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A grandma with a silver braid scrubs an old beige car while a wet red-gold Golden Retriever leaps at the hose spray. 1 / 29

Ruth Only Wanted to Rinse One Hubcap. Rusty Saw the Hose First.

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Saturday chores rarely go according to plan when there is a retriever in the driveway. Ruth, her long silver braid tossed over one shoulder and her denim shirt already speckled with water, is working a yellow sponge around the front wheel of a faded beige sedan. The hose was supposed to rinse the hubcap. Instead, Rusty, her dark red-gold Golden Retriever, has claimed the spray as his personal toy, launching off the wet concrete with his front paws up and his mouth wide open to catch every sparkling drop. His coat is soaked through and plastered into ripples, and Ruth is laughing like she knew this would happen all along.

Golden Retrievers were bred to fetch waterfowl, so a love of water is practically built into them. Many have a water-resistant double coat and webbed toes that help them swim. That same thick coat takes a long time to dry, though, and damp fur held against the skin can lead to irritation or hot spots. After a splash session, it helps to towel the dog thoroughly, let them dry somewhere warm, and brush out the undercoat once it is dry. Keep an eye on the ears too, since moisture trapped inside floppy ears can invite trouble. If a dog seems itchy or keeps shaking its head after water play, talk to your vet.

The car may end up with a few muddy paw prints on the bumper, and the driveway will be a puddle for an hour. Somehow that seems like a fair trade for a morning this cheerful, with one very wet dog and one grandma who clearly would not have it any other way.

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A grandma with a silver braid reads an old letter on the couch while a red-gold Golden Retriever rests its head on her lap.Grandma Unfolded a Letter She Hadn't Read in Years. Rusty Noticed Right Away.A smiling grandma with a silver braid sits on a boardwalk bench at dusk, her hand on a red-gold Golden Retriever.The Beach Crowds Went Home. Ruth and Rusty Stayed for the Best Part.
A grandma with a silver braid works a jigsaw puzzle at a kitchen table while a Golden Retriever watches from a chair.Grandma Started a Big Mountain Puzzle. Someone Pulled Up a Chair to Watch.A smiling grandma on a garden bench holds a sandwich beside a red-gold Golden Retriever with crumbs on his muzzle.Grandma Sat Down With Her Sandwich. Rusty's Nose Tells the Rest of the Story.A grandma with a silver braid sits on a pickup tailgate by a fenced field, petting a red-gold Golden Retriever.The Truck Was Parked by the Field for One Reason, and He Has Red-Gold FurA grandma with a silver braid sorts black-and-white photos on a table as a Golden Retriever sniffs at the pile.Grandma Spread Out Decades of Family Photos. Rusty Had His Own Way of Looking.