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An older man in a cap plants tomato seedlings in garden soil while a dapple Dachshund digs a hole right beside him. 24 / 36

Grandpa Was Planting Tomatoes. The Badger Dog Remembered Her Roots.

AI imagedachshundgardeningtomatoes

Fresh soil, a row of leafy tomato seedlings, and a sunny spring afternoon: Grandpa Ray is kneeling in the garden bed, carefully firming the dirt around a young plant with both hands. He peers down through his glasses with the patience of a lifelong gardener. Right next to him, Pickles is also hard at work, just on a very different project. Her front paws are buried in a fresh hole, dirt flying, her spotted coat dusted with soil and her mouth open in a delighted grin. A spade, a watering can, and more seedlings wait in the background, along with a weathered fence and scattered garden tools.

If there were ever a breed born to dig, it is the Dachshund. Their name roughly means badger dog in German, and they were bred to tunnel after burrowing animals, so digging is deeply built into their instincts. Rather than trying to stop it completely, many owners give their Dachshund a designated digging spot, such as a sandbox or a corner of the yard, and bury toys there to make it rewarding. In the vegetable garden, a little fence can protect your plants. Keep in mind that tomato leaves, stems, and green unripe tomatoes can upset a dog's stomach, and many fertilizers and garden chemicals are not safe if eaten. Store supplies well out of reach.

Grandpa Ray may have to replant a seedling or two, but you cannot fault Pickles for enthusiasm. She is simply doing what Dachshunds do best.

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