Australian Shepherd With Miniature Pumpkin (Cucurbita Pepo) In Northport Alabama Royalty-Free Stock Photo

Cowboy, an eight-month-old Australian Shepherd dog, plays with a miniature pumpkin, Oct. 30, 2008, in Northport, Alabama. Miniature pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) are not actually pumpkins but are instead a type of gourd. Pumpkin is a safe and nutritious food for dogs, but make sure that decorative gourds have not been treated with shellac or some other coating that could be toxic to your pet.