The Boy's Toys

Tai loves his toys. But then, so do all dogs. He particularly likes squeaky balls. The squeakier--and more annoying--the better. The ordinary non-squeek variety just don't cut the mustard with our Tai. He loves to play 'Fetch' with his squeak toys, although he still has a long way to go to understand the whole concept of fetch--he retrieves the ball, then runs in a completely different direction, with what looks like a smile on his face... "Hah, got it, and I'm not gonna give it back."

For a while, Tai's favorite toy was a length of nylon rope that we tied into a kind of noose. We made it thick enough that he could easily grab it and it wouldn't lose its shape. Perfect for playing tug-of-war. He would work feverishly to undo knots that held the woven nylon in place. Given enough time, he'd have the whole thing completely unwoven. Clever boy! Then we'd weave it back up again, and the whole process would start over again. The only reason he doesn't have one now is that we haven't made any for him lately. Perhaps he'll get one for Christmas.

But his absolute all-time favorite toy is a simple box. Cereal box, toothpaste box, cookie box--as long as it's made of boxboard, it's prime toy material. I happen to like cookies and milk while I watch TV in the evening. Tai comes and sits beside me, waiting to lick the last little bit of milk from my glass, but more importantly, to get the cookie box. When I give the 'go' word, he will tear that cookie box into a million tiniest pieces, scattering its dismembered remains all over the place.

I have to say that I can't help wondering how much of ancient doggie instincts are at work when our adorable BTs are at play. To see Tai attack a defenceless cardboard box or a nylon noose, shake it senseless, then attempt to pull it limb from limb, I have to wonder if he truly believes he is killing something. A rather gruesome thought, huh?