The world as Rebecca sees it

Tonight, as our dog Sydney was making a break to rub her rear on the stairway carpet, Rebecca chased Sydney down the stairs (I need a whole post to explain the oddities that are our pets) and yelled, "Sydney is up the stairs. HE's being BAD!"
Always ready for a teachable moment, I corrected, "SHE came up the stairs." 
Rebecca said, "No, HE came up the stairs." 
Patiently, I explained, "No, SHE came up the stairs.  Sydney is a girl, and SHE goes with girls."
Exasperated, Rebecca sighed, "No he isn't!  Sydney is a boy and Hadee [Paddy = Paddington] is a girl."
"No," I said, "Paddington is a boy and Sydney is a girl."
Stymied by my stupidity, Rebecca said, "No they not!  Sydney is black so HE'S a BOY. Hadee is brown so SHE'S a GIRL."