Flavor

We got Chinese take-out on Friday. We don’t eat out (or order in) very often, but sometimes it’s nice to let someone else do the cooking. And I do so love Chinese food. Which is why I’m still not sure how Paul ended up choosing both of our entrees. But that’s not the point of this post.

We have two very large greyhounds who are always intensely interested in what is being served at the dinner table. They have been this way since we adopted them four years ago. I assume most other dogs share the same interest. But while they would eagerly devour any meat, cheese or popcorn product they were given - provided it was buttered popcorn, of course - they consistently turned up their noses at vegetables and fruits. Unless said veggies or fruits were spoiled. But that’s not the point of this post, either.

After Veronica started eating food on her own, dinner-time became Deja and Hammi’s favorite time of day. They could count on some kind of tasty leftover coming their way, in the form of Veronica’s dirty tray set on the ground for them to clean up. And yes, we washed the tray thoroughly each time after they were done.

It got to the point where it didn’t even matter what was left on The Tray – they would eat it. Veggies, rice, noodles…you name it. If it came from The Tray it was desirable, and they would dive headfirst into the food without a second thought about what they were actually eating.

They don’t get to eat off The Tray much anymore, but there is still a little bit of that intent disregard, that incredible focus that greyhounds have that allows them to see only that they are getting FOOD and not what kind of food it might be. Even if it’s just on a regular plate, or in their bowls, instead of The Tray.

So occasionally we try to trick them.

 

“Food food food food food food. This came from the dinner table so it must be good.”

 

“Hey…This tastes like duck sauce but it is definitely not duck.”

This was after he licked all the sauce off of it.

 

And Hammi…he avoided that cabbage like the plague, while still trying to lick up his share of the sauce.

We didn’t manage to trick them into actually eating the veggies this time, but it was funny watching them try to eat around them. Especially since there really wasn’t any other food in the container. Just leftover flavor. But sometimes that’s all a dog needs.