Ok, so I found these pictures on another website messageboard, and I want one of these dogs so bad. Anyone ever seen one before?
That's a real dog?? It's gotta be one of those Japanese robots. I think we're being snookered. (geez, I thought I knew dogs, but I don't recall seeing one of those in a book or anywhere... where's B-Bob when you need him! He'd have a field day with this thing. )
From what I've found by checking google, that's just a chow puppy that's been (oh so unfortunately) dyed to have the panda markings. You can see the chow's characteristic blue tongue in the bottom photo.
Mrs. JB, thanks for the pic. Hehe, the pic you posted looks like those scary things in Star Wars, episode 4