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An older man kneels in a garden bed pressing soil around a tomato seedling while a white Poodle digs in the dirt beside him. 13 / 33

Earl Was Carefully Planting Tomatoes. Pearl Decided the Garden Needed One More Hole.

AI imagepoodlegardeningtomatoes

Evening is settling over the garden, and Earl is down on his knees in the soft dark soil, pressing earth firmly around a young tomato seedling. His glasses have slipped down his nose and his hands are caked with dirt. Right beside him, Pearl has decided to help in her own way, front paws deep in a fresh hole, nose pointed straight down at her work. Her white legs are already turning brown. A trowel lies nearby, more seedlings wait in a row, and a warm porch light glows in the background as the yard grows dim.

Digging is a completely natural dog behavior. Dogs may dig out of boredom, to cool off, to bury something, or simply because the soil smells interesting, and freshly turned earth is especially tempting. One gentle fix is to give a dog its own digging spot, like a sandbox or a corner of the yard, and reward them for using it. Gardeners with dogs should also know that tomato plants are worth some caution. The green parts of the plant, including leaves, stems, and unripe green tomatoes, contain compounds that can upset a dog's stomach if eaten in quantity. Ripe red tomato flesh is generally considered less of a concern in small amounts. Fertilizers, bone meal, and slug bait can also be dangerous, so store them securely and ask your vet if your dog gets into anything.

Earl may have to replant a seedling or two, but he does not look bothered. Some gardeners have helpers who carry the watering can. His just happens to bring her own shovel.

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