Browse ›
A smiling white-haired woman holds up a tennis ball in a backyard at dusk while a black and white dog watches it eagerly. 16 / 33

Grandma Nell Held Up the Tennis Ball and Paused. Pepper Didn't Blink Once.

AI imagerescue muttfetchbackyard

String lights twinkle over the patio, and the backyard grass glows in the last light of evening. Grandma Nell, in a navy quilted vest and green plaid flannel, holds a worn tennis ball high in one hand, laughing as she teases out the throw. Pepper sits right at her side, mouth open in an eager grin that shows a few teeth, eyes locked on that ball with laser focus. Every muscle in his body seems ready to launch. Potted plants, a folding chair, and a wooden fence frame the yard behind them.

Fetch is a classic for good reason. It gives dogs exercise, mental stimulation, and a great outlet for their natural chasing instincts, and it is easy for owners of nearly any age to play. A few tips keep fetch safe and fun: throw on soft, even ground rather than pavement, avoid very hard sticks that can splinter, and choose a ball large enough that it cannot be swallowed. Some dogs will play until they drop, so short sessions with water breaks are wise, especially in hot weather. Ending the game while your dog is still enthusiastic can help keep him excited for next time.

Pepper looks like he has been waiting all day for this. Nell's playful wind-up is part of the fun, and she knows it.

One more throw, then another, and then maybe just one more. That is how backyard evenings are meant to go.

More from this collection

All 33 →
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.A white-haired woman holds out seed beside a bird feeder with sparrows while a black and white dog sits calmly by her.Grandma Hoped a Sparrow Would Eat From Her Hand. Pepper Knew His Part in the Plan.
A white-haired woman plants tomato seedlings in a garden bed while a black and white dog digs a hole right beside her.Grandma Nell Planted One Tomato Seedling. Pepper Decided the Garden Needed More Holes.A smiling white-haired woman kneels by a green yoga mat while a black and white dog lies down in the middle of it.Grandma Rolled Out Her Yoga Mat for Evening Stretches. Somebody Got There First.A smiling white-haired woman knits on a sofa while a black and white dog lies beside her tangled in loops of cream yarn.Grandma Nell Was Knitting a New Sweater. Pepper Got Wrapped Up in the Project.A white-haired woman in a quilted vest sits in a lawn chair at sunset beside a black and white dog with a graying muzzle.Grandma Nell Put Out Two Lawn Chairs for Sunset. Pepper Chose a Better Seat.