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An older man in overalls crouches by a pond scattering seed while a blue merle Border Collie sits calmly near the ducks. 7 / 39

A Herding Dog, a Pond Full of Ducks, and Grandpa Earl Holding the Seed

AI imageborder collieduck pondpark

The pond is busy this morning. A whole flotilla of mallards paddles across the still water, green-headed drakes and speckled brown hens drifting closer to shore one by one. Grandpa Earl crouches on the grassy bank, his white hair catching the light, slowly sprinkling seed onto the dirt near the water's edge. Skye sits just a few feet away, right at the shoreline, with her merle coat fluffed and her head tilted toward Earl as if asking whether she is allowed to say hello. Remarkably, she stays put, and the ducks seem to trust her for it.

That self-control is worth celebrating. Border Collies have strong herding instincts, and moving animals like birds can be very tempting. A reliable sit or stay, practiced in calm places first, makes outings like this possible. Keep a leash on in public parks unless you are certain of your dog's recall and the rules allow it. As for the ducks, wildlife experts generally discourage feeding bread, which has little nutritional value for waterfowl. Many parks recommend options such as cracked corn, oats, birdseed, or chopped greens instead, and some ask visitors not to feed wildlife at all, so it is smart to check the posted signs.

Earl appears to have brought the right kind of seed, and Skye appears to have brought her very best manners. The ducks are getting a snack, and nobody is getting chased.

It is a small, peaceful outing, the sort that makes an ordinary day feel a little bit special.

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