Richard Wagner was  devoted to his King Charles spaniel named Peps, who  actually participated  in his master’s composing.

Wagner’s biographer H.T. Finck records that Peps constantly sat near Wagner when the composer was at the piano. Sometimes Peps would leap on to the table and peer into Wagner’s face, howling piteously.

Wagner would ask: “What? Does it not suit you?” then shake the dog’s paw and say, ” I will do thy bidding gently”.

Constantly following this procedure, Wagner claimed that Peps had helped him compose Tannauser.

Unkind critics later opined hat Peps was the only critic Wagner ever listened to.