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A smiling elderly couple eat breakfast at a sunny patio table while a lemon and white Basset Hound rests his paws on it. 6 / 21

A Perfect Patio Breakfast, One Golden Croissant, and a Very Long Nose

AI imagebasset houndpatio breakfastmorning sun

Morning sun spills across the stone patio and lights up a little breakfast spread: a golden croissant on a plate, a bowl of berries, a cup of coffee, a lemon, a pat of butter, and a pot of fresh rosemary on the corner of the table. Bea, in a soft green cardigan and glasses, and Harold, in a blue plaid shirt with his glasses pushed up on his head, are both beaming. The reason sits right in front of them. Waffles has planted his big white paws on the edge of the table and rested his chin on the tablecloth, nose pointed directly toward the croissant, eyes rolled up in a look of deep longing.

Basset Hounds were bred to follow scents, and their noses are extraordinary, which makes a breakfast table almost irresistible. Teaching a polite place behavior, like lying on a mat during meals, can help, especially if you reward calm behavior with a dog-safe treat. It is worth knowing that buttery pastries are rich and fatty, and some common breakfast foods, such as grapes, raisins, chocolate, and anything sweetened with xylitol, are dangerous for dogs. Bassets also tend to gain weight easily, which can strain their long backs. Keep table scraps to a minimum, and ask your vet about healthy treat options.

Harold and Bea seem far too charmed to scold him. Maybe Waffles will get a bit of plain toast or a dog biscuit from the pocket of that cardigan. Either way, breakfast on the patio is all the better for his company.

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An elderly couple flip pancakes in a skillet at a gas stove while a lemon and white Basset Hound sits and watches them.Bea Flipped the Pancakes, Harold Held the Pan, and Waffles Waited for His MomentAn elderly couple sit on the tailgate of an old pickup truck at the edge of a field with a lemon and white Basset Hound.An Old Pickup, an Open Field, and the Best Seat on the TailgateAn elderly couple read the newspaper on a couch while a large lemon and white Basset Hound sleeps curled across their laps.Harold and Bea Sat Down to Read the Paper. Waffles Thinks He's a Lap Dog.An elderly couple in hats sit on an old dock with a fishing rod while a lemon and white Basset Hound stands beside them.Harold Brought the Fishing Rod, Bea Brought Her Sun Hat, and Waffles Brought the Face