Luca's search and maybe tennis balls are not all bad.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I was throwing the tennis balls around for Luca. Calla has little interest in them but occasionally she'll catch one thrown practically into her mouth, if she's in the mood. I had my camera and decided the only way to get some pictures would be if I put the ball somewhere and got the story.

Despite my pointing he was confused at first:Eventually he caught on:

Then he managed to really get it:

But this is how he usually looks outside when he's not shredding a stick:

So I was wondering if this is part of the reason he gets so much less tartar than Calla. She will chew on a bone or antler sometimes. But we've had discussions on the abrasiveness of tennis balls. Maybe there is just enough chewing versus too much. Tennis balls are not allowed in the house so Luca's chew time with them is limited. All in all this was something to do because we are a bit stir crazy here : )

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have no idea about the tennis ball-tartar connection, but the pictorial is great! The subtle colors remind me of an old-time children's picture book, and Luca is looking very happy!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Subtle color, what a nice description for a gray day. And Luca is always happy if a ball is involved. I was surprised he managed to dislodge it.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

OMD, Luca is a "tree hugger".  Cute pictures...we play with tennis balls, but no chewing.  Actually my guys don't even want to chew them.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

JANE--HA HA   :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

But really he would chew up trees if he could. You should see the twig debris around.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Love the pictures. Poor Luca....all he wants to do is play ball and his mom is putting them in a tree for her own amusement :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am mean but you are missing the big picture. This was part of a tartar--tennis ball research project. If you want to get input form the great minds on DK you have to draw the reader in with a good story. Do you think you are the only one with cockamamie ideas?

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

If the tarter connection were true than Winnie would have pristine white teeth as he is constantly chewing on tennis balls.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Oh, an outlier. We, the research committee, that is, will take Winnie into consideration. But doesn't the exception prove the rule?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jackdoodle is a great tennis ball chewer, when given the chance, and he has horrible teeth. Bad tartar problem and his teeth are no longer pointed at the ends.

[F, Calla & Luca]

This isn't looking good for the project : ) Wait, maybe he needs to be given more of a chance.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

In truth, he is not allowed to have tennis balls in the house, and when he plays with them outdoors, he chews them only in between catching them and giving them back to me, because he would rather be retrieving it than chewing it.

But I have a feeling he had them 24/7 before I got him, he was so extremely obsessed with them.