The Ice Cream Discrepancy
We have bells in our house for Maverick.
There are two of them, one in the living room and one in the bedroom, and somewhere along the way Maverick learned that ringing a bell is a very effective way of communicating with me.
The only problem is that Maverick seems to have developed his own interpretation of exactly what the bell means.
It isn't simply, I need to go outside.
It's more along the lines of:
Excuse me. I require your assistance. Please report here.
And once that bell rings, it's up to me to work out exactly what assistance is required.
This evening
Ding. 🔔
Oh dear.
Maverick had already had dinner. And we're not talking about opening a can and tipping something into a bowl. I'd cooked for him: organic turkey, fresh vegetables, blueberries, and Farmer's Dog supplements to make sure he gets exactly the nutrients he needs. Every meal is weighed.
Dinner had been served.
He'd even had an extra bone-broth cookie because I was eating my dinner, and I didn't want him sitting there feeling left out.
So we're good.
Or so I thought.
It's too early for his evening walk and, more importantly, it's still over 80 degrees outside. The back door is open. The side door is open. He can wander outside whenever he wants.
So what does he need? Maybe it's water.
Maverick has approximately five water bowls around the house because apparently he lives at a resort.
Off I go.
He follows.
I empty one that's gone a little stale. Another feels too warm. Fresh filtered water goes in. I move from room to room, checking bowls while Maverick follows behind me, watching the entire operation with considerable interest.
Nothing.
Eventually I sit down.
Maverick comes over and puts his head on the coffee table.
Now that means something too.
'‘I need something'‘‘
“I don’t know what you want, Mav!”
He watches me.
“We can’t go for a walk yet. It’s too hot.”
More watching.
And then suddenly...
Ohhhhh. 😮
I look at what I've been eating.
Ice cream.
The bone-broth cookie had been perfectly acceptable compensation during dinner.
But then I had introduced dessert.
Apparently, Maverick had reviewed the situation and determined that the respective levels of our treats were no longer equitable.
The bell wasn't about outside.
It wasn't about water.
It wasn't about his walk.
It was about the ice cream discrepancy.
I went to his basket and pulled out one of his Woof treat balls.
Immediate huge smile.
Tail wagging.
Ah.
We went to the cupboard together; I filled it and put it down for him.
Maverick picked up his prize and immediately carried it off to the bedroom, his favorite place to lounge when he has something particularly special, and settled onto his bed.
No more bell.
No more staring.
No more requests.
Apparently the matter had been resolved to his satisfaction.
And so, for the moment, I have been released from my duties.
At least until it's cool enough for his evening walk.
Although I've learned something important tonight.
When Maverick rings the bell, don't just ask whether he needs to go outside.
First check what you're eating. 🔔🐾
