A Fresh Pie Was Cooling, and an Aussie Puppy Had Eyes Only for It
The pie is cooling on its rack, and a blue merle Australian Shepherd puppy has found a spot on the kitchen floor where he can watch it. His fluffy silver and black coat blends into the shadows, his ear is lifted and his gaze follows the golden pie as if it were a television show. Behind it, a small pumpkin and a folded towel sit on the counter, and gold afternoon light pours in through the window.
Fresh pies are a classic Thanksgiving temptation. Pumpkin pie typically includes sugar, spices like nutmeg and sometimes other ingredients that are not good for dogs, and nutmeg in large amounts can be toxic. A counter-surfing puppy could also burn his mouth on a hot dish. Keep pies in the center of the counter, well away from the edge, and close the kitchen with a baby gate while they cool. Aussies are clever, quick learners and can figure out how to reach things, so a tidy kitchen helps a lot. If a dog does eat part of a pie, call your vet and share the ingredients.
The pie is safe for now, and the puppy is doing his best to be patient. A watcher with that much determination might make a good pie inspector one day, as long as he stays on the floor.
