What This Blog Needs Is More Cow Hoof

This weekend found us staying close to home because of Blueberry's recovery from her surgery.  We'd already planned ahead of time that we would not be going hiking this weekend so we could be near home.  It was a good thing that we hadn't, because the weather on Saturday was pretty raw, cold and rainy.  So, it wasn't like we were missing a lot there on that front anyway.

Still, we have two young dogs here who need to get out some and stretch their legs, or we all go a bit crazy.  We'd heard that Petco was having a dental health event sponsored by Greenies, so we decided to take Bunny and Morgan over and give Lilac and Blueberry some time to relax at home.  Of course, Blueberry did not think that she needed to relax at home, but we left her home anyway.  Her recovery has gone very well, but we are still pushing her to rest, even though she thinks she's good to go on all adventures.

Alas, I digress.  We piled Morgan and Bunny into the van and set off for Petco.  I'm not a huge fan of Petco because their prices are always higher, but we figured it was worth it, and at the very least we'd get Greenies coupons.  I was hoping it would have more information and learn about some new dental care practices, but the event wasn't like that at all.  At least, the one in our store wasn't.  We got a coupon and an offer from the sales representative to look at the girls' teeth.  I figured my vet sees them often enough that we don't have to worry about the teeth being looked at.  I walked around to the Greenies shelf and wouldn't you know it, even with the coupon their Greenies were more expensive than what I'd pay for them at our regular store, so I passed.

Mr. Taleteller didn't want to walk out empty-handed, so he stopped to look at the various chewing items available.  Morgan and Bunny both liked the cow hooves, so he picked four out.  Actually, he picked three out and Bunny picked one out by herself.  It was a moment I wished I had the camera for as she carried the hoof in her mouth as she wore her pink coat up to the cash register.  I'm admittedly biased, but she was adorable.  Mr. Taleteller put it on the counter for her and paid for all four.  A salesgirl asked if they could have treats and fed them both some little pretzels that they scarfed right up.  Then Bunny turned back to the man for her hoof.  He put it in the bag and handed it to my husband.  I think I saw a little puff of smoke come out of her nose as she gave the man a serious glare of stink eye.  We're lucky she doesn't have laser beams.

So, we leave the store and return to the van.  Mr. Taleteller gets Morgan all set in her crate and then it's Bunny's turn to get in.  She hops up, turns around, grabs the bag of hooves and starts to make for the back seat.  Mr. Taleteller intercepts her and gives her one hoof and puts one in Morgan's crate.  Bunny was happy with the arrangement and went to the back seat to enjoy her hoof.  Both of the girls were quite content and chewing away.

We stopped by an agility competition that my husband wanted to see and went inside to watch it for a bit, leaving the girls with their hooves.  After a short bit of watching, we returned and Mr. Taleteller decided that we ought to go by the dog bakery.  When we stopped, he collected both hooves and put them in his seat, not wanting the girls to overindulge, and wanting them to have some left by the time we got home so Blueberry and Lilac could enjoy theirs in peace.

Of course, Bunny had other plans.  We got back in the van and Mr. Taleteller headed into the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory to get us an apple to split for later.  While he was in there, Bunny sniffed around, found her hoof hidden under his bag on the seat and retired back to the back seat to enjoy it.  He got back in the van and I told him about it, and we had a good snicker about how obsessed she was with that hoof.

I have mentioned before that we live in a very small town.  When we go to town, it's a trek over the river and through the woods in a literal sense.  It takes us about forty five minutes to drive over, which is not a big deal to us.  As we headed over the bridge out of town, we began to notice something.  There is a rather unpleasant aroma that accompanies the overindulgence of cow hooves.  There are dog farts, and there are lethal cow hoof-scented bombs that could rival the fallout of Hiroshima.  My eyes began to water and I asked my husband what he'd eaten.

Mr. Taleteller:  Me?!  That did not come out of my butt!

Me:  Yeah, sure! 

Mr. Taleteller:  I swear to God, that was the dog!  You know I'd claim it if I did something!  You know how proud of those I am!

Me:  You might just not admit it because this one is so foul!  For the love of Pete, roll down a window!  I'm dying!

Mr. Taleteller:  I did NOT do that!  It was your dog!  That smells like cow hoof!

Me:  My dog?  How do you know it's not your dog?

Mr. Taleteller:  She hasn't eaten as much as Bunny!

Me:  I think I'm going to be sick!

Needless to say, it was a long car ride home.  Once we arrived, she had all intentions of carrying it into the house on her own.  Mr. Taleteller intercepted it and told her she needed to take a break.  She wasn't the only one! 

Later, they all enjoyed the hooves for a while, and then we put them up before any ill winds could develop and blow through.  We learned our lesson.  Too much of a good thing isn't good for the rest of us.  I find myself relieved that I'm going to be getting some fresh air at work this morning!