The Saga of Elephant
When I was preparing to bring Maverick home as a 7 week old puppy, I purchased a couple of stuffed animals for him to play with. I thought Mav would love them and it was cute because Mav would try to get both Bear and Duckie in his mouth at the same time. However, I quickly learned that stuffed toys do not last long with my dog. Bear made it a couple of weeks and we went through 3 Duckies in the first couple of months. Since then, I have avoided giving Maverick stuffed toys because I hated cleaning stuffing up after the dog demolished the insides of the toy.
About a year ago, a friend of mine gave me two stuffed elephant dog toys. One for Maverick and one for the yet to be determined baby. I gave Maverick his elephant and he quickly removed the stuffing and the squeaker (I think he hates the squeakers) and I set about the task of cleaning up after him. I was waiting for him to discard the body of Elephant so he could be disposed of properly. Only Maverick wouldn't give up Elephant. He kept carrying around the lifeless body of that poor toy. So I let him keep it. Occasionally I will find a small piece of Elephant laying around the house.
This morning I walked into the kitchen to get the boys' stuff ready for school and I found this: a lone elephant paw.
I sent Chris a text asking if he had seen the rest of Elephant because I hadn't seen him in several days. I did finally find his remains crumbled up in a corner by the back door when I was letting Maverick in for breakfast. By the looks of it, I'm not sure that Elephant is going to be with us much longer. Poor Elephant! Maverick loves that thing too so I don't understand why he continues to destroy it.
Now the question is this: should I give Maverick Elephant the 2nd, who is currently snuggled among the rest of the stuffed animals in J's room, to replace Elephant the 1st? The dog really does play with the toy a lot so I am sure he will be sad once Elephant reaches his final demise.
About a year ago, a friend of mine gave me two stuffed elephant dog toys. One for Maverick and one for the yet to be determined baby. I gave Maverick his elephant and he quickly removed the stuffing and the squeaker (I think he hates the squeakers) and I set about the task of cleaning up after him. I was waiting for him to discard the body of Elephant so he could be disposed of properly. Only Maverick wouldn't give up Elephant. He kept carrying around the lifeless body of that poor toy. So I let him keep it. Occasionally I will find a small piece of Elephant laying around the house.
This morning I walked into the kitchen to get the boys' stuff ready for school and I found this: a lone elephant paw.
I sent Chris a text asking if he had seen the rest of Elephant because I hadn't seen him in several days. I did finally find his remains crumbled up in a corner by the back door when I was letting Maverick in for breakfast. By the looks of it, I'm not sure that Elephant is going to be with us much longer. Poor Elephant! Maverick loves that thing too so I don't understand why he continues to destroy it.
Now the question is this: should I give Maverick Elephant the 2nd, who is currently snuggled among the rest of the stuffed animals in J's room, to replace Elephant the 1st? The dog really does play with the toy a lot so I am sure he will be sad once Elephant reaches his final demise.
Comments
Being quite the lover of elephants (I do have one as a cousin after all;) ), I say keep it for J. That's who it was intended for in the first place. If he gets a little older and doesn't seem interested in it at all. . .THEN bestow it upon Mav. Of course, this is just my opinion. I'm sure J has a TON of other stuffed animals and may not even miss one elephant.
But, I'm just don;t like the omen of having the elephant destroyed. What does that say about out team? Isn't Tenn's Volunteer a dog????
I hate cleaning up the stuffing, too, but I can't bring myself to quit giving him stuffed toys. He really *enjoys* ripping them apart. :) Therefore, my vote is to give Mav Elephant 2.