Fred the Forgetful Father Explains:

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, the grill was fired up, the sunflowers in full bloom, and the laughter-filled chatter of family gathered around. I was hosting a small backyard gathering – just close family, keeping it easy and casual. Nothing fancy, nothing elaborate. Just a simple way to revel in the joy of togetherness (with a generous amount of barbecued ribs involved of course).

But I had forgotten one crucial detail, probably the most crucial one, given the theme of our blog. You see, among the guests, Rosie, our golden retriever was nowhere to be found. Yes, in my frenzy to marinate steaks, inflate balloons, and entertain guests, I’d forgotten to invite my floppy-eared best friend.

When I finally realized it, I snuck inside, tiptoed my way to Rosie’s favorite sunny corner. There she was, her innocent eyes staring back at me, as if she knew. She tilted her head in that painfully adorable way, without making a noise. A single sigh and a wagless tail said it all.

In that moment, I wished I could explain to her the chaos and forgetfulness the day had brought me. But all I had were pleading hands and an apologetic tone. It was clear Rosie felt left out – It was as if the yummy barbecue aroma had announced the party only to betray her later.

Rosie’s Tale of Tragedy:

I SMELLED BARBECUE. For dogs, it’s like the equivalent of hearing the ice cream truck jingle. It was a sure shot sign! The sun was out, the birds were singing, THE GRILL WAS BEING FIRED UP. It was a perfect setting for a great family day out.

And then, THE DOOR CLOSED. Just like that. Forget about an invite, there wasn’t even an accidental leave-open of the door that I usually get every time the family gathers in the yard. A betrayal of the HIGHEST ORDER.

I retreated to my sunny corner, laid down with my chin over my favorite chew toy. What does a dog have to do to get an invite around here? COMPLAIN? MAKE A SCENE? I’m not even asking for a rib, just some quality family time.

How Peace Was Restored

Seeing Rosie’s sad eyes, it became glaringly clear that I’d made a major misstep. I dashed to my car, heading straight for The Hungry Puppy. My goal was simple – swift and immediate redemption. A game of fetch, perhaps a romp at The Hungry Puppy’s on-site dog park, but that was for later.

First, it was time to pick the ultimate olive branch – a bag of Sportsman’s Pride FieldMaster dog food and some choice freeze-dried bacon treats from Stella & Chewy’s. A feastous reconciliation in return for an afternoon of absenteeism.

As I opened the goodies and laid them in front of her, Rosie’s eyes lit up, and just like that, her tail started wagging again. As she munched on the treats, she looked up at me once, then twice, then a third time. She sighed a sigh of relief or was it forgiveness? Then, just like that, she leaned on my leg, her tail wagging, declaring a silent truce.

Crisis averted. Love restored. Dog no longer hates me (until the next family gathering at least).

Visit The Hungry Puppy for all your premium dog food and treat needs — because sometimes love and respect come in the form of freeze-dried bacon. Free local delivery available, or stop by and bring your pup for a fun day at our dog park!

• 🦴 Premium dog food — Sportsman’s Pride FieldMaster
• 🥓 Freeze-dried treats — because even dogs love bacon
• 🏪 In-store shopping — Bring your pup for the full experience
• 💚 Lots of love — We get it. We’re dog people too.