Owner’s Perspective

Every morning it’s the same routine. Wake up, get ready, and then Sparky and I go for our morning walk. It’s a small ritual but an important one for us. The problem started this morning when I woke up late, due to a late-night work call (yep, those exist). I needed those extra minutes grabbing coffee and trying to remove the remnants of sleep from my eyes. So I pondered, “Could a little change in routine hurt?” (Spoiler alert: It can).

Snapping Sparky’s leash on, I opened the door, ready for his morning frolic of chasing every squirrel and sniffing every tree. But there was one problem. I didn’t yet have my coffee. I was still in my slippers. Confusion was written all over Sparky’s face: eyebrows furrowed, ears up, eyes carefully studying my slippered feet and coffee-less hand. He looked at his leash then back at me, questioningly.

Ignoring his silent protest, I believed I could get away with this one irregularity. Boy, was I wrong. Sparky didn’t move. He sat still at the door, refusing to budge. The sight was enough to question my choices.

Sparky Speaks: A Dog’s Tale

I WAIT for my morning walk. It’s the BEST part of my day. Rigorous sniffing and chasing squirrels, you know, dog things.

This morning was supposed to be no different. As I heard the sound of my leash clicking, I was already plotting my SQUIRREL CHASE STRATEGY. But something was off. The smell of coffee didn’t fill the house, and she was still WEARING HER SLIPPERS.

I looked at my leash, then back at her. I needed her to UNDERSTAND. This is not the ORDER. First coffee, then the WALK. But she ignored my attempt at communication. The nerve!

I sat at the door, unmoving. The universe was off balance, and I wasn’t going to be an accomplice to her CRIME OF UPSETTING THE NATURAL ORDER.

Redemption: Thanks to The Hungry Puppy

The look on Sparky’s face got to me. It was too much to handle. His pleading eyes won, and there I was, brewing my coffee and changing out of my slippers.

But one hiccup couldn’t undo the damage. We needed a grand gesture. An apology of sorts. That’s when The Hungry Puppy came to mind. I remembered the stack of fun enrichment toys I had seen during our previous visit. One of them was a fun puzzle toy from Nina Ottosson. The perfect diversion!

Once back from our walk, I presented the toy to Sparky. The sight of the new toy made his entire body wiggle in anticipation. As I filled it with his favorite treats, his tail hit turbo mode. It was a joyous sight.

First sniff, then paw, then WIGGLE and TAIL WAGS. Looks like the puzzle toy was a hit. Sparky was happily engaged, trying to figure out how to get his treats.

Crisis averted. Normalcy restored. Dog no longer hates me (until I put on a tutu on him for Halloween).

Visit The Hungry Puppy for fun puzzle toys and more — because who else can make amends better than a dog’s best friend. Check out thehungrypuppy.com for their wide range of dog toys and treats.

• 🎁 FREE treats at the counter — every visit is a win
• 🐕 On-site Dog Park — run free, be forgiven
• 🏪 In-store shopping — Bring your pup for the full experience
• 💚 Lots of love — We get it. We’re dog people too.