Science Diet Tennis

Buddy eats the adult, straight-up, regular, dry Science Diet dog food. When we went to training, the man recommended eliminating the bowl for his food. Instead, we pour it and spread it out on the deck - OUTSIDE. The rationale is that dogs are raised to forage and this gives them the chance to find their food. Buddy gets two scoops and he will stand out on the deck waiting for the second scoop before imbibing. It works great and it takes him a bit longer to eat.

Well, it has been rainy for the past three days. We aren't complaining. We need the rain. This has been the steady mist and drizzle. The yard is messy. After our morning walk, I decided to scoop the food in his bowl and place it near his water bowl. Buddy grabbed a couple pieces and sauntered off into the family like he found a treasure. That was all he did. He had no interest in eating any more of that food.

When my older son came home from school, he picked up the food with the bowl and started lobbing individual pieces to the dog. Buddy loved it. He was trotting all over the kitchen fetching his food and gobbling it up.

Fast forward a few hours (keep in mind that it is still raining and the boys are feeling it too!) - The boys filled up Buddy's bowl for dinner. I lost total control as a game of tennis erupted in the kitchen. The boys had eye protection on - their idea. One was laying on the floor blocking the dining room. The other was at the opposite end of the kitchen. The dog was in the center. Using a ruler as a racquet, the server hit the food across the floor. The dog was turning around and dancing around after the food. Who would have thought they could have so much fun? Apparently, the food stings if it hits you. I just kept stressing they needed to keep track of any food that Buddy did not eat or any pieces that may have made it into the dining room. You can't hear them laughing, but they are! Who needs Wii or TV? I love when these kinds of things happen. It restores my faith in kids. They can make up something out of pretty much nothing and have a good time.

Buddy finished the game first. He was full and lost interest in the random pieces of food scooting around the floor! I just heard my younger son say that he wants to do it again tomorrow night. Will it still be raining? The dad will be back home. He is out of town. I am not sure he'd let it fly - the dog food that is!!!!