Tank has never met a treat he didn't like. Veggies, beef, chicken — it's all the same reaction: full enthusiasm, no hesitation, gone in seconds. Which usually makes him a pretty useless taste tester. If everything gets the same five-star reaction, how do you know if a batch is actually good?
So when the first sardine batch came out of the dehydrator, we weren't expecting much of a signal either way. He'd eat it, obviously. That was never in question.
What we didn't expect was the follow-up. After the treat was gone — in about four seconds, same as always — he walked back over to where the bag was sitting on the counter and just stood there. Staring at it. That part was new.
We tried offering him a chicken breast strip right after, thinking maybe that would reset things and he'd wander off satisfied like usual. He ate that too, then went right back to staring at the sardine bag. That's about as close to a preference as Tank has ever expressed.
For what it's worth, the sardines dry beautifully — short drying window, minimal fat management compared to something like pork ears, and they hold their shape well once packed. But Tank doesn't care about any of that. He just knows the bag on the counter is the one worth guarding.
Sardine batches are now in regular rotation. Tank remains willing to test every future batch as well, with the same unwavering enthusiasm he brings to broccoli.