Cookies, I understand. And of course a dog can be lured by dog treats. Milk Bone relies on that. But pickles? And cantaloupe rind?
We used to have a neurotic Sheltie, Crissy. Poor Crissy never seemed to really believe that we loved her. In her sunset years she got confused and wandered into the street on a cold December night. Poor Crissy.
It was 2000 and our youngest daughter had already left for college. We knew another dog would tie us down, but I think my wife secretly yearned for someone to "baby" now that all the kids had grown and left home. One night I returned from a football game to discover that Kathy had given herself a birthday present -- a three year old blonde cocker spaniel. The dog's name was Abby. From the very first Abby seemed to understand that her job was to shadow Kathy. When Kathy reads Abby settles herself beside Kathy on the couch, with just enough closeness that Kathy can pet her absent-mindedly. When Kathy plays the piano Abby hops onto a nearby chair to listen. (Kathy calls that "concert seating.") And best of all, when Kathy cooks Abby sits alertly at her feet, eager to catch anything that might drop.
Abby seems to believe that if it's people food, it must be good. She doesn't beg, she just widens her big brown eyes and looks hungry. She loves to be the canine pre-wash cycle for our dishes. She will shamelessly give a little bark when we linger too long after finishing the meal. She has been known to sneak a nibble from unguarded plates.
Of course none of her people-food habits have diminished her love of dog food. We can always coax her inside by calling, "Abby! Cookie!" This summer, however, Abby has reached new culinary heights. (Depths?) I found that she would eagerly eat fresh sugar snap peas if I parceled them out like a treat. She discovered the joy of fresh raspberries and will skulk beneath the vines picking ripe berries with her teeth. Last week Kathy dropped a pickle piece while making sandwiches. Abby gobbled it and wagged her tail for more. Then today when I cut up a ripe cantaloupe I said, "Let's see if she'll can eat the melon off the rind." Nope, she consumed the melon off the rind and the rind itself. Is there any food she doesn't relish?
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