Mocha Rested His Chin Beside the Cookies and Waited
A shaggy chocolate-brown Havanese rests his chin right at the edge of a table, with a plate of four chocolate chip cookies only inches from his nose. His dark eyes look up from under his bangs with great innocence. In the background are twinkling garlands, a wrapped present with twine, a green blanket, a water bottle, and a pile of building blocks. Everything about the scene suggests the plate was left out in a hurry.
Cookies and dogs are not a good combination. Chocolate contains theobromine, which dogs process much more slowly than people, and that can make them seriously ill. Raisins and some nuts are also unsafe for dogs. If a dog eats something questionable, the best step is to call your vet or a pet poison hotline right away and have the details ready, such as what, how much, and when. Prevention is easiest, so keep treats high and plates pushed back from the edge.
Havanese are cheerful, clever little dogs, famously good at reading faces, and they usually love an audience. That is exactly why a polite stare like this one can be so effective. We will name him Mocha, in honor of that rich brown coat. He is not grabbing anything, only hoping that gazing at the plate will make it feel guilty. For the moment he is a perfectly well-behaved dog with a very hopeful expression, and the cookies are still safe.
