The puppy within...

Talisker is only 7 months old, so perhaps that could have something to do with the recent naughtiness, but he has still caused a great deal of frustration in the past few weeks. I am sure that he is feeling a bit neglected since Isla was born, but doesn't he know that I am trying my best to give him lots of attention?!

It started when he ate Isla's car seat. Quin was at preschool a few weeks ago, Isla was sleeping, and I was trying to get some work done. Nothing unusual there, except for the fact that I was working upstairs and not watching the dog. That was mistake #1. Talisker was tempted by spit up on Isla's car seat straps, so could you really blame the puppy for chewing threw one side of her chest restraint? Seeing as I didn't catch him in the act, I couldn't punish him! The biggest problem was that I figured it out as I was putting Isla in her seat to leave to pick Quin up from school, 15 minutes before he was supposed to get out! I immediately called Tim at work and asked him if he could go get him. 30 minutes later, Quin was back home and new straps were on the way from the car seat company. $15 for the replacement straps and $18 for shipping. Good thing we have two of the big car seats for Quin, otherwise we would have been stuck at home!

The following week, Tim went to put Quin's shoes on so we could all go out and he discovered that the Velcro strap that secures the shoe to Quin's foot was missing! The dog had decided to chew it off the evening before! If they had been cheap shoes, I am sure I wouldn't have cared as much, but they were Merrells! To top it off, they were Quin's only pair of shoes! Consequently, our first stop was find Quin new shoes. I am not sure what caused him to do that, other than boredom, but again, we didn't catch him in the act! Even though Talisker wasn't directly punished for his misbehavior, he did earn himself a lot of kennel and outside time. Now, if we can't watch him, he isn't trusted (at least until he outgrows this crazy puppy behavior).

I really hope that he grows out of this destructive phase soon!