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A red merle Aussie snaps at water from a hose while an older man in a sweater vest washes a dark car in a driveway. 4 / 32

Grandpa Only Wanted to Wash the Car. The Hose Had a Different Fan.

AI imageaustralian shepherdcar washwater play

Splash! Maple has completely forgotten that car-washing day is supposed to be about the car. Mouth wide open and eyes gleaming, the red merle Aussie lunges at the arc of water shooting from the hose, droplets flying off her whiskers and soaking her fluffy white chest. Behind her, Kenji leans over the hood of a dark, well-loved sedan with a blue sponge in one hand, grinning at the chaos. The porch light glows beside the garage door, the driveway shines wet, and it is clear the dog is getting a lot more rinsing than the car.

Plenty of dogs adore chasing water, and for high-energy breeds like Australian Shepherds, a hose or sprinkler can be a fun way to burn off steam on a warm day. A few common-sense precautions keep it safe. Garden hoses that sit in the sun can heat the water inside to scalding temperatures, so run the water for a moment and test it before pointing it at your dog. Keep the spray gentle and avoid aiming directly into the face or ears. Some dogs gulp a lot of water while biting at a stream, so take breaks and let them rest. Also be careful with car-washing soaps and cleaners; rinse puddles away and keep buckets out of reach, since those products are not meant to be swallowed.

The car may need a second rinse later, and Maple will definitely need a towel. Judging by Kenji's smile, neither of them minds one bit.

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