Ten dog behaviours of Laika, the dog:

1. Playing with her new squeaky toy. The first toy we ever got her that hasn't been killed within a day. We're guessing it's because it squeaks when she bites too hard. She's taken to whimpering while she plays with it, which we can't figure out.

2. Sleeping with four legs in the air.

3. Sneaking off to sleep on the guest bed.

4. Running her face through high weeds.

5. Sitting down when another dog tries to sniff her butt.

6. Hiding from the vacuum cleaner. Every dog does this, but we're happy to know she's normal.

7. Yelping at puppies, especially when two are fighting each other. It gets her really excited but she doesn't know how to express it.

8. Chewing on sticks. If she finds a piece that's three or four inches long, she will eat it.

9. Trying to get you to play tug-of-war with the leash if she's not ready to leave the park yet.

10. Jumping up and down whenever Marjorie or I head for the front door, if she hasn't been to the park in the last two hours. I think she thinks that we don't ever take her unless she shows enough enthusiasm.