Animated dog caught by spirited government (10)
I believe the answer is:
plutocracy
'government' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both groups as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'animated dog caught by spirited' is the wordplay.
'animated dog' becomes 'pluto' (I've seen this before).
'caught' becomes 'c' (cricket abbreviation).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'spirited' becomes 'racy' (I've seen this in another clue).
'pluto'+'c'+'racy'='PLUTOCRACY'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for plutocracy that I've seen before include "wealthy elite" , "Government by the wealthy" , "rich people in government" .)