#MomentofChill 12.20.19: Gnawing in the Sun

Imagine that the only thing you had to do today was lie in the sun and chew on your favorite stick. Todays #MomentofChill–from Trey Mullen of Brush Creek Ranch–stars a young puppy in that very situation. Doesn’t he look content? And, oh, those eyes!

Chewing in curiosity-seeking puppies and young dogs is normal; exploration and learning happens through the mouth and the nose. Like human babies, puppies also chew during teething, maybe to facilitate the eruption of adult teeth, maybe for pain relief. And juvvies use playful, active chewing to displace energy—in some dogs, It keeps the jaws strong and the teeth clean in adult dogs. It combats boredom and relieves mild anxiety. Wild and domesticated dogs have spent hours chewing bones and sticks for thousands of years. In short, canines are made to chew.

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From November 20 through December 25, pause and de-stress from the frantic pace of the holidays with a daily #MomentofChill—which may involve a frolicking puppy, a crackling fireplace, or the soothing ripples of an untouched stream.

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