to make cakes from scratch:

2.5 cups cake flour      
1.25 tsp baking soda
.25 tsp baking powder
.75 tsp salt
1.75 cups sugar
1.25 sticks butter
1 tbsp buttermilk
3 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp vanilla
6 egg yolks
3 egg whites

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Grease 2 9" cake pans with butter and cover the base with parchment paper. Dust with flour. (BTW, these are not included in the above)

Whisk flour, soda, powder, salt and 1.5 cups of sugar together. In another bowl, blend melted butter, buttermilk, egg yolks, oil, and vanilla.

Beat egg whites and remaining sugar until stiff.

While mixing, add the butter mixture to the flour and mix until smooth. Gently fold in 1/3 of the whites.  Repeat twice.  Pour mixture into pans evenly divided and tap to dislodge bubbles. Bake 20-24 minutes. Cool 10 minutes and flip out of pan. Turn right side up and let cool for 1.5 hours. Trim and frost. (He used a canned frosting this time.)

Because it contains no chocolate, you can share with the dog.