Gru, having gotten impatient and started galumphing around the house at top speed -- to the delight of the children and far less delight of the adults -- was turned out of doors. After a few laps around the stables, he flopped into what Alistair dearly hoped was just a mud puddle for some quality rolling-around.

It was not a mud puddle.

Which accounts for the half-empty rain barrel, the soaking-wet (but still cheerful) dog, and the half-soaked Alistair trying to steer him clear of another "mud puddle" as they walk to greet the horses.