<P> Columbo frequently mentions his wife . In a number of episodes, the murderer is a celebrity or figure well - known to Columbo's wife, and in several Columbo attempts to procure a souvenir for her, or to enlist the celebrity to make a telephone call to her . However, she is never at home . </P> <P> Columbo also has a habit of receiving police calls on the landline of the witness or suspect's house while he is visiting them . </P> <P> "Étude in Black" (1972) marked the first appearance of the lieutenant's basset hound, named "Dog". "Dog" came to be an occasional regular character in the films . Columbo considered names like "Fido", "Munch" and "Beethoven" but ultimately settled on "Dog". </P> <P> In "Sex and the Married Detective", Columbo is put on the spot when he is asked to play the tuba . Reluctantly he agrees, only to demonstrate great proficiency . He subsequently claimed that at school, the tuba was the only instrument left . </P>

What was the name of columbo's dog