[Michael Romanos]

If Milo's birthday celebrations are going to include other dogs, here are a few suggestions: Prizes for the winners: dog biscuit eating competition - give each dog a large dog biscuit and the first to fully consume the biscuit, wins; chair sitting - each dog has a chair to sit on so when each person calls them up from the floor/ground, the first to sit on their chair, wins; musical cushions (or towels) - when the music stops, the handler heads their dog for the nearest cushion/towel to stand at least one foot on, elimination until one left to be declared the prize winner.

The point about baking your own Corgi cakes is that all the ingredience are perfectly suitable for dogs no sugar, no salt , no artifical coloring etc - you won't normally get this from a shop. However dogs usually love grainy bread (non white) especially when toasted and sliced in two with a peanut butter spread. So the only cooking is toasting the bread - and it need not be given hot or warm.

Maybe you can coax a bus or train company to let Milo on board for a joy ride. Last Sunday, there was a celebration of extended opening hours for the Upper Hutt City library put on by the local City Council and they had a double decker bus ( like the ones they have in London) to take people on free rides for 15-20 minures. I talked the irganisers in to allowing Taylor on the bus with me, my wife and son, and Taylor of course headed up to the top deck for what is the real ride and the best view. That was fun for a Corgi.