(Editor’s note: Berners are known for their eager, but sometimes not very selective, taste buds. Many an owner has suffered an expensive surgical bill resulting from a “tasty” sock or some other undigestible item that didn’t make it “out” into the yard. This inquisitive pooch couldn’t quite make up her mind.
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My 9-year old son Raymond and I were sitting on our love seat, feet propped up, lazily reading. He was also enjoying a root beer barrel hard candy – at least until he sneezed and the candy popped out and landed on the carpeted floor. He looked at me to see if the three second rule applied. I wrinkled my nose and shook my head – Nope!
Miss “Blue,” our 7-year old Berner, stood up to consider her options. She sniffed it and looked at me as well. We could practically read her “thought balloon.”
“Hmmm, root beer. I like root beer.” I smiled at her and said, “You can have it.” We watched as she daintily picked it up, while wagging her tail excitedly She walked over to her bed, lay down and crossed her front paws, as “proper” as usual, and happy with her sudden treat!
We heard the candy “click” in her mouth as her tongue moved it around next to her teeth. Her expression changed and she curled her lips back and her tongue pushed out the candy. Plop! All shiny and sticky on her bed. Again, her thought balloon was clearly evident.
“Ew! I don’t like root beer!’She sat there a minute, trying to act casual, then looked down as if reconsidering the merits of the treat.
“Hmmm, root beer. I like root beer!” She picked it up again and seemed to enjoy it for 30 seconds. It is a treat after all, can’t just leave it.
Again we heard the candy rolling around in her mouth. Again her expression changed; her lips curled; and then another “Plop!” as her tongue pushed out the candy. And again, the same expression that said, “Ew! I don’t like root beer!”
Whispering and giggling, Raymond and I watched as Blue repeated this entire process four times! By then we were rolling around laughing at her antics. Rather sheepishly, she gave up on it and came over to see why we were laughing. Oh, what a goofy girl!!
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from Crystal in Minnesota