After his tea grey pony generally eats a single purple top off a thistle plant.  He has a particular favourite plant that he prefers.  

Once he has troughed it he demands a mint.  The human element of the family thinks this is endearing, the canine elements disagree and think that he is a spoilt little brat and the time (and mint money) would be better spent feeding us dog treats.  We don’t see the attraction of thistles either, neither does mum now after accidently backing into one earlier this evening!