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A smiling white-haired woman in glasses and a green quilted vest holds a fluffy white Bichon Frise on a pickup tailgate. 1 / 39

Grandma Ruth Sat Down on the Tailgate to Rest. Cotton Had Something to Say.

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Early light settles over the fields as Ruth perches on the tailgate of an old pickup, her olive quilted vest zipped over a red plaid flannel. Cotton, her curly white Bichon Frise, sits right in her arms, chin tipped up and dark eyes locked on her face like she is the most interesting thing in the county. Ruth's silver hair is pinned up loosely, her glasses slipping a little down her nose, and her smile says she has heard every one of Cotton's opinions before and still loves them all. Behind them, a farmhouse porch with potted plants fades into a soft, hazy morning.

Bichon Frises are often a lovely match for older owners. They are small enough to lift into a lap or a truck bed, cheerful, and famously people-oriented, which means they tend to want to be wherever their person is. That curly coat does not shed much, but it does keep growing, so it needs regular brushing and a trim every several weeks to prevent painful mats. They are also a breed that can struggle with being left alone for long stretches, so a household where someone is home a lot, like a retiree's, often suits them very well. A daily walk and some indoor play usually keep their energy in a happy range.

There is something to be said for a morning with no plans except sitting on a tailgate with a good dog. Ruth looks like she has figured out that secret, and Cotton is more than happy to keep her company while she enjoys it.

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An older woman in a green quilted vest tucks a cream knit blanket around a white Bichon Frise lying in a gray dog bed.Cotton Wasn't Sleepy Yet. Then Grandma Ruth Brought Out the Knit Blanket.A white-haired woman with headphones around her neck sits in an armchair with a fluffy Bichon Frise beside a record player.Grandma Put on Her Favorite Record. The Bichon Decided to Sing Along.
An elderly woman in glasses knits on a couch while a white Bichon Frise beside her is wrapped in loops of cream yarn.Grandma Ruth Sat Down to Knit a Scarf. Cotton Had a Different Project in Mind.A white-haired woman in a green quilted vest brushes a white Bichon Frise with a pink brush on wooden porch steps.Every Evening Grandma Ruth Takes Out the Pink Brush. Cotton Knows Exactly Why.A gray-haired woman paints a landscape at a wooden easel in a backyard while a white Bichon Frise sleeps on the grass.Grandma Set Up Her Easel in the Backyard. Her Bichon Took a Different Approach to Art.An older woman in a quilted vest sips lemonade through a straw on a porch while a white Bichon Frise sits close in front.Grandma Poured One Glass of Lemonade. The Bichon Assumed It Was for Two.