Watching a puppy grow is an inspiring and even a faith-enriching experience. To see their personalities emerge, their intelligence and compassion, is awesome. Our newest golden retriever, Gracie, is surely a gift from God, and I want to experience every moment of her puppyhood. But that doesn’t mean raising a puppy is always a blessing, let me tell you.
Read More About the Dogs in Edward’s Life in His New Book, Always By My Side
Exhibit one is the photo at right. And mind you, this is the second TV remote Gracie has masticated. Add to the list: phone chargers, pens, windowsills, chair legs, credit cards, boots, scarves, gloves, socks, belts, underwear, a shower curtain. I’ll stop right there but the list goes on.
It is all done in the greatest of innocence so how can I yell at her? I simply remove the object from her mouth, provided it is still reasonably intact, and give her one of her toys to munch on. Five minutes later she’s trotting upstairs with a pair of sunglasses in her jaws.
Retrievers are mouthy dogs so it is only natural that they sample the world with their mouths. Still I pray for the day when Gracie grows out of this phase, as I know from experience she eventually will. In the meantime I say another prayer too:
Lord, I know our puppy is a gift from you, but could you maybe find her better things to chew?
I’d love to hear what illicit items your dogs have chomped on. Post below and include a picture if you have one.
