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A white-haired woman in a green vest and plaid shirt smiles at a white Bichon Frise in a pumpkin patch full of orange gourds. 23 / 39

Grandma Went to Pick the Perfect Pumpkin. Cotton Seemed to Have Already Chosen.

AI imagebichon frisepumpkin patchautumn

Autumn has painted the garden orange. Ruth walks between rows of drying vines and plump pumpkins in her green quilted vest and red plaid shirt, her silver hair tied back loosely. She has paused to grin down at Cotton, who has stopped right in front of her with his mouth open in a happy pant, looking like he is rather proud of the harvest. Dried cornstalks rise behind them, and pumpkins of all sizes are scattered across the soil, from small round ones to big ribbed giants.

A pumpkin patch is a fun fall outing for dogs, and pumpkin itself has a good reputation among pet owners. Plain, cooked pumpkin or plain canned pumpkin without added sugar or spices is commonly offered to dogs in small amounts. Pumpkin pie filling is a different story, since it contains sugar and spices that are not a good idea for pets. Raw pumpkin, stems, and rinds are tough to digest, and carved pumpkins that sit out can grow mold, which should never be eaten. When visiting a farm, keep your dog on a leash, watch for farm animals, and check paws for burrs and thorns afterward. If you are unsure about adding any food, ask your vet.

Whether they head home with a pumpkin for the porch or just a pocketful of good memories, it is clear this little outing was a success. Fall is simply better with a fluffy sidekick.

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An older woman in glasses works on a jigsaw puzzle at a kitchen table while a white Bichon Frise watches from a wooden chair.Grandma Ruth Was Stuck on the Puzzle. Her Bichon Pulled Up a Chair to Help.A white-haired woman in a green vest sits in a wooden rocking chair while a white Bichon Frise sleeps on a rug at her feet.The Rocking Chair Started to Creak. Cotton Already Knew What That Meant.
An older woman in a green vest moves a checker on a wooden board while a white Bichon Frise rests its chin on the table.Grandma Was About to Make Her Winning Move at Checkers. Then She Saw That Face.A gray-haired woman in a green quilted vest holds a white Bichon Frise up to a window looking out at a snowy yard.It Snowed Overnight. Grandma Ruth Lifted Cotton Up to the Window to See.A smiling white-haired woman in glasses holds a sandwich on a wooden bench while a white Bichon Frise sits beside her.Grandma Ruth Packed One Sandwich for the Bench. She Should Have Packed Two.A white-haired woman in a green quilted vest kneels on a patterned rug holding the raised paw of a white Bichon Frise.Grandma Ruth Spent All Week Teaching Cotton a New Trick. Today Was the Test.