" The demon settled like a dog cowering before a stern master, and no wonder; it had been a dog, or rather been in a dog, at one time, Pen was certain. The new-hatched elemental had found its early way through lesser animals before that, maybe, but mostly it was doggish. "

― Lois McMaster Bujold , The Physicians of Vilnoc (Penric and Desdemona, #8)