Do you have any pets? I love dogs!
I do, a cat! Over the last few decades in Japan, we've started to adopt pets as more than utilitarian and more into our family system.
Yes, my little doggy is like a family member to me! 
I bet! Dogs were actually the first species to be domesticated, before even cats!
Wow, dogs have been bred into so many different breeds as well.
There's 337 pure dogs breeds. Imagine how many mixed breed combinations there are!
That's a lot! Now there are so many popular mixed breeds with popular breeds like the poodle out there.
conformation shows, including "Best in Show" at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1991 and 2002, and at the World Dog Show in 2007 and 2010.
Toy Poodles won "Best in Show" at Crufts in 1966 and 1982. Standard Poodles achieved the award in 1955, 1985, 2002, and 2014. The 2002 winner came from Norway and was the first overseas exhibit to win the Crufts best in show award.
History.
The European mainland had known the poodle long before it was brought
Pet ownership in Japan
Over the last few decades, pet ownership in Japan has gradually moved from a predominantly utilitarian function to a concept that more fully incorporates pets into the family system. In the minority of cases, pets are now considered to be family members. To many Japanese, pets are as well loved as children, and may even serve as a substitute for those who choose to forgo child-rearing.
Spiritual hierarchy.
In the context of spiritual hierarchy, pets occupy the space directly below humans,