We got our dog Otto ten years ago from a local shelter. We had just lost our male Sammie at age 14 and we wanted to share our home and our love with another dog. Our son was just two and so was this dog we saw listed as being available at the shelter. He had been found as a stray running near a local freeway. Lucky for him, he was picked up. We took him home, wrapped him in a winter dog coat and named him Otto. There was really no reason to his name. He just seemed like an Otto. At first he was quiet and unsure of his new surroundings. But he soon began to show us his real personality. He is quite a character. Otto was so young and untrained. Once he stole a sandwich from the kitchen table. He also enjoyed burying his droppings like a cat. So we had to warn people not to give him any big kisses on the snout. Today, Otto is a very calm, sweet twelve year old. He and our son grew up together and have both grown into much more mature boys.