👀 The Look at Dinner: A Letter to the Dog Who Watches Me Eat
Dear Dog Who Watches Me Eat,
I need to talk about dinner.
I sit down with a plate. You sit down with a stare. 👀 It is not a casual look. It is a long, steady, unblinking look that says, "I see the fork. I see where the fork is going. I am keeping track."
Let me address the details, because we both know how this goes.
🍽️ The Chin Rest. You place your chin on my knee like a tiny furry paperweight. I did not agree to this. I also have not moved my knee.
🍽️ The Sigh. Somewhere around bite four, you let out a long sigh, as if you have not eaten since the last time we ate. We ate four hours ago.
🍽️ The Drool Watch. A single drop. Perfectly timed. Very dramatic.
🍽️ The Sudden Best Behavior. You have never sat so politely in your life. Not once at the vet. Not once at the door. Only here, at 6:45 PM, near the pasta.
I want you to know that I see you. I have seen you every single night. And I want you to know that the plate is mine, but the evening is ours.
What I Have Learned
Here is the thing nobody tells you about dogs: dinner was never really about the food. It is about being in the room. You do not want my chicken. You want to be part of the moment. You want to be where I am, doing what I am doing, even if that is just chewing.
So here is the deal. You get your own bowl. You get your own bit of dinner time. And when I finish, you get a treat of your own, because you earned it with all that patience. (Mostly.)
At Duke's Delights, we keep a few Bacon & Banana Delight treats nearby for exactly this moment. The aroma has been known to end the staring contest instantly. 🥓
With love, and a slightly guilty conscience,
Your Person
Now It's Your Turn
What is your dog's signature dinner move? Share a photo or short video of the stare and tag #MyDukesDay so we can find it.
With tail wags,
The Duke's Delights Team