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A smiling older woman pins white sheets on a backyard clothesline as a brindle Shih Tzu leaps through a hanging sheet. 16 / 28

Abuela Rosa Pinned Up the Fresh White Sheets. Chispa Saw a Game.

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Wooden clothespins in one hand, a fresh white sheet in the other, Abuela Rosa is trying to get the laundry up before the afternoon sun moves on. She wears a blue striped tee and her floral apron, the front pocket stuffed with spare pins, and she is smiling down at the reason this chore is taking twice as long. Chispa has launched herself through the low-hanging sheet, front paws flying, tongue out, tail curled high behind her. The yard around them is cheerful clutter: a blue laundry basket of towels, a green watering can, potted aloe and succulents along the weathered fence.

Line-drying laundry is a simple pleasure, and a backyard full of flapping fabric is basically a playground to a curious dog. A few easy habits keep it safe. Keep detergent pods, bleach, and fabric softener sheets well out of reach, since they can be harmful if a dog chews or swallows them. Pick up dropped clothespins, which can splinter or become a choking hazard for small breeds. Shih Tzus have short muzzles and can overheat on hot days, so offer shade and fresh water while you work outside. And if your pup loves to run through sheets, consider hanging the good linens a little higher.

Rosa may end up rewashing one sheet tonight. Judging by that grin, she does not mind one bit, and Chispa certainly considers it the best laundry day yet.

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