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An elderly man in a green sweater vest plants tomato seedlings as a red and white husky digs a hole in the soil beside him. 5 / 32

Grandpa Kenji Dug One Small Hole for a Tomato. Maple Decided to Help.

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Dirt is flying, and not all of it is Grandpa Kenji's doing. Crouched in the garden in his olive sweater vest and plaid shirt, he tucks a young tomato seedling into the soil with careful, practiced fingers. Right beside him, Maple has decided to help in the most enthusiastic way possible: both front paws are churning out a hole of her own, sending crumbs of earth across the bed. A trowel and gloves lie forgotten nearby, terracotta pots wait their turn, and a watering can sits by the fence in the late golden light.

Digging is one of the most natural husky habits there is. In cold climates, their ancestors dug into snow to make sheltered beds, and many modern huskies still love to burrow, cool off in fresh dirt, or simply dig for the fun of it. Scolding rarely fixes it. What works better is giving the urge a proper outlet, such as a designated digging corner or sandbox where you bury a toy for your dog to find, plus plenty of daily exercise so boredom isn't driving the behavior. It's also worth knowing that tomato plants' leaves and stems are not good for dogs to chew, so keep an eye on a curious pup in the vegetable patch, and check that any fertilizers or soil products you use are pet safe.

Gardening with a dog takes a little patience and a sense of humor. Some seedlings may need replanting, and some holes may appear where nobody asked for them.

Still, Grandpa Kenji is smiling. A row of tomatoes and one very proud husky with muddy paws sounds like a pretty good afternoon's work.

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