The Kitchen Was a Disaster Zone Until the Head Chef Showed Up
Every counter is covered, a drawer hangs open, and a red merle Australian Shepherd named Juniper sits right in the middle of the chaos wearing a small cream apron with a front pocket. Her amber-brown eyes look up with calm authority, and her coat of copper, white and gray flecks is slightly fluffed. Bowls of cranberries, potatoes and vegetables line the counter, a pie sits on a shelf, and bright light pours over the sink.
Australian Shepherds are intelligent, energetic herding dogs, and they love having a job. Many like to follow their people around the kitchen as if supervising the cooks. If your dog does the same, give her a mat in a corner of the kitchen where she can watch without being underfoot, and reward her for staying there. Cooking is full of hazards, from hot pans to onions, garlic and chocolate that can make dogs sick, so her spot should be away from the stove and the open drawers. A good walk or a game of fetch before the cooking begins helps use up her energy.
Juniper looks like she has run the kitchen for years. The apron suits her, and her serious face tells everyone that dinner will happen on schedule. If only she had thumbs, she would probably be stirring the gravy herself and telling everyone else where to stand.
