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An older man in an olive cable-knit sweater smiles down at a red merle Aussie in a garden full of orange pumpkins. 15 / 32

Kenji Asked Maple to Help Pick a Pumpkin. Her Answer Was a Look.

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Orange pumpkins peek out from a tangle of drying vines all across the patch, some tiny, some big enough for a front porch. Kenji stands among them in an olive cable-knit sweater and blue collared shirt, glasses glinting, beaming down at the dog by his side. Maple gazes right back up at him, one blue eye and one amber, her ears soft and her mouth closed in a look of polite curiosity, as if to ask which pumpkin they are taking home. The trees overhead are turning gold, and houses and a fence edge the neighborhood garden.

Fall outings are a highlight for many dogs, and a few simple tips keep them fun. Raw pumpkin stems and vines are tough and could cause choking or stomach upset if chewed, so discourage nibbling in the patch. Plain cooked pumpkin, on the other hand, is a familiar dog-friendly food, and many owners use a spoonful of plain canned pumpkin, not pie filling with spices and sugar, as an occasional treat. Carved jack-o'-lanterns become a concern once they start to rot or hold lit candles, so keep them out of reach later in the season. On farm visits, ask if dogs are allowed, keep a leash on, and check for burrs and ticks in that long Aussie coat when you get home.

With the right pumpkin chosen and the afternoon light turning golden, it is hard to imagine a better way to welcome autumn. Maple seems to agree completely.

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