The Three of Us

Every morning, Tanya takes Sambuca and me for a walk.  Usually, it is around our neighbourhood in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.  Sometimes, it’s a trip in the Tan-mobile, as my mom calls it, and we end up at Shubie Park or Conrad’s Beach, or Rainbow Haven Beach.  We know when it is a longer car ride, because Tanya tells Sambuca and me to lie down in our dog beds, in the backseat. Mom refers to this as a ‘special outing’, meaning we are off to explore a new beach, maybe Clam Harbour or Martinique.

We all love road trips and adventures.

Now, on our shorter walks closer to home, I enjoy playing this game I call Find Da Food.

Tanya is never impressed with my numerous games. Never. Impressed.  What she fails to understand is that I am a puppy after all, and I love to play games.

This one is THE BEST because it involves food.  And I love da food!  Any food. 

Find Da Food is me sniffing out bits of food on the ground during our walks. 

On many of the trails and pathways we walk, there are often no garbage cans.  Some people are not very responsible and litter, leaving all types of things on the ground, like food wrappers, coffee cups, half empty drink containers and, on rare occasions, I might even hit the Jackpot – a bone!  I’m not picky.  Pretty much anything will go into my mouth.

One particular morning, we are walking down this pathway. There are always good smells, and this morning is no exception. Sambuca pees on a bunch of leaves.  Then I pee too. It is our territory now. Tanya likes to walk at a good steady pace and so do we, except for when Sambuca or I receive a sniffer alert.

I suddenly stop.

My ears are in alert-mode.

I smell something.  It is hidden under a pile of leaves.  I get my nose in there. This could be something good!

“C’mon Appy, let’s go.”

No, Momma.  I may have found something important.

There is a yank on my leash followed by, “Appy, let’s go.”

I persist. I start to dig with my front paw.

Found it!

I start chopping away at it.  It tastes amazing, this lovely long, red morsel.

Tanya catches me.  “Appy!  No. No. No.  Out!”

I keep chewing.  Oh, my goodness, this is yummy.

Her voice goes up, “APPY. SPIT THAT OUT RIGHT NOW, MISSY.”

But Momma, I gaze into her eyes, projecting my Appy-cute-spell on her. Me hungry!

Tanya sticks her hand in my mouth, “Red licorice!!!  Where did you find this?”

Under the pile of leaves, Momma.

“No. No. No.  Not for Appy.  Mommy has healthy treats for you at home” she explains as she throws the remaining piece of this yummy red licorice off to the side of the path. My ears go back and I hope I am not in too much trouble.

Sambuca starts moving toward the candy.  “No, my love, no red licorice for you either.” 

Sambuca looks up at her loving, “Okay momma, you always know best.”  Suck up!

I accept defeat and we continue our walk.

Momma thinks the Find Da Food game is over. She’s happy, she has won this round.

The red licorice lives to see another day, but I know where I’m having breakfast tomorrow. 😊