How the dog remains healthy and happy during the holidays, unlike us
There are two words that Milo knows by heart: peanut butter and cookie. Any time he hears either word he’ll immediately perk up his ears to listen for the sound of the cookie jar.
Clink, and he’s off and running into the kitchen. It’s every so often he gets a treat because, with his long back, he can’t afford to be over weight.
But with Christmas and New Year so close to each other, Milo was hyper-aware of the sound of the cookie jar and the kitchen. A few days before Christmas, my mom was busy making desserts for our relatives and Milo sat beside her, hoping that she’d drop some yummy human food for him. And of course during dinner, there were the relatives who would sneak him bits of food under the table while my mom and I weren’t looking. Milo lived in paradise during the holidays.
We’re not the only ones receiving treats and enjoying ourselves during the holidays. Milo also gets showered with treats–such as the homemade peanut butter cookies my mom made for him. The only difference between Milo and us is that he doesn’t gain weight during this period of gorging. Why? Because he maintains a healthy life style.
My mom walks him almost every day for about an hour. An hour of walking for him is equivalent to running a 60 mile marathon for us because he’s so small. My family also has control of how much and what he eats on a daily basis. For example, I know the peanut butter cookies may sound fattening, but it’s really not. It consists of two cups of flour, one cup of peanut butter, one cup of skim milk and one tablespoon of baking powder. It’s a lot blander than it sounds (trust me, I’ve tried it).
Ultimately, my family is able to control Milo’s weight, but not our own. Ironic, right? But it just goes to show that we really can lead a healthy life if we choose to. All it takes is a little bit of exercise and eating healthier. I’m pretty sure Milo is flattered when a relative says “Wow, Milo is skinnier!”
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