This story was written literally out of the blue. It was inspired by my cousin's dog, Jax. He's a year and a half old (in human time), a German shepherd/lab mix, and super adorable. Anyway, this was the first year I got everyone presents in my immediate family, due to me having a full time job and me feeling obligated to do so. I even got Jax a gift (a lamb chop toy) and it was a success. That dude was rolling all over the carpet and biting it, holding it in his paws like a cat XD. My aunt and uncle occasionally text me pictures of him playing with it, and it's awesome. Enjoy this story. -mitch

a lamb chop christmas

written December 25, 2020

It was only 5 days until Christmas. All of the pups (and Ryder) bought Christmas presents and laid them under a giant Christmas tree in front of the lookout. Everyone was excited. Except for one. A certain cockapoo wanted to keep her Christmas shopping under wraps. She wanted to get something for Chase, but had no idea what he could possibly want. She wanted to keep it a surprise for him. Also, the pups had a limited budget to work with. Each month, Ryder would give the pups $30 to spend on anything they wanted. Skye kept putting off getting a present for Chase until Everest convinced her to go to the mall. The two best friends went together on a chilly Saturday. After 30 minutes of walking past busy shop after busy shop, Skye couldn't hide her frustration anymore.

"This is my first time shopping for Christmas, Eve. It's so hard, believe me." Skye confided to the husky.

"Because you don't know what to get him?" Everest smirked.

"Yeah. I don't wanna be generic and get him a dog bone. It's not a great present. I want something that shows my love for him. And I gotta work with a 30 dollar budget." The pilot stressed.

As the two walked aimlessly amongst the mall corridors, the mountain rescue pup's eyes let up. "I have an idea!"

Skye took this as a sign and got excited. "What is it?"

Everest smiled. "Get him a Lamb Chop chew toy. You know, the best chew toy on the planet."

"Why do you think that?" Skye asked as they sat down at one of the many food courts.

"Remember our first Christmas together when Jake and Marshall got me Lamb Chop?" Everest asked.

ONE YEAR AGO (10 DOG YEARS AGO)

On a chilly day in the middle of December, Everest, Jake and Marshall shredded the slopes on Jake's Mountain. For hours, they nailed several flips, tricks, and grinds on rails. The sun was slowly starting to set. Marshall was about to go home before Jake stopped him.

"Marshall, wait. I need some advice."

The dally looked at Jake in confusion. Marshall was certainly not the type to ask for advice. He jumped out of his fire truck and into the snow.

"What is it, Jake?"

The ski resort owner dwindled his thumbs as he spoke. "It's about Christmas. I don't know what to get for Everest. A chew toy, new shiny bowls, a sweater? I just have no idea. And it's only 10 days. I don't know what to do."

Marshall thought for a moment. It finally hit him. "I know!"

"What's your idea, boss man?" Jake asked.

"I had this chew toy back when I was really young. Like, just starting to open my eyes kind of young. It was a Lamb Chop toy. It was the first chew toy I ever laid my eyes on. When I first bit him, it made a squeaking sound. I was obsessed with it. I would run around, carrying it in my mouth, holding it with my paws, everything. I only stopped playing with it when I needed milk from my mom. Anyway, I destroyed Lamb Chop. I chewed him to pieces within two weeks. I was so sad to see him go. I've had other chew toys since, but nothing comes close to Lamb Chop. I loved him so much." Marshall laughed as he reminisced about his puppy-hood memories.

Jake smiled. "So, you have any free time on Tuesday?"

Marshall nodded. "You bet."

Three days after that, they went to the shopping mall. There was a giant pet store with everything you could ask for for a dog. It took a while before finding it. After 15 minutes, they found it. The Jesus of chew toys. Jake bought it and the two went their separate ways.

Christmas came, and everyone got a small gift. Everest was set to go last. She looked over the wrapping.

"To Everest. From Marshall and Jake." She tore it open, to reveal a Lamb Chop toy. All the dogs were surprised.

"DUDE, YOU GOT A LAMB CHOP?" Zuma marveled.

"THAT'S THE BEST DOG TOY THERE IS!" Rubble exclaimed.

"That, right there, is the holy grail of chew toys." Rocky laughed.

