I deal with Basil daily and I think I take alot for granted. He actually impresses folks with his cooperation, communication and problem solving abilities. Each morning he helps me get dressed to go to the shop, unless I tell him he's staying home. If I say, "Sorry Basil, you have to stay here today", he climbs up on the couch and ignores me. Otherwise, he seems to assume he'll be with me all day and will sit beside me as I put on my socks and shoes. I will ask him to hold my sock, and drape a sock over his snout:

He'll sit there patiently holding my sock as I put on my other sock and a shoe:

When I take the sock from him, Basil will relax with pride that he has indeed helped me.