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An older man in overalls naps on the grass while a blue merle Border Collie sleeps stretched out beside him. 26 / 39

Grandpa Earl Lay Down on the Grass for Just a Minute. Skye Had the Same Idea.

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The grass was soft, the sun was warm, and apparently that was all it took. Grandpa Earl is sound asleep on the lawn, curled on his side with his head resting on his own bent arm, his plaid shirt rumpled and his denim knees pulled up. Pressed right against him, Skye has stretched out along the ground with her chin on the grass and her eyes closed, her merle coat a tangle of silver, black, and white. A wooden fence, a few potted plants, and a patch of clover make up the rest of the scene, and nothing at all seems to be happening, which is exactly how it should be.

Dogs sleep a lot more than people, often spending a large portion of the day resting or dozing, with puppies and seniors sleeping the most. Even high-energy breeds like Border Collies need plenty of downtime to recharge, especially after exercise or mental work. Many dogs prefer to sleep touching their people, which is thought to relate to their social nature and the comfort of being close to their group. When napping outside, make sure a dog has access to shade and fresh water, since lying in direct sun for too long can lead to overheating, particularly for thick-coated dogs on hot days.

Here it looks like a mild afternoon, and neither of them is in any danger of waking soon. The chores can wait. So can the mail, the dishes, and pretty much everything else.

Sometimes the most important thing on the to-do list is simply a nap, side by side.

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An older man sits on a wooden bench on a beach boardwalk as a blue merle Border Collie stretches up to sniff his face.Grandpa Earl Sat Down on the Boardwalk to Rest. Skye Had Something to Check First.An older man in overalls reads aloud from an open book on a couch while a blue merle Border Collie listens with head tilted.Grandpa Earl Opened His Book and Started Reading Out Loud. Skye Tilted Her Head.
An older man knits on a couch while a grinning blue merle Border Collie sits tangled in loops of light blue yarn.Grandpa Earl Took Up Knitting. Skye Took Up the Blue Yarn.An older man in overalls sips lemonade on a shady wooden porch while a blue merle Border Collie sits beside his chair.Too Hot for Chores, So Grandpa Earl Poured a Lemonade. Skye Took Up Her Post.An older man in a cap sprays an old car with a hose while a wet, grinning blue merle Border Collie stands in the driveway.Grandpa Earl Only Meant to Wash the Car. Skye Turned It Into Something Else.An older man has tea and a biscuit at a lace-covered table while a blue merle Border Collie rests a paw on the table.Grandpa Earl Brought Out the Good Lace Tablecloth. His Tea Guest Had Four Legs.