As for the dogs, of course there were many, and during their lives they were intimate and valued family friends, and their deaths were household tragedies.

One of them, a large yellow animal of several good breeds and valuable rather because of psychical than physical traits, was named "Susan" by his small owners, in commemoration of another retainer, a white cow; the fact that the cow and the dog were not of the same sex being treated with indifference.
Much the most individual of the dogs and the one with the strongest character was Sailor Boy, a Chesapeake Bay dog.

He had a masterful temper and a strong sense of both dignity and duty.

He would never let the other dogs fight, and he himself never fought unless circumstances imperatively demanded it; but he was a murderous animal when he did fight.

He was not only exceedingly fond of the water, as was to be expected, but passionately devoted to gunpowder in every form, for he loved firearms and fairly reveled in the Fourth of July celebrations--the latter being rather hazardous occasions, as the children strongly objected to any "safe and sane" element being injected into them, and had the normal number of close shaves with rockets, Roman candles, and firecrackers.
One of the stand-bys for enjoyment, especially in rainy weather, was the old barn.