For me, a black lab will forever be Simon. We had our Simon when I was about 5 or 6 and he grew up with all four of us children, He was a proper family dog - I'm so envious of you, Jillius! We can't decide whether or not to get a dog now for our two young boys, and talk about it often!!
I always thought Simon was a normal name for a dog, then as I grew up I thought it wasn't, and then later still, I worked with a girl who had had a Simon too, so now I'm not sure again! Ours answered to Simon, Sammy, Sam and Fat Dog (in his later years!!)