The crying from the infant room inside this Somersworth child care center made clear: Naptime was over. A teacher rocked one boy in her arms. A parent wiped the nose of another child. Kathleen ...

ASHLEY BYINGTON BRUSHES her horse Pete in his stall at Bear Creek Stables in Los Gatos, smiling at his little huffs of air.

We've all witnessed dogs exhibit vacuum cleaner-like behavior, hoovering up any crumbs and food scraps that may have fallen on the floor. But have you ever seen a pooch who resembles a feather duster?