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A smiling white-haired woman sits on a lake dock with her bare feet in the water beside a blue merle Australian Shepherd. 22 / 30

Grandma June Rolled Up Her Pants and Dipped Her Toes in the Lake at Dusk.

AI imageaustralian shepherdlakedusk

Dusk settles over the lake, and a lantern glows warmly on the post at the end of the dock. June sits on the edge of the weathered wooden boards with her pants rolled up and her bare feet dipped into the cool, still water. She wears a beige quilted vest over a plaid shirt, silver hair piled into a bun, and she is beaming down at Blue. The blue merle Aussie sits right beside her, mouth open in a happy pant, his thick coat damp from wading and his eyes bright. Leafy shrubs, potted plants, and a cozy cottage line the shore behind them.

Many Australian Shepherds love water, and a lake can be a wonderful place to cool off after a warm day. Still, water safety matters. Not every dog is a strong swimmer, so introduce water slowly and consider a dog life jacket for boating or deep water. Watch for currents, steep drop-offs, and slippery docks. Be cautious of blue-green algae, which can make water look scummy or discolored and is dangerous to pets. Bring fresh drinking water so your dog does not drink from the lake. Afterward, rinse and dry your dog's thick double coat thoroughly, since trapped moisture can lead to skin irritation and hot spots.

With cool water around her ankles and her best friend at her side, June has found the perfect ending to a summer day. Blue seems to agree completely.

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