The Science Behind Why Dogs and Humans Can’t Resist Leaf Piles
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without the financial means to care for their needs would struggle the most. If the above charities did not exist, millions, if not billions, of people’s lives would be drastically affected in the worst way. Now, imagine what the world would look like if none of the 1.7 million charitable organizations found in America were never created. That’s a reality none of us would like to come to fruition. This year, as we sit around the dinner table, preparing to enjoy our Thanksgiving feast, let’s not focus solely on what we’ve received this year but rather how to give back to our community. I believe that doing so will give us a greater appreciation for all the blessings in our lives.
Whether it’s your boisterous toddler or rowdy pup, a perfect pile of autumn leaves might be too good to resist! You probably remember the days
Happy Thanksgiving!
– John Preston
when you also jumped into a crunchy orange leaf pile without a second thought. But why do humans and dogs love jumping into huge piles of leaves? The main (and most obvious answer) is because it’s fun! For kids, dogs, and even some adults, jumping and rolling around in the fall leaves is a
Butternut Squash Risotto Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com
satisfying form of play that releases energy. While this may be the simple
reason for humans, there are a few more reasons your canine companion can’t resist a tower of leaves.
Instinct to Dig Digging is a dog’s favorite pastime that dates back to their wolf ancestors. Just as natural as sniffing and barking, digging is an ingrained behavior for dogs, and they want to follow their instincts the moment they see a leaf pile. Whether they’re digging in to rest in the cool leaves or demolishing the pile entirely, your dog is just doing what dogs have always done. Irresistible Seasonal Scents Our sense of smell doesn’t even come close to dogs’ incredible scent skills. While we have 5 million scent receptors, dogs have anywhere between 125–300 million! This means they can smell countless other scents we can’t, and autumn may bring some exciting aromas your dog hasn’t experienced in a while. The result? They’ll dive right into a leaf pile and get sniffing! Marking Territory Another scent factor could be your dog wanting to claim a particular leaf pile. We already know dogs use their scents to mark territory, and rolling in a beloved pile of leaves is a way to infuse their scent. After diving head first into some leaves, they leave their scent behind so other animals can smell them and know that the leaf pile has already been claimed!
Ingredients
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2 cups butternut squash, cubed 4 tbsp olive oil, divided
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1/4 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp nutmeg
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5 cups veggie or chicken stock 2 to 3 handfuls spinach 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
2 cups sliced leeks
4 garlic cloves, chopped
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8 sage leaves
1 cup Arborio rice
1/2 tsp salt
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. On a parchment-lined sheet pan, toss squash with 2 tbsp olive oil. Roast until tender (30 minutes) and set aside. 2. In a Dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat and add leeks. Sauté until tender, then add garlic and sage. Sauté for 2 more minutes. 3. Add rice and sauté for 1 minute, stirring. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add 1–2 cups of stock to cover the rice and bring to a simmer. Cook until the liquid is absorbed. Continue to add broth 1 cup at a time, stirring occasionally until rice is plump (20 minutes). Stir in spinach, roasted squash, and Parmesan cheese.
Whatever the case, jumping into a pile of leaves is completely normal — and fun! — for both humans and dogs.
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