The Owner’s Side

It started out as a quiet, routine evening. Dinner time done. Dishes clean. A hot cup of chamomile in my hand. It was time for us to retire to our favourite corner in the living room. It was storytime. Phoenix and I had a ritual. Every night, I read him a story before his sleep, complete with all the voice modulations, from Horton the elephant to Clifford the dog. And it was a moment we both cherished deeply.

This evening though, I committed a crime of unimaginable proportions. I, the trusted narrator of epic tales, had forgotten to pick up a new storybook from the library. I had been a bit rushed that morning, maybe a bit more than a bit. Work was hectic, as it always is, and I thought, “Maybe, Phoenix would be okay with a repeated story for a night.” I couldn’t have been more wrong.

When I picked up ‘Green Eggs and Ham’, a story Phoenix had heard, adored, and gotten tired of about two months ago, his tail wag fluttering slowed noticeably. As I began reading, those little ears, which are usually primed forward, started drooping. By the time I got to the 10th page, Phoenix was at the threshold of the room, throwing over his shoulder a look that screamed ‘I’ve been let down’. Now, you and I know, that look from a furry friend is not a good sign. Cue, the silent treatment.

Phoenix Portrays His Heartbreak

Beautiful day. Lots of play in the park. Tickles from dad. From the moment I woke up, I knew it was going to be a good day. The sun was bright, the tank was clean. It had all the signs. And then came story time.

STORY TIME. The absolute HIGHLIGHT of my day. Every twist, every turn. I LIVE for those moments. HANG on every word. Then she picked up the book. And there it was. ‘GREEN EGGS AND HAM’. Been there, heard that. TWICE.

Excuse me? Excuuuuuse me? A repeat? NO new story? I could not believe my ears. From the highs of a blissful day to the lows of a REPEATED story. Could she not see my ears drooping as she read the same OLD lines? The tail, that tail that wags at the peak of my excitement, was stagnant. STAGNANT!

Betrayed, I walked away. It was too much for my little doggy heart. I went to my bed, curled up in the corner, and let out a sigh. A sigh that was a battle cry for all the dogs whose owners had committed similar crimes. I looked back just for a moment and I could see a human in despair. The tail wag meter was at zero, the story unfinished, and story time was over.

The Happy Ending

After a night of restless sleep, guilt gnawing at me with the intensity of Phoenix gnawing at his Nylabone dinosaur chew toy, I grabbed my purple raincoat, ready to brave the rain on a Sunday morning and drove down to The Hungry Puppy. My mission was clear: to find a book, a good book, a new book. A squeaky toy or two for good measure. Redemption lay on the shelves of the Dog Books aisle.

Among the rows of brightly colored books, a book called ‘If You Give a Dog a Donut’ caught my eye. The pages were filled with illustrations guaranteed to capture any pup’s curiosity, including my Phoenix’s. I could already see his ears perking up, his eyes carefully following the vivid images as I read him the story.

Back home, the moment I opened the book, Phoenix was beside me in an instant. Those attentive eyes, those perky ears… I even got a bark during one particularly fun chase scene in the book. The climax ended with a breathless cuddle, followed by the Great Phoenix Leaning Sigh — reserved only for peak satisfaction. By the time we got to the dog finally eating his donut, Phoenix’s tail had returned to its usual million wags per minute.

Crisis averted. Donut given. Dog no longer hates me (and the library card now has a permanent spot on my dashboard).

Is your pup giving you the cold shoulder? A squeaky toy, a chewy treat, or a sparking new story might just be the solution! Come on over to The Hungry Puppy, because sometimes forgiveness is just a fun shop visit away. Free local delivery is also available for those rainy days!

• 🦴 Premium treats — Because a little indulgence never hurt
• 📖 Dog Books aisle — For the intellectual pup
• 🏪 In-store shopping — Bring your pup for the full experience
• 💚 Lots of love — We get it. We’re dog people too.