Grandma June Was Stuck on Seven Across. Then a Giant Paw Landed on the Table.

Seven across is giving Grandma June some trouble, and Domino has come to offer his assistance. She sits at the wooden breakfast table in her oatmeal cardigan and glasses, pen poised over a crossword puzzle, deep in thought. The harlequin Great Dane looms beside her, chin hovering at table height, one enormous spotted paw planted firmly on the tabletop right next to the butter dish. His amber eyes are fixed on the puzzle, or possibly on the half-eaten avocado toast. Crumbs, a coffee mug, a pair of spare glasses, and a little bowl of blueberries crowd the table, and a sunny window frames the scene.

Puzzles like crosswords are a pleasant way for many people to keep their minds engaged, and the same idea applies to dogs. Dogs benefit from mental exercise, not just physical activity. Food puzzles, snuffle mats, simple scent games, and short training sessions give a dog something to think about and can help prevent boredom-related behaviors such as chewing or begging. For a giant breed that is calm indoors, this kind of brain work is a great way to fill a rainy morning. Speaking of begging, consistency matters: if a big dog learns that a paw on the table earns a bite of toast, that paw will keep coming back. Teaching him to lie on a mat during meals, and rewarding him there, keeps breakfast peaceful and the butter dish safe.

Domino may not know the answer to seven across, but he is clearly very confident about where the toast is.