When bear bait went to puppy school the dog owners were instructed to purchase little treat pouches which attached to our belts or waistbands so that we could treat our puppies for all desireable behavior. This did not work out well for bear bait and me because 1. she was spooked by a passing train on our way in to the second class (yes, the puppy training school was inconveniently located besides the train tracks) and spent every class after the train incident trembling, whining, staring at the floor and attempting to escape also 2. I kind of resented being a human treat dispenser.
Since the days of puppy training class I have known countless happy dog owners who happily walk around day in and day out with biscuits in their pockets, unafraid of liver smelling pockets and perfectly content with being human treat dispensers. I am not one of those dog owners. The thought of crumby pockets somewhat disgusts me and I want bear bait to listen because I am just that awesome (like a supreme being to dogs) and without being bribed. Bear bait pretty much listens, I don't have to bribe her, at least when we are out of the house. Indoors, it's a completely different story.
Lately, much to my own crumudgeony surprise, I have taken to stashing handfuls of little biscuits in my pockets "just in case." And I've been offering them up to bear bait just for nothing, just for looking cute (she is so cute!) or standing next to me, or because she just seems so normal now and I am so thankful that she does not seem to be in pain while being secretly worried that she doesn't exactly let me know she is in pain until she is in unbearable pain, so I am sad and concerend because I just don't know. I give her treats because I want her to be happy.
Giving out treats makes me feel like grandma. Grandma always had something sweet and sugary in her purse. My dentist appreciated her too. What I remember most are chuckles, suckers or chicklets. I loved the chicklets. Who am I kidding here? I loved all the sweets each and every time I saw grandma! Grandma's purse was a wonderland!!
Other things that grandma always had in her purse were peanuts (for feeding to squirrels) and bird seed (for tossing at pigeons). Grandma was a friend to animals.
When I was kid you could buy fish at the sea lion habitat in Central Park and feed the sea lions. (But there was no where to wash your hands after.) You could also go to the Barnum and Bailey circus at Madison Square Garden early and get right up the elephants and give them peanuts. Grandma used to take me places.
If I could go back in time I'd make sure I would grab grandma and do all of those animal feeding things again.
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