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A blue merle Australian Shepherd puppy leans over a kitchen counter to sniff a plate of chocolate chip cookies. 1 / 26

Misty Spotted the Santa Cookies and Went Straight for Them

AI imageaustralian shepherdcookies for santapuppy

Front paws planted on the counter and nose hovering just above the plate, the blue merle Australian Shepherd puppy investigates a stack of chocolate chip cookies with enormous concentration. His marbled grey coat, white blaze, and copper-tan eyebrows give him an inquisitive look, and crumbs are scattered across the counter. A kitchen with a sprig of pine and a rolled grey dish towel makes up the background.

Cookies left out on Christmas Eve are a puppy's dream, but they can be a problem. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and many cookies also contain raisins, nuts, or artificial sweeteners that are unsafe. Keep treats well back from the counter edge, or place the plate somewhere your puppy can't reach. If your puppy swallows a cookie, call your vet or an animal poison hotline and tell them what and how much he ate.

Australian Shepherds are bright, energetic herding dogs, and a puppy of this breed is often a counter surfer in training. They love learning, so teach leave it and a solid sit while the cookies are out. Rewarding him for four paws on the floor makes the right choice more exciting than the cookie. Puppy-safe treats, made just for dogs, are a friendly substitute.

We'll call him Misty. He swears he was only helping Santa count the cookies, and so far nobody has been able to prove otherwise.

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