Owner’s Perspective
Every year, it’s the same routine. The holiday decorations go up after Thanksgiving, filling the house with cheer and festive vibes. I love it, my kids love it, and most importantly, Max our Golden Retriever loves it. His favorite? The string of reindeer-shaped lights that run across the banister. Their soft golden glow seems to mesmerize him. That’s why this year, when the decorations came down, I had a sinking feeling… one that said I’d severely miscalculated.

Sure enough, when I unstrung the last of the reindeer lights from the banister while Max watched on with his best “I really hoped you wouldn’t do that” expression, my heart broke a little for him. His normally floppy ears pointed straight down as I neatly coiled the lights into a storage box. I tried to explain it to him (max, the holiday is over, we can’t have reindeer lights up all year round) but all he did was give me a look that I’ll describe as an eloquent, doggy equivalent of “you’re breaking my heart right now.”

When I put the box into the attic and came down to find Max still sitting, his head tilted at the now bare banister, I felt a pang of regret. Congratulations, I thought sarcastically to myself, you just broke a dog’s heart over holiday lights.

Max’s Perspective:
HOLIDAYS. BEST TIME OF THE YEAR. You know why? REINDEER LIGHTS. They’re my favorite. I don’t know why, they are not edible or throwable, but I LOVE THEM. Maybe it’s the way they shine, maybe it’s how they make everything seem warmer, more exciting.

So, there I was, thinking everything was PERFECT. Until she decided it was time for, what she calls, “putting away holiday stuff”. I tried to be strong, but my heart DROPPED when she dismantled MY FAVORITE REINDEER LIGHTS. One by one. She even put them all the way in the attic!

I don’t understand. Why couldn’t she just leave them? Was I not a good dog? Didn’t I defend the house from those scary evil squirrels? Is PHIL in retrievers’ group better than me? So many questions..

The Happy Ending
But then, days later, something happened. After seeing Max mope around, I couldn’t bear it any longer. Max needed his cheer back and I knew the solution. A short drive to The Hungry Puppy later, I had solved it: a dog-friendly version of his beloved reindeer lights — a reindeer-shaped chew toy with an in-built LED light.

I came home, Max’s favorite ‘reindeer’ in hand, his tail tentatively started to wag. The moment I turned on the LED light in the toy, it was as if the entire world lit up once more for him. His eyes sparkled with surprise, then joy. He lunged at the toy, his tail wagging in a fury. Watching him trot happily around the house with the toy, his tail wagging so hard I was afraid it’d generate a breeze, all was right in the world again.

Crisis averted. Reindeer light restored…in a way. Dog no longer hates me (although I may have just set a next year’s precedent).

Who says festive cheer needs to be seasonal? At The Hungry Puppy, we believe in keeping our furry friends happy all year round! We stock a great selection of toys that cater to their unique interests. Drop by with your pet or visit us online at thehungrypuppy.com to find your pet’s new favorite!

• 🦴 Premium chew toys — Bringing joy all year round
• 🎄 Seasonal toys — ‘Cuz festivities know no season
• 🏪 In-store shopping — Bring your pup for the full experience
• 💚 Lots of love — We get it. We’re dog owners too.