Our fondness for dogs has resulted in many shelves of toy stores being filled with plush dogs, plastic dogs, mechanical dogs and electronically controlled dogs that bark, sing or flash lights. One of ...

I’ve been giving a robot belly rubs. I’ve scolded it for being a bad, bad boy. I’ve grinned when it greets me at the door. What’s this feeling? Oh, yes, puppy love. And I felt it for Aibo, a new ...