Owner’s Perspective

Here I was, another busy day of work under my belt. Another stack of emails responded to, projects managed, and (I’d like to think) crises averted. The one thing I didn’t account for, however, was my routine being thrown off. You guessed it – I didn’t have time for the daily post-dinner stroll with Rocky. “It’s just one day”, I told myself. “It’s just one walk,” I told the air. “You don’t understand,” I whispered to Rocky as he watched me with the soulful depth of a thousand unwalked walks.

The moment I took off my coat without reaching for the leash, the tone shifted. Rocky looked at me, his usually sparkly eyes dimming slightly (or maybe that was the fading daylight, I’ll never really know). His tail, usually a steady pendulum of undying optimism, stilled. He let out a small sigh (or just an ordinary exhale again, I can’t be certain) and retreated to his dog bed, his favorite squeaky toy untouched. Mistakes were made, the silence seemed to whisper.

And then, he turned his back to me. I mean, who knew a dog could be so melodramatic? Isn’t that supposed to be a cat thing? I decided to address the issue head-on, “Rocky, I promise we’ll go on our walk tomorrow, okay?” I said to his receding back. The lack of response, of course, was deafening. Guilt, thy name is a missed dog walk.

Rocky’s Reality Check

Today is the day, I thought to myself as I started my series of midday naps. It’s the day where the human finishes his strange paw clicking on the flat box and then, he says those magic words. THE magic words — WALK TIME. I prepared all afternoon. I practiced my tail wags. I honed my excited spins. The anticipation was ELECTRIC.

With my human back home, the familiar routine began. Off went the skin-layer, on went my favorite walking collar, well, it didn’t this time and it didn’t make sense. A waiting tail went still. A hopeful heart fell. WHAT ABOUT THE WALK?

I made my feelings clear. Subtle, understated, dignified — not really. I trotted to my bed, my toy elephant forgotten on the floor in my hasty retreat. Then, with all the nobility of my ancestors, I TURNED MY BACK. A dog has his pride. I mean, how would they like it if I abruptly stopped their favorite activity like belly rubs or treat delivery? Oh, yes, I can see the wide-eyed shock in human’s eyes now. The pathos!

Crisis Averted

Now, there’s only so much of a guilty conscience one can bear. It wasn’t the sighs, or the silent treatment. In fact, it wasn’t even when Rocky refused to cuddle up to me while watching the late-night news. It was when he didn’t pick up his favorite squeaky elephant toy to play — that’s when the guilt swallowed me whole. I could take it no longer, “Alright, buddy, let’s fix this,” I said, reaching for my keys and headed to The Hungry Puppy.

I picked up the newest rage in chewy toy kingdom – a squeaky fox toy that, according to the pet consultant at The Hungry Puppy, was perfect for medium-sized dogs like Rocky. Plus, it came with a promise of hours of fun. I also got some freeze-dried treats from their delightful ‘I’m Sorry’ range. I mean, I was already there. It only made sense.

When I got back home, the transition in Rocky was INSTANT as I presented him with the new squeaky toy and delicious treats. His previously staging a sit-in on his dog bed vanished. The tail wagged full speed, the eyes sparkled, and the squeaky fox was snatched up immediately, followed by some rather impressive leaps and spins I’d never seen before. The freeze-dried treat was devoured quickly and gratefully.

Most importantly, he returned to his spot next to me on the couch, the newly claimed squeaky fox tucked securely beneath his paw. There may be no walks missed in the future, but there was definitely forgiveness in the air.

Crisis averted. Fix acquired. Dog no longer hates me (I’ve set reminders for all future walks).

If your pup is ever in a huff, The Hungry Puppy can provide you with an array of peace offerings, including toys and ‘I’m Sorry’ range treats that no dog could resist. Check out their range online at thehungrypuppy.com or stop by their store to find exactly what you’re looking for.

• ✨ New toys — “I’m sorry” in many squeaks and colors
• 🦴 Premium ‘I’m Sorry’ treats
• 🏪 In-store shopping — Bring your pup for the full experience
• 💚 Lots of love — We get it. We’re dog people too.