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A bearded older man whittles a small block of wood on a porch as curls of wood shavings fall near a golden retriever. 13 / 22

Every Wood Shaving Grandpa Carved Landed in the Same Spot

AI imagegolden retrieverwhittlingporch

Curl after curl of pale wood drops from Gus's knife and lands on the porch boards, building a little drift of shavings right next to Honey's nose. Gus is bent over a small block, carving with slow, practiced strokes, his plaid sleeves rolled and his eyes fixed on the shape taking form. Honey lies stretched across the boards in front of him, watching the shavings fall with a soft, sleepy kind of focus. Beyond the porch railing, the backyard is green, a watering can sits in the grass, and the light is turning golden.

Whittling is a relaxing hobby, but it does come with sharp tools and small debris, so a few precautions help when a dog is nearby. Keep your dog at a comfortable distance from the blade, and never leave knives lying where a curious nose can bump them. Wood shavings and small chips are tempting to chew, and splinters can injure a dog's mouth or upset the stomach if swallowed, so sweep up when you are done. Some woods and finishes are not safe for pets, so choose untreated wood if your dog likes to investigate. A chew toy of their own can keep them happily busy beside you.

Whatever Gus is carving, it is coming along slowly, and Honey seems perfectly happy to wait. Maybe it will turn out to be a little wooden dog. It would be only fair, considering how much modeling she has done.

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