One of the fun things about getting a new puppy is wondering how different (or similar) he’ll be from your previous pets — because when those similarities or differences start to manifest themselves, we’re most often confronted with fond memories of what it was like when our aging four-leggers were as young as Dakota is now.

Thus far:

• Like Larkin, Dakota can hold it forever but would easily win the prize for the world’s longest pee.
• Like Kisa, Dakota doesn’t bat an eye-lash when he gets a taste of hot, spicy food… I’m talking cuisine that would make half the average population approach with caution. Like Kisa, Dakota is sort of in that “hmm-umm” category, trying to figure out how to get another taste”.
• Like Larkin, Dakota just wants to be next to you and lick you to death.
• Like Kisa, Dakota can’t resist anything made of paper… including the mail and newspapers. His love of toilet paper is unique to him alone.
• Like Larkin, Dakota can’t resist the urge to jump on you when you come into the room (but we’re working on that).
• Like Kisa, Dakota can’t resist an opportunity to hump Larkin. Yeah, I know… Kisa’s a female. And your point is?
• Like Larkin, Dakota can’t resist putting his tongue in Kisa’s ear.
• Like Kisa, Dakota eats so fast he can’t possible taste his food.
• Like Larkin, Dakota likes napping with his back against the front door — especially when it’s really cold and windy. Leonbergers make great draft snakes.
• Like Kisa, Dakota is humanly vocal. Larkin simply barks, albeit rare. Kisa and Dakota converse. They both have a variety of sounds that are much like human conversations, complete with varying inflections and volume.