The Shih Tzu and the Calf Were Not Ready to Get Up Yet

Under a green quilted blanket, a brindle Shih Tzu with a dark, squished face and a brown and white calf lie close together, just waking up. The calf lifts its head slightly with sleepy eyes and its pink nose rests on the quilt, while the dog's eyes are still half closed. Clothes, shoes, and baskets lie scattered across the floor beyond them, as if the morning has started without them.

Waking up slowly is part of the pleasure of any pet's day. Dogs stretch and yawn, and young calves spend a lot of time lying down, rising for a stretch and a feed. Shih Tzus are small, affectionate dogs who love being close to their people and often sleep curled right alongside them. Their long coats can tangle after a night under a blanket, so a gentle brushing is a nice morning routine. A real calf needs proper shelter with clean bedding, not a quilt in the house, so enjoy this one as a story picture. If you have any questions about care, your vet is the right person to ask.

The two look equally unbothered by the hour. Neither is in a hurry to leave the warmth. There is something universal in that look, the one that says five more minutes. It is the sleepy, trusting feeling of a morning when nothing needs to be done just yet.