Four Cream Chihuahua Puppies Inspected the Vegetable Garden Row by Row

Four cream-colored Chihuahua puppies wander through a vegetable garden, sniffing leafy green lettuce and turned earth. Two stand upright with big ears turned toward us, one sniffs the leaves, and another peeks over a sibling's shoulder. Their pale coats stand out against the dark soil, and a wooden frame and a few scattered leaves surround them. It looks like the first inspection of the season.

A garden is an exciting place for a puppy, but some common garden plants are harmful to dogs, including onions, garlic, grapes and tomato leaves. Fertilizer, compost and slug bait can also be dangerous. Keep tiny puppies away from areas you cannot supervise, and talk to your vet about safe plants. Fresh lettuce is fine in small amounts for most dogs, but it should not replace regular food. Chihuahuas are small, and a day of digging can leave them dirty, so a gentle wipe afterward is a good idea.

Always keep a close watch, since small dogs can slip through gaps. Tiny dogs can be hurt by a fall from a lap or a couch, so keep a hand on a puppy and teach children to sit on the floor. Short, cheerful training sessions with tiny treats suit this breed well, since they are clever and quick to learn what earns a reward.

For now, the four of them explore row by row, and every leaf is worth a sniff.