The Wobbly Toy

By Fred
I admit I was skeptical of the idea when Cheryl first mentioned it. Coach, a Southeastern guide  dog puppy, had become more and more reluctant to get into the car. Last weekend he had two episodes of car sickness, poor guy, so his attitude is understandable.

Cheryl's idea was to put food into his wobbly toy and let him play with it in the car, to keep him busy and keep his mind off of car-sickness. As a human being, I have some rigid ideas about nausea. If I feel like vomiting, for example, I am not tempted to run into the kitchen, find a snack, and then roll around on the floor and play with it. Yes, I was skeptical.

Cheryl gave it a try on the way to work, and the wobbly toy kept Couch busy the entire way. He ate his breakfast on the move, had fun, and no car sickness.

A picture of the wobbly toy in the car,
tempting Coach to come in.

So on Thursday I gave it a try for his breakfast. He got into the car pretty much on his own. Then we drove around the neighborhood for a few minutes. Amazing.

A picture of Coach struggling with a dilemma:
should he get into the car on his own?

And, if so, would I get the wrong idea?

At lunch we took a trip to the grocery store. Again the wobbly toy worked, though Coach wanted me to know that he doesn't particularly like being manipulated in this way.

Coach sitting at my feet at the checkout stand of the grocery story. He was perfect.

In the store he was perfect, prancing up and down the aisles and flirting. And back in the parking lot I waited as he climbed into the car on his own.

Yes, the wobbly toy was a great idea, even though I doubted it. Sometimes this happens.