The Joys of Shopping Day

A blog post by Clutch, the shopping Yorkie

I love shopping day. That’s when Miss Janet and I get in the car and go to the store. We pick up all our important items for the week, like my food bag, fruits, veggies, and treats. Sometimes, she will even get me a new toy. It’s so exciting.

We prepare for shopping day ahead of time. I sit with Miss Janet when she orders on her phone. I try to look my cutest and most irresistible, so she will get me lots of amazing things and spoil me rotten.

I’m a Yorkie. It’s my privilege, you might even say it’s my job and responsibility to be spoiled. I want to make sure she does it right.

A Ride to the Store

I love it when Miss Janet tells me I can ride in the car with her. The motion of the car feels like an adventure. I get to go somewhere. I don’t always know where we’re going, but the important thing is, I get to go! Through the window, I see so many interesting things—trees, birds, people, other dogs riding in their cars too.

I recognize the store when we get there. Yay! It’s shopping day! We sit in the parking lot, and Miss Janet rolls down the window. She holds me so I won’t jump out, but I can see, smell, and hear so many things. I know we won’t sit there long, so I take it all in. My nose is so busy getting a workout with all those smells.

I especially love seeing and hearing dogs in other cars. I ask them, “Are you excited about shopping day too?” Some are excited, some are anxious, some are bored. But we are all curious to see what’s in those bags for us.

*It’s a thrill when we bring my food bag home from the store.*

Someone carries my bags of food, snacks, and treats and loads them in the car. I can’t wait to investigate, but Miss Janet won’t open them till we get home. She won’t even let me look at them. Doesn’t she understand how eager I am to see what’s in those bags?

As I whine, she mumbles something about my safety. I’m telling you, she is obsessed with my well-being. I just want to explore the world and have fun!

A Visit to the Car Wash

After we leave the store, we go to the car wash. This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.

First, we sit while people pour bubbles and water on all the windows. They smile and wave at me. I feel so special. I love to get up close and watch as they move brushes across the windows.

Then we move through this tunnel filled with sounds and lights and rumblings. You’d think I’d be afraid, but I’m not. It’s so interesting. I never know what will happen next.

*I love the car wash. It’s like being in a 3-D movie with surround sound.*

I’m safe in the car, so I can enjoy the show. It’s like being inside a really cool, 3-D movie. It stirs all my senses. Too bad I can’t snack on any of those new treats in the back of the car. Maybe when Miss Janet reads this, she’ll get the hint. You’re supposed to enjoy snacks at the movies, right?

Treat Time at Home

When we get home, I wait impatiently for Miss Janet to bring the shopping bags upstairs. She is so slow. I would help if I could, but I don’t have opposable thumbs. And let’s be honest, I wouldn’t bring the bags upstairs. I’d open them in the driveway and grab a tasty treat. Or I’d run off and hide a bag somewhere for later. Instead, I have to wait till all the bags are in.

*I’m always interested to see which fruit and veggie snacks Miss Janet has requested for me. Looks like shredded carrots, blueberries, and pumpkin puree this week.*

Miss Janet knows I can’t wait to see what’s in those bags, so she looks inside them for a treat she can give me. She makes a big deal out of it, and I jump up and down, almost as high as the counter. Will it be a blueberry, or a crispy dog treat, or maybe watermelon? In July, I can count on watermelon. She loves it as much as I do.

Exciting Things in the Mail

Even though shopping day is a big deal for me, I also get things in the mail sometimes. This can happen anytime, turning an ordinary day into an extraordinary day. A new toy might arrive, or my crispy dog treats.

I can always tell when the mail is for me. Miss Janet smiles and holds out the box for me to see. She says, “Look, Clutch, this is for you!”

I start jumping up and down again. I’m a Yorkie. Jumping is how we show our enthusiasm.

*I jump up and down when doggy treats arrive in the mail!*

She opens the box in front of me. If it’s a treat, I can smell it, and I get to try a piece right away. If it’s a toy, she will pretend to hide it to get my interest. Then we will have a quick game with the new toy. I never know when something will arrive in the mail, or what it will be, so it’s always a fun surprise.

