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Laughing Black grandpa in a mustard cardigan holds out a tennis ball to an eager black Labrador in a backyard. 9 / 33

Grandpa Walter Picked Up the Tennis Ball, and Duke's Face Changed Instantly

AI imagelabrador retrieverfetchbackyard

The backyard is pleasantly untidy: clay pots of herbs, a blue watering can, garden gloves tossed on the grass, a basket of kindling, and a weathered fence wrapped around it all. In the middle of it, Grandpa Walter leans forward in a mustard-colored ribbed cardigan, laughing out loud, a bright yellow-green tennis ball held right out toward the camera. Beside him, Duke is practically vibrating. The black Lab's mouth is wide open in a huge, happy grin, tongue pink, eyes fixed on the ball, every muscle ready for the throw. It is the kind of joy that only a Lab and a tennis ball can produce together.

Labrador Retrievers are high-energy sporting dogs, and most need a good amount of daily exercise to stay fit and well behaved. Fetch is perfect for them, since it taps directly into their retrieving instincts. A small but useful tip: the fuzzy felt on regular tennis balls can be abrasive, and dogs that chew on them constantly may wear down their teeth over time, so many owners save tennis balls for fetch only and offer sturdy rubber balls for chewing. Mixing fetch with walks, swimming, and training games keeps exercise varied. Ending play sessions with a calm cooldown and fresh water helps an excited Lab settle afterward.

Walter's arm may get tired long before Duke does, but neither of them seems to care. The game will go on until the sun goes down or the ball disappears under the porch, whichever comes first.

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