Browse ›
A smiling white-haired woman sits on a wooden dock with bare feet in the lake as a black and white dog leans on her. 11 / 33

Grandma Dipped Her Toes Off the End of the Dock. Pepper Waded In to Join Her.

AI imagerescue muttlake docksummer

The lake is calm and glassy, reflecting the soft gray sky, and the wooden dock is just low enough for toes to touch the water. Grandma Nell sits at the very end of it, her pants rolled up and bare feet dangling in the cool lake, wearing a navy quilted vest over a gray sweater with her glasses tucked into the collar. She is smiling down at Pepper, who has waded in beside her and leans his scruffy head against her knee, gazing up with deep, devoted eyes. Reeds sway at the shoreline, and a towel lies folded on the dock behind her.

Lake days can be wonderful for dogs, but a few precautions keep them safe. Not all dogs are natural swimmers, so a dog life jacket is a good idea, especially for deep water or older dogs. Watch for blue-green algae, which can appear as scum or discoloration on still water in warm weather and can be very dangerous for dogs. If the water looks questionable, keep your dog out. After swimming, rinse your dog with fresh water and dry the ears well, since moisture trapped in the ear canal can lead to irritation. Fresh drinking water is a must, so dogs are not tempted to gulp from the lake.

Pepper looks perfectly happy with his paws in the shallows, just close enough to lean on Nell and far enough to stay mostly dry.

Some summer afternoons ask nothing more of you than cool water, warm company, and a good place to sit.

More from this collection

All 33 →
A white-haired woman in a quilted jacket paints a landscape at an easel outdoors while a black and white dog lies beside her.Grandma Set Up Her Easel in the Backyard. Her Most Loyal Art Critic Lay Down Beside It.A white-haired woman works a crossword at a kitchen table with coffee and toast while a scruffy dog sits close.Grandma Nell Was Stuck on 12 Across. Pepper Had His Eye on a Different Prize.
A white-haired woman in a green quilted vest shovels snow while a black and white dog plays happily in a snowbank beside her.Grandma Grabbed the Shovel to Clear the Driveway. Pepper Had a Very Different Idea.A white-haired woman naps in a rope hammock strung between two trees with a black and white dog lying awake on her lap.Grandma Fell Asleep in the Hammock. Pepper Stayed Wide Awake for a Reason.A smiling white-haired woman holds up a tennis ball in a backyard at dusk while a black and white dog watches it eagerly.Grandma Nell Held Up the Tennis Ball and Paused. Pepper Didn't Blink Once.A white-haired woman in a quilted vest scatters grain for brown hens while a black and white dog follows close beside her.Grandma Went Out to Feed the Hens. Her Shadow Had Four Legs and a Big Nose.