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Grandma in an olive quilted vest scatters seed to mallard ducks at a pond's edge as a wet black Labrador stands beside her. 3 / 22

A Retriever, a Pond, and a Dozen Ducks Swimming Right Up to Grandma

AI imagelabrador retrieverduck pondpark

At the edge of the park pond, Dot crouches with a handful of seed, letting it trickle from her fingers toward a small crowd of mallards paddling right up to the bank. Her glasses are pushed up into her white hair and her olive quilted vest is zipped over a grey sweater. Standing beside her, damp from an earlier dip, is Moose. The black Lab's coat is spiky with water, and he's leaning in toward Dot's hand with intense interest, though he's keeping his manners and staying on the grass. The ducks don't seem worried in the least. Trees and a winding path stretch across the park behind them.

Feeding ducks is a classic outing, and what you bring matters. Bread is filling but not nutritious for waterfowl, and leftover soggy bread can pollute ponds. Better options include birdseed, rolled oats, thawed frozen peas, or chopped lettuce, offered in small amounts. With a dog along, good leash manners are important. Labs were bred as retrievers, and their instinct to chase or fetch birds can be strong, so a calm 'leave it' and a secure leash help protect both the ducks and your dog. Also keep an eye out for blue-green algae in warm months, which can be dangerous if dogs swim in or drink affected water.

Moose is doing a remarkable job of being a gentleman today. Dot will surely save a treat in her pocket just for him when the ducks are done.

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