German Shorthaired Pointer

Neutering Recovery: Tim’s Unexpected Challenges

/ Kyra Kornely / Leave a comment

Bed Rest and Tim: One Week, Zero Chill, Total Destruction

Tim’s been on bed rest this week after getting neutered, and it’s been… an adventure. For a dog who’s supposed to be resting, he sure has a lot of chaos left in him.

💥 Day by Day Destruction

It started small. A few rips in the comforter—no big deal, right? Then my husband’s favorite pillows nearly met their end. I turned the corner and there was Tim, frozen mid-bite, pillow in his mouth like a prize he wasn’t supposed to have.

“Tim, drop it!” I yelled, as he gave me that wide-eyed, totally-not-sorry look. I saved the fluff. Barely.

🛋️ The Couch Didn’t Stand a Chance

By day seven, I was washing the couch covers, foolishly leaving the cushions unguarded. Tim found them. Of course he did. And when I walked in? Shredded stuffing and a guilty face that said, “Oops, but not really.”

So I tried to be clever.

👶 Baby Playpen vs. Bird Dog Brain

I tossed the cushions into my daughter’s playpen. Seemed safe enough. Barriers, right?

Wrong.

Within minutes, Tim, who is wearing his oversized cone of shame, leaped into the playpen, determined to finish the job. He didn’t care that he was surrounded by stuffed animals and rattles. He had one goal: destroy the cushions. Again.

And then… he got stuck.

There he was: cone sideways, legs tangled in baby toys, looking up like, “Help. But also, I’d do it again.”

😩 Feelings? Exhausted.

Honestly? I was torn between laughing and crying. It’s like having a toddler with four legs, claws, and a personal vendetta against household objects.

🐾 Tim Tips: Surviving Bed Rest with a Wild Puppy

If you’re navigating puppy recovery (or puppy madness in general), here are a few things I’ve learned:

  • Double barricade EVERYTHING. Playpens, baby gates, furniture—they will find a way.
  • Rotate chew toys to keep them engaged. Bored dogs = destructive dogs.
  • Create a cozy rest zone with blankets, calming music, or enrichment toys to encourage downtime.
  • Patience and humor go a long way. Sometimes you just have to laugh before you cry.

📸 Visuals to Come!

You’ll want to see the cone chaos, so stay tuned for pictures of Tim’s Great Playpen Escape (including the fluff aftermath).

German Shorthaired Pointer puppy stuck in baby playpen wearing cone after surgery
Tim, post-neuter and full of regret, after jumping into the playpen to attack the couch cushions.

Stroller and a Leash

/ Kyra Kornely / Leave a comment

Picture This…

One hand on the stroller.

One hand gripping a leash.

One determined German Shorthaired Pointer pulling like he’s training for the Iditarod.

That’s a typical walk for us: me, the baby, and Tim—our chaos-powered GSP puppy.

GSPs Don’t Heel. They Hunt.

If you’ve ever tried walking a German Shorthaired Pointer, you know: they’re not built to heel—they’re built to lead. Tim’s convinced his purpose in life is to drag us forward like he’s the lead sled dog of suburbia.

But I’m determined. I want peaceful, synchronized walks—like the Pinterest moms. So I start training.

The Peanut Butter Plan

Armed with a wooden spoon coated in peanut butter, I crouch and hold it at Tim’s nose level every time he’s in the correct heel position. Meanwhile, my other hand is on the stroller—because, of course, I’m walking two babies at once.

We do this for an hour.

Heel, praise, peanut butter.

Heel, praise, peanut butter.

Repeat.

Eventually… Tim gets bored. The peanut butter loses its magic, and now I’ve got a sticky spoon, sore knees, and a still-pulling GSP.

Then It Got Worse

As we pull into our driveway, my husband comes out to greet us. Cue Tim’s favorite human of all time.

In a split second, Tim launches toward him with full force, yanking me down face-first into the ditch. My knees hit the ground, the leash whips forward, and the peanut butter spoon flies dramatically into the grass.

Thankfully, the stroller locked into place before rolling in with me. Baby: safe. Me: not so much. Tim? Living his best life.

Have you ever tried to push a stroller and train a new puppy simultaneously? Are there any tips and tricks besides peanut butter on a wooden spoon?