A Bichon Puppy Vanished Into the Pumpkin Patch, Almost

Surrounded by large, round pumpkins in every shade of orange, a white Bichon Frise puppy sits smiling in the middle of the patch. The puppy looks like a cotton ball that has rolled in among the harvest, bright and fluffy against the dirt and dry vines. Leaves and straw lie scattered around, and the pumpkins stretch behind in every direction, making this one small white dog the easiest thing to spot in the whole field.

A pumpkin patch is a wonderful outing for a puppy, with a few common-sense precautions. Pick a time when the ground isn't too hot or too muddy, bring water, and keep the dog on a leash near other visitors. Dirt, straw and leaves can hide thorns and burrs, so a quick check of the paws and coat afterward is a good habit. Some patches use fertilizers or sprays, so it's wise to discourage your puppy from chewing on vines or eating anything off the ground.

Bichon Frises are cheerful, sociable little dogs with a plush white coat that needs regular brushing and trims. They tend to enjoy company and often do well with children and other pets when properly introduced. That curly coat shows every speck of dirt, so a pumpkin patch visit usually ends with a bath, but most Bichons seem to think it was worth it.

This one certainly looks like it was. The open mouth and bright eyes say that, to a puppy, a whole field of pumpkins is simply the best playground ever invented.