Dave says, “Drop It”

Look, The Hungry Puppy’s dog park is clean and well-maintained. But it’s still a dog park. Which means sometimes there are… things. Unidentified things.

Rocky found one of these things. I don’t know what it was. I don’t WANT to know what it was. It was brown, suspicious, and definitely not something that should go in a dog’s mouth.

“Drop it!” I commanded.

Rocky looked at me like I’d asked him to solve a calculus problem. Then he tried to eat it faster.

I had to physically pry his jaws open and remove the mystery item while he looked at me with pure, unadulterated hatred. The other dog owners pretended not to notice.

For the rest of our visit, Rocky followed me around giving me dirty looks and occasionally sighing like a disappointed parent.

Rocky’s Reasoning

I FOUND TREASURE.

I don’t know what it was. I don’t care what it was. It smelled AMAZING. Like, top-ten smells of my entire life. It was RIGHT THERE. On the ground. Clearly meant for me.

I was about to experience pure joy. My mouth was watering. This was going to be LEGENDARY.

Then she ATTACKED me. Stuck her hand in my mouth like some kind of treat thief. STOLE my treasure. Threw it in the trash.

Do you know what’s in that trash? MY DREAMS. That’s what.

I spent the rest of the park time making sure she knew exactly how I felt about this injustice. I sighed. I gave her looks. I walked slowly. I made it AWKWARD.

She owes me. Big time. I’m thinking at least three of those Primal freeze-dried treats from The Hungry Puppy’s store. Minimum.

The Hungry Puppy Saves the Day

Rocky’s owner knew she had to make this right—and fast. The silent treatment was reaching critical levels, and Rocky’s dramatic sighing was getting louder by the minute.

After leaving the dog park, they walked straight into The Hungry Puppy’s store (conveniently located right there—because we KNOW what happens at dog parks). She explained the “mystery snack incident” to our staff, who immediately understood the assignment.

We brought out the good stuff. The Primal freeze-dried treats that Rocky had been dreaming about. The crunchy, meaty, SAFE treasures that wouldn’t require emergency vet visits. Rocky’s tail started wagging again—slowly at first, then with increasing enthusiasm.

But here’s where it gets good: our team suggested setting up a free local delivery subscription for Rocky’s favorite treats. That way, he’d have a regular supply of APPROVED mystery snacks waiting at home. No more garbage-hunting necessary.

They also grabbed some long-lasting chews and puzzle toys filled with treats—the kind that keep dogs busy and satisfied without requiring questionable outdoor finds. Rocky left the store with a bag full of goodies and free treats from the counter (because we’re not monsters).

By the time they got to the car, Rocky had completely forgotten about the confiscated treasure. He was too busy planning how to demolish his new bully stick.

The Hungry Puppy didn’t just replace what Rocky lost—we upgraded it. Because sometimes the best apology comes in the form of premium, vet-approved, definitely-not-mysterious treats.

The Lesson: When your dog finds questionable snacks at the park, The Hungry Puppy has the GOOD snacks waiting inside. Crisis averted, tail wagging restored, dignity intact.