Browse ›
A scruffy gray puppy sits on a woven rug among presents wrapped in brown paper and twine near a Christmas tree. 7 / 21

A Scruffy Pup Sat in the Middle of the Presents and Thought It Over

AI imagerescue puppychristmas presentschristmas tree

With whiskery eyebrows and a shaggy gray coat, a scruffy rescue puppy sits on a woven rug among a pile of brown-paper presents. The gifts are tied with twine and tucked with sprigs of pine, and the tree above glows with tiny lights and pinecones. The puppy's dark eyes look slightly to the side, and its head tilts as if it is considering the packages. Warm light slants across the wood floor behind.

Rescue puppies of mixed breeds often have a charming, one-of-a-kind look. Their size and temperament can be hard to predict, but with patience, consistent routines, and gentle training, many become wonderful companions. If a puppy is new to a house at the holidays, give it a quiet space to retreat to, because visitors, music, and decorations can be a lot. Wrapped presents should be watched too, since some gifts such as food, candles, or small items can be unsafe for a curious pup to chew.

We will call this thoughtful sitter Moss. He does not look like a troublemaker, just a puppy trying to work out what all of these boxes are doing here. It may take a few minutes before curiosity wins, but for now he is the picture of politeness. It is a quiet holiday scene with a very good dog at the center. Even the twine on the packages seems to match his scruffy charm.

More from this collection

All 21 →
An apricot Poodle puppy sits on a wooden table next to a small gingerbread house with white icing and candy.A Gingerbread House Sat on the Table, and a Poodle Puppy Stood GuardA chestnut-red Cavalier puppy lies at a window watching snow fall over a neighborhood, with wreaths hanging in the glass.Snow Was Falling Outside, and a Cavalier Puppy Couldn't Look Away
A tricolor Basset Hound puppy rests its paws on the edge of a cardboard box lined with striped paper and a red bow.The Box Had a Bow on It, and the Basset Hound Puppy Fit PerfectlyA fluffy black Newfoundland puppy lies on a blanket draped with glowing string lights in a dim living room.A Newfoundland Puppy Became the Fluffiest Decoration in the Living RoomA red-gold Shiba Inu puppy holds a candy cane in its mouth in a sunny living room with a small tree behind.A Shiba Inu Puppy Marched Across the Room With His New TreasureA dapple Dachshund puppy stands on its hind legs and mouths a shiny red ornament on the lowest tree branch.The Lowest Ornament on the Tree Didn't Stay There Long Once Pickle Arrived