Say Hi to Milly

Her joy of life. She loves it if I accidentally drop something like a glove when I’m out. Quick as a flash, and before I’ve noticed, she’ll grab it in her mouth, and run hell for leather round me in distant circles until, in desperation, I start throwing handfuls of chicken in her direction and, reluctantly, she’ll drop her prize and eat. • How she taught herself to open the push-top

She’ll happily run under the table from one side to the other, or enjoy Zoomies around the kitchen, when we’re trying to put her back in her crate. She’ll growl and bark, refusing all entreaties, until we finally manage to back her into a corner, secure her lead, and gently guide her back to bed.

How they will put their nose into everything. When Milly was 3 months old, we suddenly realised that the house was quiet. We discovered her in the dining room, where she'd poked her head through the grab strap at the top of my husband's work rucksack. Her spaniel ears prevented reverse from this "doggy bag", so we had to cut off the strap.

How they can get anything into their mouth before you even realise - Covid masks, cotton wool, milk and beer bottle tops, doggy poo bags ... Milly is like a hoover of the city's streets and we are constantly having to remove litter from her mouth. Looking forward to when our trainer teaches us the drop it and leave it commands.