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A grandmother in a floral apron sips lemonade from a mason jar in a shady garden as a white Maltese looks at the camera. 6 / 32

Abuela Took a Lemonade Break From the Garden. Her Supervisor Did Not.

AI imagemaltesesummergarden

It is the hottest part of the afternoon, and Abuela Rosa has earned a break from the garden. She sits in a shady corner of the porch with a tall mason jar of lemonade, a fat lemon wheel balanced on the rim, and takes a long, careful sip. Behind her, the yard tells the story of a busy morning: a blue watering can, pots of herbs, gardening gloves, a basket of tools, and a few pairs of sandals scattered in the dirt. Copito sits in the foreground with his fluffy ears hanging down, gazing straight ahead with a slightly serious look, as if he is supervising the whole operation.

Hot days can be tough on small dogs, and long-coated breeds feel the heat too. Dogs cool themselves mostly by panting, which works less well when the air is humid. Shade, fresh water, and rest during the warmest hours go a long way. Keep walks to early morning or evening, and test pavement with the back of your hand, since hot asphalt can burn paws. Signs of overheating include heavy panting, drooling, weakness, or confusion; if you see them, move your dog somewhere cool and call your vet right away. And skip sharing lemonade, since citrus and sugar are not good for dogs.

Rosa has her lemonade and Copito has his water bowl nearby, and the shade is doing its job for both of them. Sometimes the best part of a summer day is simply the pause in the middle of it.

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