My Favorite Fruits and Veggies

I love my dog food and doggy treats that we get at the store or in the mail. But I also love those fruits and veggies in the grocery bags. Miss Janet gives them to me as a snack.

Before I go any further, here comes Miss Janet’s big disclaimer. Are you surprised? She wants me to give you the following precautions:

It’s important to know which fruits and veggies are safe for dogs because certain fruits and veggies are very harmful to dogs.

Also, be careful not to overdo it with the amount, size, and frequency of giving these snacks; they should be given in moderation and in bite-size pieces.

Be very careful of the quantity on fruits because they are high in natural sugar. Some veggies, like carrots, have more natural sugar as well.

Avoid seeds, peels, skins—anything that can hurt digestion.

Know whether something is safe raw or needs to be cooked.

Avoid canned items as those often have additives and seasonings that are not good for dogs. Puréed pumpkin comes in a can; that’s our only exception, and it has to be the pure thing, nothing added.

Your vet can help you with all these things.

Okay, now that I’ve shared all those precautions, will you promise to check up on all those things for your dog’s safety? Yes?

Now, can we just move on, so I can tell you my favorites?

*I love July because it’s watermelon month.*

Here is my favorite fruit snack list:

Blueberries — Miss Janet breaks these in half; otherwise, I would swallow them whole and miss all the benefits. She tosses them across the floor, and I love to chase and eat them.
Watermelon — This is my summer favorite. Juicy red fruit only, no seeds, no rind. Very refreshing.
Cantaloupe — This fruit makes me feel like I’m on a tropical vacation. It’s super sweet, so I only get a tiny amount, but the taste makes me want to jump for joy.
Oranges — Miss Janet breaks these into pieces, and they are so delicious year-round. No seeds — those could mess up my digestion. And no peel or pith because those are irritating.
Bananas — I love the taste and texture. We eat this together: Miss Janet takes a big bite then gives me a little bite. However, if the banana isn’t super fresh, I have no interest in it.
Apples — Miss Janet removes the seeds and skins, and then cuts up a few little pieces of the fruit and puts them in my bowl. I love the sweetness and crunchy texture. They’re easy to eat. Miss Janet will pick up one apple at the store, cut up a few pieces at a time for me, take some pieces for herself, then keep the rest in the fridge. It can last us all week.

While I love all these fruits, I can’t have too much natural sugar at once. Miss Janet usually gets blueberries, which are lower in sugar, and one other fruit for the week. She tries to mix it up so I don’t get bored.

*Chasing green peas is fun, tasty, and good exercise.*

Here is my favorite veggie snack list:

Carrots — This is my standard snack to distract me when Miss Janet leaves the house. I like them shredded.
Cauliflower — I like these in crumbles in my dish; it’s a tasty treat. My little teeth can’t handle the big pieces, but crumbles are awesome.
Pumpkin — I eat a teaspoonful of pureed pumpkin when I have digestive problems. It helps every time, and I love the taste. I can eat fresh pumpkin too, but not the seeds or the rind, as those are choking and intestinal blocking hazards. It’s easier to digest pumpkin cooked and cooled.
Sweet Potato — This needs to be cooked, not raw. But served at room temperature—I don’t want to burn my mouth. And just the plain potato, nothing on it, please. Well, maybe a touch of yummy coconut oil. No potato skins — those are not good for me.
Green Peas — I like these frozen and just slightly warmed up to room temperature — Miss Janet runs them through warm water for a few seconds before serving. I like them in my dish, but I also love to chase and eat them if you roll them on the floor. That’s great fun!

These aren’t the only fruits and veggies I eat. But they are my favorites.

The American Kennel Club has a list of fruits and vegetables, showing which ones are safe for dogs and which ones are not safe.

Please check with your vet too.

Wishing you and your pup happy shopping days and safe, tasty treats!

Clutch