A Red-Gold Retriever Stood at the Stove Like a Tiny Chef
A glossy red-gold Retriever stands with her front paws planted on the stove top, right beside a steel pan, and her soft brown eyes look straight into the camera with a tiny, hopeful smile. Her feathery fur gleams under the kitchen lights, and the countertops behind her are covered with bowls, a cutting board, a roll of paper towels, and a basket of eggs. The scene feels like the middle of dinner preparations.
Standing at the stove is risky for a dog, because burners can be hot and a bumped pan can cause burns or spills. Dogs are drawn to the smells of cooking, and a tall retriever can easily reach a counter. Keep pans handles turned inward, turn the burners off when you step away, and teach a reliable place command so the dog waits on a mat during meal prep. If your dog has been burned, call your vet immediately.
She seems confident that the smell of dinner is a perfectly good reason for being there. Her smile says that she is only helping, and her wagging tail probably agrees. Supervision is a lovely job, and she has taken it very seriously. Dinner will arrive, with a small dog biscuit placed for a very special taster. A mat by the stove, and perhaps a chew toy on it, would give her a better place to supervise.
