Browse ›
A brindle Boxer in a blue collar rests his chin near a kitchen table covered with pumpkin seeds, pulp and a carved pumpkin. 6 / 24

The Carving Table Was a Disaster, and the Boxer Had Opinions

AI imageboxerpumpkin carvinghalloween

The kitchen table has seen better days. Pumpkin seeds, orange strings, and chunks of flesh cover every inch, a big spoon rests in the middle, and a freshly carved jack-o'-lantern grins from the far side. Right at table level, a brindle Boxer in a navy collar stares at the scene with soulful brown eyes, his wrinkled brow and dropped jowls full of longing. Behind him, a blue tote bag, a pile of Halloween props in a plastic bag, and a rumpled jacket add to the happy chaos. Let's call him Tiger. He hasn't touched a thing, and he'd like that known.

Boxers are bright, bouncy dogs that love being involved in whatever the family is doing, and a messy kitchen project is irresistible. They're usually friendly and a bit goofy, and they need lots of exercise and good training to settle down. Because they love people so much, they do best when included in activities and given a job, even a simple one like waiting on a mat while the family works.

For a pumpkin carving night, teach your dog a settle on his bed or mat in the corner, and reward him generously. Plain raw pumpkin is generally safe in small amounts, but a pile of seeds, stringy pulp, and any salted or seasoned roasted seeds can upset his stomach. Carving knives and sharp tools should always be kept out of reach, and the table cleaned up quickly. Candles in a carved pumpkin are a risk with an exuberant dog, so consider battery lights instead.

Tiger sits patiently, giving the table the longest look of his life. The reward for good behavior is a dog biscuit after cleanup.

More from this collection

All 24 →
A red and white Saint Bernard wears a golden fuzzy lion mane costume in a backyard with fallen leaves and pumpkins.A Saint Bernard in a Lion Mane Patrolled the Backyard GentlyA tricolor Bernese Mountain Dog wrapped in an orange knit blanket sits in a kitchen near a pumpkin pie on the counter.A Bernese Wrapped in an Orange Blanket Kept One Eye on the Pie
A fawn Great Dane stands in a living room covered with strands of stretchy white spiderweb decoration and plastic spiders.A Great Dane Walked Right Into the Spiderweb DecorationsA white Bichon Frise sits on a couch draped in a white sheet like a ghost, with pumpkins and a green blanket behind.A Bichon Frise Wore a Bedsheet and Looked Like the Cutest GhostA red and white Saint Bernard sits in a doorway under a string of orange paper pumpkins, black bats and pennants.A Saint Bernard Waited in the Doorway Beneath Paper Bats and PumpkinsA Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel wears a green hooded dinosaur costume with spikes on a sidewalk at dusk.A Cavalier Spaniel Dressed as a Dinosaur Stood Bravely on the Sidewalk