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A grandma in a green cardigan kneels in soil planting tomato seedlings as a silver Weimaraner paws the dirt beside her. 11 / 24

Grandma Was Carefully Planting Tomatoes. Her Helper Had a Different Technique.

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Fresh dirt, a row of tomato seedlings and a garden full of promise. Grandma Doris kneels in the soil in a green cardigan and jeans, carefully pressing a young plant into place with her bare hand. Right beside her, Pewter has decided to help in the only way a dog knows: with both front paws in the freshly turned earth and his nose pointed down at the hole. Clay pots, a trowel, a pair of garden gloves and a scattering of fallen leaves show this is a real working afternoon in the backyard.

Digging is a natural behavior for many dogs. It can be driven by boredom, curiosity about scents underground, or simply copying what their person is doing. For an energetic breed like the Weimaraner, plenty of exercise often cuts down on garden excavations. Some owners give their dog a designated digging spot with loose soil and buried toys. In the garden itself, be careful with products like fertilizers, slug baits and some mulches, which can be harmful if a dog eats them. Tomato plant leaves and stems can also upset a dog's stomach, so it helps to discourage chewing on the greenery. When in doubt, talk to your vet.

Gardening is a lovely hobby for older adults, offering sunshine, light exercise and the patient reward of watching something grow. Having a muddy assistant along makes the time more entertaining.

Pewter may be planting more chaos than tomatoes, but Doris does not seem to mind one bit. Every garden needs a foreman.

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