Three Stockings Hung on the Mantel, and the Bulldog Slept Right Beneath Them
Stretched out on the wooden floor, a brindle and white Bulldog named Winnie sleeps with her chin on the boards and her wrinkles softly folded. Above her, three knit stockings, one cream, one red and one green, hang from a mantel draped with eucalyptus, pinecones and wooden stars. A basket of toys sits by the hearth and a mug waits on the side table, with a tidy couch in the background.
Bulldogs are known for their love of naps, and a quiet corner of the living room is exactly the right spot. They often snore, snort and sprawl in unusual poses, which is normal for their flat-faced shape, though any new breathing trouble is worth mentioning to your vet. A hard floor can feel cool, so a comfy bed or blanket helps keep her joints happy, especially as she gets older. Stockings and mantels are pretty, but candles, hot embers and dangling decorations should be kept far from a pet. A dog sleeping by a fireplace should always have a sturdy screen between her and the fire.
Winnie is in the deepest of naps, and she has no interest in stockings. The family may be filling them with surprises, but she has already got her favorite present: a warm, calm room and a spot all her own, where nobody will ask her to move for a very long time.
