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An older man in overalls dozes in a brown recliner while a blue merle Border Collie rests its head on the armrest beside him. 5 / 39

Grandpa Earl Said He Was Just Resting His Eyes. Skye Had Already Climbed Aboard.

AI imageborder collienap timeliving room

The television is still on, technically, but nobody here is watching it. Grandpa Earl has sunk deep into a well-loved brown recliner, head tipped back, mouth slightly open, hands folded over the bib of his denim overalls. Around him the living room is pleasantly cluttered: stacks of books and magazines, a basket of folded laundry, a mug on the side table, and a row of framed pictures on the wall. Skye has squeezed herself up onto the chair beside him, front paw dangling over the edge and her chin resting on the plush armrest, her eyes drooping into that heavy, almost-asleep look.

Sharing furniture with a dog is a personal choice, and plenty of families happily allow it. If you do, a washable cover saves a lot of fur cleanup, and it helps to teach a simple cue like "off" so you can reclaim the seat when needed. For older dogs or older owners, watch out for tumbles; climbing up and jumping down can be hard on joints, so a ramp or step can help. And if a dog starts guarding a favorite chair from family members, that is worth working on with a trainer rather than ignoring.

None of that seems to be an issue for Skye, who looks less like she is guarding the recliner and more like she has simply melted into it. Border Collies are known for their work ethic, but even working dogs know a good nap when they find one.

Whatever show was playing, it was apparently very relaxing.

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An older man kneels hammering a wooden fence at sunset while a blue merle Border Collie sits by him holding a stick.Grandpa Earl Needed Help Fixing the Fence. Skye Showed Up With Her Own Tool.An older man in overalls crouches by a pond scattering seed while a blue merle Border Collie sits calmly near the ducks.A Herding Dog, a Pond Full of Ducks, and Grandpa Earl Holding the Seed
An older man in overalls sits on a backyard bench holding a sandwich while a blue merle Border Collie sniffs it hopefully.Grandpa Earl Sat Down With a Turkey Sandwich. Skye's Nose Was There in Seconds.An older man in a knit cap picks apples into a basket while a blue merle Border Collie sniffs fallen apples on the grass.Grandpa Earl Handled the High Branches. Skye Took Charge of Everything on the Ground.A smiling older man holds a big bowl of popcorn on the couch while a blue merle Border Collie sniffs the bowl.Movie Night Started Fine. Then Skye Found the Popcorn Bowl.An older man kneels in a mudroom wrapping a damp blue merle Border Collie in a cream cable-knit blanket, rain outside.Skye Came Back From the Walk Soaked to the Bone. Grandpa Earl Was Ready.