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An older Black woman hoses a soapy blue car as a tan shepherd-type dog leaps at the spray and a white Maltese sits calmly. 7 / 26

Grandma Odessa Turned On the Hose. Only One Dog Lost Its Mind.

AI imagemaltesecar washdriveway

The old blue sedan is covered in suds, and Grandma Odessa has the hose going full stream. Sunglasses pushed up onto her silver hair and wearing a comfy olive T-shirt, she aims the water along the car door with a practiced hand. That is when the chaos arrives. A big tan shepherd-type dog, maybe a neighbor's or a visiting friend, launches himself at the arc of water with his mouth wide open, front paws off the ground in a joyful leap. Meanwhile, little Pearl sits perfectly still on the wet driveway beside the tire, white fur barely damp, watching the whole spectacle with calm, ladylike reserve.

Dogs have very different personalities when it comes to water play, and size and breed often play a role. Many energetic, larger dogs love chasing hose spray and sprinklers, while small companion breeds like Maltese may prefer to keep their distance. Both are perfectly normal. If your dog does enjoy water games, keep the pressure gentle, avoid spraying directly into the face or ears, and watch that they are not swallowing large gulps of water, which can be dangerous. Keep car soaps and cleaning products away from pets, and rinse off any dog that walks through the suds.

Odessa's focused expression suggests she is determined to finish the job no matter who is leaping around. The big dog will need a towel afterward. Pearl, wisely, will not.

Every household needs one dog who brings the excitement and one who keeps her dignity. This driveway happens to have both.

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