We have done a pretty good job of puppy proofing our apartment. If we don't want him to eat it, we make sure it's put away or he isn't left alone with it. People who don't know me better might think I don't have many shoes, since most of them are now living behind a closed closet door. But, I can't puppy proof the outside world, and "leave it" and "drop it" are not commands that Reese is really comprehending or heeding. So, I have had the unenviable task of fully reaching into my dog's mouth to pull out all manner of debris. Here's a short list:
- Leaves (probably somewhere around 100 of them in the 3 weeks we've had Reese)
- Clumps of grass
- A rubber band
- A potato chip
- The hair from one of the stuffed squirrels that is part of one of his toys
- Sticks
- Bark
- Tennis ball fuzz (a lot of tennis ball fuzz)
- Tags from a blanket and dog bed
- Half a cookie he found in a yard while we were walking him - he tried to go back for that one
And these are just the things I have caught him eating. I am sure I have missed many chunks of trash that he's managed to ingest. And perhaps I am being overly paranoid, but I am doing my damndest to avoid doggie diarrhea.
I can honestly say I never thought I would be so comfortable forcing a dog's mouth, sticking my fingers in there, and fishing out contraband. I guess we can call this growth?
One thing that has come out of his mouth without me pulling are puppy teeth:
So far, I have found three. They're so small and light - it's hard to believe that this tiny, hollow pieces of bone have left me so scratched and bruised! Hopefully as he loses the last of these guys, some of his need to chew and eat everything (whether or not it's food) will also fade away!
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