The magic of a good toy can light up a dog’s entire world. Aside from the people they love most, nothing seems to brighten their day quite like a favorite plush or squeaky friend.
I can still picture the moment I handed my own pup his first soft toy. His tail flicked back and forth in a constant rhythm as he strutted around with it, proud of his new prize.
Dogs are easy to please. The smallest pleasures often spark the biggest reactions, which is why having their own collection of toys is so important once they settle into a forever home.
One Michigan dog named Buttercup, though, has ended up with far more toys than she could ever need, and the way she chose to handle that abundance left her mom completely stunned.
Buttercup’s Backyard Surprise
On what seemed like an average day, Michigan dog mom Jackie Markey walked into her yard and stopped cold. Every one of Buttercup’s thirty stuffed toys had been hauled outside and dropped all over the grass.
There was no mystery about who had done it. Buttercup stood in the middle of the chaos looking quite pleased with herself, utterly unbothered by the mess. To her, it was nothing more than another great day.
The whole situation began after Jackie’s husband, Don, installed a doggy door. Suddenly Buttercup could come and go freely, and she immediately took advantage of it.
She invented a system of her own. She would pick up a toy, march it into the backyard, release it, then head back inside to grab the next one.
She kept this cycle going until the entire pile of plush animals had been deposited outside. She didn’t care if it was pouring rain, snowing heavily, or shining bright. Her mission continued no matter the weather.
Her toy mountain keeps growing, and each new addition eventually gets carried out into the yard as well.
The Toys She Loves Most
Out of her huge assortment, Buttercup’s most prized possession is a plush husky, and that toy always seems to be the first to make the trip outdoors.
Another favorite is an oversized teddy bear. It usually gets stuck halfway through the doggy door because of its size, and watching Buttercup try to wrangle it outside has become its own kind of entertainment.
Buttercup shares the home with Peanut, her more easygoing canine sibling. Peanut is generally calmer, but every so often he joins in on her backyard adventures. Together, they make a charming duo.
Each evening, Jackie gathers every toy scattered across the lawn and brings them back inside. By the next morning, Buttercup is ready to begin the ritual all over again.
The routine has become a daily fixture in their home, one Jackie embraces wholeheartedly. Her pup’s happiness makes every toy pickup worth it.