Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
THE BACKYARD — Everyone has their favorite activities or games they enjoy doing with their pet.
For my cat and me, it's playing chase. She gets quite the thrill out of running around and hiding behind, under and around anything she can find.
For Ellie the golden retriever and her owners, Mike and Rachel, the game of choice is hide-and-seek — but they make it extreme.
"It started out so small a few years ago. My partner and I made a habit of hiding wherever we could around the house and having Ellie come look for us," Mike said. "But as Ellie got better and better at finding us, I knew we needed to go bigger."
And that's exactly what they did.
Mike took the game to the next level, hiding on top of a gazebo in the couple's backyard. He thought that this might finally be the time Ellie got stumped, but alas, Ellie's persistence and acute sense of smell won out and she found her dad, even when he took to an elevated surface.
"This is our favorite way we like to bond, and Ellie is always so excited to reunite after finding me," Mike said.
It looks like the couple might have to get even more creative if they hope to truly stump Ellie the hide-and-seek-playing dog.
What is your favorite way to bond with your pet?