Browse ›
A grandma smiles at a red Golden Retriever who rests one paw on a patio breakfast table set with coffee and a croissant. 23 / 29

Breakfast on the Patio Was Going Fine Until a Big Red Paw Landed on the Table

AI imagegolden retrieverbreakfastpatio

Breakfast is laid out on the sunny back patio: a cup of milky coffee, a golden croissant on a little plate, a bowl of eggs and berries, and a crumpled cloth napkin. The pavers are warm, the potted agave and succulents are soaking up the light, and Ruth has turned in her chair with a wide, amused smile. The reason sits right beside her. Rusty has rested one big red paw on the edge of the table, a polite but unmistakable request, and he is gazing at her with soft, hopeful eyes. A few flakes of pastry are already scattered near his toes. The negotiations have clearly begun.

Pawing at people is one of the most common ways dogs ask for attention or food, and it works because we usually respond. If you would rather breakfast stay peaceful, the kindest fix is to reward an alternative. Ask for a sit or a down, and praise and reward the dog when all four paws stay on the ground. Ignoring the pawing while rewarding calm behavior helps the lesson sink in. As for the menu, croissants and other buttery pastries are high in fat and best kept for people. Plain scrambled egg without butter or seasoning, or a few blueberries, are gentler ways to let a dog feel included.

Ruth is smiling far too much to be firm this morning, and Rusty can tell. Whatever ends up on his side of the table, it is safe to say these two have started the day exactly how they like it: together, in the sun.

More from this collection

All 29 →
A grandma in glasses sips from a white mug on weathered porch steps while a Golden Retriever sits beside her.Every Morning Starts the Same Way for Ruth and Rusty, and He Knows the RulesA grandma adjusts the collar of a red Golden Retriever beside farmers market stalls full of beans, apples, and sunflowers.Grandma Went to the Market for Green Beans. Rusty Went for Something Else.
A grandma and a red Golden Retriever sleep side by side in a white rope hammock strung between backyard trees.Grandma Lay Down in the Hammock for Five Minutes. She Wasn't Alone for Long.A grandma in a teal folding chair watches the sunset in her backyard while a Golden Retriever sits on the grass beside her.Grandma Set Out Two Chairs for the Sunset. Only One of Them Got Used.A grandma reads a book aloud on a cozy couch while a dark red Golden Retriever lies across her lap, gazing at the pages.Grandma Opened Her Book and Started Reading Out Loud. Somebody Was Listening.A grandma with a silver braid lies in the grass with her head resting against a sleeping red Golden Retriever.The Weeds Could Wait. Ruth Found a Better Pillow in the Backyard.