The Owner’s Side:

I’m going to tell you something and I need you not to judge me. You know that unmistakable look dogs give when they’re ready for a game of fetch? Ears perked up, tail wagging a mile a minute, eyes brighter than a thousand suns? Well, that’s the look Max gave me yesterday. And I…I forgot to throw his ball.

See, I was working from home. Emails coming in every second, meetings all day, you know the drill. And then there he was, ball in mouth, begging for a simple toss. “In a minute, Max,” I told him. Another email beeped. The phone rang. “Just a few seconds more, buddy,” I reassured him. But the minutes turned into hours. And the hours? Well, they turned into an offended dog.

When I looked up from my laptop, resigned to regret, there sat Max with his ball rolled to the side. And that face. Oh, that face. His hopeful eyes turned into little globes of sadness. His wagging tail dropped flat against the floor. The ever so slight tilt of his head was like a question attacking my conscience – ‘Where’s my fetch?’

After a moment of silence (which to be honest felt like an eternity), he exhaled a sigh. The kind of sigh that can break your heart even if you didn’t know it was under threat. He got up, walked away, carrying the weight of disappointment, and flopped down in his bed. I had let down my best friend.

Max talks back:

OKAY. I need to get something off my chest. Human says, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ MY name is MAX. I DO NOT WANT TO BE A ‘DULL BOY’. I wanted to play FETCH. That’s it. FETCH. Is it too much to ask?

I planned it all out. Waited till she had her afternoon coffee break. Brought her the good ball – you know, the non-squeaky one she loves. SHOWED her the ball. Dropped it at her feet, even. Do you know how many dogs drop the ball? None. We like the chase. But there I was, BALL AT MY FEET, ready for fetch.

I was READY. She looked at me. I looked at her. THE BALL looked at her. It was time. Time for the GLORIOUS game of FETCH. And what did I get? Nothing. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. She went back to her little screen, typing away, leaving ME and THE BALL in utter DESPAIR.

Have you ever been promised a playtime and then get NOTHING? It HURTS. It hurts BIG TIME. She’s busier with her little screen than playing FETCH. It was the saddest moment of my life. So, I walked away. Took my ball. Left her with her little screen.

Redemption:

It was late in the evening. After hours of sulking, I couldn’t bear Max’s sadness anymore. His usual afternoon game of fetch was long overdue and it was time to pull out the big guns. I grabbed my coat and keys and headed out. Destination? The Hungry Puppy.

I walked down the aisles, a sense of redemption and a hint of guilt guiding me to the toy section. I picked out their newest fetching toy – a bright, bouncy, rather irresistible ball launcher. Something that could make up for a missed game and turn the rest into an unforgettable experience.

When I walked in through the door, Max perked up from his dramatic recline. As I took out the brand new fetch launcher from the bag, his tail began to thump against the floor. I pulled back the spring-loaded scoop, placed the glowing ball in it, and then in one swift move, launched it across the yard. Max was a blur of speed, chasing after his brand new game.

Indescribable joy overtook Max as he caught the ball, turned around, and sprinted back towards me. His tail formed a windmill of happiness, his eyes sparkled brighter than the stars above us. As he dropped the ball at my feet, Max leaned into me, panting heavily but noticeably content.

Crisis averted. Fetch upgraded. Dog no longer hates me (though I’m looking into a second screen solely for Max’s fetch videos).

Redeem your fetch games with the Max Launch-O-Matic, available at The Hungry Puppy. Perfect for those work-at-home afternoons where your dog needs an upgrade from the traditional fetch. Because, let’s face it, sometimes we all need a little help throwing. Click here to put the ‘play’ back in your dog’s day!

• 🎁 Impulse buys at their counter — for every visit and almost-irresistible toy
• 🐕 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.