The Chi recently celebrated her 12th birthday The Canine Americans made no New Year’s resolutions this year which is probably just as well since nobody manages to keep them anyway. But both are marking important milestones early this year. The Chi quietly celebrated her 12th birthday in January. Jake looks forward to his first birthday on February 15 and hopes for a new toy or two having been uncommonly destructive of late. Here begins the first vignette.

Jake enjoys his toys. He chews them, squeaks them, throws them, catches them, and loves a good raucous tug of war. It is this last one that has been the end of more good toys than one can count. Just this past week alone, Jake dismembered two stuffed monkeys, disemboweled his stuffed iguana, desqueaked a ball and a rubber hedgehog toy and ate a whole set of little plastic tugboats. All that remains are a small brown rabbit, a deoinked hedgehog, and one incredibly resilient stuffed mallard. We will clearly need to shop with endurance in mind as we choose his birthday present.

Jake will be one year old next week. Some of you may be wondering how The Chi is handling life in the Land of the Giants since cainus giagantus has been here awhile. Unlike the Lilliputians who neatly handled Gulliver with teamwork and many small ropes, The Chi is on her own and lacks thumbs so she has resorted to what she does best…..intimidation.

If the puppy gets too close The Chi responds with a flurry of snaps and snarls that quickly puts him in his place and convinces him of the wisdom of keeping a respectful distance. Of course, being practical and liking her creature comforts, she is sometimes inclined to allow him into her personal space. The Chi is always cold and with the recent run of cold weather, we have often come home to find The Chi cuddled up next to the big red puppy and both snoozing peacefully.

Jake has become quite the clever sneak thief. He is tall enough and just coordinated enough to stand on his hind legs to remove orange peels and cheesey paper from the trash never touching the can.

Recently, when Mom and I went on a food run, Jake went along for the ride. Mom has a habit of tucking the cash beneath her leg so she won’t need to mess with wallets and things at the drive through. Halfway to Rushes, Mom looked over to see Jake holding a $20 bill in his mouth. He apparently had seen it sticking out between her leg and the seat and decided to surreptitiously remove it for closer examination. I guess we’ll need to be more careful with our money.

The Chi is becoming computer literate.

She perches herself

on Dad’s hip and snuggles in for warmth as Dad sits in his big club chair and surfs the net. She sits there and watches the screen as it changes until her eyes grow heavy and she nods off. Lately she has taken to laying her head on the edge of the computer. She likes it because it generates heat. Given that Dad’s computer is one of those with the expanded tracking pad which encompasses the entire space beneath the keyboard, The Chi has on occasion surfed him away from his intended destination as she moves her chin. See! Old dogs can learn new tricks.

That’s all of the adventure in Dogdom for this month. Keep reading the

Columbia Star for more curious canine capers.