Afternoon Tea on the Lace Tablecloth. Grandma and Grandpa Got Upstaged.
A white teapot, matching cups and a little plate of cookies sit on a delicate lace tablecloth that looks like it has come out for special occasions for decades. Behind the table, Grandpa in a green cardigan and Grandma in a cream sweater are smiling broadly, clearly sharing a joke. But the star of this frame is Rufus, who has stepped right into the foreground. His big head fills the view, his long ears hang like curtains, and his solemn brown eyes and glossy nose are angled toward that cookie plate. A potted plant and soft window light give the kitchen a calm, golden glow.
Basset Hounds have one of the most powerful noses in the dog world, second only to a few other scent hounds, and they were originally bred to track small game by smell. That sense of smell means food on a table is never really out of reach in their minds. Using a solid leave-it cue, keeping treats in a closed container and making sure the dog has his own chew during snack time can help. It is also good to know that tea contains caffeine, which is not safe for dogs, so cups should stay well back from the edge of the table.
Teatime manners are a work in progress for this particular guest. Still, with a face like that, it is easy to see why he gets invited back every single afternoon.
