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An elderly Black man in a cable-knit cardigan sits on a pickup tailgate and smiles down at a red Shiba Inu looking up at him. 15 / 31

Earl Let Down the Tailgate and Maple Gave Him a Look That Said Plenty

AI imagered shiba inupickup truckfield

Evening is closing in over the field as Earl sits on the open tailgate of an old pickup truck. His cream cable-knit cardigan has wooden buttons, his short beard is gray and his smile is the quiet kind that never quite leaves. Down in the grass beside him, Maple the red Shiba Inu looks up at his face with her nose almost touching his sleeve, her ears alert and her eyes soft. The truck bed is scuffed and a long field with a few fence posts stretches away behind them.

Shiba Inus often have a reputation for being aloof, but many of them are deeply loyal to their favorite person. They show affection in subtle ways, such as sitting close, leaning in or following you from room to room. They are also quick and clever, so a tailgate outing calls for a leash or secure harness, since a Shiba can bolt after an interesting smell. Provide water, shade on warm days and a blanket if it is cool. Lifting a dog up and down from a tailgate can strain her joints, so a small ramp or step may help.

Maple and Earl are not saying much, and they do not need to. They sit close, in the evening quiet, with the whole field before them. It is the kind of ordinary moment that tends to be remembered.

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An elderly Black man in a cardigan wipes a dark car with a cloth while a red Shiba Inu jumps up to bite at a stream of water.Earl Was Rinsing the Car When Maple Went After the HoseAn elderly Black man in a cream cardigan paints at an easel in a backyard at dusk while a red Shiba Inu sleeps beside it.Earl Set Up His Easel at Dusk. Maple Settled In Right Beside It.
An elderly Black man hangs a white sheet on a clothesline while a red Shiba Inu runs past with her mouth open.Earl Was Hanging Sheets on the Line. Maple Saw an Obstacle Course.An elderly Black man in a mustard cardigan scatters feed for hens on a dirt yard while a red Shiba Inu stands watching.Earl Fed the Hens While Maple Stood Behind Him, Watching Every PeckAn elderly Black man in a cardigan washes a soapy red Shiba Inu sitting in a large metal tub in a backyard.Earl Filled the Old Tub and Maple Gave Him Her Most Serious LookAn elderly Black man in a brown cardigan sits at a lace-covered table with tea and a scone while a red Shiba Inu sits nearby.Earl Poured Afternoon Tea. Maple Sat Down Like She'd Been Invited.