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A black and tan German Shepherd sits among scattered open paperbacks beside a toppled bookshelf in a bright room. 12 / 27

The Bookshelf Fell, and a German Shepherd Sat in the Middle of It

AI imagegerman shepherdcaught in the actbookshelf

The bookshelf has tipped over, and books are fanned out across the floor like a deck of cards. In the middle of the mess sits a black and tan German Shepherd with large brown eyes and a guilty, tilted head. Open paperbacks lie in every direction, their pages bent and splayed, and a sofa sits at one edge of the room. His posture is straight and proud, but his soft eyes ask for mercy.

German Shepherds are confident, trainable, and deeply loyal, and they like to stay close to their people. They are also big dogs with strong bodies, and a bump of a tail or a leap after a ball can bring furniture down. Anchoring tall bookshelves to the wall is a simple way to protect dogs, children, and the shelves themselves. Put heavier books low and keep a clear space around shelves. A Shepherd also needs plenty of exercise and mental challenges, so daily walks, training games, and fetch help prevent boredom. If a dog is startled or hurt by falling furniture, check him gently for limping or pain and call your vet if you are worried. Pages and covers are not good to swallow either, so pick them up quickly.

He looks sorry, and a little stunned, and entirely too dignified to be sitting in a pile of paperbacks. Somebody has a lot of shelving ahead.

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