Grandpa Hank Went Out to Check His Pumpkins. Pretzel Got There First.
Orange pumpkins peek out from sprawling green vines and dry autumn leaves, and Pretzel has stopped dead center on the dirt path, nose forward, ready to sniff her way through every one. Close behind her, Grandpa Hank ambles along in a knit cap, brown work jacket, suspenders, and rolled-up jeans, scanning the patch with a quiet, satisfied look. The little blue house behind them has a stack of firewood on the porch, rubber boots by the door, and a metal watering can waiting at the edge of the garden. The sky is pale and cool, the kind of overcast that feels just right for October.
Pumpkin patches are a fun fall stroll with a dog. Plain cooked or canned pumpkin, with no spices or sugar, is a treat many dogs enjoy in small amounts. Raw pumpkin stems, leaves, and rinds are tough to digest and best avoided, and moldy or rotting pumpkins should be kept away from curious noses. Watch for sharp vines, garden tools, and fertilizer, and remember that decorative gourds and carved jack-o'-lanterns with candles inside are not safe to nibble or knock over. Talk to your vet before adding pumpkin to your dog's diet regularly.
Every pumpkin patch needs an inspector, and Pretzel takes the job seriously. Hank gets the harvest, she gets a whole garden of new smells, and autumn feels complete.
