Did Somebody Say Marshmallow?

Rocco is really obsessed with marshmallows and it has reached a new all-time low. 

Rocco is back at it again and this time it is his new obsession with a new food. It is not a dog treat but rather a sweet for humans and that's why he's partly obsessed with these things. You can cook them on a campfire, a grill, and can make smores with them. They also come in Lucky Charms cereal as well. Rice Crispy treats also use them too. 

They are marshmallows. That's right, marshmallows. Rocco is really obsessed with marshmallows and we mean really, really obsessed with these things. It has gotten to a point where the word "marshmallow" can no longer be said at his house. The euphemism "white gelatin things" are used in marshmallow's place so he doesn't know what his owners are talking about. 

If you say this power word "marshmallow", here is what will happen. He will first perk up his ears, eyes widen, look at you and then jump off of his recliner/throne and then run towards you. He will stare at you, and if you go get him one, he will sit down and wait for the marshmallows to come to daddy. And when they come falling down, he will suck them up like a vacuum cleaner. But if they are larger marshmallows, he will put them in his mouth and walk off and hide with it. Apparently he doesn't want us trying to steal his "treat".

His marshmallow addiction began when my dad offered him one of these things to see if he would like them, and as we now know, he does. My dad then began to feed them sporadically, but once Rocco had the taste of the mallow, he's hooked for life. Over time, his marshmallow obsession eventually got to an all-time low.  If you even go to the pantry and grab a bag of any kind, Rocco will happily run to you, thinking you have marshmallows and beg until either you tell him firmly "no" or cave in to his demands and hand him one of those puppies. You can even think the word and he will perk up his ears from his throne and stare you down because he knows what your thinking about. 

There a few theories on why Rocco is obsessed with marshmallows:

1. It is because they are not a treat for dogs and he likes sweets made for humans and he knows this.

2. They are made of gelatin. Gelatin is made of various meats and protein and because dogs are carnivores, they naturally crave anything made of meat. It is an instinct for them to hunt down prey in the wild and the same goes for when Rocco is on the prowl in the pantry.

3.  He thinks he is king of the castle and can have and do anything he wants. Rocco even stole my recliner and made it his "throne" and he makes it clear that he does not anyone to sit in it. If you go near the recliner, he will give you the stink eye and make it your not allowed in it. If you make the mistake of trying to sit in it while he is in it, he will stretch out his legs and lay down. The message this papillon king is sending is that when it comes to the recliner, there is no room for two. 

To end the madness, I no longer buy marshmallows and don't eat them in his sight or say the word.We may have stopped the Marshmallow Madness, but he still thinks he's king of the castle.