Six-year-old Golden Retriever Rodney has a very special friend – a worn, stuffed hedgehog his owners have named Heggy. I know, there are no extra points for originality.
I advised Rodney’s owners to run to their nearest pet supply store and purchase several Heggy clones because Rodney has a very close, personal relationship with the toy, and Heggy needs some backup.
Here are the ways that Heggy the hedgehog has become an invaluable member of Rodney’s family:
1. At t
he front door, Rodney’s owner places Heggy into the dog’s mouth. Chomping on Heggy seems to calm Rodney down and prevent him from jumping up on visitors.
2.If Rodney sees something out the window and is compelled to alert the media with some deafening barks, Heggy’s squishy torso muffles the sound into mumbled woofs.
3. Rodney will offer Heggy as a welcoming gift to guests rather than slobbering on them or pawing at them.
4. When Rodney goes into his crate for the day, Heggy keeps him company.
5. On car trips or when he is visiting relatives, Heggy is a reassuring presence for the dog, a little bit of home he carries – literally – with him.
6. At nerve-wracking events like going to the vet or to the groomer, Heggy provides a happy diversion from such stress-inducers as thermometer insertion or nail clipping.
If your dog doesn’t have a Heggy-equivalent, consider a shopping expedition to help him choose his very own special friend.
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