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A gray-bearded man in a cap and suspenders plants a tomato seedling while a dark red Golden Retriever digs beside him. 32 / 38

Roy Dug One Small Hole for His Tomato Plant. Copper Dug a Much Bigger One.

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Spring planting is underway in the backyard garden. Roy kneels in the soft dark soil in a brown cap, blue flannel shirt, and suspenders, carefully pressing earth around a tiny tomato seedling. Rows of young plants and wooden stakes line the raised beds around him, and watering cans sit near the fence. Just beside him, Copper is hard at work too, nose down and front paws buried in a hole he has clearly been excavating with great enthusiasm, dirt sprayed across his chocolate-red chest. A trowel lies forgotten in the foreground, and the whole garden smells of fresh earth.

Digging is a natural behavior for many dogs, and some do it to cool off, to bury treasures, or simply because loose soil is irresistible. If you want to protect your garden, many owners set aside a designated digging spot, like a sandbox, and reward their dog for using it. In the vegetable patch, be aware that the leaves and stems of tomato plants can upset a dog's stomach if eaten in quantity, and unripe green tomatoes are best avoided too. Many fertilizers, bone meal, and some mulches, especially cocoa bean mulch, can be harmful if eaten, so store garden products securely and choose pet-safe options when possible.

The tomatoes may have a little competition for space this season, but Roy does not seem to mind. Gardening is a lot more fun with an eager, if slightly messy, assistant.

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A gray-bearded man in a knit cap and suspenders shovels snow while a dark red Golden Retriever lies grinning in a snowbank.Roy Was Shoveling Snow Off the Driveway. Copper Had Found His Throne.A gray-bearded man in suspenders sits on a lake dock with bare feet in the water as a dark red Golden Retriever wades nearby.Roy Only Planned to Dip His Toes in the Lake. Copper Had Bigger Ideas.A smiling gray-bearded man in suspenders poses cheek to cheek with a dark red Golden Retriever on a cluttered porch.Roy Finally Figured Out the Selfie Camera. He Knew Who Had to Be In It.A gray-bearded man in suspenders kneels on a patterned rug holding the raised paw of a dark red Golden Retriever.Roy Knelt on the Rug and Held Out His Hand. Copper Didn't Need a Second Ask.