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An older man in an argyle sweater vest leans toward a red merle Aussie beside a record player and shelf of albums. 7 / 32

Grandpa Put On His Favorite Old Record. His Aussie Had Thoughts About It.

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A record turns slowly on the turntable, its yellow label spinning, while a shelf below bulges with well-worn album sleeves. Kenji, in a green argyle sweater vest and glasses, leans forward from his seat with a soft, crinkly smile, as if he is telling Maple the story behind this particular song. Maple sits upright on the patterned rug, head lifted toward him, her speckled ears relaxed and her expression one of total attention. Around them the living room glows: a lamp in the corner, potted plants by the window, a coffee mug, a plaid throw on the couch, and a spare pair of reading glasses left on the cushion.

Many owners notice that their dogs seem to settle when soft music plays, and it is a common tip to leave calm music on for a dog who gets anxious when left alone. Dogs hear a wider range of sounds than people do and can be sensitive to loud volumes, so gentle background music at a modest level is the friendliest choice. Every dog is different, though. Some snooze through anything, while others perk up at certain instruments or voices. Watch your dog's body language: loose ears, a relaxed mouth, and slow blinks are good signs, while pacing, panting, or leaving the room suggest the volume or the song is not working for them.

Whether Maple prefers jazz, old ballads, or simply the sound of Kenji humming along, she has clearly found her favorite seat in the house. It happens to be right next to him.

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An older man in a navy sweater vest tucks a beige blanket around a red merle Aussie lying in a round gray dog bed.Every Night, Kenji Has One Last Job Before Lights OutA red merle Aussie sits in the passenger seat of an old truck while an older man in a brown sweater holds the wheel.Kenji Said It Was Just a Quick Trip to Town. Maple Treated It Like a Parade.
An older man in a brown cardigan cooks a pancake in a skillet while a red merle Australian Shepherd sits and watches.The First Pancake Always Goes to the Cook. Maple Has Other Plans for It.An older man in a green sweater vest paints at a wooden easel in a backyard as a red merle Aussie lies on the grass.Kenji Set Up His Easel to Paint the Garden. His Real Subject Was Lying in the Grass.An older man in an argyle sweater vest reads a book aloud on a couch while a red merle Australian Shepherd looks up at him.Kenji Started Reading Out Loud. By Chapter Two He Had an Audience of One.An older man in a tan argyle sweater vest reads a newspaper on a sofa while a red merle Aussie sleeps on his lap.Kenji Sat Down With the Morning Paper. He Hasn't Been Able to Get Up Since.