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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. 33 / 35

Grandpa Brought Seed for the Ducks. Pearl Ended Up Surrounded by Mallards.

AI imagemalteseduck pondpark outing

The ducks have arrived in force. A dozen mallards, glossy green-headed drakes and speckled brown hens, paddle and waddle around the pond's edge, crowding close for a snack. Grandpa Gus leans down in his red buffalo plaid and glasses, holding out a pinch of seed between his fingers with a gentle, patient expression. Right beside him, Pearl sits in her blue harness, perfectly calm despite being surrounded by birds nearly her own size. She gazes off to the side with an expression of polite tolerance, as if she's decided the ducks are Gus's business, not hers.

Feeding ducks is a beloved pastime, but what you offer matters. Bread has little nutritional value for waterfowl and can pollute the water when it goes uneaten. Better choices include cracked corn, oats, birdseed, chopped lettuce, or thawed peas, given in small amounts. Some parks have rules against feeding wildlife, so check signs before you go. When bringing a dog along, keep them leashed, as even small, gentle dogs can startle birds or be nipped by an annoyed goose or duck. A harness, like Pearl's, gives better control than a collar alone.

Pearl's calm manners make the whole outing peaceful. The ducks get their snack, Gus gets his quiet moment by the water, and Pearl gets to stay close to her favorite person.

It takes a special kind of dog to keep her cool in a crowd of quacking neighbors, and Pearl makes it look easy.

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