Dogs may not use calendars, but they know all about Thanksgiving. When else, in the course of a year, does that unique mélange of culinary scents—prime among them the mouth-wateringly savory smell of a properly basted turkey—fill the air?
Yes, for many Americans, the holiday is incomplete without a few searching, soulful, puppy-dog looks from a furry face wedged between their thighs beneath the dining room table. Below are a few of the best (i.e., most shameless) canine begging displays that social media had to offer. If nothing else, we ought to applaud these mutts’ patience and determination.
It just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without my cousin’s dog, Maximus, begging at the table. ;-) pic.twitter.com/L4KXQojdum
— Hillary G. Anderson (@HgaHillary) November 29, 2013
Successful Thanksgiving complete with a #Lions win and 3 #goldendoodle dogs begging for turkey. pic.twitter.com/0AwWkiJX2E
— Brittany Darga (@MBrittanyDarga) November 29, 2013
Begging at her first thanksgiving dinner with us 🐾 pic.twitter.com/V1S496ZdfQ
— Shelby Thompson (@s_thomp20) November 28, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving! Let the Ringo begging Olympics begin. pic.twitter.com/fM4CsgRYId
— Dave Sims (@Film_playground) November 28, 2013
Happy thanksgiving from the sweetest little baby in the world. Begging for a cinnamon rollup. pic.twitter.com/GJGF3aeFyJ
— Liana Brett Goff (@lianabrett) November 28, 2013
Lucy begging for food. It’s her first Thanksgiving! pic.twitter.com/7ONwwGzzc7
— Morgan McGuire (@Morgan_Bubbles1) November 28, 2013
Thanksgiving isn’t complete without a begging 🐶 pic.twitter.com/hrMpgel4ld
— Pay Hola (@paolamaria96) November 28, 2013
It’s not thanksgiving unless this one is begging. pic.twitter.com/2zJbAdsK0i
— wabby (@abbywentworthx) November 28, 2013
My best buddy Koda begging for some #Thanksgiving food 🐶☺️ pic.twitter.com/hWLUsrD9T7
— VickyLynne (@IAmVickyLynne) November 28, 2013
Wouldn’t be a complete thanksgiving dinner without her begging in my lap the entire time pic.twitter.com/IMMud0YsLq
— Callie Chester (@calliechester) November 28, 2013
As a bonus entry, here’s a photo of my parents’ majestic golden retriever, Harper, gazing longingly at our carved-up bird. (Full disclosure: I definitely snuck her some pieces of meat when nobody was looking. Thanksgiving is about generosity, let’s not forget.)
Photo by DESSART///Flickr