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An older man in a fishing vest gestures toward a tennis ball in the air while a harlequin Great Dane watches it eagerly. 19 / 39

Grandpa Earl Let the Tennis Ball Fly. Domino's Face Said Everything.

AI imagegreat danefetchbackyard

The tennis ball is airborne, a bright yellow dot sailing across the leaf-strewn backyard, and Domino's eyes are glued to it. The harlequin Great Dane sits just in front of Grandpa Earl, mouth open in a happy pant, ears swiveled, body coiled and ready to launch. Earl, in his olive fishing vest, has one hand extended mid-follow-through and a proud, crinkly grin under his white mustache, clearly pleased with his throwing arm. The yard behind them is a cheerful jumble of potted plants, a blue bucket, a coiled hose, stacked firewood, and a weathered wooden fence.

Fetch is a classic way to exercise a dog, but with giant breeds like Great Danes, a little moderation goes a long way. Repeated sprinting, sharp turns, and leaping can be hard on large joints, especially in young dogs whose growth plates are still developing. Shorter games with plenty of rest, soft grassy ground, and gentle rolling throws instead of high bounces can make play safer. Ball size matters too; a standard tennis ball can be a choking risk for a dog with a mouth as big as a Dane's, so many owners choose larger, sturdy balls made for big breeds.

Domino doesn't care about any of that right now. All that matters is the ball, the yard, and the man who never seems to get tired of throwing it.

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An older man in a cap and fishing vest stands at an outdoor farmers market beside a harlequin Great Dane in a leather collar.Grandpa Earl Stopped by the Farmers Market. Nobody Was Looking at the Vegetables.An older man holds a bowl of popcorn on the couch as a harlequin Great Dane leans down to sniff it.Grandpa Earl Made a Big Bowl of Popcorn for Movie Night. Domino Found It First.
An older man in glasses paints a green landscape at an easel in a backyard while a harlequin Great Dane lies beside him.Grandpa Earl Set Up His Easel in the Backyard. His Muse Lay Down Right Beside It.An older man with a white mustache eats at a patio table under string lights as a harlequin Great Dane leans toward him.Grandpa Earl Sat Down Under the String Lights With His Plate. A Tall Guest Arrived.An older man pins white sheets to a clothesline while a harlequin Great Dane pushes through the hanging sheets.Grandpa Earl Hung Every Sheet Perfectly Straight. Then Domino Found the Gap.An older man in a fishing vest naps on the grass with his head resting on a sleeping harlequin Great Dane.Grandpa Earl Lay Down on the Lawn for Five Minutes. He Found the Perfect Pillow.