Like most Beagle boys, Biggles really likes to have a chin rest when he’s napping, and I’m pretty sure that the perfect chin rest for him would be the warm, well-padded bottom of a friendly Beagle girl. Unfortunately he doesn’t have access to one of those; instead he’s got Beanie. Her bottom may be warm, but it isn’t particularly well-padded. Worse still, she generally likes to sleep alone – preferably in the humies’ bed or under a blankie – and is prone to grumbling if disturbed.

As Biggles’ 12th birthday approached, we considered other ways to get him the warm comfortable chin-rest he deserves. After an extensive Googling session, Susan spotted this:

He’s called Bonzo, and because he’s a boy rather than a girl, Biggles’ initial meeting with him was a bit awkward.

Undeterred, we carried on with Biggles’ busy birthday morning schedule. He had a walk with an extended blackberry picking session, a buffalo ear and a good long chew of his favorite filled hoof.

As an aside, I can’t sing the praises of filled hooves enough. I’ve found that if I hand them out just as we’re starting an indoor movie night, we get to see most of the movie without any intermissions. If you’re old enough, you probably associate the term “intermission” with a break in the film, during which a staff member tours the aisles selling ice-creams and other treats. The intermissions on our movie night are kind of similar, except that the member of staff is always Biggles, and the only thing he’s got for sale is the sock he’s just nicked from our bedroom.

Anyway, getting back to his Lordship’s big day, he did of course also get a birthday cake which was consumed quickly enough to set a new personal best time.

It should be noted however that Beanie is still the world record-holder for speed swallowing of birthday cakes and just about anything else she can get her jaws round.

After such a busy morning an extended nap was due, and it was at this point that Biggles overcame the prior awkwardness with Bonzo. You see the thing about Bonzo is that he has a big microwaveable heat pad in his tummy. That, combined with plenty of soft, springy stuffing, makes him into a very comfortable chin-rest, and he doesn’t much care whether you put your chin on his bottom, his head, or his paws.

One Beagle’s birthday is always another Beagle’s UNbirthday at our house, so we got the pups a Bonzo each. Such is the power of Bonzo’s gentle, comforting heat that even Beanie fell into a deep sleep without requesting a blankie covering. When she eventually awoke and went out to do what a girl’s gotta do in the garden, the Birthday Boy got to sample the extreme luxury of double Bonzos.

It’s notable that with Bonzo in their crates, both Beanie and Biggles settle down to sleep very quickly at night, with no noisy bed making attempts, and on mornings they tend not to be so desperate to swap their own beds for a snuggle with us in the humie bed. However, be aware that although Bonzo clearly feels great to little furry people, the quality of his stitching leaves a lot to be desired; Biggles nearly decapitated his when rearranging things on the sofa. Still, if Bonzo lasts I think our two pups will be much more comfortable during the long, cold winter nights that are coming.