Cooper's Story
Cooper was found wandering the streets in the northwest valley area of Los Angeles, and brought to the Santa Monica Shelter. I had been looking for a second dog to keep my dog Sophie (now deceased) company, and had been visiting the SM Shelter from time to time. I was lucky enough to be the first one to put my name down on the list to adopt Cooper after the waiting period expired to see if anyone would claim him. So on Mother's Day in 1996, I showed up to bring him home.
The shelter didn't have a name for the puppy I adopted - so I came up with the name Cooper.
Early Days
In the shelter, Cooper had seemed quiet and self-contained. He didn't bark, and seemed reserved amidst the occasional chaos of the barking dogs. He turned into a bundle of energy once I got him home - which shouldn't have surprised me since he was part Siberian Husky. His puppy energy sometimes came out in frenzied running around the living room of my apartment and leaping across the sofa in one bound. 
But he adapted wonderfully to living with Sophie, who suffered from separation anxiety and needed a companion to distract her. He also appreciated it when we all moved to a house that had a backyard with a tiny hill so they both had more room to run around all day. The hill is also great for watching the neighborhood.
Favorites
Cooper loves to go for long walks. You would never know that he is 14 years old (is that 98 in dog years?). The only hints that he is reaching old age are that he tends to sleep more than he used to, and he groans a little when he lies down.
He was never big on playing with toys. Instead, he makes up his own games, like hide the dog treats around the house and find them later. Crevices in the couch are particularly good for this. A variation on this game is "keep the treats away from Shadow." Outside, he will dig holes to bury the treats and them dig them up again.
Cooper will carry his food bowl into the living room, dining room, office, or even outside onto the patio in order to be around people while he eats.
Cooper's middle name is Houdini, as he is smart enough to find his way out of any enclosure. When I've had to leave the dogs at a kennel while traveling, he has been known to open the gate to his enclosure and wander around the compound. He's not interested in running away, just problem-solving. He also likes to help out with any jobs you are doing, carefully observing the tasks being performed.
Cooper is as handsome as he is smart, and is widely admired. Sometimes he is even mistaken for a wolf hybrid, but it's just the long husky legs that fools people. I've even had people stop their cars to ask me if he was a wolf. He's just canny as a wolf.
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