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An elderly couple on a gray couch read a book aloud while a lemon and white Basset Hound sits between them listening. 2 / 21

Bea Started Reading Aloud on the Couch, and Waffles Leaned In for Every Word

AI imagebasset houndreading aloudliving room couch

The book is open, Bea's finger is resting on the page, and the audience is listening closely. Harold and Bea have settled onto the gray couch, Harold in a green flannel shirt and glasses, Bea in a cream cardigan with her reading glasses perched on her nose and her hair swept up in a bun. Between them, Waffles sits upright with his front paws planted on the cushion, his long silky ears draped down his chest. He gazes toward the book with big, soulful eyes and a slightly wrinkled brow, the picture of a hound who wants to know how this chapter ends. A cluttered side table, a basket, and a potted plant fill the cozy room behind.

Reading aloud to a dog might sound silly, but many people find it relaxing, and dogs often enjoy the calm voice and close attention. Some libraries and schools even run programs where children practice reading to friendly dogs, since a dog is a patient, nonjudgmental listener. For older adults, reading aloud is a nice way to keep the voice and mind active and to share a quiet routine. Basset Hounds in particular tend to be gentle, people-loving dogs who are happy to settle in wherever their family is, especially if a comfy cushion is involved.

Whatever story Bea has chosen, Waffles seems fully invested. He may not follow every plot twist, but he knows the sound of his favorite voices, and that is more than enough. Next chapter, anyone?

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