From inside baseball to inside Bernedoodle

Meet Capone, an XL Bernese mix in California who is a real MVP—Most Valuable Pup, that is.

Capone came into Nationwide members Christine and Greg C.’s lives after it became clear he needed more one-on-one attention than he was getting in his previous home, a busy household full of small kids and other pets. With Christine and Greg, he found exactly what he needed … and then some.

“Capone is with us all the time,” Christine says. “He can't get close enough to you. He’s the definition of a Velcro dog.”

Not that anyone minds. “He’s just so wonderful to be around,” adds Christine. “We’re very lucky to have him.”

Whether they’re heading out on a trip or settling in at home, Capone makes it clear he belongs at the center of it all. “He just wants to be part of the family all the time. He kind of runs our world,” Christine says.

That world Capone “runs” revolves around America’s national pastime. “We’re a big baseball family,” Christine says. They regularly go to games for their son, and Greg is a college baseball umpire and a pro stadium grounds crew member. Naturally, Capone tags along but he’s usually less interested in the action than the opportunity to snuggle. Even at 103 pounds, he’ll still happily curl up on a lap in a little folding chair.

However, one aspect of the game appeals to Capone: the ball itself, which led to one curveball of a snacking situation and this Hambone Award nomination.

What happened?

Capone has a knack for opening the door to the garage with his nose, something he often does to greet the family when they return home. One day, his nose directed him to a new prize.

“He went into the garage and picked up a baseball from one of our son’s baseball bags and brought it back,” Greg says. At first, Christine and Greg didn’t notice the trick play, but later that night, they realized Capone had scooped up a ground ball that he definitely shouldn’t have fielded.

“We were at home watching TV, and Capone was gnawing on something,” Christine says. “He wasn't up on the couch with us, which wasn't very normal. So, I looked down and saw what looked like the inside of a baseball … and I said, ‘Greg, where's the cover of the ball?’”

Christine continues, “We start looking around all over, and we can't find it. I said, ‘I think he ate the cover of the ball.’”

The family brought their pup to the vet, where they encountered a fitting surprise. “We drove Capone to the vet and, go figure, the movie ‘The Sandlot’ was playing on the TV in the lobby,” Greg remembers. “While we watched the dog Hercules from ‘Sandlot’ chew up the Babe Ruth baseball, the vet induced vomiting with Capone, and he threw up the completely intact cover of the baseball.”

How Nationwide helped

By the time Christine and Greg discovered Capone’s spitball trick, it was already after 8 p.m. An online search turned up some alarming possibilities, and they wanted an expert who could give them a true balls-and-strikes assessment of the situation. Thankfully, every Nationwide pet insurance plan includes 24/7 telehealth access, so they were able to speak with a veterinary professional right away.

“Just have that person to call and tell us what to do made that experience a lot easier. I think it gave us the best outcome for his emergency,” Christine says.

And, of course, they also received reimbursement for their eligible veterinary expenses.

“You’ll do anything for your dog,” Christine says. “You know, you just put that credit card down and you don’t know what’s going to happen. So, knowing that at least you’ll get some reimbursement for your cost, it’s helpful.”