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An older man in an argyle sweater vest stirs cookie dough as a red merle Australian Shepherd with flour on its nose watches. 27 / 32

Kenji Was Baking Cookies. One Look at Maple's Nose Told Him Everything.

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Flour is everywhere: dusted across the wooden counter, sprinkled over a dish towel, and very clearly smudged on the tip of Maple's nose. Kenji, in a green argyle sweater vest and glasses, stirs a bowl of cookie dough with a big spoon, while a tray of freshly shaped cookies waits behind him. Maple has propped her head at counter height, one blue eye fixed on the bowl, looking every bit like an apprentice baker who has already done some unauthorized taste-testing. The kitchen is warm and homey, with wooden cabinets, a drawing taped to the fridge, a dish rack, and a potted herb by the window.

Baking with a dog nearby calls for extra caution, because cookies hold several common hazards. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and darker chocolate is generally more dangerous than milk chocolate. Raw yeast dough can expand in the stomach, and raisins, macadamia nuts, and the sweetener xylitol are also serious risks. A little flour on the nose is harmless, but raw dough with eggs is best kept away too. If your dog eats chocolate or other baking ingredients, call your vet or an animal poison control line promptly, even if they seem fine. For a safer kitchen helper, keep a jar of dog treats nearby so your pup can be rewarded for waiting patiently.

The cookies will come out of the oven golden and warm, and Kenji will enjoy them with a glass of milk. Maple, meanwhile, will settle for a dog biscuit and the best seat in the kitchen.

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