Two Pans, Two Pancakes, and One Very Patient Great Dane by the Stove
Two pans are sizzling on the old gas stove, each holding a golden pancake. Bev, sleeves pushed up and glasses perched on her nose, slides a blue spatula under one while Harold leans in with a fork to check the other, both of them smiling as they work side by side. Just to their right, Duke sits on the kitchen floor with perfect posture, front paws together and big brown eyes fixed on the stove. His fawn face is tilted slightly, the very picture of a dog who has learned that patience pays off. Dish towels hang from the oven door, and a bowl of fruit sits on the counter.
That polite sit is exactly the kind of behavior worth rewarding. With a dog tall enough to reach a stovetop, teaching him to wait at a distance is an important safety habit. Hot pans, grease, and open flames are real hazards for a curious giant breed. Practice by asking for a sit or down on a mat a few feet from the stove, and reward calm waiting with a small treat. As for breakfast, a small piece of plain pancake is unlikely to harm most dogs, but syrup, butter, and chocolate chips are best avoided. Treats should make up only a small portion of a dog's daily food.
Duke may get a corner of a plain pancake once breakfast is done, and judging by his posture, he has earned it. Good manners are always worth a little reward.
