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A bearded older man crouches to pick a red apple from a backyard tree while a golden retriever lies among fallen apples. 16 / 22

Grandpa Reached Up for the Best Apple on the Tree. Honey Was Looking Down.

AI imagegolden retrieverapple pickingautumn

String lights are just flickering on along the fence, and the backyard apple tree is heavy with fruit. Gus crouches in the grass and reaches up to twist a shiny red apple off a low branch, his glasses catching the last of the evening light. Honey has found the real treasure, though. She lies stretched out in the fallen leaves with a paw resting near a cluster of windfall apples, gazing at them with the calm confidence of someone who considers them hers already. More apples dot the lawn all the way back to the old wooden fence.

Apples can be a crunchy, healthy snack for dogs in moderation, but how you serve them matters. Slice the fruit and remove the core and seeds first. Apple seeds contain compounds that can release cyanide when chewed, and while a few are unlikely to cause harm, it is best to avoid them. Cores can also be a choking hazard. Fallen fruit brings its own concerns: apples left on the ground can start to ferment and mold, and a dog who gobbles a lot of them may end up with an upset stomach. Raking up windfalls regularly during harvest season keeps the backyard snack bar under control.

Gus will fill his basket from the tree, and Honey will keep watch over the grass. It is a fair division of labor, and when the apple slices come out later, it is easy to guess who will be first in line.

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