The holiday season is in full swing at The Fussy Pup, and I’m right here in the middle of our cookie-cutter workshop, gearing up to meet the Christmas rush. Twinkling lights frame the shop windows, and the cheerful hum of holiday tunes mingles with the rhythmic clinking of metal cutters in the back room. Boxes of orders stack high, waiting to be shipped off to excited customers all over the country.
Sam and Lily, my loyal Cane Corso girls, are as excited as ever to "clock in" for another day. The moment I unlock the door, Sam pads to her usual spot by the front entrance, her brindle coat gleaming as she scans the shop with her calm, watchful gaze. Lily, on the other hand, bolts straight to the workshop, sniffing every corner as if she’s the official inspector, making sure everything is in perfect order.
Not long after, Aunt Chrissy arrives, her arms full of supplies—and, of course, a box of treatos. “Morning, ladies!” she calls out, her voice cheerful over the jingling doorbell. Sam greets her with a measured wag of her tail, ever the composed one, while Lily bounces with excitement, paws tapping the floor as she snuffles eagerly at the treat box.
Chrissy doesn’t waste a second getting to work. She starts shaping copper strips into festive cookie cutters—stars, snowflakes, and even custom bone-shaped designs and gingerbread men. Sam saunters over to inspect her progress, sniffing each cutter with a dignified air before offering a single, approving huff. Meanwhile, Lily finds a stray roll of ribbon in the packing area and gleefully parades it around like a holiday streamer trailing behind her.
“Lily,” Chrissy laughs, shaking her head, “are you helping or decorating yourself?”
Sam gives her sister an exasperated glance before returning to her spot near Chrissy’s workbench. She sits regally, overseeing everything like a true supervisor.
The afternoon flies by in a mix of productivity and chaos. Chrissy shapes cookie cutters with her usual precision while Lily enthusiastically "helps" at the packing station. Her tail wags every time she hears the satisfying crunch of packing paper. Occasionally, she sneaks a hopeful sniff at a treat bag, her eyes wide with anticipation.
The peaceful rhythm of the day doesn’t last long. Lily discovers a box of unsorted cutters in the corner and decides she’s found the jackpot. She grabs a reindeer-shaped cutter and struts around the workshop as if she’s won a prize.
“Lily!” Chrissy exclaims, half-laughing. “That’s not a toy!”
Sam barks once, clearly saying, Drop it, Lily. But Lily, ever the mischief-maker, bolts, her tail wagging like a propeller. Around the workshop she races, her brindle coat a blur as Chrissy and I try to catch her. Sam finally cuts her off near the packing table, planting herself in her sister’s path with an imposing yet playful stance.
After a brief standoff, Lily gives in, dropping the cutter at Chrissy’s feet. She sits down, grinning proudly, completely unapologetic. Chrissy sighs, wiping off the slobber before putting the cutter back where it belongs.
As the day winds down, Sam and Lily settle near the counter, their heads resting on their oversized paws. The workshop quiets, the tools and packing materials neatly put away, and the last boxes of the day are stacked by the door, ready for shipping.
Chrissy leans back in her chair, a mug of hot cocoa in her hands, and glances at my girls snoozing in the soft glow of the holiday lights. “Well,” she says, smiling, “they might not be the most helpful coworkers, but they’re definitely the cutest.”
Sam snorts softly in her sleep, while Lily gives a lazy wag of her tail, her paw still resting on her claimed ribbon. Tomorrow promises another busy day, but for now, we’re all ready to rest—and maybe dream of reindeer-shaped treatos.