Browse ›
A black and white shaggy dog leans down to sniff a plate of chocolate chip cookies on a kitchen counter with garland. 20 / 22

A Shaggy Dog Found the Cookies Meant for Santa and Leaned In

AI imagehavanesechristmascookies

The plate of cookies is set out for Santa, and a black and white shaggy dog has found it first. He leans toward the plate with his eyes half-closed and his nose inches from the stack of chocolate chip cookies, his fluffy ears hanging on either side. The kitchen behind him is decked with greenery, small oranges, and soft lights, and everything is quiet and still.

Cookies are a danger for dogs, mostly because of what's inside them. Chocolate is toxic, raisins and grapes can cause kidney problems, and sugar-free baked goods may contain xylitol. Even plain cookies are high in fat and sugar and can upset a stomach. The simplest answer is to keep the plate on a high shelf, or inside a closed cabinet, until morning. If your dog does eat some, call your vet right away.

Many dogs have excellent noses, and they can smell a cookie from across the house. This one is leaning in with a gentle, hopeful look, his whiskers twitching and his face full of wonder. A dog treat saved for Christmas morning is a better choice for a dog like this, and he'll be happy with it. For now, he's holding steady and enjoying the smell, which is a pretty good Christmas gift in itself. His tail wags just a little, and the cookie smell drifts around the kitchen. Santa will have to wait a bit, because this dog is enjoying the moment.

More from this collection

All 22 →
A lemon and white Basset Hound wearing a red and white reindeer-patterned sweater sits on a soft chair in front of a tree.A Basset Hound in a Reindeer Sweater Gave the Camera His Softest LookA harlequin Great Dane sits beside a frosty window with a wreath hanging on the glass in a warmly lit room.A Harlequin Great Dane Watched the Frost Grow on the Window
A tricolor Bernese Mountain Dog with its head poking out of a red and white knitted Christmas stocking in a living room.The Stocking Was Meant for Presents, but the Bernese Moved InA brindle and white Boston Terrier sits in a living room watching a mother and little girl open presents behind him.A Boston Terrier Took the Front Row Seat for Christmas MorningA red and white Siberian Husky chews a bright red ribbon spilling out of a cardboard gift box by the Christmas tree.A Husky Got Into the Gift Box and Came Out With the RibbonA red and white Saint Bernard lies asleep on the carpet in front of three striped stockings hanging from a mantel.Three Stockings Hung Above and One Giant Dog Slept Below