Loki, my dog, turns two today (well, kind of, he's a leap year baby), and to celebrate his joyous presence, here's a 19th-century painting (possibly from the Deccan) of a pooch and his human.

Let's ignore the several bottles that litter the courtyard, and the rather ugly planter of nondescript flowers to focus on the dog on the lady's lap. He's elegant, wearing a gold collar, and definitely a very good dog. He's playful and perched on her lap as she sits on a large easy chair with her legs crossed. Of all the companions in the world, dogs are easily and hands-down the best.