Big Puppy-Sized Tennis Ball

Recently we had one of those moments when we realized that Forest is getting less like a puppy and more like a dog (might compromise and think of him as a big puppy).

When we finally decided to get Forest (which seems like ages ago) I bought a bunch of toys and supplies in preparation of his homecoming. Of course when we brought Forest home for the first time, I discovered that most of the toys I got him didn’t actually fit in his little mouth. So I went back to the store and bought some tiny tennis balls (there are some cute photos of Forest and these balls in my Forest-Sized Tennis Ball post). Forest has tripled in size over the last three months, but he still loves playing with his small tennis balls.

A few days ago we took Forest over to visit the neighbors and the puppy spent most of the time running around their yard. You would think that we could have relaxed a little because the puppy was outside and free to potty anywhere, but he managed to get into all sorts of other trouble. Forest found lots of sidewalk chalk (non-toxic thankfully) and wood chips to chew on. The neighbors had a bonfire going in their fire pit and Forest kept trying to get close to it. On top of all that, Forest was on a leash and was constantly wrapping it around chairs legs and our feet. Luckily he was just adorable during all of this so we didn’t feel like drop-kicking him across the yard (which Nick threatens to do quite often).

At one point the neighbors brought out a regular sized tennis ball for Forest to play with. I told them that it was a sweet gesture but the ball would be too big for Forest. The puppy decided that this was a good time to make me look foolish and immediately picked up the ball in his mouth! The ball was still a little too big so Forest had to stretch his mouth open as wide as it would go to pick up the ball (can dogs get lock-jaw?). Sometimes he wouldn’t get a great angle and the ball would just slip out of his mouth and roll away, which caused Forest to run after it and try to pick it up again (an amusing cycle that kept Forest occupied and out of trouble for awhile). The neighbors were tickled by all this and gave us the tennis ball to bring home.

Forest loves this big tennis ball, but he still plays with the smaller balls as well. We’re probably going to have to take the small balls away at some point, don’t want the big puppy to choke on them.

Forest: Look ma, it fits!

Forest: Crap, it's slipping :(

Forest: I love this ball.

Big Puppy-Sized Tennis Ball