When copy editor Robert Chipkin and his golden retriever, Theo, were asked to leave the grounds outside a Longmeadow coffee shop back in 2012, little did he know it would mark a new chapter in their relationship.

The ouster, prompted by a local ordinance banning dogs from restaurant premises, got Chipkin thinking of how it might appear from Theos point of view, and so was born Dog Tales, the random musings of the only regularly appearing canine columnist in the country.

For the next six years Theo had his say on topics ranging from cats (cant really trust them especially those wearing hats); skunks (they smell like skunks; get over it) to babies (never work a room with one; theyll always upstage you.)

A collection of these columns, Paws to Remember, the Wit & Wisdom of Theo the Golden Retriever, has been published by The Republican. It is available through The Republican, Amazon, Daves Pet Food City, Giftology, Mimis Consignment and email via chipcar@comcast.net

Chipkin said he never expected the column to last so long as Theo didnt travel much, had few political opinions, a dim memory (and thus never held a grudge), and his notion of time didnt extend much beyond dinner. Yet his count me in nature, doggish enthusiasm for everyday objects and simple observations of the silliness of much human behavior gave him plenty of fodder over the years.

For example, Theo wondered, when did doggy bags no longer go to dogs? There was a time when doggy bags were rightly the reward for being left home while humans enjoyed a fancy meal out. And then somehow to mix a metaphor, the doggy bag flew the coop, passing their rightful recipient right by and landing in the refrigerator to appear in ensuing meals for humans, with barely a scrap for dogs.

Its a dog life all right.

But Theo didnt mind, or so it appeared to Chipkin, and suddenly the two of them were communicating on a regular basis on all sorts of subjects from poop (it happens); to squirrels (why dont they like me?).

Once you start thinking like a dog, youre surprised at how easy it is, said Chipkin.

Chipkin and Theo retired at the same time from column writing, thinking they would have plenty of time to work on their memoirs.

It turns out they didnt.

Shortly after the column ended, Theo developed lymphatic cancer, a scourge of golden retrievers, and after one last trip to the beach died in 2019, just short of his 10th birthday.

Only somewhat comforted by a vets comments that our pets are only on loan to us, the Chipkins soon found the gloom of an empty house overwhelming, and less than a year later, Reilly, another golden retriever joined the family.

Like many second dogs, he knew enough not to try to replace Theo, but only attempt to lift the dark cloud that had enveloped the house. Of course, Reilly was not above putting his own paw print on the place in hopes of earning that highest of dog praise good dog.

And that he has, which likely would have made Theo proud.

Paws To Remember is now available is at the discounted price of $20 plus shipping and taxes through the Republican, Amazon, at Daves Pet Food City, in Agawam; Giftology, in Longmeadow; Mimis Consignment, in East Longmeadow, and from the author at chipcar@comcast.net

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Theo canine columns collected in Paws to Remember book - MassLive.com