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An older man in a flat cap and argyle vest reaches for apples on a tree while a red merle Aussie sniffs fallen fruit. 14 / 32

Grandpa Was Picking Apples From the Branches. Maple Was Working the Ground Shift.

AI imageaustralian shepherdapple pickingautumn

Autumn has arrived in the backyard orchard. Kenji, wearing a flat cap, glasses, a tan argyle sweater vest, and a blue plaid shirt, reaches high into the branches to twist free a shiny red apple. He crouches slightly to keep his balance, smiling at the fruit as if it were an old friend. Maple has her nose to the ground beneath him, investigating the windfalls scattered across the grass. Her long merle coat is ruffled and her attention is total; for a herding dog, a lawn full of rolling apples is basically a treasure hunt.

Apples can be a crunchy, healthy snack for many dogs when served properly. Plain apple slices with the core and seeds removed are the usual recommendation, since the seeds contain compounds that can release cyanide when chewed, and the core can be a choking hazard. Fallen fruit brings its own risks. Apples left on the ground can start to ferment, and eating a lot of rotting fruit can upset a dog's stomach or worse, so it helps to rake up windfalls regularly and keep an eye on a dog who likes to snack in the yard. Too much fruit of any kind can cause tummy trouble, so treat apples as an occasional extra rather than a meal.

Kenji will be heading inside with a full basket soon, and maybe a pie is in the works. Maple, for her part, has already decided which apple is hers.

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