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Black grandpa in a green cardigan plants tomato seedlings in a garden bed as a black Labrador digs a hole beside him. 28 / 33

Grandpa Walter Was Carefully Planting Tomatoes. Duke Was Digging Something Else Entirely.

AI imagelabrador retrievervegetable gardendigging

Spring planting day has arrived in the backyard garden. Grandpa Walter kneels in the soft, dark soil in a sage cardigan and plaid shirt, glasses on, carefully pressing earth around a young tomato seedling. Bamboo stakes stand ready beside each little plant, a bag of potting soil slumps against a terra-cotta pot, and a garden hose snakes across the grass behind him. Duke has decided to help in his own way. The black Lab is digging furiously right next to the row, front paws flinging dirt into the air, a crumb of soil stuck to his nose and his mouth open in a delighted grin. Walter looks thoughtfully at the seedling, perhaps deciding whether to laugh or sigh.

Tomato plants are a garden favorite, but the green parts, including the leaves, stems, and unripe fruit, contain compounds that can upset a dog's stomach if chewed in quantity. Ripe red tomatoes are generally considered fine in small amounts, but it is best to discourage nibbling in the vegetable patch. As for digging, it is a natural behavior for many dogs, whether from boredom, curiosity, or simply the fun of it. Offering a designated digging spot, such as a sandbox where you bury a few toys, can redirect the urge away from your beds. Plenty of exercise and a little fencing around young plants help, too.

For today, Walter's tomatoes may need a little extra protection. But a garden with a joyful, muddy-nosed helper in it is a garden worth tending.

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