"I haven't had one since I was two! You're so lucky!" Skye cheered.

Everest was clearly confused. Since she lived her whole life in the South Pole until she met Jake, she had no idea what Lamb Chop was. She had no idea what a chew toy was, period. "What is a chew toy, anyway?"

All of the pups' jaws dropped. "You don't know what a chew toy is?" They all asked, aghast at the mountain rescue pup's question.

"Apparently not." The husky shrugged.

"All you have to do is to bite it. It makes a squeaking noise. That's all there is to it." Skye responded.

Everest bent down. She bit it on her teeth. The Lamb Chop toy squeaked. She looked at everyone to make sure she was doing it right. They all nodded as they looked on. She bit it again. And again. She laid down with it, holding it with her paws, squeaking it all the while. Needless to say, it was a success.

"Oh my god, THIS IS THE BEST GIFT EVER! I LOVE IT!" She squealed with excitement. She ran to hug Jake and Marshall.

"Thank you so much!" She whispered with enthusiasm.

"No problem." They responded.

PRESENT DAY

"Why didn't I think about that before? Did we pass the pet store when we were walking?" Skye begged, eager to capitalize off her friend's story.

"The store's over there." Everest pointed out, with the store being on the other side of the mall. The two looked at each other and dashed away to the pet store. They found the Lamb Chop toy in no time flat. As they left the pet store, Skye felt a huge sense of relief.

"Chase is gonna love this. He's told me before that he never had one. Thank you." Everest winked at her. "Oh, it's no biggie." The two laughed as they hugged one another.

Christmas finally came 5 days later, and everyone was just about ready to unwrap presents at 10 AM that morning outside the lookout. Chase was set to go first.

"To Chase. From Skye." The German shepherd observed. The police dog smiled as the pilot blushed. "It's what you've always wanted." Skye giggled.

Chase tore through the wrapping paper. His eyes grew insanely wide. All of his friends were equally surprised. "You got me a Lamb Chop?" The german shepherd exclaimed with glee. Skye simply nodded. He ran to embrace her. "Oh my god, thank you! I never had one before!" He rejoiced. Chase then looked at the toy. He couldn't move.

"Why don't you play with it? You deserve it, buddy." Marshall spoke.

Chase slowly walked up to the toy. It was something he wanted his whole life, yet he could never afford to have. Chase sunk his teeth into it. Squeak. It made the squeaking noise. Again and again. He laid on the cold grass, biting it and holding the toy sheep like a cat. Squeak, squeak squeak. Everyone laughed as they saw him play with it. "OH MY GOD, THIS IS THE BEST CHEW TOY EVER!" Chase shouted as he continued to gnaw at the poor sheep. Skye and Everest fist bumped one another as all the guys crowded around him, witnessing their friend regress into early stages of puppy-hood.

SEVERAL HOURS LATER

"It's time for BUCKS BASKETBALL!" The TV blared. Marshall, Zuma and the rest of the pups decided to watch the much anticipated Bucks vs. Warriors match-up on ABC, since there was nothing to do during the day. Zuma and Marshall were especially hyped, since two of their favorite teams were squaring off. (Zuma with Golden State, Marshall with Milwaukee, respectively) Chase wasn't in the room. He was still playing with the toy outside when he started to get cold. He ran back inside, to see sports playing on the big screen. He finally dropped the chew toy that was in his mouth.

"Oh cool, basketball. Who's playing?" Chase inquired.

"Bucks, Warriors." Skye replied nonchalantly. Skye looked down at Chase's feet. The lamb had several deep bite marks and its fur was rough. "Oh my god. You shredded him. I thought you were supposed to guide sheep, not kill them." Skye giggled. The couple laughed. As the lab and dalmatian watched the basketball game with great anticipation, the German shepherd took this opportunity to speak what was really on his mind.

"Hey, Skye...thanks, again. I thought I would never get anything like that. You're the best girlfriend I could ever want." He kissed her on the cheek.

"It was so worth it seeing that look on your face. You completely let go." Skye laughed. The two cuddled next to one another as the basketball game played on.

"Merry Christmas, Skye." Chase spoke, warmly.

"Merry Christmas, Chase." Skye replied. They kissed, as the two commemorated a Christmas that neither would soon forget.