A Cream Shiba Inu Got to the Santa Cookies Before Santa Did
Leaning over a plate of cookies, a cream Shiba Inu sniffs with a very serious expression. The plate holds chocolate chip and sugar cookies, with a few crumbs spilled on the wooden floor, and the dog's curled tail and cream coat glow in the morning light. A couch with blankets, a plaid throw and a small toy lie in the background, and part of a tree is just visible.
Cookies left out for Santa are a holiday tradition, but they are not meant for dogs. Chocolate chip cookies are especially risky, since chocolate is toxic to dogs. Cookies may also contain raisins, nuts or sweeteners that are harmful. If your dog eats cookies, call your vet or an animal poison hotline, and tell them what was in them. The safest plan is to put the plate on a high shelf.
Shiba Inus are clever, independent dogs, and many are skilled at finding hidden snacks. Their strong sense of smell and quick reflexes mean that low tables are not safe. A dog-safe treat or a chew toy can be a good distraction, and training the dog to leave food alone is a useful skill all year round.
For now, the dog is just sniffing, and we hope it stays that way. Santa's cookies deserve a fair chance. Maybe a dog-safe biscuit can be left out for him too, as a fair trade.
