Jasper’s Latest Home Improvement Project
At 12 weeks old, Jasper has decided that home improvement is his calling.
Unfortunately, “Early American Chewed Baseboards” wasn’t quite the look I was going for.
After catching him giving one of my cabinets the same custom treatment, I pulled out the palm sander, touched up the paint, and politely informed him we’d be sticking with the original design.
While I was sanding, Jasper figured he’d lend a paw by spilling an entire water bowl across the floor. He was absolutely right I did need to mop too.
Needless to say, he earned himself a little time out and some quiet time with a chew while the paint dried.
The funny part is this is exactly what I expect from a healthy 12-week-old puppy.
Puppies don’t explore the world with their hands they explore it with their mouths. They chew because they’re teething, because they’re curious, because they’re learning about their environment, and sometimes simply because they’re tired or bored.
That doesn’t mean we let them chew everything they find.
It means we manage the environment while teaching them what is appropriate. Redirect them to toys and chews, supervise them, use crates or exercise pens when you can’t actively watch them, and remember that prevention is much easier than constantly correcting mistakes.
People sometimes feel discouraged when their young puppy is chewing furniture, grabbing shoes, or trying to remodel the house.
Trust me even professional trainers deal with it.
The difference isn’t that our puppies never chew. It’s that we expect it, prepare for it, and manage it before it becomes a bigger problem.
Jasper will eventually outgrow this stage, just like every puppy does. Until then, I’ll keep my sandpaper handy… and maybe move the water bowl a little farther away while I’m painting.