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A golden Retriever sits looking up with his nose touching a red glass ornament on a low branch of a lit Christmas tree. 6 / 25

Sunny Looked Up at the Lowest Ornament and Leaned In

AI imagegolden retrieverornamentchristmas tree

Sitting tall with his head tipped back, the golden Retriever stretches his nose toward a shiny red and gold ornament on the lowest branch. His mouth is slightly open, and he looks fascinated and a bit guilty at the same time. Sunlight spills into the room from the left, lighting up his feathery coat and the little white lights that wind through the tree's green needles. Behind him, a few pairs of shoes sit by the sofa and a basket of blankets rests in the corner of a warm, ordinary room.

Low-hanging ornaments are a common target for curious dogs, and glass ones are the riskiest. Broken glass can cut a mouth or paws, and swallowed fragments can be serious. Many families hang breakable ornaments higher up and use unbreakable ones on the bottom branches. Also watch for tree water, which can contain additives or bacteria, and cover the base so your dog can't drink from it.

Golden Retrievers are famous for carrying things in their mouths, a trait that came from retrieving game for hunters. That's why a Golden may see an ornament as a perfect retrieve. Giving him plenty of toys he's allowed to carry and teaching him a reliable leave it cue will protect both the dog and the decorations. Practicing in short, fun sessions and rewarding him each time he backs away will turn the tree into a boring thing.

Let's call him Sunny. He insists he was only admiring it, and that his nose happened to land there by coincidence.

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