It is my distinct pleasure to present to you Sundae – a delightful dog who is remarkably perceptive… so much so that he can detect even the faintest alterations in daily items.
Well, except for those occasions when he doesn’t.
Intelligent Pup
Sundae joined his affectionate family a few years back. Upon his adoption from Hearts & Bones Rescue – a charitable dog rescue located in New York City, he quickly became a cherished part of the household.
He is a fully healthy pup. Yet, Sundae does contend with some quite bothersome and severe allergies for which he requires medication to maintain under control.
However, regarding pills, this pup is not particularly fond.
As a result, his mother, Marina Rachael, had to come up with methods to administer the medicine without him truly realizing.
She initially attempted the common technique of concealing it in his food, but this pup sleuth discovered it each time without fail.
“The first instance we placed the pill in his food, he gazed at us like, ‘That tastes awful. No, thank you.’ We tried hiding the pill among his treats, yet he would still turn away upon finding it, as if to say, ‘I did not order this.’ By the third attempt, he had more or less trained himself to seek out the pill. He’d sift through his kibble and drop it on the floor, piece by piece, until he discovered the pill — then return to his meal,” explained Marina.
Due to this, Marina needed to devise a more imaginative way for Sundae to take his medicine.
Well Played, Mom
Sundae believed he had outsmarted his mom since he would rummage through all of his meals for the pill. Nonetheless, his mother had quite a clever trick up her sleeve.
Marina began placing two pills in the bowl.
I’d put one pill on top [of his food] that wasn’t very concealed. He’d select that one, then gobble down the remainder without noticing the second pill.
Since he still removes a pill, Sundae consistently feels like he is the victor.