Browse ›
An older man in glasses reads a newspaper on a grey couch while a small white Maltese sleeps curled across his lap. 28 / 35

Grandpa Opened the Evening Paper. By Page Two, His Lap Was Taken.

AI imagemalteselap dogevening

Evening has settled in, the lamp is glowing, and Grandpa Gus has opened the newspaper for a quiet read. He sits on the grey couch in his red flannel and glasses, holding the pages up and smiling faintly at a story. Draped across his lap, Pearl has completely surrendered to sleep, her chin resting on his knee, her eyes closed, and her fluffy tail spilling over the cushion. A cozy knit throw, a stack of books, a coffee mug, a couple of remotes, and a big leafy plant fill the side table beside them.

A dog that falls asleep in your lap is sending a clear message of trust and comfort. Maltese in particular were bred to be companion dogs, so many of them feel happiest when they're touching their favorite person. For older adults, those calm evenings with a lap dog can bring warmth and a sense of routine to the end of the day. Just remember that small dogs still need regular activity, so a short evening walk before settling in can help them sleep soundly. A soft blanket on the couch also helps protect furniture from shedding and keeps everyone cozy.

Gus looks perfectly happy to turn the pages carefully so as not to disturb her. The news can be read slowly tonight; there's a sleeping friend to consider.

The headlines change every day, but this evening routine is the kind of story that never gets old.

More from this collection

All 35 →
An older man in a red plaid shirt sits in a folding lawn chair at sunset while a fluffy white Maltese leans in front of him.Grandpa Set Up Two Lawn Chairs for the Sunset. Pearl Ignored Hers Completely.An older man in glasses knits on a couch while a small white Maltese sits beside him tangled in loops of cream yarn.Grandpa Was Making Good Progress on His Scarf. Then He Checked on Pearl.
An older man in red flannel stretches toward his bare foot on a grey yoga mat while a small white Maltese stands on the mat.Grandpa Rolled Out a Yoga Mat for His Stretches. Pearl Signed Up for the Class.An older man in red flannel carries a small white Maltese in his arms up wooden porch steps at the back of a house.Pearl's Little Legs Gave Out at the Bottom of the Porch Steps. Grandpa Didn't Hesitate.An older man in glasses offers seed to mallard ducks at a pond while a small white Maltese in a blue harness sits beside him.Grandpa Brought Seed for the Ducks. Pearl Ended Up Surrounded by Mallards.An older man sorts piles of old black-and-white photographs on a wooden table while a white Maltese sniffs at them.Grandpa Spread Out the Old Family Photos. Pearl Wanted to Meet Everyone.