Grandpa Ken Dropped the Tailgate at the Edge of the Field and Sat Down. Mochi Climbed Up.
The tailgate of a well-used pickup is down, and Grandpa Ken has made it his bench at the edge of a wide, grassy field. He wears a moss-green cable sweater over a blue shirt, glasses perched on his nose, and his face is creased in a broad, delighted smile. Mochi has scrambled up beside him, front paws braced on the truck bed and back legs still stretched toward the grass, and Ken is gently scratching under her fuzzy chin. Her eyes are half closed in bliss, her navy collar peeking from her silver fur. Behind them, a white farmhouse with a porch sits quietly, and the long grass sways under a soft, overcast sky.
Fields and open lots are wonderful for sniffing, but tall, dry grasses come with a hidden hazard. Grass seeds with barbed tips, often called foxtails or grass awns, can work their way into a dog's ears, nose, paws, eyes, or coat, and long-haired small breeds like Yorkies can collect them easily. Checking your dog after walks in grassy areas, especially between the toes and inside the ears, is a smart routine. Sudden head shaking, sneezing, or licking a paw intensely can be signs that something is lodged, and that is a reason to call your vet. Truck beds are also not a safe place for dogs to ride, so tailgate time is best enjoyed parked.
Right now, though, Mochi has only one thing on her mind, and it is that perfect chin scratch. Ken seems happy to keep it going until the sun sets over the field.
