Grandpa Sat Down in His Rocking Chair. Then He Decided Not to Rock.
Soft daylight drifts through a lace curtain into a lived-in living room, where Gus sits in a wooden rocking chair with his hands resting on his knees. He is smiling down at the floor, and it is easy to see why. Honey is sprawled out on the worn floorboards right beside the chair, fast asleep with her paws tucked and her chin flat on the ground. A green knit throw is draped over the couch, a stack of books and a mug sit on the side table, and the whole room feels like it is holding its breath so she does not wake up.
Dogs often choose to sleep near their people, and golden retrievers are especially known for following their family from room to room just to be nearby. If your dog likes napping beside a rocking chair, it is worth being careful each time you start to rock. Curved runners can easily pinch a tail or paw that has drifted too close, and a sleeping dog will not always move out of the way. A dog bed or rug placed just off to the side gives them a cozy spot that is still close to you. Older goldens especially appreciate a cushioned surface for their joints.
Gus does not seem to be in any hurry to start rocking anyway. Some afternoons are best spent sitting perfectly still, smiling at a snoring dog, and letting the day go by at its own speed.
