Solstice was lucky you were his owner. You know what? You have helped destroy an old myth. I always thought dogs could not eat chocolate foods. I was warned chocolate would ‘turn any dog or cat’s stomach upside down, the reaction might even be fatal!!.” But you tell me that your Pal enjoyed a little German Chocolate for a German Shepherd. I guess that was an old wives tale.
My vet tells the tale of a toy dog of some sort who ate an entire box of Godiva chocolates and showed nary a single ill effect.
He does blanch at watching our 100+lb Akita sneak black coffee (he ignores creamed and sugared) and red wine. His comment on the dog slurping stolen wine was “There goes his liver!” At least 3-4 episodes later, Sumo is in perfect health. It’s not like we offer these foods to him. He waits patiently for any opportunity to steal them. He is tall enough, with a long enough muzzle and tongue that we need to be extra vigilant. He is a very quiet guy with ninja attributes.
4 dogs over 40 years have enjoyed home cooked food that always includes some sauteed onion (I do take pains to make sure they don’t get chunks of it)and they adore guacamole. Both avocados and onion are said to be poisons. That said, they get very little of either. So far, they almost all have lived to ripe old ages of 10-12 and they succumb to the inevitable rear-end failure. One died at 10 chasing a raccoon onto thin ice (beagle) and the Samoyed got cancer and died at 9 1/2.
I’m stricter with the present guy. He is my last big dog and my last working dog, simply due to my age. If we’re lucky, he’ll be with us until I’m over 80.
My heart goes out to every owner mourning a best friend. It is devastating.