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An elderly couple whittle wood on a porch as shavings drift through the air above a lemon and white Basset Hound in front. 5 / 21

Harold and Bea Spent the Afternoon Whittling. Waffles Ended Up Wearing the Results.

AI imagebasset houndwhittlingfront porch

Little curls of pale wood seem to float in the air like snowflakes, drifting down from the porch where Harold and Bea sit side by side with their pocketknives. Harold, in a blue plaid shirt, shaves a small block with focused care, while Bea, in a gray sweater and glasses, works on a piece of her own, a basket of kindling and a stack of fresh-cut blocks nearby. Down in the grass in front of them, Waffles stands with his head tipped up toward the camera, long ears hanging, one shaving stuck to his jowl and a few more dusting the ground at his paws. His expression is a perfect mix of patience and mild bewilderment.

Whittling is an old-fashioned craft that many people enjoy well into later life, and doing it together turns it into a social, relaxing ritual. Soft woods like basswood are easiest to carve, and a sharp knife is actually safer than a dull one because it requires less force. With a dog around, keep blades closed and stored when not in use, and sweep up chips and splinters afterward. Dogs may be tempted to chew wood pieces, and splinters can injure the mouth or digestive tract. Offering a durable chew toy made for dogs gives a curious hound something safe to work on alongside you.

Harold and Bea will have a couple of little carved animals by sundown, perhaps even a tiny hound with long ears. Waffles, meanwhile, will have a coat full of wood shavings and a very good story to tell, if only he could.

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