The Cavalier Looked So Sweet Next to the Ruined Homework
It is the oldest excuse in the book, and this time the dog has the evidence. A ruby Cavalier named Penny sits on the wooden floor with her silky ears hanging down, gazing upward with huge, shining eyes. Beside her lies a blue notebook gnawed to shreds, its cover torn and its pages scattered in white scraps. Pens, socks and a bit of clutter fill the background of the room.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are affectionate and gentle, but they are still spaniels, and spaniels like to carry and chew things. Paper notebooks smell like the child who handles them every day, which makes them especially tempting. Puppies and young dogs chew to explore and to soothe sore gums, so offering a good variety of chew toys and swapping them when your dog loses interest can protect your belongings.
It is a good habit to keep school bags and papers on a shelf or hook, away from the floor. A little paper in the stomach usually passes, but large amounts can cause trouble, and ink or staples are a concern, so call your vet if you think your dog swallowed some. A short training session of 'drop it' and 'trade' can help too.
Penny, for her part, looks ready to accept the blame with total sweetness. If anybody can make a teacher believe this story, it is the one with those eyes.
