Sparky does resemble Ava. What a beautiful boy– I'm sure you miss him terribly. I lost my Spencer about a month before your Sparky, just shy of his 15th birthday.
Love your photos! Sonny has a lovely coat and such nice wrinkles. Like Sonny, Ava is utterly relentless. She's very sweet and great fun, but equally tenacious. Every little victory is hard won.
I'll check out the pet convincer. Thanks, Pat, for the link! I've wondered about the scat mats. I've never had a countersurfer before. I wonder if it's mostly adolescent curiosity... or the start of a lifelong behavior? I don't keep food on the counters, but I don't want her to fall or break something and get cut. She's not left alone in the kitchen, but you turn your back for just a second...
Hope you stick around the forum, SonnysDad! Lots of nice Bs and their people here, and you'll learn a lot.