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A gold and white Shih Tzu leans over a plate of chocolate chip cookies on a kitchen counter. 13 / 26

The Shih Tzu Found Santa's Cookies Before Santa Did

AI imageshih tzucookies for santachristmas

The plate of chocolate chip cookies sits on a kitchen counter, and a gold and white Shih Tzu has gotten very close. His fluffy ears hang over the edge, his small black nose touching the nearest cookie, and his eyes look up with a guilty expression that says he knows exactly what he's doing. A few crumbs have already been scattered around, and a Christmas tree glows in the soft-focus room behind him.

Cookies left out for Santa are a delicious temptation, but chocolate is toxic to dogs, and chocolate chip cookies can also include raisins, nuts or sweeteners that are bad for them. Small dogs like Shih Tzus can get sick from a smaller amount than a large dog, so even one cookie is worth taking seriously. Keep cookie plates on a high counter, and don't leave a tray where a determined little dog can reach. Shih Tzus are cheerful, people-loving dogs, but they're clever about food. If a dog eats chocolate, call your vet for advice.

We'll call him Cooper. His face says that the cookies were left there for him, no matter what the note says. A dog-safe biscuit is waiting as a fair trade, and Santa will just have to settle for carrots from now on. One thing is certain: he'll remember this moment far longer than the cookies would have lasted, and so will everyone who sees that guilty little face.

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