Grandma Ruth Took a Seat on the Tailgate. Cocoa Looked Up and Waited.

Grandma Ruth sits on the open tailgate of an old truck, smiling down as though someone had just said something sweet. She wears a navy quilted vest over a gray top, and her wire glasses and white hair glow in the soft light. Cocoa sits right below her with his long ears hanging and his round dark eyes turned up toward her face. Tools, an old fence and a field stretch out behind them. It looks like the end of a long day of chores. A lazy breeze moves the grass, and neither of them seems to want to leave.

Dachshunds are devoted dogs, and many gaze at their person as if waiting for the next cue. Hunting breeds like the Dachshund are also eager to please when training is kind and consistent. Because of their long backs and short legs, it is best to help them in and out of vehicles instead of letting them leap, and a ramp is an easy way to protect them. On a warm day, never leave a dog in a parked truck, and bring water along. Check his paws and fur for burrs after time in the field, and talk to your vet about tick prevention.

Ruth and Cocoa have a simple understanding. She pets him and he sticks close, which is fine with both. It is a peaceful way to end a long day.