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A tan and white mixed-breed dog stands on a gas stove top beside a pan with spices, with kitchen items on the counter. 16 / 32

Dinner Was Almost Ready. The Rescue Mutt Climbed Up to Inspect.

AI imagemixed breed dogcaught in the actkitchen

Standing on top of the stove with all four paws neatly between the burners, a tan and white mutt gazes up at something just beyond the camera. His soft brown eyes are wide and a bit worried, and his ears flop to the sides. A pan sits right beside him with a few spices and bits of minced garlic scattered across the bottom. A sprig of dried herbs, a spoon, and a glass of water sit on the counter behind him in the golden kitchen light. We'll call him Scout, and he was just checking on dinner.

Rescue mutts often come with surprising talents, and counter surfing can be one of them. Dogs are great at noticing which smells lead to snacks, and tall places that smell like food can be hard to resist. Climbing onto a stove is a real hazard, because burners and hot pans can injure a dog. Keeping the stove knobs covered or removed when you aren't cooking, and never leaving food unattended, helps keep curious paws safe. Garlic and onions are not safe for dogs, so keep them out of reach. Teaching a solid cue like off or place gives your dog something better to do.

Scout, of course, has no such plans to be careful. He is standing quietly with the air of a very small chef. Dinner hasn't been served yet, but he'd like to say he has some opinions.

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