every dog owner thinks theirs is the best dog in the world.

And none of them are wrong.