Reuse, recycle -- at least until Paco gets hold of them

To you, this just looks like a box filled with toilet paper and paper towel rolls.

You'd be right, of course, and you'd be right to wonder why the heck anyone would collect so many. Well, as any gardener can tell you, they are great for starting cuttings of plants you want to thrive when you figure out where to put them. And that is why I collected them. Turns out, they have an even better use when you have accepted a Pug puppy into your home.

This discovery was made the first night -- Paco LOVES cardboard. Don't ask me when or how he developed this fetish (do we really want to know?), but cardboard is his go-to when it comes to chewing on things. Well, that and furniture. That gave me an idea. What about using a tube from a roll of plastic bags to play fetch and let him gnaw on? It worked. He was so entranced with the cardboard tube, he pretty much ignored anything else he could sink his teeth into. That roll lasted about 5 days before he obliterated it. Fortunately my friend K left a paper towel roll out for me to give to Paco and that reminded me of the stash of tubes tucked away for that nonexistent day in the future when cuttings would be planted. By folding and stuffing a tube to make it sturdier and thicker, we have an almost endless supply of diversionary tactics to distract Paco from whatever mischief he wants to get into next. 

And in case you've forgotten, this is Paco, looking totally innocent of any destruction.

 

Now we have a monkey baby...

The Divine Ms. M really knows how to make a dog (and a person happy). I guess Christmas in July is actually a thing, because she gave a stuffed monkey to Nellie as a nice-to-meet-you-gift. Nellie wasn't all that impressed, but I figured when we got home and she was in more familiar surroundings (it was her first outing at a café), she'd be more receptive. Well, once we were home, I placed the monkey on the bed while I did a couple of things, and Kuma, my big bear, came over and rested his head on the bed, very near the toy, but resisted taking it. So I offered it to Nellie again. She walked away. Kuma looked wistful, and knowing his propensity to tear things apart, I was a bit reluctant to let him have it. 

Just when you think you know your dogs, the unexpected happens. Kuma very gently took the monkey and wandered around as if he were tending to a baby. He even fell asleep with the monkey by his side. When it was time to go for his afternoon walk, he wanted to stay with his new friend. He hasn't let it out of his sight all afternoon and evening. My fear is that this forebodes a meteor strike in the next day or two because I can't think of any other reason for this completely new behavior. But he is so darn cute with it:

And thus endeth a perfect day. Next up, The Divine Ms. M strikes again with a gift that has put one of my pet peeves to rest. That will be the subject of another post.