A Bernese Mountain Dog Spent a Winter Evening by the Stove With Ducklings

Logs are stacked beside the old cast iron stove, and the room has the quiet glow of a winter evening. A tricolor Bernese Mountain Dog lies on the wooden floor, his white blaze and rust-colored cheeks shining in the warm light, and in front of him a row of yellow ducklings is fast asleep, bills tucked in, shoulder to shoulder. The fire's glow touches each duckling's fluffy back, so every one of them seems to have its own little halo.

Bernese Mountain Dogs came from the Swiss Alps, where they worked as farm dogs pulling carts and watching livestock. They are famously gentle, patient and devoted to their families, and they love the cold. Because they are large and heavy-coated, they can overheat quickly in warm weather and need regular brushing to keep that thick coat in shape.

Wood stoves are cozy, but they come with safety rules. The surface can burn a curious paw or beak, so a sturdy screen or barrier is a must in any home with pets or small birds. Keep a safe distance between where animals sleep and the heat source, and always have a working smoke detector.

The fire ticks quietly, the dog lets out a slow breath and the ducklings do not move. It is the kind of evening that makes the cold outside feel very far away. Cold nights seem a lot kinder this way.