Browse ›
A grandma in glasses holds out seeds to mallard ducks at a pond while a red Golden Retriever sits calmly beside her. 19 / 29

Six Ducks, One Handful of Seed, and a Retriever Sitting Inches Away

AI imagegolden retrieverduckspark pond

Down at the edge of the park pond, the mallards have figured out who brought snacks. A half dozen of them waddle up the muddy bank, green heads gleaming, brown hens quacking, all gathered around Ruth's open palm as she offers a sprinkle of seed. Two pairs of glasses are perched on her face and head, as usual, and her braid swings forward as she leans down. Right beside her, close enough to touch the nearest duck, sits Rusty. His red coat is fluffed out, his ears hang soft, and he is gazing down at the birds with remarkable calm, as if he has been told this is a strictly look-but-do-not-touch outing.

Bread has long been the classic thing to toss to ducks, but wildlife experts generally discourage it, since it offers little nutrition and leftovers can foul the water. Better options include cracked corn, oats, birdseed, chopped lettuce, or peas, offered in small amounts. Many parks have their own rules about feeding wildlife, so check posted signs first. With a dog along, a leash and a reliable stay are essential; even a gentle retriever has generations of bird-fetching instinct behind it, and chasing can stress the ducks. Rinse your dog off if they wade into a pond, and keep them from drinking stagnant water, which can harbor bacteria or harmful algae.

Rusty's self-control here deserves a medal, or at least an extra biscuit on the walk home. The ducks, for their part, seem to have decided he is just a very large, very fluffy part of the scenery.

More from this collection

All 29 →
A grandma plays an old upright piano while a smiling red-gold Golden Retriever sits on the wooden bench beside her.Grandma Sat Down to Play Her Old Piano and Found the Bench Already TakenA grandma in glasses carries a damp, leaf-flecked red Golden Retriever in her arms up a set of gray wooden porch steps.The Walk Ran Long, and Rusty Decided He Was Finished Walking
A smiling grandma holds out a vanilla ice cream cone as a red Golden Retriever licks the top of the scoop.Grandma Bought One Ice Cream Cone on a Hot Day. That Was the Mistake.A grandma smiles at a red Golden Retriever who rests one paw on a patio breakfast table set with coffee and a croissant.Breakfast on the Patio Was Going Fine Until a Big Red Paw Landed on the TableA grandma in glasses sips from a white mug on weathered porch steps while a Golden Retriever sits beside her.Every Morning Starts the Same Way for Ruth and Rusty, and He Knows the RulesA grandma adjusts the collar of a red Golden Retriever beside farmers market stalls full of beans, apples, and sunflowers.Grandma Went to the Market for Green Beans. Rusty Went for Something Else.