Some people think I am an indulgent dog owner. Usually, I ignore such comments, because I don’t view myself as an indulgent dog owner. After all, it’s not like Choppy is getting spa treatments or chiropractic care. Sure, I think I’m slightly more indulgent of her than average, but nothing absurd.

Then, things happen that make me realize I am more indulgent than I would like to believe I am. [Note: cue my family and friends: “no kidding”]

Recently, there have been two events in particular that fall into this category.

First, Choppy needed a bath last week, and I was out of dog shampoo. This is how I found myself spending fifteen minutes in the dog shampoo aisle at the store, examining each and every bottle of shampoo (which is a rather long time to examine dog shampoo in any event, but especially so when your two requirements for said bottle of shampoo are “gets the dog clean” and “smells good”). Eventually, I found a shampoo that I decided adequately met these two needs, and headed to the checkout.

Where I realized I was spending more on one bottle of dog shampoo than I spend on my shampoo and conditioner. Combined.

Yes, this is my real shampoo. It costs something like $3 for a regular-sized bottle.
Yes, this is my real shampoo. It costs something like $3 for a regular-sized bottle.

[Note: please don’t tell my hair stylist what shampoo and conditioner I use. I am pretty sure she would not approve]

Second, while at the grocery store, I found myself in the ice cream aisle, looking for one item in particular: dog ice cream. Choppy loves the stuff. I’m pretty sure there is nothing natural or good for her in it, but she ignores all but the most tempting other treats in favor of it.

[Note: I can’t really say anything on the quality of the food front, because there ain’t no chicken nugget like a McDonald’s Chicken McNugget]

Unfortunately, the store was out of dog ice cream. And yes, when I didn’t see it on the shelf, I asked. I think the clerk was horrified both (a) at the fact that dog ice cream is something that exists, and (b) how much I wanted to purchase said ice cream.

In this situation, I know that the normal, sane reaction is to let Choppy go without dog ice cream for a few days until it gets restocked.

On the other hand, you could always just go to another store to get the ice cream.

I’ll leave it to you to determine what reaction I had.

I'm pretty sure Choppy's look is meant to say, "What, no peanut butter flavor?"
I’m pretty sure Choppy’s look is meant to say, “Original? Was the store out of peanut butter flavor?”