When I was 5, my family got a dog. He was all white, with brown ears, and a little brown spot on top of his head. We named him Columbo, in honor of the lovable T.V. detective played by Peter Falk.

Columbo was a wonderful pet: he was smart, an excellent watchdog, affectionate, and not the least bit destructive. He lived to be 17 years old, and it still wasn’t long enough for me.

We always knew that Columbo was half collie and half spitz, but it wasn’t until today that I found out specifically what breed of spitz he was. Columbo was half Volpino Italiano, a rare breed of dog that is known for its longevity and hardiness.

My family and I have talked about getting a dog in the next few years, and now that I’ve seen some Volpino puppies online, I think I know exactly what breed I will get.

Heck, if it was good enough for Michelangelo, it’s good enough for me!